College football is finally back and the Ohio State Buckeyes are on a quest for the ninth National Championship in program history. First up on the schedule is the Akron Zips out of the MAC.
The Buckeyes have a loaded roaster and expect to send a large number to the NFL following the season. For Akron, however, the Buckeyes will be without seven total players, including a pair of big-time starters:
OL Devontae Armstrong
S Jayden Bonsu
DL Cade Casto
RB TC Caffey
OG Donovan Jackson
LB Cody Simon
WR Reis Stocksdale
Ohio State Availability Report: Buckeyes to be Without Jackson, Simon, Five Others
Missing both Jackson and Simon will be critical for the Buckeye as they look to start off the season 1-0. Jackson had started 26 games in a row at left guard and has a number of preseason accolades to his name.
Simon was recently voted as captain and was given the “Block O” jersey. He is one of the leaders of a Buckeye defense that is expected to be among the elites in all of college football.
The Buckeyes could use both C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles at the two linebacker spots as they are both considered first-team players by the coaching staff. Additionally, Arvell Reese and Gabe Powers have solid camps and will get time in the rotation.
The only other notable name for this game is Caffey, but his absence is not a surprise due to his season-ending injury suffered during camp.
More than likely, the Ohio State availability report listing two starters against Akron will not impact the game very much. Ohio State enters the game as a 50.5-point favorite and it hasn’t lost a game to the Zips since 1894. Two NFL teams – the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders – are in attendance for the numerous NFL-bound Buckeyes on both sides of the ball.
