Offensive tackle and safety were arguably Ohio State's two biggest depth question marks entering 2024, and both will be tested against Nebraska.
Starting strong safety Lathan Ransom is out against the Huskers after Ryan Day confirmed on Tuesday that left tackle Josh Simmons is out for the season. Tight end Will Kacmarek, whose return Day did not give a timetable for but said will be unavailable for "a while," is also among six players listed as out on Ohio State’s injury report for its seventh game of the season.
True freshman cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. is also out for the Nebraska game, as are walk-ons Reis Stocksdale and TC Caffey, who is out for the season like Simmons.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR NEBRASKA |
|---|
| Out |
|
RB TC Caffey (Season) TE Will Kacmarek S Lathan Ransom CB Aaron Scott Jr. OT Josh Simmons (Season) WR Reis Stocksdale |
Ransom's been starting at strong safety for Ohio State since Week 2 of 2022 after he replaced Josh Proctor at the position against Notre Dame in Week 1. He finished third on the team with 74 tackles that year with four tackles for loss and an interception. He collected 34 tackles, two TFLs and an interception in eight games in 2023 before sustaining a season-ending injury at Wisconsin on Oct. 28.
His fifth-year senior season was off to a strong start with 29 tackles, five TFLs, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery (which he returned 27 yards for a touchdown) in Ohio State’s first six games. Safety has arguably been the biggest strength of the Buckeyes' defense in 2024, with the starting tandem of Ransom and Caleb Downs making plays all over the field while providing strong coverage over the middle.
Sophomore Malik Hartford is a potential replacement for Ransom after he played 158 defensive snaps last year. He started two games as a freshman and made 10 tackles with two pass breakups in 2023. He and freshman Jaylen McClain are the only two deep safeties to log any snaps this season outside Ransom and Downs.
Another option is sliding either of nickels Jordan Hancock or Lorenzo Styles Jr. back to safety, and either Styles or Jermaine Mathews Jr. would likely take Hancock's place at nickel if the fourth-year man dropped deep.
Redshirt junior Zen Michalski will take Simmons' place at left tackle and try to keep Ohio State's offensive line humming. Nebraska ranks 15th in college football with 21 sacks this season.
Kacmarek's injury means Bennett Christian and Jelani Thurman will be the next men up at tight end behind starter Gee Scott Jr., while Aaron Scott Jr.’s injury likely elevates Calvin Simpson-Hunt to the two-deep at cornerback.
Ohio State and Nebraska kick off at noon on FOX.
