Ohio State linebacker Christian Alliegro and nickel Jay Timmons have been given a questionable designation ahead of the Week 6 Maryland game, per a report on Thursday night.
Timmons has been a breakout freshman this season, amassing six solo tackles, four pass breakups, three assisted tackles, and one forced fumble that he recovered through the team's first five games.
Alliegro started off as a rough system fit during his first few games in Scarlet and Gray. He's hit his stride of late, though, peaking during the Buckeyes' 31-14 win over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium this past weekend. Alliegro played 46 snaps, the most of anyone in the LB room, against the Hawkeyes.
OSU's defense has had a few disappointing performances this season, but the overall numbers for the unit are strong. The Buckeyes are allowing 12.6 points, 4.2 yards per play, and 267.0 total yards per game through their 4-1 start. Their highest point total was against Texas (23). Their totals are certainly skewed after playing Ball State and Kent State.
Losing Alliegro or Timmons would not be ideal for chemistry's sake. Still, the Terps are going to be a mostly pressure-free test. Mike Locksley isn't even coaching for his job, despite Maryland being a rudderless vessel for years.
Ohio State is strong, obvious chalk on Saturday, up on the spread by around five touchdowns on most sportsbooks.
Even without Alliegro and/or Timmons, that wouldn't change. Jeremiah Smith would have to suit up for the Terps to give the Buckeyes any bit of a scare. Since he's in Scarlet and Gray and has been completely unstoppable in the passing game, this should almost certainly result in the expected outcome.
Ohio State injury woes extend to the offense as well
The offense has injury woes that have been going on for weeks.
Right tackle Phillip Daniels hasn't played since the Texas game.
Ryan Day intimated this week that there's a chance Daniels makes his return to the line against the Terrapins.
"Hopefully, we can get him going with some scout work throughout the middle of the week and get him available for this game. And then once he is available, we'll figure out like, how many snaps he can take and then how we would rotate that in the game, but we're anxious to get Phil back," Day said.
Day likes what he's seen from right guard Gabe VanSickle in Daniels' absence. Austin Siereveld directly replaced Daniels on the right edge, sliding over from guard.
Day didn't sound as though he'd want a healthy Daniels to be on the bench. If anything, Day may be open to a more regular rotation of his linemen.
We'll see on Saturday. Whoever suits up should be in control of this game, and anything short of that would be trouble.
Add us as a preferred source on Google