Buckeyes' Small, Rose suspended for Rose Bowl

Dec 24, 2009 - 3:45 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) -- Three more Ohio State players will miss the Rose Bowl.

On his weekly radio show Tuesday, coach Jim Tressel confirmed that the team's top kick returner, Ray Small, and backup defensive lineman Rob Rose would not be making the trip with the Buckeyes to play Oregon. Tressel said both were suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

The two seniors were also classmates at Cleveland's Glenville High School.

Freshman wide receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL great Cris Carter, was declared ineligible last week shortly after semester grades were released. Ohio State would not say why Carter was unavailable to play.

Tressel also said that walk-on running back Bo Delande would not make the trip, also for an unspecified team rules violation.

The team is scheduled to arrive in California on Dec. 25.

Small is the fastest player on the Buckeyes roster, a deep threat as a receiver who averaged 27 yards on kickoff returns and 8.3 yards on punt returns. Small, third on the team with 15 receptions for 175 yards, has frequently been in Tressel's doghouse through his four years in the program.

Despite disciplinary problems in the past, Small was voted the offensive team captain for the game at Michigan on Nov. 21.

Rose was in the rotation on the defensive line and has two sacks this season. A highly touted recruit from the same high school that sent Ted Ginn Jr. and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to Ohio State, Rose never lived up to his billing. He averaged about a tackle a game the past two seasons.

DeLande played in just one game, carrying three times for 5 yards.