Two players leave Ohio State
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two Ohio State football careers came to an end on Wednesday when the school officially announced that linebacker Conner Crowell and offensive lineman Joey O'Connor will no longer be a part of the football program.
While O'Connor, who redshirted as a freshman in 2012 after undergoing microfracture knee surgery in August, will transfer to be closer to his home of Windsor, Colo., it appears as though Crowell's college career is coming to an end.
The Ohio State medical staff will not clear Crowell, who just wrapped up his redshirt season with the Buckeyes, after the 6-foot-1, 233-pound linebacker underwent a second surgery on an ankle that he injured while playing at North Point high school in Waldorf, Md. A reserve linebacker last season, Crowell recorded one tackle in three games in 2012.
With 59 players currently expected to return next season and 22 verbal commits in its 2013 recruiting class, the departures of Crowell and O'Connor leaves Ohio State with 81 of its 82 available scholarships spoken for next season. The Buckeyes had been docked three scholarships for the 2013 season as a result of NCAA violations committed by former head coach Jim Tressel and members of OSU's 2010 team.
With until late August to get to its 82 scholarship limit, more attrition is possible- and perhaps likely- for the Buckeyes between now and then.
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