How about this news for an August bombshell? One of the Heisman favorites and 2-time Big Ten player of the year Braxton Miller may miss the entire 2014 season. The Ohio State quarterback reportedly re-injured his right shoulder in practice on Monday afternoon according to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch. While there are no details about the specifics of the injury, it is serious enough to cast a cloud over his season.
More from the Dispatch:
Ohio State senior quarterback Braxton Miller, considered by several polls to be among the preseason leaders to make a run at the Heisman Trophy, reinjured his right shoulder in practice this afternoon, sources told The Dispatch. The injury puts in jeopardy his playing status for the coming season.
An OSU spokesman would not confirm the news, and coach Urban Meyer could not be reached for comment.[…]
Miller was coming back from shoulder surgery performed in late February after he suffered an injury to his right throwing shoulder during the Orange Bowl loss to Clemson. He had been on a slow return to full practice activity, having sat out contact in spring drills and through most of preseason camp.
This is an injury that can and will change the entire trajectory of the 2014 season. Whatever time Miller misses, it will likely be up to redshirt freshman QB J.T. Barrett to lead the Ohio State offense in his offense. Barrett was a four star recruit coming out of Wichita Falls, Texas and was the likely successor to Miller… just not this soon. And while Miller certainly did have an injury history, nobody was expecting this news to drop so close to the start of the regular season.
There’s no replacing #5 in the Ohio State offense. He’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the sport and his absence becomes the latest challenge Urban Meyer will have to overcome in Columbus. Let’s not forget that the Buckeyes are also trying to replace four starters on the offensive line from last season as well as workhorse running back Carlos Hyde. As with any elite program, there is significant depth and young talent at Ohio State, but many of them are now being asked to contribute right away.
Ohio State, the Big Ten, and the chase for the first ever college football playoff just got a huge shakeup.
