As spring football draws closer for Ohio State, Ryan Day announced that the Buckeyes will be without several starters and veteran backups for the start of the offseason.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR SPRING |
|---|
| UNAVAILABLE |
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RB TREVEYON HENDERSON WR JULIAN FLEMING WR EMEKA EGBUKA LB TOMMY EICHENBERG RB EVAN PRYOR DE MITCHELL MELTON S KOURT WILLIAMS OL JAKOB JAMES |
Julian Fleming, Emeka Egbuka, Tommy Eichenberg, TreVeyon Henderson, Mitchell Melton, Kourt Williams, Evan Pryor and Jakob James will miss Ohio State's spring practices and scrimmage, Day said Wednesday in his first meeting with the media since the Buckeyes' loss to Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
Fleming and Egbuka, two of Ohio State's starting wide receivers in 2022, won't suit up for the Buckeyes in the spring as they recover from undisclosed injuries. Eichenberg is also in the same boat, as the All-American linebacker will not participate this spring. Eichenberg suffered injuries to both of his hands in 2022.
Still, Day expects all three players to fully recover before the program's training camp in August.
Henderson, Melton, Pryor and Williams all suffered "long-term injuries" last year, according to Day. However, Day shares the same optimism they will be ready to play for the Buckeyes in 2023.
Henderson missed the final two games (and eight overall) this past season as he battled a broken foot which he announced in December would require surgery. Meanwhile, Melton and Pryor are still recovering from torn ACLs as Williams continues rehabilitating a shoulder injury he sustained during the 2022 season.
The Buckeyes will also be without offensive lineman Jakob James, whose battle to become a starter on Ohio State's offensive line will be put on pause as he recovers and rehabilitates in the spring and summer.
