Ohio State moved to 10-0 with a dominant performance on both sides of the ball in a 38-3 win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes only home night game of the season.
The Buckeyes’ defense has established itself as one of the best in all of college football and this performance further cemented that. After allowing three points to Michigan State, Ohio State has allowed 99 in 10 games (9.9 allowed per game).
In this article we break down each defensive position group’s performance using Pro Football Focus grades for each player. Though not the ultimate measuring stick, PFF is a good tool because it grades every player on every play.
Interior Defensive Line
Starter: Tyleik Williams
PFF Grade
67.8 (38 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 2 assisted tackles, 3 pressures and 1 sack on 24 pass rush snaps
Starter: Michael Hall Jr.
PFF Grade
61.4 (10 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 0 pressures on 6 pass rush snaps
Other: Ty Hamilton
PFF Grade
82.0 (31 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 4 pressures on 18 pass rush snaps
Other: Hero Kanu
PFF Grade
89.2 (11 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 0 pressures on 6 pass rush snaps
Other: Tywone Malone
PFF Grade
60.4 (6 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures on 1 pass rush snap
Other: Jaden McKenzie
PFF Grade
72.9 (6 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 3 pass rush snaps
Other: Kayden McDonald
PFF Grade
68.5 (5 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps
What It Means
Ty Hamilton recorded a season-high PFF grade (82.0) and pressures (4) in this game.
Edge Rushers
Starter: J.T. Tuimoloau
PFF Grade
62.3 (37 snaps)
Stats
1 assisted tackle, 4 pressures on 24 pass rush snaps
Starter: Jack Sawyer
PFF Grade
72.6 (37 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles, 1 pressure on 20 pass rush snaps
Other: Caden Curry
PFF Grade
69.4 (15 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 1 pressure on 7 pass rush snaps
Other: Kenyatta Jackson
PFF Grade
66.0 (11 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 1 pressure on 7 pass rush snaps
Other: Mitchell Melton
PFF Grade
69.1 (6 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps
Other: Omari Abor
PFF Grade
63.9 (5 snaps)
Stats
1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps
Other: Joshua Mickens
PFF Grade
60.0 (1 snap)
Stats
0 tackles
Other: Bryce Prater
PFF Grade
69.2 (1 snap)
Stats
1 tackle
What It Means
Four Ohio State edge rushers recorded pressures in this game: J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry.
Linebackers
Starter: Cody Simon
PFF Grade
51.2 (49 snaps)
Stats
5 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 2 pressures
Starter: Steele Chambers
PFF Grade
64.6 (36 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 3 assisted tackles
Other: C.J. Hicks
PFF Grade
62.8 (18 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles
Other: Gabe Powers
PFF Grade
65.9 (6 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle
What It Means
With Tommy Eichenberg out due to injury, Cody Simon started and played 49-of-55 defensive snaps.
Cornerbacks
Starter: Davison Igbinosun
PFF Grade
80.5 (41 snaps)
Stats
5 tackles, 2 receptions allowed on 6 targets for 14 yards and 1 PBU on 25 coverage snaps
Starter: Jordan Hancock
PFF Grade
60.1 (41 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles, 1 assisted tackles, 3 receptions allowed on 6 targets for 26 yards and 1 PBU on 23 coverage snaps
Starter: Denzel Burke
PFF Grade
68.7 (31 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles, 1 reception allowed on 2 targets for 20 yards on 18 coverage snaps
Other: Jermaine Mathews Jr.
PFF Grade
68.6 (15 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 1 reception allowed on 2 targets for 13 yards and 1 PBU on 9 coverage snaps
Other: Jyaire Brown
PFF Grade
71.9 (14 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 0 targets on 6 coverage snaps
Other: Calvin Simpson-Hunt
PFF Grade
64.9 (9 snaps)
Stats
0 targets on 4 coverage snaps
What It Means
The Buckeye secondary has been a major strength all season, and that was apparent on Saturday as Michigan State threw for 88 yards.
Safeties
Starter: Malik Hartford
PFF Grade
64.6 (49 snaps)
Stats
4 tackles, 2 receptions allowed on 3 targets on 28 coverage snaps
Starter: Sonny Styles
PFF Grade
72.4 (30 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles, 1 pressure and 1 sack, 0 targets allowed on 17 coverage snaps
Other: Ja’Had Carter
PFF Grade
64.7 (26 snaps)
Stats
0 targets allowed on 15 coverage snaps
Other: Kye Stokes
PFF Grade
49.4 (6 snaps)
Stats
1 reception allowed on 1 target for 4 yards on 2 coverage snaps
What It Means
With Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor sidelined due to injury, Malik Hartford, Sonny Styles and Ja’Had Carter played 25 or more snaps.
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