During Ryan Day’s weekly press conference on Tuesday, the Ohio State head coach gave updates on the status of multiple of the Buckeyes’ key contributors who were banged up in weeks prior.
On Caleb Downs’ podcast “Downs 2 Business” on Monday, Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who missed Ohio State’s last outing against Rutgers and the entire second half against UCLA, said that he’ll be ready to go for Ohio State’s matchup with Michigan on Saturday.
However, when Day was asked about the status of Smith, as well as fellow wideout Carnell Tate, who has been inactive since Ohio State’s 34-10 win over Purdue on Nov. 8, the head coach simply said the pair was working their hardest to play against Michigan.
“They’re doing everything they can to play in the game,” Day said. “We’ll see how today goes, but they’re working really, really hard to get back on the field.”
Ohio State’s star wideouts, Tate and Smith, aren’t the only Buckeyes who are working to get back onto the field.
Offensive lineman Josh Padilla went down late in Ohio State’s 38-14 win over Penn State on Nov. 1, and has since been absent on the Buckeyes front line.
“We’ll see how practice goes this week and see how he looks on the practice field, then make a decision from there,” Day said. “I think it just depends on how healthy he is.”
Finally, Day said nickel back Lorenzo Styles is continuing to work his way back to full strength and remains a crucial piece of Ohio State’s defense.
Day said that although Styles’ experience is critical, the staff is confident in the depth behind him — including freshman cornerback Devin Sanchez, who shifted to outside cornerback while Jermaine Mathews Jr. slid to nickel and has shown he can step in when called upon.
However, in the win over Rutgers, it was Bryce West who came in when Styles was out of the game, serving at the nickel in Matt Patricia’s defense.
