Johnnie Dixon (1) is lifted into the air by A.J. Alexander (88) after Dixon’s touchdown during the second half of the Buckeyes game against Rutgers on Oct. 1. The Buckeyes won 58-0. Credit: Mason Swires | Assistant Photo Editor
Redshirt sophomore tight end A.J. Alexander’s playing career at Ohio State has come to an end after missing the entire 2017 season due to a knee injury, the university announced Tuesday.
Alexander will be placed on a medical scholarship, according to a team release. This means that while he will no longer be on the team, he will still retain a scholarship after having his athletic career end due to an injury.
It was revealed Alexander would miss the entire campaign due to season-ending knee surgery in June 2017. He played in all 13 games in 2016 and had four catches for 27 yards.
He was expected to take on a bigger role in the 2018 season, following the departure of redshirt senior tight end Marcus Baugh. Ohio State will now need to find its starting tight end next season between redshirt freshmen Luke Farrell and Jake Hausmann, redshirt sophomore Rashod Berry, as well as incoming four-star recruit Jeremy Ruckert. Kierre Hawkins, another redshirt freshman tight end, transferred out of the program.
