After arriving in New Orleans yesterday, Ohio State held its first Sugar Bowl practice early Sunday morning. The fourth-ranked Buckeyes play Alabama Thursday night as part of the College Football Playoff semifinals. 

Practice Notes:

• Sophomore H-back Dontre Wilson was not out with the team this morning. Wilson, who has been recovering from foot surgery for the last two months, has a "50-50" chance to play against the Crimson Tide, head coach Urban Meyer said. 
• Jeff Greene, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound transfer from Georgia Tech, wore a crimson No. 9 practice jersey which, presumably, is to simulate Alabama wide receiver and Heisman Trophy finalist Amari Cooper. 
• Quarterback Cardale Jones spent the first 10 minutes of practice lobbing deep passes to the team's crew of wide receivers, including Devin Smith and Michael Thomas.