For the first time this season, Ohio State is absent a starter entering a football game.
Starting nickel Lorenzo Styles Jr. is listed as out on the Buckeyes' availability report entering their contest against Illinois on Saturday. Eddrick Houston, a rotational piece at defensive tackle, is also out against the Fighting Illini. Backup slot receiver Bryson Rodgers remains out with injury.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR MINNESOTA |
|---|
| Out |
|
DT Eddrick Houston TE Max LeBlanc QB Mason Maggs DT Eric Mensah WR Bryson Rodgers RB Anthony "Turbo" Rogers DT Maxwell Roy S Deshawn Stewart DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. DT Ahmed Tounkara WR Preston Wolfe |
Styles allowed one big catch against Ohio in Week 3 but has otherwise been as dependable as a good pair of jeans at the notoriously difficult nickel position. Outside that 67-yard touchdown he allowed to Bobcat wideout Chase Hendricks, he's given up 59 yards in 16 targets in pass coverage per Pro Football Focus, just 3.7 yards per target. He has 17 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup this season.
Regular outside cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. will likely slide inside to replace Styles at nickel, as he did in the Ohio game after Styles left with an injury in the second half and didn't return. Freshman Devin Sanchez has been the Buckeyes' extra cornerback in dime packages and projects to make his first career start at outside corner, though redshirt freshman Aaron Scott Jr. has built momentum recently and could also see playing time. Both are five-star prospects.
Houston, a sophomore, opened the season as Ohio State's starting 3-technique defensive tackle but struggled with consistency and penalties before getting replaced in the starting lineup by redshirt senior Tywone Malone Jr. He's still rotated in frequently, playing 17 snaps in one of his better outings last week against Minnesota. He has five tackles on the season.
Freshman Jarquez Carter and redshirt sophomore Jason Moore, who recently returned from injury himself, are next in line at the 3-tech position. Backup nose guard Will Smith Jr. could also see playing time at 3-technique in addition to his duties spelling starting nose guard Kayden McDonald.
Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. left the game against the Gophers with an injury but was confirmed as available by Ryan Day on Friday and did not appear on the Buckeyes' injury report.
