Why are Donovan Jackson and Cody Simon not playing today? Exploring reasons behind Ohio State stars' unavailability
The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to start their season against the Akron Zips on Saturday. There is a lot of excitement around the Buckeyes as they are the No. 2 ranked team in the nation.
The Buckeyes are without middle linebacker Cody Simon and left guard Donovan Jackson for the season's first game.
Why are Donovan Jackson and Cody Simon not playing today?
Donovan Jackson and Cody Simon are not in the game as a precaution from lingering injuries. They were listed as out in the Buckeyes' availability report.
When asked about the injuries to his two starters on Wednesday, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day was quoted saying:
"Nothing long term."
Although the Buckeyes never take any opponent lightly, there is no denying that this matchup against Akron should be a routine win for the Buckeyes. As the No. 2 ranked team in the country, few teams can compete with the Buckeyes' depth.
How important are Donovan Jackson and Cody Simon to Ohio State?
Although they are not the team's stars, Jackson and Simon are integral members of Ohio State. Jackson is entering his third season with the Buckeyes. He was a first-team All-Big Ten performer in the first two seasons with the Buckeyes as a left guard.
Simon is a big part of the Buckeye's defense, a signal caller in the linebacker position. He had 57 tackles last year despite only starting five games. This season, Simon received the most votes to be the team's captain.
How do these absences affect the Ohio State vs Akron matchup?
Although Jackson and Simon are important members of the team, it is unlikely that their absences affect the result of the game. The Buckeyes have more start talent, a deeper roster and more experienced coaching.
Redshirt sophomore Carson Hinzman and redshirt freshman Austin Siereveld are the two most likely candidates to step in for Jackson. As for Simons' replacement, Gabe Powers looks like a likely candidate, although Arvell Reese had a strong camp and could be considered by the coaching staff.