Antoni K. Ogumoro Locks His Recruitment Down with Ohio State football…

Antoni K. Ogumoro Locks His Recruitment Down with Ohio State football…

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Ohio State ran for just 64 yards and averaged a season-low 2.1 yards per carry against the Huskers. According to TruMedia, it averaged just 0.79 yards per rush before contact, its fourth-worst mark since 2019. It gave up two sacks and six pressures on quarterback Will Howard as the offense struggled to find its rhythm and went the entire third quarter without a first down.

There have been some changes up front with left tackle Josh Simmons out for the season due to a knee injury. Zen Michalski stepped in for him Saturday, but he struggled mightily until he went down with an injury in the fourth quarter. Michalski, who was on crutches on the sideline, wasn’t the answer, and Ohio State doesn’t have an answer yet as to who will start at left tackle in a potential top-five matchup next Saturday at Penn State, which entered this week ranked third in the FBS in pressure rate.

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Ohio State survives: What does this mean for Buckeyes, Huskers?

Who will replace Michalski? Can that person be good enough to avoid a drop-off elsewhere on the line? Because of its recruiting struggles on the offensive line, Ohio State is not really equipped to even face those questions. Now Ryan Day, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and offensive line coach Justin Frye have to find answers fast because their Big Ten and national championship hopes depend on it.

During preseason camp, Ohio State’s offensive linemen got hit with an illness that went through the entire position group. Coaches spent weeks switching players in and out of the lineup, keeping others at home sick and giving some of the bench players reps against the defensive starters.

Day, as any coach would do, spun that into a positive, saying that it gives the Buckeyes more depth than they initially expected.

“Guys were forced into an early camp and had to respond,” Day said Tuesday.