BREAKING: Chip Kelly, Justin Frye leave Buckeyes for NFL ranks

The hits just keep on coming for the defending National Champs. Just days after Jim Knowles left Columbus for Happy Valley to become Penn State's defensive coordinator, the next pair of dominoes has fallen.

On Saturday, February 1st, Justin Frye, who was hired as the Buckeyes' offensive line coach in 2022, left Columbus to become the offensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals. It's his first shot at the big-time in the NFL after numerous stops in the college ranks. These include: Temple, Boston College, UCLA and Ohio State. Frye served as the offensive line coach at every stop, but was also the offensive coordinator for UCLA under Chip Kelly from 2019-2021 before coming to Columbus.

While his departure from Columbus may not generate a huge splash in terms of news, Frye did develop some solid offensive linemen in his three seasons with Ohio State. The crown jewel of these may just be Dawand Jones, a.k.a. Big Thanos. Jones was taken 111th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 NFL Draft. He's a fourth-round pick with potential for first-round production, provided he can stay healthy.

The other top lineman Coach Frye developed at Ohio State will be waiting for him in Arizona. Paris Johnson Jr. played under Frye at Ohio State, and was taken sixth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. He started all 17 games during his rookie year, and looks like he's going to be Arizona's starting left tackle for many years to come.

But while Frye's departure probably didn't make a big splash, Chip Kelly's departure is one that's generating a TON of buzz right now.

One last shot at the big time for Kelly?

The Las Vegas Raiders certainly lived up to their namesake with this move, as they flat out plundered the Buckeyes. They lured Chip Kelly away from Columbus to be their new offensive coordinator.

While he was only in Columbus for a season, Chip Kelly was the mastermind behind an explosive Buckeye offense that averaged nearly 36 points per game. Kelly was also the team's quarterbacks coach, and was instrumental in Will Howard's development on his path to becoming a National Championship-winning gunslinger.

Kelly really helped Will Howard unleash his full potential and reach toward his ceiling. During his lone season at Ohio State, Howard posted a season-high in wins as a starter (14), and career highs in completion percentage (73%), yards (4,010) and touchdowns (35). His completion percentage also now stands as a new Ohio State school record.

This won't be Chip Kelly's first foray into the NFL ranks though. He was briefly the head coach for both the Eagles (2013-2015), and the 49ers (2016). Kelly also hired some young guy by the name of Ryan Day to be his quarterbacks coach during both stints. Not only that, Kelly was also Day's offensive coordinator while he was in college at the University of New Hampshire in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their connection goes way back. But Kelly decided to leave for what he thought were greener pastures.

As the new offensive coordinator for Las Vegas, Kelly joins Pete Carroll, who is making a comeback of his own after a brief hiatus from coaching. After he coached the Seattle Seahawks from 2010-2023, Coach Carroll took a year off. But he's back in business after the Raiders convinced him to come out of retirement. And he's bringing a proven offensive playcalling guru with him.

What's next for Ohio State?

As of this article, Ohio State still needs to hire a new DC, OC and offensive line coach. Those are still all up in the air, and will be updated here on the CLE-BUS as more information comes out, and concrete hirings are made.

You guys know me. I love being a fan of my teams. And I often give a fan's perspective with some analysis and coach-speak.

But in situations like this where a lot of coaches change teams, I would much rather be journalistic than speculate on anything. My professors at the Kent State School of Journalism always harped on us to get things right, rather than risk accidentally putting out false information in an attempt to be first to the punch.

Things are certainly busy in Columbus for the reigning National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. And you can get all the latest information as it becomes available, right here on the CLE-BUS, proud extension of the OH Report!

Sources

RaidersWire by USA Today

Eleven Warriors

Picture Credit

on3.com