Two Ohio State football offensive linemen are medically retiring

Published Jul. 26, 2023, 1:46 p.m.
By Nathan Baird, cleveland.com
INDIANAPOLIS — Two offseason roster changes have clarified Ohio State football’s scholarship situation for this fall.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day confirmed to cleveland.com that offensive lineman Grant Toutant and Avery Henry must both end their careers for medical reasons. Toutant’s injury is unspecified. Henry has publically battled bone cancer since late last season and announced over the summer he is in remission.
Both players would have been in the mix for depth roles on the offensive line if healthy.
Those departures bring Ohio State down to the NCAA-mandated scholarship limit of 85. Northwestern linebacker transfer Nigel Glover expects to officially visit later this week, Clayton Morthmont High School coach Tony Broering confirmed to cleveland.com today.
In order to add Glover on scholarship for this fall, some other roster shift would need to take place.
Henry, from St. Clairsville, did not play any snaps last season as a true freshman. Day later clarified that Henry underwent a medical procedure that would have made it “virtually impossible” to keep playing football.
Henry then confirmed that outcome via Twitter.
“I’ve been dreading this post for awhile but it has to be done,” Henry wrote. “As many of you have asked ‘can you return to football’ and the quick and easy response is no. Osteosarcoma/Chemo Takes a lot from you. Medical doctors have told me they wouldn’t clear me and It’s extremely dangerous.
“... The fight is never over. We as lovers of this great game stand united through whatever happens!”
Toutant was entering his fourth season out of Warren, Michigan.
Ohio State still has 16 scholarship offensive linemen. It added two in the offseason via transfer: San Diego State tackle Josh Simmons and Louisiana Lafayette center Vic Cutler.