Ohio State star running back to miss game against Georgia
When Georgia takes on Ohio State later this month, the Bulldogs were already going to be taking on a shorthanded Buckeyes team without star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Now, Ryan Day’s squad will also be without running back TreVeyon Henderson. The sophomore announced on social media that he would miss the game, and according to The Columbus Dispatch, it’s because he’s having foot surgery.
Henderson was a Freshman All-American during his first season with the team and a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection. He rushed for the second-most yards in Ohio State history by a freshman last season totaling 1,248 yards on the ground including a school freshman-record 270 yards against Tulsa. Overall, Henderson, who was a a five-star and the No. 1 running back coming out of high school in the Class of 2021, found the end zone 19 times which ranks eight-most in a single season in school history and most among freshmen.
Headed into 2022, Henderson was considered to be a big part of the Ohio State offense. With a 1-2 punch of him and Smith-Njigba, along with Heisman Trophy finalist CJ Stroud and the other talented weapons that the Buckeyes brought to the table, Ohio State was looked at as one of the most talented teams in the country and a threat to win it all. They’ve put themselves in a situation where they can still do that, but it hasn’t been because of Henderson or Smith-Njigba. Combined the two played in just 11 games and totaled 642 yards from scrimmage. Henderson alone had 571 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground, adding 28 receiving yards and a single score there, playing through a fracture and a torn ligament in his left foot. He missed the Rutgers game on October 1st before not playing in three of the last four for the Buckeyes including their 45-23 loss to Michigan in the regular season finale.
Ohio State has done just fine without their stars however. Stroud was once again a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing third in final voting, while Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka have combined for 2,196 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns as each has gone over the 1,000-yard mark individually. Ohio State also has former five-star Julian Fleming as one of the top options for the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense.
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Meanwhile, on the ground, junior Miyan Williams and freshman Dallan Hayden have emerged as the top options. Williams rushed for 817 yards and 13 scores on 125 carries while Hayden had 510 yards and five touchdowns on 102 attempts. Hayden’s season including back-to-back 100-yard outings against Indiana and Maryland, a game in which Williams did not play. Williams on the other hand had back-to-back 100-yard days against Northwestern and Indiana, as well as Wisconsin and Rutgers earlier in the season. In the win over the Scarlet Knights, Williams scored five times. He too has battled injuries as of late and was limited to 34 yards on eight carries against Michigan.
Georgia and Ohio State square off for just the second time in history on December 31st in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with a spot in the College Football Playoff Championship Game on the line. The only other meeting came in the 1993 Citrus Bowl where Georgia won 21-14 behind a big day from Garrison Hearst.
