Jonathon Cooper, Tyreke Smith, Robert Landers unavailable on Miami (OH) depth chart/availability report

It now looks like the Ohio State Buckeyes are targeting Sept. 28’s game on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers as the game to potentially bring back defensive end, senior captain Jonathon Cooper. For the last few weeks, reports have come out that he has been practicing following an procedure to deal with a high ankle sprain, but, for the fourth week in a row to start the season, he is listed as unavailable for Saturday’s contest against the Miami-Ohio Redhawks.

With another presumed blowout on tap, it makes sense for the coaching staff to give Cooper another week to recuperate before they put him into a game, but he will not be the only defensive lineman out of the game on Saturday. On Thursday, head coach Ryan Day said on his radio show that what kept sophomore defensive end Tyreke Smith out of the second half against Indiana was not either precaution, or a flair up of the previous injury that had kept him out of action the first week of the season.

Then on Friday when the depth chart and availability report were released, the star-in-the-making was listed as unavailable. As OSU is now pretty tight-lipped on injuries, there’s no word as to whether this is out of an abundance of caution with the Huskers looming or not, but a new injury is not a good thing for a player who has looked very impressive in the early games of the season.

Also on the defensive line, sophomore defensive tackle Taron Vincent is again unavailable. He has not suited up yet in 2019, and there does not appear to be any indications that he will return any time soon. Senior defensive tackles Robert Landers and Noah Donald are also out this week.

Senior captain wide receiver C.J. Saunders remains out, as do red-shirt freshman wide receiver Kamryn Babb and freshman safety Ronnie Hickman. Sophomore cornerback Cameron Brown will be a game-time decision.

With the defensive line turning into a M*A*S*H* unit, sophomore Tyler Friday and true-freshman Zach Harrison are listed as the co-starters at end opposite Chase Young. Davon Hamilton and Jashon Cornell will start inside. Justin Hilliard is now listed as the back-up at the Will linebacker position behind Pete Werner.

Check out the full depth chart for Saturday’s game: