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Ohio State assistants Larry Johnson, Kevin Wilson preparing to coach in Ryan Day’s absence

Scott Schultz

By Scott Schultz

Published:

When, or more appropriately if, Ohio State makes the trip to East Lansing on Friday, defensive line coach Larry Johnson will be standing in for head coach Ryan Day, who will be home convalescing on Saturday as a result of a positive COVID-19 test.

Johnson, who has been on the staff since 2014, understands the challenges of virtual coaching.

“The Zoom is tough,” Johnson said. “You can give information, but you can’t give a feel of the passion of the information. You want to see guys’ eyes and how they react. It’s tough to do that when you’re showing videotape and talking to the guys [on Zoom]. Sometimes I think I’m talking to myself.”

It was also reported that offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson will handle all of the offensive play-calling for Ohio State due to Day’s absence and will be on the field rather than the press box on Saturday.

The No. 4 Buckeyes will be short-handed against Michigan State, but exactly just how much remains to be seen. So far, the game is still on, a week after Ohio State voluntarily cancelled its game at Illinois because of a spike in positive tests among their players. Details about which players may be missing for Saturday’s game are not available yet, but OSU will issue a list of players unavailable on Friday.

Prior to boarding the plane for East Lansing on Friday, all players and staff will be tested.

To remain eligible for a B1G title, the Buckeyes must play the Spartans and get in their regular-season finale with Michigan scheduled for the next week. Michigan had to suspend football activities and cancel their game with Maryland this week due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Stay tuned.

 

Scott Schultz

Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.