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Baron Browning gearing up to return, boost Ohio State defense

Austin-Wardby:Austin Ward•10/23/19•

AWardSports

Baron Browning 2 Birm:Lettermen Row

COLUMBUS — If Baron Browning hasn’t been at home, his Ohio State roommate has a pretty good idea where to find him lately.

For the last couple weeks while dealing with an injury that has put his breakout season on a brief hiatus, Browning has essentially been taking up a second residence in the training room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. And if that costs Malik Harrison some time with his buddy away from the field, he can certainly live with that if it means his fellow linebacker will be back on it this week against Wisconsin.

At this point, all signs are indicating that the play-making junior will return from his one-week absence due to what Lettermen Row sources have called a minor groin injury. And considering the challenge ahead of the Buckeyes as they gear up for the Badgers and one of the nation’s best rushing attacks, a healthy Browning could be a big deal.

“It means a lot, you know, just having another presence out there,” Harrison said. “Baron is a great player, so having him out there, we’re excited.

“He’s my roommate, so I’ve noticed like every day that he’s been in the training room early — 6 a.m., he’s there. He’s trying to get back. And he was the same way last week. He was trying to play last week, but it just didn’t go his way. He’s really been in the training room.”

Browning was on the practice field in uniform on Wednesday night, another suggestion that he’s close to full speed and potentially ready to contribute against the Badgers. The fourth-leading tackler at Ohio State was nearly a game-time decision last week at Northwestern before he was officially ruled out and left off the travel roster, so the issue was never supposed to be a long-term ailment.

But with an off date and then an extra week’s worth of early mornings to spend with the medical staff, Browning would appear to be on track to help bolster the rush defense and pick back up where he left off with 5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks already this season.

“Baron Browning is an outstanding athlete,” Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. “He’s very, very strong, he’s got experience, he plays extremely hard — he does what a great linebacker is expected to do.

“He’s a very big part of our defense.”

The final decision hasn’t been made yet, but it would appear that Baron Browning is on track to get back to work with his roommate and the rest of the Buckeyes.

Malik Harrison and a handful of Ohio State players chatted with the media after practice on Wednesday night at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Harrison was joined by Pete Werner, Robert Landers, Justin Fields, Branden Bowen and K.J. Hill for interviews, and video of those press conferences will be posted here and on the Lettermen Row YouTube channel.

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