No starters are out for Ohio State beyond the done-for-the-season Josh Simmons, but the Buckeyes will be short some depth at a couple of positions.
Defensive end Mitchell Melton and cornerback Aaron Scott Jr., backups at their respective spots, are out against the Wildcats. Star defensive tackle Tyleik Williams is expected to return after missing last week's contest against Purdue.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR PURDUE |
|---|
| Out |
|
RB TC Caffey (Season) TE Will Kacmarek DE Mitchell Melton OT Zen Michalski TE Jace Middleton CB Aaron Scott Jr. OT Josh Simmons (Season) CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt WR Reis Stocksdale |
Melton has played 93 snaps this year as the fifth defensive end in Ohio State's rotation, collecting 11 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in that time. Last week the Buckeyes played a first-quarter package featuring him at the hybrid defensive end/linebacker "Jack" position, but he did not return to action after playing only four defensive snaps.
Scott, a freshman and five-star prospect per the 247Sports composite, had been a second-string cornerback for Ohio State alongside Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Lorenzo Styles Jr. Scott has played 62 snaps this year with two tackles and a pass breakup. Calvin Simpson-Hunt, the next man behind Scott in the Buckeyes' cornerback rotation, is also out, meaning freshman Bryce West will be in line for second-team action at cornerback if it's available. West shed his black stripe this week.
Ohio State's No. 2 tight end Will Kacmarek and offensive tackle Zen Michalski also remain out against Northwestern along with walk-ons TC Caffey, Jace Middleton and Reis Stocksdale.
Williams didn‘t play last week after exiting with a fourth-quarter injury at Penn State on Nov. 2. He was considered available against the Boilermakers but got held out for precautionary reasons as Ryan Day said after the game he could have played if needed. The head coach said Friday that Williams is "full go" to play against Northwestern.
"He's ready to go, he's full go," Day told reporters at the Buckeyes' hotel.
Ohio State and Northwestern kick off at noon on Saturday at Wrigley Field, with the Big Ten Network set to broadcast the contest.
