Ohio State linebacker Sabino to miss four weeks after foot surgery

Columbus, OH, United States (4E Sports) – Describing it as “tremendous blow”, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has announced that starting linebacker Etienne Sabino will miss four weeks of action after undergoing surgery to repair his broken right fibula.

“He’s a very good player, but it goes beyond that because he’s like a brother to everybody on the team,” said Meyer, adding Sabino would miss the Buckeyes’ games against Indiana, Purdue, Penn State and Illinois while he recovers from the operation.

The senior linebacker broke his right fibula during the Buckeyes’ 63-38 win over Nebraska Saturday.

Sabino is third on the team with 37 tackles and has recorded two sacks and an interception during the Buckeyes’ 6-0 start.

He will be replaced by freshman Joshua Perry, one of eight true freshmen in the Buckeyes’ rotation.

With recent injuries to his key players, Meyer admitted the team is now feeling the effects of reduced scholarship, which was part of the punishment handed by the NCAA for violations during former coach Jim Tressel’s term.

“We are definitely feeling the issues of a scholarship reduction; absolutely we are,” Meyer said. “Any time there is transition of a coaching staff, there is transition of players and we’re feeling that in a big way. Then it really starts to surface, and we’re at that point now.”

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