Report: Linebackers Jerome Baker, Dante Booker Out Against Michigan State

By James Grega on November 11, 2017 at 9:40 am
Jerome Baker
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According to a report from Patrick Murphy of 247Sports, Ohio State will be without linebackers Jerome Baker and Dante Booker against Michigan State on Saturday. 

An Ohio State spokesman did not immediately confirm the report to Eleven Warriors, but neither player was present for the team's entrance into Ohio Stadium on Saturday morning.

Ohio State's linebackers visibly struggled against Iowa last week, when Hawkeye tight ends combined for nine catches for 125 yards and two scores in a 55-24 thrashing of the Buckeyes last week. 

If Baker and Booker can't go, their likely replacements would be sophomores Malik Harrison and Keandre Jones. Harrison has seen time with the first team defense in passing situations this season, and enters the Michigan State contest with 21 total tackles on the season. Jones has played mostly in mop-up duty, and has 11 tackles this season. 

Another scenario could be moving Chris Worley to outside linebacker, where he started all 13 games last season for Ohio State and moving Tuf Borland to middle linebacker. Borland started four games at middle linebacker for the Buckeyes this season while Worley missed time with a lower body injury. 

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