Three starting offensive linemen Tuf Borland and Josh Proctor among players unavailable for Ohio State game against Michigan State

Starting offensive tackles Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere and center Josh Myers are among a list of 23 players who are not available to play in Saturday’s game. Backup attacking tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is also out, leaving the Buckeyes without four players on their offensive line at two depths.

Other key players listed as unavailable in the situation report released by the schedule on Saturday morning include starting center linebacker Tuf Borland, defensive end Tyler on Friday and defensive back Josh Proctor.

State of Ohio Report for the State of Michigan
DECISION AT THE TIME OF THE GAME
N / A
UNAVAILABLE
WR KAMRYN BABB LB TUF BORLAND CB CAM BROWN WR MOOKIE COOPER DL JACOLBE COWAN DL AARON COX RB MARCUS CROWLEY FROM TYLER FRIDAY TE PATRICK GURD WR JAYLEN HARRIS OT PARIS JOHNSON JR. KITTLE DB CAM QB JAGGER LAROE LS ROEN MCCULLOUGH OT THAYER MUNFORD C JOSH MYERS OT NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE BY NOAH POTTER S JOSH PROCTOR TE JOE ROYER WR GEE SCOTT JR. DB ALEC TAYLOR S KOURT WILLIAMS

While the state of Ohio generally released its status report on Friday morning, the team waited less than two hours before Saturday’s game to release their list of players unavailable this week due to increased numbers. positive COVID-19 tests within the program.

The availability report does not specify whether players are unavailable due to COVID-19 or due to injury, but at least 13 people in the program are known to have tested positive for COVID-19 during the week. last, and Buckeyes who test positive will not be able to return to competition for 21 days from the day they test positive, according to the Big Ten protocol.

It’s also possible that players may be unavailable due to contact tracing this week, but available to return next week if they test negative for COVID-19.

Cam Brown, Jacolbe Cowan, Jaylen Harris and Kourt Williams were all on the Ohio State status report for their game against Indiana due to injuries. Brown and Williams are both out for the season due to injuries.

With Myers, Munford and Petit-Frere all sidelined, Harry Miller and Wyatt Davis are the only offensive linemen available who have started games this season. The best candidates to potentially replace them in the starting lineup on Saturday include Dawand Jones and Max Wray on tackle and Matthew Jones and Enokk Vimahi on guard.

“We’re missing three starters there, so we’re going to have guys who haven’t played much football,” Ryan Day, who is also out of Saturday’s game due to a positive COVID-19 test, said stated ESPN’s College GameDay. “But you come to the state of Ohio for a reason. You don’t come to the state of Ohio because it’s easy, you come here because it’s difficult, and it’s a great opportunity for these guys to step up. There have been some great stories of young players who got to tough places and played really well, and they train for a reason and they come here to play. So what a great opportunity for these guys to take an important place and have a great game.

Borland’s absence will leave the Buckeyes without their longtime mainstay as a center linebacker, where Dallas Gant is a likely candidate to take his place in the starting lineup while Teradja Mitchell and Justin Hilliard are other contenders for a increased playing time.

Proctor’s absence leaves the Buckeyes with almost no experienced secondary depth behind starters Shaun Wade, Sevyn Banks, Marcus Williamson and Marcus Hooker. Friday’s absence leaves the Buckeyes without one of the regulars in their defensive rotation, although they still have plenty of depth there with Jonathon Cooper, Zach Harrison, Tyreke Smith and Javontae Jean-Baptiste leading the way.