What Ohio State is getting in Deontae and Devontae Armstrong’s football commitments from St. Edward

St. Edward offensive lineman Ben Roebuck in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive linemen wait for a huddle in the first half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive linemen Devontae Armstrong (71) and his brother Deontae Armstrong wait for a play call in the first half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive lineman Deontae Armstrong blocks on a pass play in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive lineman Ben Roebuck blocks on a pass play in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward’s Anderson Soltis jumps in the arms of teammate Troy Regovich celebrating their win over Gahanna Lincoln in their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive lineman Devontae Armstrong blocks on a pass play in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive linemen Ricky Wolverton (l-r), Devontae Armstrong and Deontae Armstrong wait for a play call in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive lineman Ben Roebuck blocks on a pass play in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive lineman Deontae Armstrong waits for a play call in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive lineman Devontae Armstrong talks with his brother Deontae in the huddle in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward quarterback Casey Bullock has plenty of time in the pocket from the work of his offensive linemen in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive linemen Ricky Wolverton (L) and Deontae Armstrong block on a pass play in the first half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward offensive linemen Deontae Armstrong (L) and Ben Roebuck at the line of scrimmage before the snap in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

St. Edward running back Josh Gribble finds a plenty of running across the line of scrimmage on a touchdown run in the second half against Gahanna Lincoln during their D1 state semifinal game, November 25, 2022, in Mansfield.

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LAKEWOOD, Ohio — St. Edward’s shuffling on the offensive line could benefit Ohio State.

Brothers Devontae and Deontae Armstrong had played offensive line, defensive line and tried different spots on both sides as they came up the last two years at St. Edward. On Monday, they announced their commitment to the Buckeyes as part of the 2024 recruiting class.

Their pact with Ohio State comes after another big tackle from St. Edward, Ben Roebuck, committed to Michigan ahead of their senior year.

The trio will provide an anchor this fall for St. Edward, which seeks a third straight OHSAA Division I state football championship. Sometimes last fall, coach Tom Lombardo called for jumbo formations that lined both up on the left side.

The Eagles had flipped them around a few times.

“We moved Ben to left tackle. He played right tackle all last year,” Lombardo said last November, “and I think he was just a little comfortable early. Since Deonte was kind of new, we said why don’t we flip them and just get used to that. Let Ben be comfortable where he is early, and I think it’s paid dividends.”

For the most part, Deontae Armstrong played left tackle with his brother, Devontae, at left guard. Deontae had been learning the right side before St. Edward’s switch.

He compared it to learning to write with his left hand instead of his right.

“I came in there as clay pretty much,” said Deontae Armstrong, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 285 pounds. “I hadn’t played that position. The biggest adjustment is learning pass plays and run plays, then going out and executing it at a high level.”

His twin brother, Devontae, said he had to gain some weight before winning a starting guard spot last year at 6-6, 291.

Along with Roebuck as three juniors on the offensive line, they helped the Eagles (15-1) average 6.5 yards per play and 5,886 yards for the season against a schedule Lombardo believed to be one of the best in the nation. Eight of their 10 opponents made the playoffs, Pittsburgh Central Catholic played in a WPIAL championship in Pennsylvania, Cherry Creek from Colorado won a fourth straight state championship there and Toledo Central Catholic won the OHSAA Division II state crown.

St. Edward’s success started up front.

The Armstrongs and Roebuck credited the tutelage of offensive line coach Dan Scanlon, who provided them with tip sheets every Monday before those big games. Then, they had to work against edge rushers Michael Kilbane and Wyatt Gedeon — both headed to college this year at Northwestern and Coastal Carolina — sharpening their skills in practice.

Then there’s the competitive nature among the Armstrongs by themselves.

Roebuck has gotten used to their competitive nature.

“Definitely in the weight room,” he said last fall. “They go back and forth at each other with who can lift the most.”

They are Elyria natives with Michael Balogh, a tight end who emerged during last year’s playoff run for junior quarterback Casey Bullock.

“They hold each other to a high standard,” Bullock said of the twins. “If one’s slacking, they really get on each other. That’s what makes them great. They never let each other slow down or take one play off.”

Deontae and Devontae Armstrong are part of a mammoth Class of 2024 among linemen in Northeast Ohio, which includes Roebuck, Avon’s Luke Hamilton (Michigan), Archbishop Hoban’s Will Satterwhite (uncommitted), Glenville’s Fred Johnson Jr. (uncommitted) and Hudson’s Tommy Ricard (uncommitted).

The Buckeyes are still after commitments from others around Cleveland, including Glenville cornerback Bryce West and receiver Damarion Witten.

They can now write two big check marks, as the Armstrong brothers are gaining more attention. Devontae and Deontae credited their experience at St. Edward, learning from the linemen before them and the ones across from them in practice.

“We had a lot of eyes on cameras on us before we got on the field,” Deontae Armstrong said. “That put some pressure on us. We have a big offensive line, but it’s been nice to learn from those guys.”

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).

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