It seems Ohio State will not be the only team on the field in Blacksburg a bit undermanned. Virginia Tech will also have a player suspended. Running back Shai McKenzie will sit out of the first game of the season against the Buckeyes after being suspended by the team.
McKenzie was suspended from all team activities earlier this summer after being charged with two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. More recently, McKenzie was sentenced to 15 days in jail for the misdemeanor consensual sex with a minor charge. He has since been reinstated by the team, but will serve his time in Week 1.
Ohio State has suspended four players for the contest; defensive end Joey Bosa, H-backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson and wide receiver Corey Smith for the season-opener to be played on Labor Day night. Virginia Tech was the only team to hand Ohio State a loss last season, doing so in Columbus. Ohio State rallied and improved through the course of the regular season and was prepared for a magical postseason run even with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones having to step in.