Ohio State injuries: Buckeyes defense will be shorthanded for road trip to Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Ohio State has flashed depth on the defensive side of the ball in each of the first five games this season — five dominant wins.
But for the first time this year, the Buckeyes’ defensive depth will be tested in a major way, and that test will come on the road in a huge matchup against No. 17 Illinois.
Ohio State will officially be without starting nickel cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. on Saturday at Illinois, his first game missed this season. Styles is listed as out on the team’s availability report along with key defensive lineman Eddrick Houston, who left the win over Minnesota in the second half last week and did not return after heading to the locker room.
Neither players’ injuries were disclosed on the availability report, but it’s official that they won’t be on the field for No. 1 Ohio State at Noon on FOX.
With Styles out, the Buckeyes could turn a few different directions in the secondary. They could move Jermaine Mathews Jr. into the slot and bring true freshman and former five-star recruit Devin Sanchez into the game. They could also bring Aaron Scott on — or even bring Bryce West into the slot equation.
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With Houston out, Ohio State has a hole at three-technique defensive tackle behind starter Tywone Malone, meaning other defensive tackles will need to step into larger roles. Veterans Will Smith Jr. and Jason Moore, as well as freshman Jarquez Carter, will likely enter the game with a larger spotlight.
The full availability report from the program is now confirmed, making note that Ohio State doesn’t detail injury or disciplinary matters.
Questionable for Ohio State
N/A
Out
DT Eddrick Houston
TE Max Leblanc
QB/RB Mason Maggs
DT Eric Mensah
WR Bryson Rodgers
RB Anthony ‘Turbo’ Rogers
DT Maxwell Roy
SAF DeShawn Stewart
DB Lorenzo Styles Jr.
DT Ahmen Tounkara
WR Preston Wolfe
Ohio State at Illinois game information
Date: Saturday, Oct. 11
Time: 12 p.m, ET
Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
TV: FOX
Stream: FOX
On The Call — FOX
Play-by-Play: Gus Johnson
Analyst: Joel Klatt
Reporter: Jenny Taft
On The Call — Ohio State Sports Network from LEARFIELD
Play-by-Play: Paul Keels
Analyst: Jim Lachey
Reporter: Tyler Danburg