No. 5 Ohio State expects starting right tackle Phillip Daniels back for the first time in more than a month, but the Buckeyes could still be shorthanded up front when they host No. 4 Indiana on Oct. 17 in a matchup that could shape the Big Ten race.
Head coach Ryan Day said this week that the staff has a contingency plan built on the depth the program has recruited and developed, even as questions remain about starting right guard Austin Siereveld, who missed the Oct. 10 win over Maryland with an illness and is listed as day-to-day.
According to Yahoo Sports, which cited reporting from The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio State's first availability report ahead of the Indiana game was set for release at 8 p.m. on Oct. 14.
Who is out and who is coming back
Daniels has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury in the final quarter of Ohio State's 24-23 loss to Texas on Sept. 12. His return comes at a good time, with Indiana's defense ranking third in the nation with 20 sacks.
Siereveld's status is murkier. Hours before kickoff against Maryland, the Buckeyes ruled him out due to illness, a source confirmed to The Dispatch. Day called him day-to-day after the 45-16 win over the Terrapins but has not updated his status since.
That leaves the right side of the line in flux. For the first three games without Daniels, Gabe VanSickle started at right guard while Siereveld shifted to right tackle. When Siereveld went down against Maryland, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound VanSickle slid to right tackle for the first time in his career, and Jake Cook made his first career start at right guard.
Day praised VanSickle's willingness to make the move on short notice.
“You've got to give him credit for doing that,” Day said. “That's a tough ask. And to me, it was his mindset. It was just very positive, very confident that he could do the job. So, when I heard that, we decided to make the move, and I thought, for short notice, being able to step in like that, and it wasn't all perfect, but it was a lot of good out there.”
What the plan looks like this week
If Siereveld cannot go against Indiana, VanSickle is the most likely option to return to right guard, where he has more experience against the Hoosiers. Daniels would take back his right tackle spot.
“We'll move him back down to guard during practice,” Day said. “We'll put Phil at right tackle and see how the week goes. I think, one thing for sure, is we do need to move him out there a little bit more during practice, so if we do get caught short, he's able to respond even quicker.”
The rest of the line is set with Carson Hinzman at center, Luke Montgomery at left guard and Ian Moore at left tackle. Eleven Warriors