Ohio State's Price named nation's top center

COLUMBUS – The Rimington Trophy will stay in Columbus for the second straight season, as Buckeyes center Billy Price was given the award Thursday evening as the nation’s top center.

Ohio State center Billy Price celebrates after the Buckeyes' 31-20 victory at Michigan.

Price joins former teammate Pat Elflein, who won the award in 2016.

Like Elflein, Price moved from guard to center between his junior and senior seasons and won the Rimington.

The four-year OSU starter beat out Louisiana State center Will Clapp and Alabama center Bradley Bozeman.

Price will leave Ohio State with a number of honors. A two-time All-American and captain in both 2016 and 2017, Price is the program record holder for starts in a career and consecutive starts (54 each).

Ohio State became the first school in the award’s 17-year history to win the trophy in consecutive seasons. LeCharles Bentley was the first Buckeye to win the award in 2001.

Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz