Denzel Burke expected to play for Buckeyes against Wisconsin
MADISON, Wisc. — Ohio State coach Ryan Day already made it clear that he expected one of his offensive star players back in action on Saturday against Wisconsin.
Now the Buckeyes are reportedly getting a defensive star back in the lineup for the road trip to Madison, as well.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Saturday morning that Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke is expected to suit up and play for the Buckeyes against Wisconsin. Lettermen Row sources indicated the same sentiment Saturday morning.
“Feel good about the guys that are on the trip,” Day told reporters who met the Buckeyes at the team hotel on Friday. “And who’s going to play on Saturday, so I feel like we’re getting a bunch of guys back,”
Burke is one of them for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State was able to beat Penn State last weekend without Burke, who has been one of the best cornerbacks in all of college football this season. Freshman cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. stepped in for Burke last week in the win over Penn State — and he performed well.
But the Buckeyes would certainly prefer to have their star Burke back in the lineup. And they’re reportedly expected to get him back for the latest Ohio State test.
Ohio State also expecting TreVeyon Henderson back
Star running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has been out for a month, is also expected back for Ohio State. Henderson last played in the win over Notre Dame on Sept. 23, when he topped the 100-yard mark and scored a touchdown.
The Buckeyes running game has struggled both with Henderson and without him in action. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Thursday on his radio show that the Buckeyes back is ‘full go’ and will play against Wisconsin.
It lines up with what Day said Wednesday night about getting key players back.
“Got a bunch of guys back, which is great,” Day said Wednesday night. “When you say full, I mean, there’s still be some different things here and there. But it certainly does help. And no, it’s hard when you go through a week and you’re not quite sure. Because you know, you put things in, take things out. But we feel like we’ve had a good week of practice. We’re gonna get some guys back this week, which we feel great about. And it has been a solid week of practice.
“Looking forward to getting some guys back into the fold.”
Other injury updates
Burke and Henderson are both expected in action. But the status of star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka remains the biggest question mark heading into Saturday.
He hasn’t played since the Buckeyes win over Maryland, but Egbuka warmed up last week and did dress for the game, but he did not play. His status is something Lettermen Row will be monitoring throughout the day up until kickoff.
