WEST LAFAYETTE, In. — Ohio State will be without starting cornerback Damon Arnette for Saturday night’s game at Purdue. Arnette was deemed questionable mid-week by Urban Meyer due to an undisclosed injury, but was not on the field with the rest of the corners during pregame warmups.
Arnette has started every game for the Buckeyes this season, but had to leave last week’s game against Minnesota early.
Arnette is seventh on the team in tackles (21), which is the most among the Buckeye cornerbacks.
The loss is significant for the Buckeyes, who are also without starting defensive end Nick Bosa, who is withdrawing from school in order to rehab and focus on the 2019 NFL Draft.
Purdue’s offense is second in the Big Ten in passing, averaging 330.8 yards passing per game. Quarterback David Blough has had some big games this season, including a 572-yard outing against Missouri five weeks ago.
Ohio State employs a “starting” rotation of three cornerbacks, with Kendall Sheffield and Jeff Okudah joining Arnette. Without Arnette this week, however, that rotation may not expand beyond Sheffield and Okudah.
Redshirt freshman Shaun Wade could see some snaps at cornerback, but he is also the team’s No. 1 nickel back and also the No. 2 strong safety.