Published Nov 27, 2021
Egbuka returns, Banks, Teague out as Ohio State takes on Michigan
Colin Gay  •  DottingTheEyes
Managing Editor
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@ColinGay_Rivals

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After missing the Michigan State game with an undisclosed injury, Ohio State freshman wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is set to return to the field Saturday as the Buckeyes take on Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Ohio State will be without 19 players when it takes on the Wolverines on the road, including senior cornerback Sevyn Banks, who was listed as a game-time decision ahead of last week's matchup with the Spartans and did not see the field, and linebacker Cade Kacherski, who suffered what head coach Ryan Day called a "long-term" injury in kickoff coverage last weekend.

After playing 35 snaps against Michigan State, leading all Ohio State rushers with 95 yards and a rushing touchdown on 21 carries, redshirt junior Master Teague III will not be available for the fourth time this season, not taking the field against Indiana, Penn State or Purdue

Banks will not be the only player Ohio State's missing in its secondary.

Redshirt senior Demario McCall, who played 15 snaps at cornerback last weekend in Banks' absence, will not be available.

Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Miller III will also not be available for the first time this season. Miller was reinstated to the football team prior to the Michigan State game after a charge for operating a vehicle while impaired was reduced to reckless operation.

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Here's Ohio State's full injury report ahead of its matchup with Michigan:

Unavailable

WR Kamryn Babb

CB Sevyn Banks

RB Marcus Crowley

S Jantzen Dunn

DE Tyler Friday

LB Palaie Gaoteote IV

DL Darrion Henry-Young

CB Jakailin Johnson

S Jaylen Johnson

LB Cade Kacherski

CB Demario McCall

DT Jaden McKenzie

LB Mitchell Melton

OL Harry Miller

QB Jack Miller III

DL Noah Potter

S Josh Proctor

TE Gee Scott Jr.

RB Master Teague III

Here's what it means for Ohio State 

Ohio State's defensive backfield is wearing thin.

Without either Banks or McCall, Ohio State will be forced to lean on two redshirt freshmen — Lejond Cavazos and Ryan Watts — to back up Cameron Brown and Denzel Burke at cornerback Saturday.

The Buckeyes running back room remains thin as well, leaving freshman TreVeyon Henderson and redshirt freshman Miyan Williams to do the heavy lifting, while freshman Evan Pryor is waiting in the wings if Ohio State needs the depth.

Ohio State's linebacker room got even smaller with the long-term loss of Kacherski and Gaoteote, leaving only Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Simon and Teradja Mitchell to carry the load, along with Reid Carrico and Ryan Batsch.

Without Miller, freshman Kyle McCord will continue to serve as the primary backup to redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud. Freshman Quinn Ewers played two snaps against Michigan State in his collegiate debut.

No. 2 Ohio State takes on No. 5 Michigan at noon.

(Photo by SGR)