Ohio State football: Haskell Garrett available for season opener

The Ohio State Buckeyes have released the status report for tomorrow’s season-opening game against Nebraska. 14 players are unavailable, but Haskell Garrett is not one of those players, meaning he is potentially available to play.

In late August Ohio State defensive tackle Haskell Garrett suffered a facial gunshot wound, Columbus police officers found a trail of blood which eventually led them to Garrett, who had been wounded in the cheek. He was then taken to the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center where he was in stable condition, before being released the following day.

There was no real timetable for his return. He obviously missed out on some practice time but he has been in every meeting and walk-through. Ohio State’s Co-Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison told reporters Garrett was “day-to-day” earlier this week.

Even if he does not end up playing this week, it seems reasonable to think that he should return to action this season and see a healthy amount of playing time. Garrett played in 11 games last season and recorded 10 tackles. He was likely going to be a starter prior to the incident.

Typically more would be known on where a player currently sits on a depth chart. In years past Ohio State has released a weekly depth chart, with constant potential changes due to COVID, we will not know the starters until the game actually begins.

As for the 14 unavailable players on the status report- they are Lejond Cavazos, Marcus Crowley, Jacolbe Cowan, Gavin Cupp, Tommy Eichenberg, Jaylen Harris, Austin Kutscher, Roen McCullough, Alec Taylor, Danny Vanatsky, Miyan Williams, and of course Kourt Williams who is out for the season.

Jacolbe Cowan, like Garrett, is a DT, so perhaps this improves his chances of seeing the field on Saturday. Another DT, Jaden McKenzie, will be a game-time decision.