Ohio State will start its national title defense without the services of its best defensive player.
All-American defensive end Joey Bosa is one of four Buckeyes suspended for the team’s season opener at Virginia Tech, Ohio State announced Thursday.
Bosa, H-backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson and wide receiver Corey Smith all will miss Week 1 for violating athletic department policy. Those violations were marijuana- and academics-related, a source told ESPN’s Joe Schad on Thursday.
Bosa was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year during his freshman season, which saw the Buckeyes defeat Oregon to win the first-ever college football playoff championship.
Ohio State also will miss Marshall’s presence on offense. The versatile sophomore racked up 499 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns while adding 145 yards and a score on the ground.
Virginia Tech, of course, was the only team to beat the Buckeyes last season and has a prime opportunity to knock off the defending champs when the two square off in Blacksburg, Va., on Sept. 7.
Thumbnail photo via Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports Images
