Ohio State will be without at least 14 scholarship players, including its leading receiver.
Chris La Lau, the junior wide with five receptions in the 5-team high for 528 yards and five touchdowns in five games, topped the bookies’ unavailable list for the Northwestern vs. Big Ten Championship at zero, which was released by the team just 75 minutes before the scheduled afternoon. Kicking.
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Ohio State Status Report for the Northwest |
|---|
| Game-time decision |
|
S. Marcus Hooker |
| Incredible |
|
WR Crisis Olav |
Linebacker Baron Browning and punter Drew Crisman will not get shots to play Wildcats as scheduled, as they have been included in the unavailable players. Starting safety Marcus Hooker was listed as a game-time decision, but he does not participate in warm-ups and does not expect to play.
Wide receiver Jackson Smith-Nijigba, Defensive & Tyler Friday, Defensive & Jovante Jean-Baptiste, Back Steel Chambers, Safety Brian Shaw, Linebacker Tommy Eisenberg, Wide Receiver Jalen Harris and Quarterback Gunner will also be available. He joins Cornbach Cameron Brown and safety Court Williams, who are unavailable as they continue their long-term recovery from injuries.
Linebackers coach Al W Washington Washington and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline will also miss the game, the team confirmed.
The status report issued before each game by Ohio State does not disclose any reason for absence or indicate the expected return date of any of the players listed as unavailable.
Note: The vast majority of players are active for Saturday’s tilt with the Northwest in view of the Dec. 5 game with Michigan State. Left-hander Thierry Munford, center-back Josh Myers and right-hander Nicholas Petit-Frere, along with five offensive linemen, linebacker Tuff Borland, safety Josh Proctor and offensive face Paris Johnson, are good to go. None of them appeared on Saturday morning’s status report, which is available for all to play.
Olav’s absence means Ohio State will have to overtake him and Garrett Wilson, who have a combined 70 in the team’s 107 receptions. Sophomore Jameson Williams and freshman Julian Fleming, in particular, go on to play important roles for the Buckeyes. Justin Fields will surely see his way more often.
– Chris Olave (@chrisolave_) December 19, 2020
Justin Hilliard will likely replace Brown Browning, becoming a full-time starting linebacker. Not being a Friday or Jean-Baptist means defensive line coach Zach Harrison, Jonathan Cooper and Tyrek Smith will turn to the three-man rotation.
With Hooker unable to play, it’s not clear how the Buccaneers will go about changing him. They may consider moving Procter into deeper safety, giving Ronnie Hickman two quick snaps into safety. Coach Carrie Combs and Matt Barnes’ options have also been limited due to the show being out.
Not Krishna – who confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19 – has moved to a larger location, either Zetter Hoover or Michael O’Shaughnessy. Both are specialists in Ohio.
– Drew Krisan (DChrisman91) December 19, 2020
