Ohio State’s running back room got healthier over the past week, but the Buckeyes won’t have their full stable available against Maryland.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR MARYLAND |
|---|
| UNAVAILABLE |
|
RB MIYAN WILLIAMS WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA S KOURT WILLIAMS RB TC CAFFEY RB EVAN PRYOR DE MITCHELL MELTON CB LLOYD MCFARQUHAR LS BRADLEY ROBINSON LB JALEN PACE |
Regular starter TreVeyon Henderson is back from a two-game injury absence, as he is not listed among the nine unavailable Buckeyes for Saturday’s matchup. Chip Trayanum, who was ruled out of last week’s Indiana game, also appears to be healthy enough to play against Maryland.
But the Buckeyes will still be shorthanded at the position as Miyan Williams has been ruled out after suffering an injury in the second quarter last week. Williams was carted off the field following an injury that rendered him unable to put weight on his right leg, although Ryan Day said afterward he didn’t expect the issue to be “really long-term.” Williams rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries before leaving the game.
Ohio State was down to one healthy scholarship running back (true freshman Dallan Hayden) for the second half against Indiana, although Hayden and Xavier Johnson – who slid over from wide receiver – combined to rush for 173 yards and two scores on 20 carries. Either or both of them could still see snaps Saturday, but the Buckeyes will have more depth at the position this week than they did last.
Also unavailable for Ohio State Saturday is junior wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has now missed eight of the Buckeyes’ 11 games this season as he deals with a hamstring injury. When asked Thursday if Day still expects the record-setting Buckeye to be back this season, the Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said “I wouldn't say expecting, I'd probably say more hoping.”
If Smith-Njigba is to return during the regular season, it will have to be during next week’s rivalry game, as the Texas native won’t play in Saturday’s matchup with Maryland.
Multiple other notable Buckeyes who sat out of last week's contest appear to be healthy for Saturday's game. Neither starting right tackle Dawand Jones nor starting cornerback Denzel Burke were listed on Ohio State's status report for Maryland despite both missing the Indiana game.
Buckeye captain Kamryn Babb will be available at wide receiver for the second straight week, fresh off his first career reception in last week’s game, which saw him haul in a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State and Maryland kick off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in College Park.
