Joe Royer has proven path to greatness as Buckeyes tight end

COLUMBUS — Joe Royer can see the path to becoming a weapon at Ohio State.

It’s right in front of him — literally.

Before Royer came to Ohio State as a skinny freshman with little blocking experience and a prolific pass-catching highlight tape last spring, another Ohio State tight end showed up matching that description three years earlier.

Now that veteran tight end, Jeremy Ruckert, has a chance to become an All-American with one of the country’s best offenses. And Royer can see the developmental path Ruckert used to get there — and use it for himself as he enters Year Two.

“Jeremy is like my big brother,” Royer said. “I look up to him in a lot of ways. He always helps me through things. He’s kind of given me different ideas to help me gain weight, get stronger in the weight room, telling me what his meal plan is and what he prepares. That’s definitely helped.

“I look up to him. He’s been helping me through that.”

If Royer thought he was ready to play early at Ohio State, he was reminded of the work he had to do last year when Zach Harrison drove him 10 yards into the backfield during practice.

That doesn’t happen to Ruckert now. But those occurrences certainly used to.

Joe Royer has plenty to learn from Jeremy Ruckert at Ohio State this spring. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Ruckert has added plenty of weight, strength and power to his pass-catching ability to become one of the best tight ends in college football. And now he needs a second tight end to line up with, especially with Luke Farrell off to the NFL. If Royer stays on the same plan Ruckert was on, Royer could sneak into the conversation of playing time.

“It’s definitely going to be an interesting conversation this year,” Ruckert said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys really coming on strong, developing with Cade [Stover], Joe [Royer] and Mitch [Rossi] really being those guys in there. They all can do all different things really well. The versatility of our position is going to be shown more than ever this year.”

For Royer, he might be better-suited early in his career at an H-back spot. Maybe he’s not ready to line up and move defensive lines the way the Buckeyes like their tight ends to do. That’s an area Royer needs to address before solidifying himself as a contributor in the lineup.

As he continues on the plan set forth and executed by Ruckert, he’s slowly gaining the strength needed to do just that.

Joe Royer can use Jeremy Ruckert’s example to his benefit for the Buckeyes. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

“The biggest thing I’ve developed in and improved on is blocking,” Royer said. “Coming out of high school, I didn’t really do much in-line blocking. I pretty much played receiver and I was flexed out all the time. So definitely blocking. I have to get better at that and continue to grow.”

As Royer makes his way through a second offseason with the Buckeyes — and first normal set of spring practices — he’ll go through some growing pains. Ruckert did. But as Royer watches Ruckert in practice and can see the all-around tight end Ruckert has become, he can see the vision.

He can see what he could become if he continues on the path.

“It’s definitely helpful knowing that he went through what I’m going through,” Royer said. “Coach [Kevin] Wilson has also mentioned that Jeremy was like me, a little skinnier coming out of high school and had to gain some weight to be successful blocking here. That definitely helps.”

Royer has a plan to become a weapon for the Ohio State offense. It’s a plan that is proven to work.

All Joe Royer needs to do is look directly in front of him to see the result.

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