Ohio State will be without a few key contributors on Friday.
Sophomore defensive end Zach Harrison, redshirt sophomore running back Master Teague, junior defensive end Tyler Friday and sophomore left guard Harry Miller have all been designated as unavailable for the Sugar Bowl versus Clemson, per the team’s status report released about two hours before kickoff.
A total of 13 scholarship players will not dress for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Offensive guard Enokk Vimahi, linebacker Craig Young, offensive lineman Josh Fryar, offensive lineman Grant Toutant and tight end Joe Royer will be out for the Sugar Bowl after they were each available against Northwestern two weeks ago. Cornerback Cameron Brown, defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan, wide receiver Jaylen Harris and safety Kourt Williams all have missed extended time due to injuries and remain out.
| Ohio State Status Report for Sugar Bowl |
|---|
| GAME-TIME DECISION |
| S RONNIE HICKMAN |
| UNAVAILABLE |
| DE ZACH HARRISON RB MASTER TEAGUE OG HARRY MILLER DL TYLER FRIDAY LB CRAIG YOUNG OG ENOKK VIMAHI CB CAMERON BROWN WR JAYLEN HARRIS OL GRANT TOUTANT DL JACOLBE COWAN S KOURT WILLIAMS TE JOE ROYER OL JOSH FRYAR DT ZAID HAMDAN LB CADE KACHERSKI |
Wide receiver Chris Olave, linebacker Baron Browning, safety Marcus Hooker, punter Drue Chrisman, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste are all expected to be available to play on Friday after sitting out the Big Ten title game. Backup safety Ronnie Hickman, an unexpected scratch versus Northwestern due to injury, is a game-time decision.
The status report does not reveal the reason why each player is unavailable, nor does it dictate an expected timeline for their return to the field. Miller’s mother, though, posted on Facebook that the starting left guard tested positive for coronavirus.
It’s unclear why Teague is missing the Sugar Bowl, but he exited the Big Ten championship game before it was over and did not return, watching the remainder of it without his helmet from the sideline. Trey Sermon, coming off a record-setting 331-yard game, will get the brunt of the touches out of the backfield.
No Harrison and Friday at defensive end will lead to Jonathon Cooper, Tyreke Smith and Jean-Baptiste getting the majority of snaps at defensive end against Clemson. Noah Potter and Cormontae Hamilton could be in the mix, too.
Miller’s absence likely means Matthew Jones will slot in between left tackle Thayer Munford and center Josh Myers at left guard. The third-year out of New York was once a sought-after top-100 recruit. He made his first career start against Michigan State a few weeks ago when Munford, Myers and Nicholas Petit-Frere all missed the game and Miller shifted to center. Since Vimahi is out as well, Dawand Jones could be the top offensive lineman off the bench at both guard and tackle.
In total, Ohio State has 76 players in uniform and available to play (pending Hickman’s status) in Friday’s game.
The full travel roster of 76 Ohio State players who will be in uniform for tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/U9MOQLLJTM
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 2, 2021
Clemson will have nine players unavailable for Friday’s game: defensive ends Jack Brissey, Justin Foster and Xavier Thomas, wide receivers Joseph Ngata and Justyn Ross, tight end Luke Price, defensive tackle Tré Williams, linebacker Jake Venables and cornerback Jack McCall.
