Ryan Day, Buckeyes expect 'full-strength' backfield for Iowa matchup
COLUMBUS — It’s been nearly a month since Ohio State had a full-strength backfield.
The Buckeyes plan on that changing in the upcoming matchup against Iowa.
During his ‘lightning round’ press conference on Thursday afternoon, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he expects both TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams to be ready to go for the Noon kickoff inside the Horseshoe on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s great to have both of those guys back,” Day said Thursday afternoon during his last media appearance before kickoff on Saturday. “I think the bye week really helped both of them, and we’re looking to have a full-strength running back core.”
Day and the Buckeyes have remained quiet on injury updates a week after they were idle this week, but Day did seem optimistic that both of his No. 1 tailbacks will be able to tote the ball for the No. 2 team in the country on Saturday, a welcome sign for the best offense in America.
Henderson missed the Buckeyes blowout win over Rutgers, and Miyan Williams found the end zone five times and rushed for 189 yards in Henderson’s absence.
But just a week later, Henderson was back on the field in his starting role while Williams was scratched from the lineup due to an injury.
Now with a full week off for both of them, the pair of starting running backs are slated to return to the lineup for Ohio State. The country’s top offense is just adding weapons to its loaded stable of talent.
Ryan Day does not update status of Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Buckeyes
Ryan Day did not provide an update on injured star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he did make sure to say he is more confident in the way Smith-Njigba looks this week than he has in weeks past. Smith-Njigba has only played in two games this season — the season-opening win over Notre Dame and then two weeks later against Toledo.
In his absence, Ohio State has leaned on other former five-star prospects to fill in the void. Those playmakers have certainly done that. But inserting Smith-Njigba back into the lineup that already features now-proven weapons such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming and Emeka Egbuka?
The Buckeyes will be even better offensively, believe it or not.
“I think it allows us more depth there, and it takes some stress off of the other guys,” Day said about the idea of getting Smith-Njigba back. “They’ve taken on a lot in these first six games. If, seven weeks ago, you said here’s what’s going to happen, you would have realized that’s a pretty heavy burden for those guys. …. I think they’ve done well and benefitting from that. We all have.
“Getting him back would take some stress off of them. Then we’ll be at full strength.”
