Shugarts Forcing His Way to the Top
By Brandon Castel
By most accounts, J.B. Shugarts is ahead of schedule.
He did not start 10 games last season as a freshman, like classmate Michael Brewster, or open fall camp atop the depth chart at one of the tackle positions, like Mike Adams, but Shugarts has to like where he stands after the first two weeks of Ohio State's fall practice.
J.B. Shugarts
After opening camp as the backup to senior Jim Cordle at right tackle, Shugarts split time at left tackle with junior Andy Miller on the first-team offensive line during the Buckeyes' fall jersey scrimmage Saturday.
"He's right there in the mix fighting for playing time," offensive coordinator and line coach Jim Bollman said. "He has the ability to go both sides. He's fighting for things and doing a good job and getting back in the groove."
For Shugarts, the first day of fall camp was a little bit like his first day at Ohio State.
After missing all of spring practice following off-season shoulder surgery, the 6-foot-8 tackle had those same anxious butterflies to get back on the practice field this fall, and back into the fray on the offensive line.
"It was hard to watch. I've never had to sit out like that, I've never had a major surgery," he said. "It was pretty tough, because I like to work out a lot. Not even getting to lift weights; that was pretty tough too."
As difficult as it was for Shugarts to stay off the practice field and out of the weight room during his recovery time, the sophomore from Klein, Tex. used the time to shed some unwanted baby fat from his large frame.
"When I checked into camp (last spring) I was about 312, but I'm about 305 right now," Shugarts said. "When I got here, I had a lot more baby fat. I've trimmed up a lot and I've got more muscle mass."
He also used the time to get his shoulder right.
While his teammates were running around, catching passes, throwing blocks and making tackles, Shugarts spent the spring rehabbing his shoulder with Ohio State's training staff so that he would have this chance to compete for playing time on the offensive line this fall.
"Everything feels good. My feet are good and my shoulder feels great," Shugarts said. "I feel great now. I'm punching real good, getting good hand placement on my blocks, driving good, throwing people down, so everything's feeling real good right now."
