COLUMBUS — Ohio State starting strong safety Isaiah Pryor will not play today when the Buckeyes take on Nebraska. Pryor did not dress for warmups, which generally indicates that a player is injured and will be held out of that day’s game.
An OSU spokesman was unable to give a reason for Pryor not dressing.
In Pryor’s place will likely be redshirt freshman Shaun Wade, who has backed him up over the last five or six weeks. Wade is also the team’s No. 1 nickel back, which could thin a secondary that has not been at full strength in several weeks.
Earlier in the season when Pryor was ejected for targeting, he was replaced by Wade, but Wade went to free safety and starter Jordan Fuller moved over to strong safety.
Wade has received more and more reps in practice at strong safety, so there may be no need to move Fuller this week.
[Update 11:30 am: Wade is working with the ones at free safety and Fuller is at strong safety in warmups.]
Of perhaps more concern is what happens at nickel for the Buckeyes. Cornerback Damon Arnette was the nickel last year and in the first game this year, so he has experience there. That will, however, keep the cornerback rotation from being as rested as they like.
Another option could be sophomore safety Amir Riep, who is the Buckeyes’ dime back. As a former cornerback, he could move up one spot to nickel. Sophomore cornerback Marcus Williamson was an option there earlier in the season, but he has dealt with injuries of late.