Availability Report: Two Buckeye Starters Out For Season Opener

COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes will be without starting middle linebacker Cody Simon and starting left guard Donovan Jackson today when they open the 2024 season against the University of Akron.

Both players have been limited recently in practice, though OSU head coach Ryan Day said on Wednesday that there were no long-term injuries on the team aside from running back TC Caffey.

Simon was voted a team captain and was awarded the coveted Block O jersey this season for the Buckeyes. Without him, it will be interesting to see where defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and linebackers coach James Laurinaitis turn.

Redshirt sophomore Gabe Powers and true sophomore Arvell Reese have gotten plenty of reps at middle linebacker in preseason practice. Reese has earned some rave reviews throughout the month of August.

Knowles also said last week that starting Will linebacker Sonny Styles has the capability of playing middle linebacker as well. Could Styles pair with CJ Hicks, whom Knowles said he viewed as a starter?

Regardless of who starts at middle linebacker, the good news is that they’ll be making their first start in the middle as part of a team that is favored by seven touchdowns. There are much worse ways to make a first start in such a critical position.

Donovan Jackson, meanwhile, was expected to be one of four returning starters on the offensive line this year. His replacement this week is not yet known, but the two most-likely candidates are redshirt freshman Austin Siereveld and redshirt sophomore Carson Hinzman. Both players have taken reps with the ones this month. Hinzman, of course, was the Buckeyes’ starting center last year.

Again, neither Simon nor Jackson are expected to be out for an extended period of time.

The full availability report is listed below.

Questionable
None

Out
OL Devontae Armstrong
SAF Jayden Bonsu
DE Cade Casto
LG Donovan Jackson
LB Cody Simon
WR Reis Stocksdale
RB TC Caffey (season)