Ryan Day updates on status of Buckeyes center Harry Miller

A key leader on the Ohio State offensive line will be available this weekend against Rutgers for the first time this season. 

Harry Miller, a junior center who started seven games on the offensive line last year, missed the first four games of the 2021 with unspecified health issues. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced Thursday on the “Coach Day Radio Show” that he is back with the team and could play this weekend, although it is unclear if he will start.

“Good to get Harry back this week, back into the mix of things,” Day said. “We’re going to ease him back into it, but great to have him back.”

In 2019, the then-true freshman worked his way to the back-up center position after coming to Columbus as the second-best center in his recruiting class, per 247Sports. Last season, the Buckeyes had one of the most dangerous rushing attacks in the country, averaging 256.7 yards per game on the ground, which was eighth in the country.

Young talent stepped up in Miller’s absence

While Miller was away from the team, redshirt freshman Luke Wypler — who would love for you to learn the correct pronunciation of his name — started in his place. Wypler found out he would be starting against Minnesota in Ohio State’s opener just a few days before the Buckeyes were set to take the field in Minneapolis with one of the youngest offenses in the country, equipped with a new starting quarterback.

Overall, he played well. While he made a few mistakes symptomatic of a first-time starter, the Buckeyes offense held it together on the way to a 45-31 opening victory. Wypler has been No. 1 on the depth chart to this point, and the 3-1 Buckeyes are averaging 559.3 yards per game, second nationally. 

On Saturday, a strong Ohio State rushing attack led by true freshman phenom TreVeyon Henderson will face the Big Ten’s top run defense in Piscataway. Rutgers is allowing 150 rushing yards per game.

In total, Rutgers has the third-best scoring defense in the Big Ten to date, giving up just 13.5 points per contest in what has been one of the more dramatic program turnarounds in the last few years. Head coach Greg Schiano returned for the second year of his second stint with the Scarlet Knights, and the 3-1 team is a solid, disciplined unit capable of hanging with almost anyone. 

Ohio State is a 15-point favorite in the contest which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.