O’Cyrus Torrence proved why many were shocked he was not a first-round pick at the 2023 NFL draft during Buffalo Bills training camp.
After a strong summer, Torrence was named as Buffalo’s starting left guard by head coach Sean McDermott. While the situation did require McDermott’s confirmation, of all the positional battles the Bills had this summer, Torrence winning was the least surprising news of the bunch.
Taking on incumbent Ryan Bates, the second-round rookie saw extended playing time as the Bills’ left guard throughout the summer. He played with the first-team offense throughout the preseason.
McDermott explained that the decision came down to Torrence more so than anything Bates didn’t do.
“I’ll start with Ryan, he’s really good football player,” McDermott said via video conference. “There was nothing Ryan didn’t do, it was more just Cy-Bo coming in as a young player and again, taking it one play at a time and I think a workmanlike approach to his game early on in spring and then in training camp. I thought he handled himself well.
On the player’s side, Torrence admitted he dove in head first, saying he actually felt behind schedule. But it worked out.
“Trial by fire, I didn’t know the plays,” Torrence said following practice. “I’ve built up a good repertoire of reps out here in practice and I know the playbook pretty well. It’s trail by fire but I feel pretty confident going into [the season opener against the New York Jets].”
For more from Torrence on being named a starter on the Bills offensive line, see the attached Batavia Daily video below:
Rookie O’Cyrus Torrence on the moment #Bills HC Sean McDermott told him he had earned the starting right guard job: Said McDermott just kind of let him know out of the blue. Says he is still looking for some of the older players to help him through potential growing pains. pic.twitter.com/24c90ckTHG
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) September 6, 2023
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