Gabe VanSickle Steps Into the Spotlight as Buckeyes Prep for CFP Clash
When Ohio State takes the field at the Cotton Bowl for their College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown against Miami, all eyes will be on a new face in the trenches. Redshirt freshman Gabe VanSickle, known around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as “Sicko Mode,” is getting his shot to live up to the nickname - and he’s earned it.
VanSickle will start at right guard for the Buckeyes, stepping in for Tegra Tshabola, who’s sidelined with an injury. It’s a big moment for the young lineman, but one that’s been building for weeks. VanSickle was announced as a starter from the press box at AT&T Stadium and warmed up with the first-team unit, a clear sign that the coaching staff trusts him to handle the moment.
Let’s rewind a bit. Tshabola had held down the right guard spot for most of the season.
The Buckeyes initially turned to Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa as the next man up through the first three games. Then, in Week 4 against Minnesota, Joshua Padilla took over the rotation role.
But the depth chart was reshuffled again after Tshabola suffered an injury late in the Penn State game - and that’s when VanSickle got his first real taste of meaningful action.
The following week at Purdue, VanSickle logged 13 snaps, and that small sample turned into a bigger opportunity. Against UCLA, he actually out-snapped Tshabola, 44 to 26.
And while Tshabola returned to play the full game against Michigan, his struggles in the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana opened the door once again. This time, the coaching staff didn’t hesitate.
VanSickle was called upon for the final three series - and he delivered.
The numbers back it up. According to Pro Football Focus, VanSickle hasn’t allowed a sack in 59 pass-blocking snaps this season and has surrendered just two total pressures. That kind of efficiency isn’t just solid - it’s the kind of production that builds trust in postseason football, especially against a Miami defensive front that thrives on disruption.
VanSickle’s rise is one of those classic college football stories. Once a Northwestern commit, he came to Columbus as the No. 613 composite prospect in the 2024 class.
But by the time the final rankings came out, he’d climbed all the way to No. 283 nationally and earned a four-star rating. That’s not just a jump - that’s a leap, and it’s the kind of trajectory that speaks to both raw talent and relentless work.
Still, the Buckeyes aren’t putting it all on one player. Expect Padilla to rotate with VanSickle to keep fresh legs against Miami’s aggressive front. It’s a smart move - especially in a playoff setting where every snap matters and every block can change the game.
For VanSickle, though, this is more than just a start. It’s a chance to show that he belongs on the biggest stage in college football. The nickname “Sicko Mode” might’ve started as a locker room joke, but if he holds his own under the bright lights of the CFP, it might just become a calling card.