Ohio will be without some major contributors on Friday.
Zach Harrison of second year of defense Zach Harrison, redshirt of second runner Master Teague, junior defense Tyler Friday and second left guard Harry Miller were designated as unavailable for the Sugar Bowl against Clemson, according to the team status report released. 80 minutes before the start of the game.
A total of 13 fellows will not dress for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Offensive guard Enokk Vimahi, linebacker Craig Young, striker Josh Fryar, striker Grant Toutant and tight end Joe Royer will all be out of the Sugar Bowl after each has been available against Northwestern for two weeks. Cornerback Cameron Brown, striker Jacolbe Cowan, wide receiver Jaylen Harris and safety Kourt Williams lost a lot of time due to injuries and remain out.
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Ohio State Report for Sugar Bowl |
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| PLAY TIME DECISION |
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S RONNIE HICKMAN |
| UNAVAILABLE |
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BY ZACH HARRISON |
Wide receiver Chris Olave, linebacker Baron Browning, safety Marcus Hooker, bookmaker Drue Chrisman, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and defensive forward Javontae Jean-Baptiste are expected to be available to play on Friday after staying out of the game for the Big Ten title. Security reserve Ronnie Hickman, an unexpected scratch against Northwestern due to an injury, is a playing time decision.
The status report does not reveal the reason why each player is unavailable, nor does it dictate an expected schedule for their return to the field. Miller’s mother, however, posted on Facebook that the initial left guard tested positive for coronavirus.
It is not clear why Teague is missing the Sugar Bowl, but he left the Big Ten championship game before it was over and did not return, watching the rest without his helmet from the sideline. Trey Sermon, coming out of a record 331-yard game, will receive the impact of touches off the field.
Without Harrison and Friday on the defensive end, Jonathon Cooper, Tyreke Smith and Jean-Baptiste will get most of the cracking on the defensive end against Clemson. Noah Potter and Cormontae Hamilton could also be in the mix.
Miller’s absence probably means that Matthew Jones will stand between left tackle Thayer Munford and center pivot Josh Myers on the left guard. The third year outside of New York was already one of the top 100 recruits. He made his first career start against Michigan State a few weeks ago when Munford, Myers and Nicholas Petit-Frere lost the game and Miller moved to the center. As Vimahi is also out, Dawand Jones may be the bank’s best striker in both guard and tackle.