Eight Ohio State football players to be unavailable for spring practice
Ohio State coach Ryan Day on Wednesday said at least eight players will be unavailable during the Buckeyes’ spring practices that begin next month.
The list includes running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor, wide receivers Julian Fleming and Emeka Egbuka, offensive lineman Jakob James, linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Mitchell Melton and safety Kourt Williams.
“These guys have had just some long-term surgeries,” Day said. “We'll have them ready after the spring, but are just going to be careful with them.”
Some of the players were known to be banged up. Melton and Pryor missed last season with knee injuries, and Williams’ right arm and shoulder were in a sling during the final months of the year.
Eichenberg had also been dealing with injuries to both hands. Henderson underwent surgery in December to repair torn ligaments and a broken bone in his left foot. As he was sidelined for the College Football Playoff, he was in a walking boot.
The nature of the injuries for Egbuka and Fleming, two out of the three starting receivers, and James were not known.
The first of 15 spring practices is scheduled for March 7 and continue through the spring game on April 15.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football has eight players unavailable for spring practice
