The undefeated Buckeyes are gaining some ammunition heading into the postseason. Fourth-year defensive end C.J. Hicks, who announced he is redshirting this season after Ohio State’s 42-3 win over Minnesota on Oct. 4, is able to play for the Buckeyes in the postseason. NCAA rules allow players to play in up to four games, while preserving their eligibility with a redshirt, but postseason games are exempt from that four-game limitation, meaning Hicks can go back in the rotation for the Buckeyes now that postseason play is underway.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on Tuesday that Hicks may earn playing time for Ohio State in the postseason.
“He has to get back to practicing with the defense and on special teams and kind of get going this week and get back in the mix,” Day said. “He’s been on the scout team and had a good energy and a good work ethic.
“I thought he did a really good job last week, and some of the success some of our offensive line had against their edge rushers (was because of) some of the work that C.J. did against our tackles. He gave great effort and had a good attitude this whole run. We’ll get him back out on the field and figure out where he might fit in.”
Hicks is certainly not short on talent. Out of high school, he was ranked as a top-10 recruit nationally, but has struggled to make an impact so far at Ohio State. Hicks came into Columbus as a linebacker, but earned limited playing time in his first three years with the team.
He switched to defensive end ahead of this year and made six total tackles and registered a quarterback hurry before redshirting.
