The Ohio State football team is taking on Rutgers in the final home game of the season. It's Senior Day, and it's going to be emotional for a lot of guys taking the field for the final time. It could also be the final time for several juniors playing at home who are leaving early for the NFL.
Carnell Tate is likely to be one of those juniors who are leaving early. He is projected to be a first-round pick. However, he has not played in either of the last two games due to a lower-body injury. This is despite the fact that he warmed up for the Purdue game and looked fine.
Jeremiah Smith limped off the field at halftime of the UCLA game after playing in the first half. His availability is in question for this game, as well. The Buckeyes have given word on both players, and neither of them is playing against the Scarlet Knights.
The Ohio State football team is without Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate vs. Rutgers
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, both Smith and Tate are out for this game. He contends that both are considered day-to-day. That's definitely the right way to describe Smith, who forced the training staff to let him play in the first half against the Bruins last week.
Tate is another matter. It's getting increasingly clear that the Ohio State Buckeyes could be facing another Jaxon Smith-Njigba situation with him. He seems perfectly healthy enough to play, but will now miss three straight games. If he doesn't play next week, the fanbase will turn on him quickly.
As far as this game against Rutgers is concerned, Ohio State shouldn't have any issues beating them, even without the top two receivers on the roster. Brandon Inniss, Mylan Graham, and Bryson Rodgers will step into new roles, and all of them are highly talented guys.
Of course, it helps when the best quarterback in college football is throwing them the ball. Julian Sayin will make all of their jobs easier. They also showed last week that they can run the ball at will when they really set their minds to it.
Next week is going to be the game that fans need to worry about for these two players. On Senior Day, the Buckeyes shouldn't have any issues sending them out in style in the last game they will play in front of their home fans.