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OL Deontae Armstrong (Official Thread)

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St. Edward coach Tom Lombardo didn’t need more than a second to reflect.

Asked how much Ohio State offensive line commitments and identical twins Devontae and Deontae Armstrong have improved since last season,

Lombardo couldn’t help but gush about two key pieces of his roster.

“No question they’ve improved exponentially,” Lombardo told Eleven Warriors. “They played 16 games last year and you saw the improvement from the beginning of the year through game 16. Now with an offseason, they’ve transformed their bodies even more. They play such a physical brand of football right now and it’s really helping us.”

The Armstrong twins have always boasted strong physical traits, but Lombardo said the biggest step the duo has taken has been from the mental side of the game, particularly in understanding defenses and movements schematically.

“When they started last year it was like ‘Alright, you’re stepping here and doing this,’ and if we played stationary they were pretty solid,”
Lombardo said. “But anytime there’s movement and that kind of stuff, that adjustment and anticipation is where it took them a little bit to develop in that regard. But now they have a real good sense of it in the scheme we’re in. They have the physical tools, but if that comes along, that sky is the limit obviously at Ohio State and maybe beyond.”

Lombardo has known the duo for a long time, and said he taught the pair in school their freshman years. It didn’t take too long for him to tell them apart from each other but he admitted that may be due to the fact that he knew where each of them sat in the classroom more than anything else. But as they matured, Lombardo said Deontae grew to be the taller of the two, while Devontae is slightly thicker.
 
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“A LOT OF TIMES THE RANKINGS GET BROUGHT UP, ‘OH, THEY’RE ONLY FOUR-STARS’ AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK WE'LL GO IN THERE, AND I KNOW WE’LL DOMINATE. WE’RE GONNA DOMINATE FROM THE FIRST DAY.”– DEONTAE ARMSTRONG ON HIS AND HIS BROTHER’S EXPECTATIONS AT OHIO STATE

LIFELONG BUCKEYE FAN DRIVEN TO BEAT MICHIGAN​

Having always been an Ohio State fan, Armstrong described it as “a dream come true” to be officially starting his career as a Buckeye this month.

“Growing up an Ohio State fan, it's pretty surreal to go in there and have this opportunity that I always wanted since I was a little kid,” Armstrong said.

It makes it even more special that he gets to be a Buckeye alongside his twin brother Devontae Armstrong, a composite three-star prospect ranked as the No. 465 prospect in the 2024 class. The siblings lined up alongside each other on the offensive line at St. Edward, where Deontae played left tackle and Devontae played left guard; they’ve dreamed of doing the same at the collegiate level, though they’ll be happy if they both get the chance to play anywhere along the line.

“I don’t know how realistic that is, maybe we might get moved a little bit, but that'd be definitely ideal to play right next to each other,” Deontae said.
 
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Like JCOs Five D's. Make them interchangeable? Seriously, not many OL come in and start from the jump, but if they can surpass what there is in the OL room, then more power to them. Maybe Coach Mick can shape them up somewhat, but think the mental part will take a bit of time to handle. But the best player plays, and if it's truly as Day said, "there's no one in the room pushing the OL starters", then mayhaps they've reasonably got a good shot? Go Bucks!
 
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www.elevenwarriors.com

Better Know a Buckeye: Deontae Armstrong’s Quickness and Athleticism Paired with His Frame Gives Him a Promising Skill Set at Left Tackle for Ohio State

Deontae Armstrong's quickness and athleticism paired with his 6-foot-6, 298-pound frame makes him a promising potential future starter at left tackle for Ohio State.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

BETTER KNOW A BUCKEYE: DEONTAE ARMSTRONG’S QUICKNESS AND ATHLETICISM PAIRED WITH HIS FRAME GIVES HIM A PROMISING SKILL SET AT LEFT TACKLE FOR OHIO STATE​

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IMMEDIATE IMPACT​

With Josh Simmons manning the starting spot at left tackle and Zen Michalski or George Fitzpatrick likely backing him up, Armstrong will be a depth piece for his first season in Columbus. He’s likely to redshirt as a freshman while he develops his technique and adds a little muscle to his 6-foot-6, 298-pound frame in order to potentially become a dominant left tackle as an upperclassman.

“I’d say quickness and athleticism,” Armstrong said of his best on-field attribute. “Also using that athleticism and being strong. Being more of a lean offensive tackle I think it’s a better fit for me going against quicker defensive ends that other offensive tackles might not be able to block because of how quick they are.”

Armstrong is ready to learn from Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye and the rest of the Buckeyes’ offensive linemen.

“I want to insert myself and learn from the guys and then take off with what they're telling me. Take off with the technique that Coach Frye’s telling me, and not let me coming in as a freshman or whatever deter me from thinking I can't go in there and play right away or play eventually,” Armstrong said. “I’m not looking at me being a freshman and saying I can't help out the team, I want to help the team right away in any way possible. And really just try to dominate every practice and go out there and do my job to my best ability and see where that takes me.”

While he's entering his first collegiate season, Armstrong already feels like he's ahead of the curve given the type of program St. Edward is.

“Ohio State runs a similar offense to my high school team. So adjusting mentally won't be that tough of a challenge,” Armstrong said. “Of course there will be more details, because it's college football and everything like that. But we ran a similar offense at St. Ed’s.

“It's experience with even the same terminology. I was talking to (Ohio State offensive line coach Justin) Frye and we got a lot of the same names for a lot of the same stuff. I think it helps being coached and going against actually good players. Not going against small-name schools. I mean, we went against OSU targets even, like (Clemson freshman defensive end Darien Mayo), on national TV. So going against the best of the best every week in high school, I think that will only help me out for college.”

LONG-TERM IMPACT​

Simmons still has two years of eligibility remaining, but he could forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL draft if he has a good season this fall, opening the door for a new starter at left tackle. While Ohio State might not want to turn that position over to a likely redshirt freshman, Armstrong could be in the mix if he impresses his coaches with his performance on and off the field this year.

At the very least, there appears to be a path for Armstrong to compete for a spot on the two-deep in year two. He should be a candidate to contend for a starting job by year three as his frame paired with his quickness, athleticism and ability to finish blocks gives him a unique skill set that could set him apart among his teammates.

Either way, he's ready to help the Buckeyes beat Michigan in whatever capacity is needed.

“I love Ohio State. I grew up an Ohio State fan. Hate Michigan. That was the squad most recruited by that I only went to one time,” Armstrong said. “Losing to Michigan sucks, it feels like you just got stabbed in the back.”
 
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