Ohio State looks to finish its season on a high note in the Rose Bowl, but it will have to do so shorthanded against Utah, who will present a tough matchup for the Buckeyes.
And they won’t be the only notable unavailable players for the Buckeyes. Four other Ohio State players who started at least six games on defense this season – defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson, linebacker Cody Simon, cornerback Sevyn Banks and safety Marcus Williamson – were all absent from practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday, making it appear unlikely that any of them will be available to play against Utah.
“The guys have had a good month of practice, and we’ll move forward with the guys we have,” Ryan Day said. “I know there’s still a bunch of guys that want to play really well in this game.” And no one is questioning how motivated the Utes are to play in the Rose Bowl, which is being considered one of the biggest games in Utah football history. They’re expected to have a much more well-stocked roster in Pasadena, too, as zero Utah players have opted out of the game.
“I certainly think that this game is important for our team,” Day said. “I know that the guys who are playing in their last game want to finish with the lasting image of a victory in the Rose Bowl. And the younger guys, they want an opportunity to go get some momentum going into next year.”Because Wilson and Olave won’t be playing, there’s only one sure-fire first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft who will be playing in the Rose Bowl, and he’ll be playing on Utah’s defense.
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