Ohio State won't be at full strength on either side of the ball for the Rose Bowl.
| OHIO STATE STATUS REPORT FOR ROSE BOWL |
|---|
| GAME-TIME DECISION |
| DE JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE |
| UNAVAILABLE |
|
QB JP ANDRADE WR KAMRYN BABB CB SEVYN BANKS RB MARCUS CROWLEY S JANTZEN DUNN DE TYLER FRIDAY OL JOSH FRYAR DT HASKELL GARRETT DT ANTWUAN JACKSON S JAYLEN JOHNSON LB CADE KACHERSKI DL JADEN MCKENZIE LB MITCHELL MELTON DT JADEN MCKENZIE OL HARRY MILLER LB JALEN PACE DL NOAH POTTER SAF JOSH PROCTOR LB CODY SIMON S MARCUS WILLIAMSON |
Nineteen players were listed as unavailable on Ohio State’s official status report Saturday, including several starting defenders. Fourth-year defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste is the lone Buckeye listed as a game-time decision.
After they were absent from both open practice sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, Cody Simon, Marcus Williamson, Sevyn Banks and Antwuan Jackson – all multi-game starters on defense for the Buckeyes this season – will miss the matchup with Utah.
Simon, Ohio State’s usual starting middle linebacker, had shoulder surgery following the conclusion of the regular season, a source told Eleven Warriors, and Banks wrote Friday on Twitter that he "wasn't healthy.” Banks missed the final two games of the season prior to the Rose Bowl with an undisclosed injury.
I wasnt healthy if yall didnt know by now
— blessed. (@SevynBanks) January 1, 2022
Jackson is the second starting defensive tackle Ohio State will be without on Saturday, as Haskell Garrett opted out of the contest at the start of the week. Garrett was the only opt-out who was actually listed on Ohio State’s status report, which features players who are unavailable due to injury or illness but does not include Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Nicholas Petit-Frere, who are all healthy enough to play in the Rose Bowl but have decided not to play.
Williamson has started at cover safety for the Buckeyes since midseason, logging at least 21 snaps in each of the past seven games. But Lathan Ransom and Cameron Martinez, both available Saturday, have each started games at the position in 2021 and will likely see the bulk of snaps at the position in the Rose Bowl.
Jean-Baptiste, who has logged the third-most snaps behind Tyreke Smith and Zach Harrison at defensive end this season, was seen working with an athletic trainer during drill sessions at Wednesday's open practice.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste left position drills to do some work with a trainer during practice, and did not return to drills before the media left. pic.twitter.com/CjnORtqmQ5
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) December 29, 2021
Second-year offensive lineman Josh Fryar is a first-time addition to the unavailable list this season, while freshman cornerback Jakailin Johnson appears to be available after missing a majority of the season with an arm injury.
The Buckeyes and Utes will kick off at 5:10 p.m. in Pasadena, California.
