Four Ohio State Buckeyes football players, including standout defensive lineman Joey Bosa, have been suspended by the team for OSU's season opener versus Virginia Tech. The official reason for the suspensions is for violations of athletic department policy, per the Columbus Dispatch.

Bosa, considered by some to be a potential #1 overall draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, was one of the standout players during Ohio State's run through the inaugural College Football Playoff this past season. Bosa led the Big Ten Conference in sacks last season with 13.5.

Along with Bosa, the suspended Buckeyes include Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith. Marshall, a highly-athletc hybrid back, racked up just under 500 receiving yards in the 2014 season (499 to be exact), including 2 5 catch, 50+ yard games in the College Football Playoff. He also became the team's featured punt returner late in the season. Wilson, another H-back, has 510 total receiving yards and 5 touchdown receptions over his 2 seasons at Ohio State. Corey Smith is a wide receiver who had 20 catches for 255 yards in 2014.

The Buckeyes travel to Blacksburg on September 7 to take on Virginia Tech in a rematch of 2014's game between OSU and VT, which was won by the Hokies in Columbus. Joey Bosa had three tackles as well as a sack and a half in last season's matchup. The game was also notable for being the first career start for JT Barrett, who will once again be competing for the Buckeye's starting quarterback job.

Ohio State is stacked offensively on both sides of the ball. While Virginia Tech will be upset-minded once again, it will be hard to compete with whichever incredibly talented quarterback Urban Meyer starts, whether it be Barrett or Cardale Jones, putting the Hokies behind the 8-ball early. On the defensive side of things, the void Joey Bosa leaves behind will likely need to be filled by some combination of underclassmen including Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, Darius Slade and Sam Hubbard. Lewis is already projected to be a starting defensive lineman for Ohio State.

UPDATE: Per Joe Schad on Twitter, the players were suspended due to academics and marijuana.