PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

October 30, 2018 at 8:40 pm.

GAME BREAKDOWN

KEY MATCHUP: Ohio State will more than likely try to establish a running game against Nebraska to prove that the offense is not one-dimensional. That means the Buckeyes’ offensive line will have to impose its will against the Cornhuskers’ defensive front on Saturday. That will be the focus, considering Ohio State shouldn’t have a problem throwing the ball. The offensive line’s performance in the red zone and in short-yardage situations also bears watching. Ohio State wants to be able to count on the line in trench battles to pick up first downs on the ground and not always resort to throwing the ball with it needs a yard or two.

DRAFT SLANT

–DT Dre’Mont Jones decided to pass up the 2018 NFL Draft and return for his redshirt junior season at Ohio State. NFLDraftScout.com considers Jones to have first-round potential because of a skill set that includes size and quickness. He was third-team All-Big Ten a year ago and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the week on Sept. 24 after he returned a 28-yard interception for a touchdown in the third quarter against TCU. The 6-foot, 286-pound Jones has six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in eight games this season. With All-American Nick Bosa not coming back after suffering an injury, Jones has a chance to assert himself on Ohio State’s defense and improve his draft stock with big games coming up.

ROSTER REPORT:

–WR Austin Mack is sidelined indefinitely after having foot surgery last week to repair an injury he suffered in the Oct. 20 loss to Purdue.

–CB Damon Arnette missed the Oct. 20 game against Purdue with an undisclosed injury. His status is unknown for Saturday’s game against Nebraska.

–C Brady Taylor is working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery and coach Urban Meyer said more would be known about Taylor’s availability this week. “There’s a chance” that he could play Saturday against Nebraska, Meyer said. The fifth-year senior was the starter coming out of the spring before he was injured during preseason camp.

–OL Branden Bowen is attempting to come back from a leg injury. Coach Urban Meyer said Bowen is not yet at full speed but getting closer to returning.

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