Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Kourt Williams II suffered a torn ACL in practice, head coach Ryan Day announced Monday.
Williams has had injury-riddled seasons in 2021-22, being limited to six games last season. In practice this offseason, Williams moved from safety to linebacker and began working more with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and graduate assistant James Laurinaitis to try and provide depth behind Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers, Cody Simon and C.J. Hicks.
“I feel awful for Kourt," Day said. "I feel like he can't catch a break. He’s such a great young man and so our prayers are out to him, and we're all rallying around Kourt.”
Williams was named a captain in 2022, but his season was cut short after suffering an early season-ending injury. He recorded four tackles.
The four-star recruit in the class of 2020 played 11 games in 2021 as a rotational piece in the back end of the Buckeyes' secondary with 28 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and a pass break-up.
Williams graduated in May with a degree in communications and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
In addition to the four pieces Ohio State has in the linebacker room, Day said the Buckeyes are still trying to decipher whether class of 2023 four-star Arvell Reese will continue as a linebacker or move to defensive end.
Other depth pieces in the linebacker room include Mitchell Melton, Reid Carrico and Gabe Powers.
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