Ohio State’s starting right guard is feeling healthy entering the Peach Bowl.
After missing the Michigan game due to injury, Jones said Thursday during Peach Bowl media day that he is ”fully good to go” for Saturday’s game against Georgia. In a game where the Buckeyes will need him to be at his best against Bulldogs star defensive tackle Jalen Carter and one of the best all-around defenses in the country, Jones is confident he will be able to play to his full ability.
“I feel like I had a great three weeks of practice,” Jones said. “I feel good. And I’m gonna leave it all on the field.”
Jones didn’t want to say Thursday exactly what his injury was, though Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Tuesday that Jones “had a pretty decent sprain” in his foot and had been a full participant in practice for the past couple of weeks.
Jones, who had to be carted back to the locker room after going down with the injury in the second-to-last game of the regular season against Maryland, said it was hard to have to watch from the sidelines as the Buckeyes suffered their loss to Michigan. But he’s glad to now have the chance to put that behind him and play in the College Football Playoff.
“It kind of slowed me down and kind of broke me down a little bit to see that I wasn’t out there to be side to side with my brothers,” Jones said. “I know it’s a missing puzzle to the offense, and now that I’m here having another opportunity, it really means a lot.”
Whether this year’s College Football Playoff will be the end of Jones’ Ohio State career remains uncertain, as the fifth-year senior still has the extra year of eligibility that was given to all NCAA athletes in 2020. He said Thursday he’s not fully satisfied with how he’s performed this season.
“It's been decent,” Jones said when asked to evaluate his season as a whole. “Could be a lot better. Of course, I'm never satisfied. There’s always room for improvement.”
Jones says he’ll make his decision on his future after the season ends, though, as he’s locked in this week on just trying to beat Georgia.
“I’m trying to focus on what I have in front of me now and just put my best foot forward and give it all where I’m at now,” Jones said.
With Jones back in the fold, Ohio State appears set to have a healthy starting lineup against Georgia with the exceptions of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyon Henderson, who both announced earlier this month that they would not play in the CFP due to injuries. Miyan Williams was back on the practice field Thursday and is expected to play in the Peach Bowl as Ohio State’s top running back after missing practice Wednesday due to a stomach bug.
