Michael Thomas to have surgery

Ohio State wideout Michael Thomas, the team's leading returning receiver, will undergo surgery soon to repair a sports hernia, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday.

Meyer said Thomas had been bothered by the injury since the team's national championship game victory over Oregon. Thomas is expected to be fully healed by the start of the season.

The redshirt sophomore had 54 catches for 799 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, including a key scoring grab against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.