Buckeyes star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka questionable for Penn State game
COLUMBUS — Emeka Egbuka didn’t make the trip to Purdue last week, sitting out a game with the hopes of returning for the clash between Ohio State and Penn State this week.
His time off may pay off. Egbuka is officially listed as questionable for the Buckeyes in their massive showdown against the Nittany Lions slated for Saturday at Noon. He’ll be a game-time decision for Ohio State as it faces one of the top defenses in the country.
Egbuka has 22 catches for 303 yards and three receiving touchdowns this season after going over the 1,000-yard mark for the Buckeyes prolific offense last year.
Ohio State didn’t disclose what Egbuka’s injury is, the issue suffered during the second half of the win over Maryland on Oct. 7. But fellow star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. did say Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center during his media availability that both he and Egbuka were dealing with ankle problems.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day, meanwhile, was hopeful that all of his injured playmakers would be back on Saturday.
“Not going to get into all those guys,” Day said. “But we’re hopeful we’ll have all of those guys.”
Day remains hopeful the Buckeyes will have one of their stud wide receivers back from off the shelf. Emeka Egbuka is officially a game-time decision, listed as questionable for Ohio State in the massive clash with rival Penn State.
TreVeyon Henderson upgraded to questionable
Ohio State star running back TreVeyon Henderson was originally ruled out, but he has been upgraded to questionable.
He hasn’t played since the win over Notre Dame on Sept. 23, even though Day has said prior to each of the three games following that win that Henderson should be good to go for the next game. Henderson has warmed up pregame in each of those three games — but hasn’t dressed for any of them.
Now he’s questionable for the third straight game.
Denzel Burke out for Penn State clash
While the Buckeyes are waiting on the status of Egbuka, they already know they’ll be without star cornerback Denzel Burke.
Denzel Burke, who was named a midseason All-American earlier this week. Burke left in the second half of the Buckeyes win at Purdue last week, first going to the medical tent before heading to the locker room. He did not return.
Other availability report notes
Tight end Joe Royer is out for the Buckeyes with an undisclosed issue.
Freshman defensive lineman Will Smith Jr. is still out for the Buckeyes, as are sophomore wide receiver Kyion Grayes and fourth-year defender Kourt Williams II. Williams is expected to miss the entire season with a knee injury sustained during the preseason.
The full availability report from the program is now confirmed, making note that Ohio State doesn’t detail injury or disciplinary matters.
Questionable for Ohio State
WR Emeka Egbuka
RB Treveyon Henderson
Out for Buckeyes
WR Nolan Baudo
DB Denzel Burke
RB Timothy Caffey
WR Kyion Grayes
TE Zak Herbstreit
TE Joe Royer
DL Will Smith Jr.
WR Reis Stocksdale
DB/LB Kourt Williams
