Marcus Hooker has been suspended from the Ohio State football team after being charged with operating a vehicle under the influence.
According to a police report obtained by Eleven Warriors, Hooker was placed under arrest for OVI by Columbus Police early Saturday morning after he was found unresponsive behind the wheel of his car in a McDonald's parking lot. Hooker performed a field sobriety test at the scene, but refused to submit a breath sample. He was issued a citation and released from custody after he was transported to his residence.
Per Franklin County Municipal Court records, Hooker will be arraigned on a misdemeanor OVI charge on Friday, the same day the Buckeyes are set to begin spring football practice.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Wednesday that Hooker is suspended indefinitely, and that Ohio State will allow the legal process to play out before making any further decisions about his future with the program.
“We’re very disappointed, and take what happened very, very seriously,” Day said. “As things move forward, we’ll make the decision as we go. But want to get all the information first.”
This is the second time Hooker has been disciplined by the Ohio State football program following an arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence. He was previously suspended for the Buckeyes' 2018 season opener after a DUI charge in his home state of Pennsylvania.
Hooker began last season as Ohio State's starting deep safety, but played only on special teams in the College Football Playoff after missing the Big Ten Championship Game with an injury. In Ohio State's five regular-season games, Hooker played 288 snaps and recorded 15 total tackles, an interception in the Buckeyes' win over Penn State and two pass breakups.
Hooker was expected to compete for a starting job in the secondary again this year, though Josh Proctor and Marcus Williamson return as the Buckeyes' starting safeties from the end of last season while Lathan Ransom, Ronnie Hickman, Bryson Shaw and Kourt Williams are also candidates to compete for playing time at the position.
The younger brother of former Ohio State safety Malik Hooker, Marcus Hooker was a member of the Buckeyes' recruiting class of 2018 and is entering his fourth year at Ohio State.
