Ohio State starting defensive tackle Tyleik Williams is unavailable for Saturday’s nonconference game against Marshall.
Williams was listed as out on the availability report the Buckeyes submitted to the Big Ten ahead of kickoff. It did not specify the nature of any injury or illness.
The absence leaves them without one of their top defensive linemen. His 1.5 sacks are tied with J.T. Tuimoloau for the most among the Buckeyes through two games.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) pursues Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley (10) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
In a season that earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior last fall, Williams led all Ohio State linemen with 53 tackles and also leads them with nine this year.
The size of 327-pound tackle has made him a challenge to block for opposing interior offensive linemen.
In place of Williams, the Buckeyes figure to look for either Kayden McDonald or Hero Kanu to start alongside Ty Hamilton.
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While Kanu is the most experienced returning reserve defensive tackle, McDonald has also impressed the staff and played 31 snaps in the wins over Akron and Western Michigan, nearly twice as many as the reserve interior linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. Kanu has logged 16.
“K-Mac has been doing a great job since he got here, even on scout team, giving our offense fits,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “We’ve been expecting him to have a breakout year.”
A 6-foot-3, 326-pound sophomore from suburban Atlanta, McDonald made three tackles and broke up a pass two weeks ago against the Broncos.
Returning from an idle week, the Buckeyes are largely healthy. Williams is the only scholarship player unavailable against Marshall.
Donovan Jackson, the starting left guard who was out for the first two weeks with an undisclosed injury, remains on track to make his season debut.
Jayden Bonsu, a redshirt freshman safety, and Devontae Armstrong, a freshman offensive lineman, are also available for the first time.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State defensive tackle, out against Marshall
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Publish date : 2024-09-21 02:01:00
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