COLUMBUS, Ohio – Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller will have season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday and, though he was elected co-captain by his teammates, will be recovering when the team travels to Baltimore for the season opener.
The Buckeyes will kick off against Navy at noon Saturday on the CBS Sports Network, not the CBS broadcast network (WBNS 10-TV).
Time Warner customers can find the CBS Sports Network on analog channel 322 and HD channel 1322. AT&T U-verse customers will find it on analog channel 643, and HD channel 1643. The WOW! Cable and Internet channel lineup does not include the CBS Sports Network.
DirecTV and DISH viewers will need to check with their respective providers.
Miller tore the labrum in his right shoulder a week ago. The operation will be done by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who has performed similar procedures for NFL stars Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
J.T. Barrett, a redshirt freshman who has never taken a college snap, will start in Miller’s place.
In his weekly news conference, head coach Urban Meyer against voiced confidence in his new quarterback, and compared him to last year’s successful pinch-hitter, Kenny Guiton.
“He’s Guiton-ish. He’s a calm guy…He’s not someone you have to watch to see they’re demeanor because it’s the same as it was two weeks ago. We all know what’s coming down the barrel at him, but he’s handled it very well,” Meyer told reporters.
Meyer says Miller was voted one of the team’s captains for 2014. Joining him are tight end Jeff Heuerman, defensive lineman Michael Bennett and two unrelated players named Grant — defensive back Doran Grant and linebacker Curtis Grant.
Miller will not accompany the team to Baltimore and Meyer says would have to count on the 70-man travel roster when he is able to travel.
Heuerman, called one of the best tight ends in the country by Meyer during his press conference today, is a veteran of 36 games with 22 starts and he has 35 career receptions for 585 yards and five touchdowns.
Doran Grant has played in all 39 games over the past three seasons and has started 15 times. He is the only returning starter in the defensive secondary and has four career interceptions.
Curtis Grant is a 13-game starter who started 10 times last season and had 52 tackles.
Bennett started 13 games at defensive tackles last season and was among the team leaders in tackles-for-loss with 11.5.