Football
Personnel Update
By John Porentas

Ray Small

OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel reported earlier today that wide receiver Ray Small "tweaked his knee" earlier this week and that Small's status for the game against Purdue is still unknown. Small may be available to the Buckeyes, but the OSU coaching staff is waiting for word from the medical staff later today on his status.

"Hopefully he just twisted it and we'll have him," Tressel said.

The OSU receiving corps is already down one player since Dane Sanzenbacher is not available due to the concussion he suffered in the Wisconsin game. Small is also OSU's punt returner. If he cannot go against the Boilermakers, freshmen DeVier Posey and Lamar Thomas will both have enhanced roles. According to Tressel, Thomas' role was already expected to expand this week since he was already penciled in to share duties as OSU's kick returner with Brandon Saine and Maurice Wells.

DeVier Posey

"He (Thomas) has been very, very steady," said Tressel. "He's been learning, learning, learning."

In other personnel news, tailback Beanie Wells missed one day of practice this week due to a touch of the flu. Tressel was not concerned about Wells' missed practice time, and actually found a silver lining in it.

"Maybe with that extra day off his toe will be a little better," said Tressel. "We need Beanie to be a 20-carry guy."

Tressel also confirmed that offensive lineman Steve Rehring, who is returning to action after recovering from an ankle injury, will likely play on the right side of the line rather than returning to his left guard spot where he was the starter prior to his injury. Tressel indicated that Jim Cordle is likely to remain at left guard and Mike Brewster at center. On the right side of the line, the trio of Rehring, Bryant Browning and Ben Person will compete for playing time. Tressel also reported that Kyle Mitchum is now back in action after dealing with an injury situation and is the backup at left guard.

There are no other personnel issues since our report earlier this week.

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