When Ohio State and Virginia Tech square off a little more than a month from now in a highly-anticipated season opener, the reigning-champion Buckeyes will be missing some important contributors.
Ohio State announced Thursday it has suspended four players from the September 7th opener against the Hokies, including 2014’s defensive player of the year Joey Bosa.
By Cory Burrell
The other three suspended Buckeyes are sophomore halfback Jalin Marshall, junior halfback Dontre Wilson, and senior wide receiver Corey Smith.
According to the official statement, the four players were suspended for “violating Department of Athletics policy,” but ESPN’s Joe Schad reported the violation somehow involved marijuana and academics.
Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer, present for the start of Big Ten Media Days Thursday afternoon, told the Northeast Ohio Media Group and Canton Repository he knew about the suspensions for the players “for a while” before they became official and said the program plans to deal with the violations “with honesty.”
“It’s a college mistake, whether it’s social or academic, whatever it is, it’s not a character indictment,” Meyer said. “It’s not the first time a program has dealt with stuff. We try to educate and create a culture where stuff is not part of it.”
Bosa is one of the top defensive players, as well as one of the top players overall, in college football this year. Last year Bosa led a stalwart Buckeye’s defense, recording 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, good for fifth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in both categories. Bosa’s turnovers led, either directly or indirectly, to 37 Ohio State points. If Bosa, a junior this season, declares for the NFL draft following this year, he could be one of the first defensive players to be taken.
Marshall, while not quite as impactful as Bosa, was a versatile part of the Buckeye’s passing game last season. As a true freshman last season, Marshall accumulated 499 yards (third-best on the team) and six receiving touchdowns along with 145 rushing yard and a rushing touchdown. He also did remarkable well on special teams, totaling 283 punt return yard and returning one punt for a score.
Wilson, a junior and fellow halfback, added 400 yard from scrimmage and three scores last season, while Smith, a senior, chipped in 255 receiving yards for the fifth-highest scoring offense in the country last season.
Meyer said all four players will be back on the team and in good standing immediately following their one-game suspensions.
The suspensions will make a season opener against Virginia Tech even more interesting than expected; The Hokies handed Ohio State their first and only loss of the 2014 season last year in the Buckeye’s second game of the season. Virginia Tech never trailed en route to a 35-21 victory. The win became more impressive (and baffling) as the season went on; Ohio State went on to become national champions, while Virginia Tech barely managed to finish the season above .500 with a 7-6 record.
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