Ohio State safety Marcus Hooker has been suspended by the Ohio State football program from the Buckeyes after he was cited for an OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) early Saturday morning. This is Marcus Hooker's second off-the-field violation after an earlier OVI incident.

Marcus Hooker OVI

He was cited by the Columbus Police Department early Saturday morning, which is his second off-field incident. He signed with the Buckeyes some three years ago. A spokesperson for Ohio State confirmed that Hooker had been suspended indefinitely by the team and went on to say that no decision or timetable has been decided, or will be announced, about his return to the team.

Hooker was released and will be arraigned in Franklin County by the Prosecutors office on Friday, which marks the day that the his team mates are due to begin their spring practice. The police report states that Hooker refused a breathalyzer test after being pulled over and will be arraigned on a misdemeanor charge on Friday. This most recent Marcus Hooker OVI is his second. The fourth-year safety was also arrested in 2018 and charged with a DUI offence in Pennsylvania, his home state, before he began his Ohio State career. At that time he was also charged with careless driving, no rear lights and the purchase of alcohol by a minor. He was suspended by the Buckeyes for the season-opener at the time.

Marcus Hooker Bio

Hooker is the younger sibling of former Ohio State player and currently the NFL safety Malik Hooker. Marcus was rated a three-star recruit and was signed as part of the well-regarded 2018 class that was associated with high expectations. He began classes at Ohio State in 2018 and began playing in the summer of 2018 with the Buckeyes. Since then he has started in multiple games in the Ohio State secondary during his career.

Playing in 11 career games, Hooker has amassed a total of 23 tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery. He began the season as a starter in 2020 but did not manage to lock up the position and was eventually passed up in the depth chart.

No Time Table on a Return

Hooker has endured an up-and-down career since that rather inauspicious start. This event has marred what was looking to be a key spring training for him. The spring will now open without him available in practice and there is no definitive timeline for when he is likely to return to the Buckeyes. The duration of his suspension has not yet been decided or is unknown and no further details have been released by officials from the Ohio State football program. The team is slated to begin spring practice on Friday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Bucknuts Morning 5: March 17, 2021