Ohio State quarterback signee Lincoln Kienholz named South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year

COLUMBUS — Lincoln Kienholz had arguably the most prolific preps career of anyone in the history of South Dakota.

The Ohio State quarterback signee rewrote most of the record books, including career passing yards with a staggering 9,100, but he capped it off with one of the country’s most desired awards.

Gatorade Player of the Year.

Kienholz was a shoo-in for the award for South Dakota after an impressive senior season that ended in his third state championship. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound signal-caller threw for 3,422 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2022.

He also rushed for 1,435 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Kienholz is one of seven Ohio State signees competing in the All-American Bowl down in San Antonio, Texas. The Buckeyes’ quarterback spoke with Lettermen Row and mentioned that it took him a day to elevate to the level of talent, but that he felt comfortable competing against anyone.

That kind of spirit is what it’ll take to survive in the Ohio State quarterback room. He joins former five-star prospects Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, and Kienholz knows what he’ll bring to the group.

“There’s probably two or three calls a week with [Ohio State],” Kienholz told Lettermen Row. “They’re just checking up on me and stuff like that, seeing how I’m doing.”

“I’m just hoping to come in and work hard.”

Ohio State experienced quite a headache with quarterbacks in the 2023 cycle. It started off with trying to flip then Baylor commit Austin Novosad — who ended up signing with Oregon — but then taking now Florida State signee Brock Glenn.

Glenn decommitted from the Buckeyes in November but they were already pursuing Kienholz, who was committed to Washington at the time.

The week before the early signing period, Kienholz announced he flipped his commitment from the Huskies to the Buckeyes and then signed on Dec. 21.

Ohio State got its guy in Lincoln Kienholz and he’s a clear-cut talent.

Just ask Gatorade.