Depth Chart: Jordan Fuller, Erick Smith Listed As Co-Starters at Safety For Ohio State's Trip to Michigan

Ohio State had a surprise starter in its defensive lineup against Illinois when Erick Smith, not Jordan Fuller, took the field as the Buckeyes' first-team safety while Fuller sat out the game with a leg injury.

According to Ohio State's published depth chart for the Michigan game, Smith could be in line to get the start again in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

While Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Monday that Fuller is probable to return to action on Saturday, Smith is listed alongside Fuller as a co-starter on this week's depth chart.

That doesn't necessarily indicate anything about Fuller's status for Saturday's game or whether Smith has earned more playing time – as the depth chart is not always indicative of who actually sees the most playing time in the upcoming game – but there appears to be at least a chance that No. 34 could be one of the first 11 on the field for Ohio State's defense against the Wolverines.

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Other notes on this week's depth chart, which you can see below:

• Dante Booker, who Meyer said would return to practice Tuesday after missing the last two games due to injury, remains listed as a co-starter at strongside linebacker with Malik Harrison, while Chris Worley is listed as a co-starter at middle linebacker with Tuf Borland. That's the same depth chart that Ohio State listed at linebacker last week, though, when Worley started at strongside linebacker while Borland started at middle linebacker.
• Blake Haubeil and Sean Nuernberger are no longer listed as co-starters at kickoff specialist. Haubeil, who has drawn praise for his performance on kickoffs since retaking the job prior to the Iowa game, is now listed as the outright starter.
• Josh Myers, who was spotted wearing a cast on his arm before the Illinois game, is no longer listed on the depth chart at left guard. The true freshman has not played in a game this season and is in line to redshirt.
• Tate Martell and Wyatt Davis, also true freshmen who have not played this season and are in line to redshirt, are still listed on the depth chart along with Demario McCall, who appears to be line for a medical redshirt.