Billy Price taken No. 21 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft

Continuing one of the most unheralded aspects of Ohio State’s NFL Draft dominance under Urban Meyer, two-time All-American and 2017 Rimington Trophy winner Billy Price was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 21st pick of the first round.

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The 2018 NFL Draft is officially in the books! Seven former Buckeyes were selected, and a handful of others signed as undrafted free agents, or agreed to minicamp tryouts. We’ve got all of the information that you need from the busy three days of the draft. Get all of the information and player profiles HERE.

Over the last few years, there’s been a lot of talk about the glut of former Ohio State defensive backs taken in the first round, and deservedly so. However, apropos of the position, not nearly enough attention has been paid to the run of offensive lineman making the jump from Columbus to the NFL.

Price joins Reid Fragel, Corey Linsley, Jack Mewhort, Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett, Taylor Decker, and Pat Elflein as Urban Meyer-coached offensive linemen and tight ends (which, let’s be honest, is the same thing under Meyer) to have their names call in the NFL Draft.

One of the greatest lineman in Ohio State history, Price set the record for starts (and consecutive starts) in the Buckeye football program at 55, and won the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace offensive lineman of the year in 2017.

Like Pat Elflein did before him, Price moved from guard to center for his senior year at OSU, and, even though he plans to play center in the NFL, his experience at guard makes him an even more valuable weapon at the next level.

However, with a first-round draft-grade all but assured, Price’s path to the league took an unexpected detour when he tore his pec during the bench press at the NFL Combine, an ironic disappointment for an athlete who never missed a game as a three-year started at Ohio State.

Despite the set-back, Price is preparing as if he will be ready for training camp in July. His surgeon, Dr. David W. Altchek, sent a letter to NFL teams on Wednesday, informing them that Price is expected to be fully recovered in time to begin workouts with his new teammates over the summer.

Now that Price knows where he is going, he can focus 100% on getting healthy, and continuing the tradition of Ohio State offensive linemen making an immediate impact in the NFL.

Congratulations to Billy on what will most certainly be an incredible career!