No surprises this week.
Ohio State will not have kicker Blake Haubeil active for Saturday's home game with Rutgers, but it'll have all of its other starters at its disposal.
| Ohio State Status Report for Rutgers |
|---|
| GAME-TIME DECISION |
| N/A |
| UNAVAILABLE |
|
CB CAMERON BROWN CB LEJOND CAVAZOS DL JACOLBE COWAN RB MARCUS CROWLEY OG GAVIN CUPP WR JAYLEN HARRIS K BLAKE HAUBEIL TE JAKE HAUSMANN DT JADEN MCKENZIE S KOURT WILLIAMS LS ROEN MCCULLOUGH DB LLOYD MCFARQUHAR DB ALEC TAYLOR TE PATRICK GURD |
In Friday morning's status report, the Buckeyes listed Haubeil as unavailable, joining cornerback Cameron Brown, cornerback Lejond Cavazos, running back Marcus Crowley, guard Gavin Cupp, wide receiver Jaylen Harris, defensive tackle Jaden McKenzie and Kourt Williams as those who will be inactive this weekend. Fifth-year tight end Jake Hausmann, who earned champion honors with 15 snaps last week, also will not be able to play on Saturday, per the program.
Ohio State does not have any players deemed as game-time decisions.
Justin Hilliard, who did not play in Week 1 and had a false positive force him to sit out Week 2, will be active on Saturday. Thus, the sixth-year linebacker will be expected to make his season debut versus Rutgers.
Haubeil's absence doesn't come as a shock considering the coaches pulled him out of the 38-25 win at Penn State midway through the game when he missed what Ryan Day described as a "chip shot" field goal with the ball at the 3-yard line. After the game, Day disclosed that Haubeil was dealing with a groin injury, and on Tuesday he said the starting kicker was "day to day." Walk-on Dominic DiMaccio – who went 1-for-2 on field goals on Saturday – or true freshman Jake Seibert will be expected to handle kicking duties.
Without Hausmann, Ohio State will rely heavily on tight ends Luke Farrell and Jeremy Ruckert. But it opens the door for Cade Stover, Joe Royer and walk-on Mitch Rossi to earn some playing time, especially in what's expected to be a blowout.
