Injuries continue to pile up in the Ohio State secondary.
Starting Buckeye nickel safety Tanner McCalister left the field with two trainers in the first quarter and went to the medical tent, and reappeared without his helmet thereafter. McCalister missed Ohio State's Week 3 matchup with an injury, and Ronnie Hickman said this past week that the Oklahoma State transfer has been dealing with a groin issue.
With backup nickel safety Cameron Martinez unavailable against Rutgers on Saturday, McCalister was replaced by true freshman safety Kye Stokes, who entered the weekend with just 22 snaps played for the Buckeyes.
Three of Ohio State's top four safeties have missed at least one game due to injury this season, with McCalister, Josh Proctor and Lathan Ransom all dealing with ailments in the first five weeks.
Ohio State is also shorthanded at cornerback, where veteran starter Cameron Brown was ruled unavailable for the second straight week after suffering an injury in the first half against Toledo. Denzel Burke returned Saturday after suffering a hand injury that forced him to sit out against Wisconsin, but Ohio State is still without No. 3 corner Jordan Hancock, who continues to deal with an injury from the preseason.
