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| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR MICHIGAN STATE |
|---|
| Questionable |
| S Cam Martinez |
| Out |
|
LB Tommy Eichenberg WR Kyion Grayes TE Zak Herbstreit DE Jason Moore S Josh Proctor S Lathan Ransom TE Joe Royer DE Will Smith Jr. WR Reis Stocksdale LB Kourt Williams II RB Miyan Williams |
Three of Ohio State's starting defenders are unavailable for Saturday night’s game against Michigan State.
Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, free safety Josh Proctor and strong safety Lathan Ransom will all be sidelined with injuries against the Spartans.
On the positive side of things for Ohio State, cornerback Denzel Burke and tight end Cade Stover are both available after missing the game against the Scarlet Knights.
Eichenberg was escorted back to Ohio State's locker room during the fourth quarter of last week's game against Rutgers and did not return to action. He was later seen with ice on his arm.
On the season, the Buckeyes' mainstay at "Mike" linebacker has racked up a team-high 75 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Cody Simon and Steele Chambers, who have rotated at "Will" linebacker opposite Eichenberg, are likely to be Ohio State's starting linebackers against the Spartans. Second-years C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers are the top candidates to see playing time behind them.
Ransom limped off the field and was carted to Ohio State's locker room during its game against Wisconsin with an apparent non-contact leg injury. During pregame on Saturday, he navigated the sidelines on a knee scooter wearing a walking boot on his left foot. When Ransom has been healthy, he's been a steadying presence in the secondary for the Buckeyes, amassing 34 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two pass breakups.
Sonny Styles started in place of Ransom at Rutgers, and that is expected to be the case again Saturday. Playing both nickel and deep safety this year, Styles has 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and a pass breakup.
Starting next to him at safety in place of Proctor – a graduate who's been a revelation in 2023 with 35 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and a pick-six – will most likely be a freshman in Malik Hartford. Hartford made one start earlier this year when Proctor was out against Youngstown State, and while he was benched for Syracuse transfer Ja'Had Carter in that game, he played the remainder of the game at safety last week against Rutgers when Proctor exited the game in the third quarter.
Proctor left the contest after taking a hit to the head while batting a pass that was then intercepted by Jordan Hancock and returned 93 yards for a touchdown. He spoke with the media afterward and said he was fine, but he will miss the Michigan State game regardless.
Burke will be available as the team's No. 1 corner on Saturday. He has a team-high nine pass breakups with an interception despite missing two games, having previously sat out against Penn State following an apparent lower-body injury at Purdue.
Stover, who sat out the Rutgers game with an apparent knee injury despite not being listed on the team's availability report, is also expected back in action against Michigan State. Stover has 27 catches for 429 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Though not listed in the status report, backup quarterback Devin Brown took a fall during warm-ups and avoided putting weight on his right leg, which was heavily wrapped around his ankle. As Ohio State took the field for final warmups, Brown was dressed and performed in each drill with his teammates, sharing second-team reps with freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz.
Brown was carted off the field against Penn State after an apparent injury to his right ankle and declared out in the team's ensuing game at Wisconsin. He was not listed on the team's status report against Rutgers, however.
Safety Cam Martinez, who has played in only one of Ohio State’s last six games, is also listed as questionable against Michigan State. With Proctor, Ransom and potentially Martinez all sidelined, Ohio State’s safety depth could be tested against the Spartans. The top candidates to see playing time off the bench are Carter and Kye Stokes, who made his season debut with one snap in a dime package against Rutgers.
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