Freshman Tracker: Jack Sawyer Steals a Sack, Denzel Burke Breaks Up Another Pass, Marvin Harrison Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson Play Season-High Snaps

Ryan Day used nine of Ohio State's 23 scholarship freshmen in the 26-17 closer than expected win over Nebraska. Jack Sawyer, Denzel Burke, Marvin Harrison Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson played key roles in Ohio State's seventh straight win over the Cornhuskers.

Sawyer sack, Burke breakup

Jack Sawyer made the most of his five defensive snaps. Late in the first quarter, Jack Sawyer drove right tackle Bryce Benhart deep into Nebraska's backfield and barrel-rolled himself into Adrian Martinez for a four-yard sack. The big stop led to a three-and-out. 

Early in the second quarter, Nebraska had a 2nd-and-12 at its own 36-yard line. Sawyer put some heat on Martinez and forced him into an incomplete pass for his second quarterback hurry of the day.

On the next play, Martinez decided to test Denzel Burke. Not a wise decision as the defensive back broke up the third down pass. This was Burke's first play on a ball since his pick-six against Rutgers and his first pass breakup since the Tulsa game on Sept. 18.

Following Burke's eighth PBU of his young career, Nebraska had to punt. Ohio State scored on the ensuing drive and extended its lead to 10-0.

Sawyer now has 11 tackles, three sacks and two quarterback hurries on the season. Burke, who was targeted just three times and gave up no catches against Nebraska per Pro Football Focus, might have more opportunities to make plays on the ball when he faces Purdue’s David Bell next weekend.

Harrison Jr. helps and hurts

With Garrett Wilson unavailable, Marvin Harrison Jr. got an opportunity for significant playing time with the first-team offense. Harrison Jr. was targeted six times and caught two of those passes for 25 yards. His longest play of the contest was a 13-yard reception early in the second quarter that pushed the Buckeyes into Nebraska territory. The play was part of a drive that ultimately led to Ohio State's first points of the game.

It wasn't all positive plays for the receiver with Hall of Fame bloodlines. Harrison Jr. was called for holding when the Buckeyes were facing a 2nd-and-15 at their own 41-yard line in the third quarter. On the next play, Stroud targeted the Philadelphia wideout and Harrison Jr. extended the six-yard pass for a gain of 12. On third down, Stroud again looked for Harrison, but the two could not connect and Ohio State was forced to punt.

Harrison Jr. played a career-high 36 snaps against Nebraska. He now has five receptions for 68 yards in his freshman campaign. 

Henderson's quiet 136-yard game

For the first time in his collegiate career, TreVeyon Henderson left the field without crossing the goal line. He played a season-high 74 snaps and finished with 92 rushing yards on 21 carries and six catches for 44 yards.

For the most part, Nebraska limited Henderson to small gains. However, he broke out for a key 22-yard gain late in the fourth quarter.

The longest run of the game for Ohio State was instrumental in setting Noah Ruggles up for the game-clinching field goal.

Heading into Saturday's home game against Purdue, Henderson is 70 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards for the season. If he is able to crack the milestone mark, Henderson will join Robert Smith (1990), Maurice Clarett (2002) and J.K. Dobbins (2017) as the only true freshmen at Ohio State to rush for over 1,000 yards.

Special teams and snaps spotlight

Emeka Egbuka had three offensive snaps and was on the kickoff return team three times with one return of 24 yards. He also helped four times on the punt return unit.

Marvin Harrison Jr. was on the punt return team six times and the kickoff return team four times.

Donovan Jackson played on one offensive snap. He also protected on Ohio State's four field goal and two extra point kicks.

Jesse Mirco was called upon to punt four times. He averaged 40.5 yards per boot and placed half of his punts inside the Nebraska 20. Mirco also held on all of Ohio State's extra points and field goals.

J.T. Tuimoloau had 10 defensive snaps and was on the field for all of Nebraska's three field goal and two extra point attempts.

Tyleik Williams played 15 defensive snaps against Nebraska. He was also on the field for the punt return/block team once and the PAT block team once.

Under the NCAA's redshirt rules, a player can appear in up to four games at any point throughout the season and still count it as his redshirt year. Through the ninth game of the 2021 season, 13 of Ohio State's 23 scholarship true freshmen have seen the field, with nine – Burke, Egbuka, Harrison Jr., Henderson, Jackson, Mirco, Saywer, Tuimoloau and Williams – now ineligible for redshirts as they've appeared in five or more games.