Ohio State Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg Status For Cotton Bowl Still “Up In The Air”

With the Cotton Bowl quickly approaching, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said it’s still up in the air whether Tommy Eichenberg will play in the game or not.

The linebacker was seen participating at a practice which was open to the media on Tuesday, and he was reportedly no longer wearing a brace on his left elbow, which he did against Michigan after suffering his arm injury against Rutgers.

If Eichenberg doesn’t suit up against Missouri, Cody Simon is likely to get the start since he did when Eichenberg was out against Michigan State and Minnesota late in the season before returning for the game against the Wolverines.

Eichenberg hasn’t officially declared for the NFL Draft yet, but he did accept a Senior Bowl invite, meaning he very likely intends to.

This season, Eichenberg finished as the team-leader in tackles with 80 despite missing two games. He had 2 ½ tackles for a loss, one sack, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble, good enough to be named the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award.

No players have opted out of the Cotton Bowl yet, though Marvin Harrison Jr. was not participating in practice on Tuesday.