\n Lorenzo Styles Jr. was available according to Ohio State’s status report before the Wisconsin game, but ultimately did not play. <\/p>\n
\n\tWith another two weeks to recover from the upper-body injury he sustained against Minnesota on Oct. 5, Styles’ likely return completes a clean bill of health for all the Buckeyes’ starters and major contributors against Penn State.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cExpecting him to play in the game,\u201d Ryan Day said when asked about Styles on Wednesday. \u201cHe\u2019s had a good week of practice.\u00a0So he\u2019s (just now)\u00a0getting off the field today, but everything looks good. So we\u2019re excited to have him back.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFreshman wide receiver Quincy Porter, the fifth-most-used receiver on Ohio State’s roster behind Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Mylan Graham, is the most notable injury for the Buckeyes.\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tOSU STATUS REPORT FOR PENN STATE<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tOut<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tDE Logan George
S Malik Hartford
QB Mason Maggs
WR Quincy Porter
RB Anthony “Turbo” Rogers
DT Maxwell Roy
DT Ahmed Tounkara<\/p>\n
\n\tFellow backup receiver Bryson Rodgers returns for the first time since he saw two snaps at Washington on Sep. 28. Backup safety Malik Hartford joins Porter on the list of players out, but there’s a good chance he\u00a0redshirts this season <\/a>as is. He appeared in Ohio State\u2019s first four games of the year, but hasn\u2019t played since.\n<\/p>\n \n\tStyles, who missed both the Illinois and Wisconsin games,\u00a0allowed one big catch against Ohio in Week 3 but has otherwise been as dependable\u00a0at the notoriously difficult nickel position. Outside that 67-yard touchdown he allowed to Bobcat wideout Chase Hendricks, he’s given up 59 yards in 16 targets in pass coverage per Pro Football Focus, just 3.7 yards per target. He has 17 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup this season.\n<\/p>\n \n\tStar cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. slid over to nickel in Styles’ place the last two games while freshman Devin Sanchez started in Mathews’ place on the outside. Sanchez had freshman moments but also showed\u00a0flashes of the talents that make him a five-star prospect in those two starts. While he’s surrendered 9.2 yards per target in coverage, Sanchez also has\u00a0seven tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.\n<\/p>\n