Ryan Day expects Josh Proctor to start against Western Kentucky: 'He'll play a lot'

Ohio State safety Josh Proctor missed last weekend’s game against Youngstown State. However, Ryan Day says he will be back when the Buckeyes face Western Kentucky this weekend.

The sixth-year senior had four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in Week 1 at Indiana, prior to going down with an injury.

He was replaced in the lineup by freshman Malik Hartford last week, but Proctor is set to regain his starting spot this weekend.

“He’ll be available and he’ll play a lot,” Day said. “He’ll be there [at free safety], and we’ll still rotate guys. But Joshua will be there and he’ll plan on starting at this point.”

Josh Proctor has appeared in 43 games during his time at Ohio State after signing with the Buckeyes in the class of 2018. He has started 10 games.

Last season, Proctor appeared in 11 games and made four starts. He totaled 21tackles and a pair of pass breakups as the Buckeyes came just a few points away from reaching the national championship game.

Ohio State is once again a national title contender in 2023. The Buckeyes are 2-0 and ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll entering Saturday’s matchup with Western Kentucky. We should have a better idea of just how good Ohio State is on Sept. 23 when the Buckeyes play at Notre Dame.

Western Kentucky set to have preseason All-American wide receiver Malachi Corley back in action against Ohio State

Ohio State isn’t the only team getting healthier ahead of Saturday’s game.

Western Kentucky is set to have preseason All-American receiver Malachi Corley back this weekend, according to Matt Zenitz of On3.

Corley left Western Kentucky’s Week 1 win over USF with an injury and didn’t play this past weekend during the Hilltoppers’ victory over Houston Christian. Corley, who is an early-round prospect for next year’s NFL draft, ranked fourth nationally last year with 101 catches and 1,293 receiving yards. His 11 receiving touchdowns were tied for seventh-most nationally. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Corley also ranked first nationally in both yards after the catch with 975 and missed tackles forced with 40.

Corley and WKU QB Austin Reed, who is viewed by NFL scouts as a Day 3 NFL draft prospect, are widely regarded as the top quarterback-wide receiver duo at the Group of Five level.

Led by those two, Western Kentucky ranked seventh in the nation in total offense last year as well as second in passing offense. 

On3’s Matt Zenitz contributed to this story.