Expectations are sky high for Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2017 season. The team landed at No. 2 overall in the preseason coaches poll and many project the Buckeyes to claim the Big Ten title this season. Much of that buzz comes from what appears to be a stacked defensive line but, on Monday, Meyer announced that fifth-year senior Michael Hill not be a part of the mix for a while. Instead, Hill is suspended indefinitely at the start of the campaign.
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Word of the reasoning behind Hill's suspension has not yet surfaced but this is a real loss for Ohio State. Hill was not necessarily seen as a definite starter for OSU along the defensive line but the Buckeyes are expected to freely utilize their depth with the likes of Tracy Sprinkle and Dre'Mont Jones.
Hill hails from Pendleton (S.C.) and made 13 starts for the Buckeyes during the 2016 season. At defensive tackle, he is a plugger that occupies the opposing offensive line on a regular basis and, without Hill in the lineup, Ohio State could turn to players like Davon Hamilton, Robert Landers and Jashon Cornell with larger roles in the unit.
We don't know how long Michael Hill will be sidelined but, at the very least, he has been declared out for Ohio State's season opener against Indiana on Aug. 31 in Bloomington.
