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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Evan Bachman

Ohio State offensive player-by-player PFF grades for Cotton Bowl loss

Ohio State football finishes the season with an 11-2 record after a poor performance in a 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

There was uncertainty coming into the game about what this offense would look like with starting quarterback Kyle McCord transferring to Syracuse and superstar wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sitting out. Unfortunately, this performance only left Buckeyes fans with more questions headed into next season.

Ohio State produced one of the worst offensive performances in recent memory, managing just three points all game. In this article we dig deeper into each position group’s performance on the offense using Pro Football Focus grades.

Quarterbacks

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Devin Brown

PFF Grade | 50.8 (17 snaps)
Stats |
4-of-6 (66.7%), 20 Yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 1 Attempt for -4 Yards

Other: Lincoln Kienholz

PFF Grade | 63.6 (40 snaps)
Stats |
6-of-17 (35.3%), 86 Yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4 Attempts for 9 Yards

What It Means

After this performance it’s hard for Buckeye fans to feel confident in the quarterback room next season if they don’t bring anybody in via the transfer portal.

Devin Brown has struggled as a passer and shown very questionable pocket presence in a small sample size this season and the four series he was able to play in this game didn’t change that.

The offense also couldn’t establish rhythm with Lincoln Kienholz either who only managed to complete 6-of-17 pass attempts.  It’s hard to put much blame on Kienholz, however, as he is very unexperienced as a true freshman and was under pressure on 11-of-19 dropbacks.

Running Backs

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Starter: TreVeyon Henderson

PFF Grade | 66.9 (47 snaps)
Stats | 19 attempts for 72 Yards (3.8 avg.), 0 TD

Other: Dallan Hayden

PFF Grade | 60.0 (1 snap)
Stats | No rush attempts

What It Means

The Buckeyes failed to establish a consistent running game in this game.  With Missouri stacking the box expecting the run, and the inconsistent run blocking from the Buckeye offensive line the Tigers were able to hold Henderson to under four yards per carry.

Wide Receivers

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Starter: Emeka Egbuka

PFF Grade | 71.0 (54 snaps)
Stats | 6 targets, 4 receptions, 58 Yards, 0 TD

Starter: Carnell Tate

PFF Grade | 49.2 (53 snaps)
Stats | 4 targets, 1 reception, 4 Yards, 0 TD

Other: Xavier Johnson

PFF Grade | 65.4 (38 snaps)
Stats | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 35 Yards, 0 TD

Other: Brandon Inniss

PFF Grade | 56.9 (9 snaps)
Stats | 1 target, 0 receptions

Other: Jayden Ballard

PFF Grade | 57.1 (2 snaps)
Stats | 1 target, 0 receptions

What It Means

Emeka Egbuka was the leading receiver for the Buckeyes with 58 yards, a number that could have been a lot higher with stronger play from the rest of the offense.

Tight Ends

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Starter: Gee Scott Jr.

PFF Grade | 50.2 (37 snaps)
Stats | 2 targets, 1 reception, 8 Yards, 0 TD

Other: Cade Stover

PFF Grade | 54.8 (34 snaps)
Stats | 0 targets

Other: Kayden McDonald

PFF Grade | 63.6 (3 snaps)
Stats | 0 targets

Other: Jelani Thurman

PFF Grade | 57.9 (2 snaps)
Stats | 0 targets

What It Means

The Buckeyes were unable to get the tight ends involved in the passing attack as Cade Stover was held without a catch and Gee Scott Jr. had just one catch.

Offensive Line

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Left Tackle: Josh Simmons

PFF Grade | 62.0 (57 snaps)
Stats | 60.9 run block grade, 60.2 pass block grade, 1 sack and 3 pressures allowed on 28 pass block snaps

Left Guard: Donovan Jackson

PFF Grade | 61.4 (57 snaps)
Stats | 58.2 run block grade, 73.8 pass block grade, 0 pressures allowed on 28 pass block snaps

Center: Matthew Jones

PFF Grade | 61.6 (57 snaps)
Stats | 60.8 run block grade, 59.2 pass block grade, 2 pressures allowed on 28 pass block snaps

Right Guard: Enokk Vimahi

PFF Grade | 48.9 (57 snaps)
Stats | 49.0 run block grade, 36.6 pass block grade, 2 pressures allowed on  28 pass block snaps

Right Tackle: Josh Fryar

PFF Grade | 61.4 (57 snaps)
Stats | 64.6 run block grade, 64.5 pass block grade, 0 pressures allowed on 28 pass block snaps

Other: Tegra Tshabola

PFF Grade | 56.9 (5 snaps)
Stats | 56.4 run block grade, 67.4 pass block grade, 0 pressures allowed on 1 pass block snap

What It Means

There’s no sugar coating it the offensive line had one of its worst performances of the season in this game as they failed to run or pass block consistently.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Evan Bachman on X.

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