COLUMBUS — Four things we learned from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day on Tuesday.
1. We’ll get Ohio State’s first availability report for Saturday’s game against Iowa on Wednesday night, but Day addressed some injuries before we get that.
Freshman defensive back Jay Timmons exited the Illinois game in the second half with an apparent leg injury. Day said they’ll see what they can get out of Timmons in practice this week. Jermaine Mathews and Jordan Thomas would be next up at nickel. Both played there against Illinois after Timmons left.
Receiver Kyle Parker wasn’t listed as unavailable against the Illini, but he didn’t play. He hasn't seen the field this season. Day said Parker missed most of preseason practice and is just now building rapport with starting quarterback Julian Sayin and the first-team offense.
Right tackle Phillip Daniels has missed the last two games. Day said they’ll see what Daniels can do in practice this week before deciding whether he’ll re-enter the starting lineup, or whether the staff will keep Austin Siereveld at right tackle with Gabe VanSickle at right guard. “Phil did some good things before his injury, but I also think Gabe has really been a bright spot for us in a lot of areas,” Day said. “He’s making it hard, which is a good problem to have. I don’t think right now that he’s done anything to say he doesn’t deserve to play.”
There wasn’t a question about freshman defensive end Zion Grady, who has missed the last two games. Grady did do some warm-up activities with the team prior to the Illinois game.
2. Freshman running back Legend Bey, who appeared to tweak his ankle on the first snap he played against Kent State two weeks ago, also did not play against Illinois. Bey never appeared on the availability report in the week leading up to the Illinois game, and Day said Tuesday that Bey’s absence wasn’t injury-related when asked if Bey might play this week.