Ryan Day Confirms Smith and Tate Will Play Against Michigan Despite Doubts

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has confirmed that wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will play against Michigan, easing concerns over their availability. Both players were initially listed as questionable for this crucial matchup, but Day assured fans during an interview on Big Noon Kickoff that they would take the field. “They’ve done an unbelievable job this week, and they weren’t going to let this game go by without getting in,” he stated.

Status Report for Ohio State vs. Michigan

As the Ohio State Buckeyes prepare for their defining clash against the Wolverines, here’s the current injury report:

• Questionable:
  • WR Jeremiah Smith
  • WR Carnell Tate
• Out:
  • DE Logan George
  • S Malik Hartford
  • WR De’zie Jones
  • QB Mason Maggs
  • WR Quincy Porter
  • DT Maxwell Roy
  • DT Ahmed Tounkara

Smith and Tate’s participation is expected to provide a significant boost to the Ohio State offense as they seek to break a four-game losing streak to their rivals. Smith has been a standout player this season, recording 69 receptions for 902 yards and two touchdowns over 10 games. Meanwhile, Tate, in his eight games, has 39 receptions for 711 yards and seven scores.

Additional Insights

Earlier this week on the Downs 2 Business podcast, Smith expressed his readiness for the game, saying he’s “good to go.” Ryan Day echoed this sentiment, noting that everyone was active during Wednesday’s practice. The coach also confirmed that both Smith and Tate traveled to Ann Arbor for the game.

In terms of injury recovery, starting nickel Lorenzo Styles Jr. is also available after suffering a shoulder injury during the previous game against Rutgers. Styles has been instrumental on defense, tallying 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups in nine games. His ability to restrict opponents to only 6.1 yards per target in pass coverage further solidifies the Buckeyes’ defensive lineup.

With the absence of Quincy Porter, who has posted four receptions for 59 yards this season, Ohio State will rely more heavily on their remaining wide receivers. Bryson Rodgers, Mylan Graham, and David Adolph will serve as the key backup options if either Smith or Tate experiences limitations during the game.