Josh Proctor 'should be ready to go' for Buckeyes against Minnesota
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is getting one of its safeties back for the home finale — and a week before the rivalry showdown.
Buckeyes starting safety Josh Proctor will be back on the field and is ready to go for Ohio State this weekend against Minnesota (4 p.m., Big Ten Network). Proctor was injured in the game at Rutgers two weeks ago and missed the Buckeyes game last weekend against Michigan State.
“He should be ready to go for Saturday,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Thursday on his 97.1 The Fan radio show. “Which is a great boost to our defense.”
Proctor has been a revelation for the Ohio State defense this season, producing his best year during his final year of eligibility. He has started eight games for the Buckeyes this season and is one of the best members of the secondary.
Of course, this is especially good news for the Buckeyes on the back end after Day announced Lathan Ransom is out for the rest of the regular season this week. And it’s good news for Proctor to be back on the field a week before Ohio State takes on Michigan in the rivalry game.
Without Proctor, Ohio State has seen young talents get on the field and impress.
“It was great to see some guys step up,” Day said. “You never know how this thing’s going to shake out. You have to have guys play. Even at the end of the game, we’re able to get some guys some reps. Those are precious reps because you just never know when guys are going to have to be put in those situations.”
Proctor is going to be back Saturday for his Senior Day, though. And he’ll give Ohio State a big boost in the secondary to end the regular season.
Latest on Lathan Ransom
The Buckeyes will need to win bigger games against better teams without Ransom moving forward. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Ransom still has a chance to return to action this season, but he can’t expect him to be in the lineup against Minnesota this week or at Michigan next week.
A source told Lettermen Row that Ransom could be back for the Buckeyes in the postseason.
This comes after Day finally put a loose timetable on Ransom’s injury Saturday night after the Buckeyes win over Michigan State, when he said Ransom’s issue was more long-term than other injured Buckeyes defensive stars.
Ransom last played in the win over Wisconsin two weeks ago, when he suffered a non-contact injury in the second half of that win in Madison. He did not return to that game and hasn’t played since.
He was spotted on the sideline last Saturday night at the Horseshoe, wearing a walking boot and moving around on a scooter to keep weight off his leg.
