Carson Hinzman

Carson Hinzman is a fifth-year center at Ohio State and one of the most experienced, decorated interior linemen in the 2027 class. He was a four-star recruit from Saint Croix Central in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, ranked the nation's No. 9 interior lineman. He redshirted in 2022 and won the starting center job the next fall, making his first career start at Indiana and finishing with 12 starts. He opened 2024 in a rotational role. Late-season injuries then moved him into the lineup at left guard and center, and he started the final nine games of the national title run. In that playoff run the Buckeyes gave up only four sacks against Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame. In 2025 he started all 14 games at center and earned First-Team All-American honors from the AFCA. Draft Countdown's report credits his quick reads against A- and B-gap blitzes, his command of pre-snap protections and a disciplined pass-protection track record. His proven ability to slide between center and guard gives an NFL staff two ways to use him. The question is his frame. At 6-5 and about 300 pounds he is leaner than the typical power-gap center, so scouts want to see more lower-body mass to anchor against 330-pound nose tackles. They also want quicker lateral recovery against fast sub-package rushers. He has 40 career starts as of October 2026 and sits on the Rimington, Outland and Lombardi watch lists, so his senior tape on that anchor question will shape where he lands.