Ryan Day issues a serious message to pair of Ohio State Buckeyes who are expected to miss the regular season

The Ohio State Buckeyes’ fifth game of the season against the Minnesota Golden Gophers was important for several reasons. It was the only home game of the month for the Buckeyes to have recruits on campus, but it was also the first game where you start to get a feel of who is going to redshirt. A report broke that the Buckeyes would be redshirting two defensive contributors after they didn’t play against Minnesota and Ryan Day answered about that on Tuesday. 

Ryan Day sets the record straight on the redshirt situation with C.J. Hicks and Malik Hartford 

“We make decisions at the end of the year whether we are gonna redshirt guys based on what happens,” Day stated. “We’re gonna take it week to week based on availability, depth chart, but those guys need to be ready to go this week if that comes up.” 

The rule is four games and able to play in the postseason. We’re gonna evaluate it, but those guys need to be ready because before you know it, they could be in a game. But we’re also gonna be smart about how we move forward.”

That all but confirms that Ohio State will be redshirting their linebacker and safety if they can. A situation could occur where the Buckeyes need either player to step up and play due to injury, and that could happen as soon as this week on the road against Illinois. Despite the plan in place, Day still needs Hicks and Hartford to be ready to step in and film a role. 

Hicks is in his fourth season with the Buckeyes and his first as a full-time pass rusher. The Dayton area native was the No. 4 edge rusher for the Buckeyes through the first four games behind starters Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson, and North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson. Now, it’ll have to be seen whether or not the extra year comes in Columbus for Hicks if he keeps his redshirt intact.