S Malik Hartford (National Champion)

[ScriptOhio]

Just sayin': Interesting tidbit here....

Both players remain with the team, so their redshirt plans could change if injuries strike at their respective positions. Redshirting also wouldn’t prevent them from playing in the College Football Playoff, as the NCAA passed a blanket waiver last year exempting postseason games from the four-game redshirt limit.

 

[pnuts34]

Just sayin': Interesting tidbit here....

Both players remain with the team, so their redshirt plans could change if injuries strike at their respective positions. Redshirting also wouldn’t prevent them from playing in the College Football Playoff, as the NCAA passed a blanket waiver last year exempting postseason games from the four-game redshirt limit.

Yeah, it's a pretty sweet loophole. So they can play up to 8gms(it'll be more than likely 7) in the season and still be considered a RS. And getting game reps in the CFP would be HUGE, imo.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Yeah basically miss the conference games but get playoff run on the back end. That's very cool

 

[Crump's brother]

And come back next year, start, and get paid like an NFL player. Much better, IMO, than spending that $$ on a HS senior.

 

[brodybuck21]

Ryan Day Says Ohio State Will “Take It Week to Week” In Deciding Whether C.J. Hicks, Malik Hartford Will Redshirt This Season​

By Dan Hope on October 7, 2025 at 12:16 pm @dan_hope

• OSU Football

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Ryan Day isn’t ready to commit to a plan of redshirting C.J. Hicks and Malik Hartford.
While Ohio State held Hartford and Hicks out of last weekend’s game against Minnesota with the intention of preserving their redshirts after they played in the first four games of the season, Day said that decision will be evaluated throughout the season and that both of them need to be ready to play this week against Illinois if injuries strike at their positions.
“We make decisions at the end of the year whether we are gonna redshirt guys based on what happens. We’re gonna take it week to week based on availability, depth chart, but those guys need to be ready to go this week if that comes up,” Day said Tuesday. “The rule is four games and able to play in the postseason. We’re gonna evaluate it, but those guys need to be ready because before you know it, they could be in a game. But we’re also gonna be smart about how we move forward.”
Hicks, a senior defensive end, has one remaining year of eligibility. Hartford, a junior safety, has two.
Both players played in Ohio State’s first four games of the season as top backups on the Buckeyes’ defense. Hicks, who began the year as Ohio State’s No. 4 defensive end, played 50 defensive snaps in the Buckeyes’ first four games. Hartford’s only playing time at safety came in late-game action against Grambling State and Ohio, but he played in each of the first four games on special teams.
Zion Grady and Logan George are the top candidates to see increased playing time at defensive end behind Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry and Beau Atkinson if Hicks redshirts. Jackson’s status is also in question for this week’s game against Illinois after he left the Minnesota game with an injury, but Day said Ohio State is “hopeful” Jackson will be available this week.
Leroy Roker III and Faheem Delane will be Ohio State’s second-team safeties behind Caleb Downs and Jaylen McClain if Hartford redshirts.
Hicks and Hartford could return to action in the College Football Playoff and still preserve their redshirts, as the NCAA passed a blanket waiver last year exempting postseason games from the four-game redshirt limit.

Ryan Day Says Ohio State Will “Take It Week to Week” In Deciding Whether C.J. Hicks, Malik Hartford Will Redshirt This Season

Ryan Day says Ohio State will “take it week to week” in deciding whether C.J. Hicks and Malik Hartford will redshirt but they “need to be ready to go” if Ohio State needs them to play.

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