Donovan Jackson, Cody Simon will be available for Buckeyes vs. Western Michigan
COLUMBUS — Ohio State may get two of its senior stars back Saturday night against Western Michigan. The Buckeyes are listing them both as available for the matchup Saturday night. Whether they actually play, well, that’s a game-time decision.
The Buckeyes are progressing toward potentially having both starting left guard Donovan Jackson and star middle linebacker Cody Simon in action for the first time this season when they host Western Michigan in primetime (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).
An Ohio State spokesperson confirmed that both will be available.
The full availability report will be released by Ohio State two hours before kickoff.
Asked Tuesday if either will play Saturday, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said both were considered ‘day-to-day.’
“They’re day-to-day right now,” Day said Tuesday. We’re going to see how today goes. Had a good weekend. We’re going to list them as day-to-day.”
Day reiterated that Simon and Jackson are day-to-day on Wednesday night, and he didn’t go any further in what he had to say about the pair of seniors.
In place of Simon, the Buckeyes turned to Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and C.J. Hicks as a three-man rotation. All three had their bright moments, but they’ll certainly be a better unit when Simon returns to action.
Reese was a standout, and he’ll continue to play a lot — even when Simon returns to action.
In place of Jackson, Ohio State turned to redshirt freshman offensive lineman Austin Siereveld as the team’s starting left guard. Day and the staff liked some of what Siereveld did despite it being his first start.
But now both will be available Saturday night for the primetime tilt against the Broncos a week before the Buckeyes have an idle week. Whether Cody Simon and Donovan Jackson play, however, is a different question.
The full availability report from the program is now confirmed, making note that Ohio State doesn’t detail injury or disciplinary matters.
Ohio State availability report
Questionable
None
Out
OL Devontae Armstrong
DB Jayden Bonsu
WR Reis Stocksdale
RB TC Caffey (season)
