As has been the case in nearly every Ohio State game this season, the star of the Buckeyes' true freshman class against Michigan State was J.K. Dobbins.
Dobbins topped the 100-yard mark as a rusher for the fourth time in 10 games this season. To be exact, Dobbins ran the ball 18 times for 124 yards, while also adding four receptions for 20 yards – including an eight-yard touchdown off a screen pass – as Ohio State rolled to a 48-3 win over the Spartans.
In the process, Dobbins became just the third true freshman in Ohio State history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, joining Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002).
Dobbins was one of three true freshmen to see playing time Saturday on Ohio State's offense, along with Thayer Munford and Brendon White. Munford checked into the game for the Buckeyes' final two possessions at right tackle, while White – who previously saw playing time earlier this season at safety – made his debut on offense when he checked in at wide receiver on the Buckeyes' final offensive series.
In total, 12 Ohio State true freshmen saw playing time in Saturday's game on offense, defense and/or special teams. Notable performers on defense included Chase Young, who recorded three total tackles and 1.5 sacks, and defensive backs Jeffrey Okudah and Isaiah Pryor, who each recorded two tackles. Notable performers on special teams included kickoff specialist Blake Haubeil, who performed well for the second week in a row since getting his job back from Sean Nuernberger.
A full look at which true freshmen played in Saturday's game and their box score statistics is below.
NAME | POS | DEBUT | MICHIGAN STATE RESULT | SEASON LINE |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amir Riep | DB | Indiana | 1 tackle | 10 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 INT |
Baron Browning | LB | Indiana | Game participation | 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL |
Blake Haubeil | K | Indiana | 9 kickoffs, 59.1 yards per kick | 58 kickoffs, 3 tackles |
Brendon White | WR/DB | UNLV | Game participation | 1 tackle |
Chase Young | DL | Indiana | 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks | 18 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF |
Ellijah Gardiner | WR | |||
Haskell Garrett | DL | Indiana | Game participation | 3 tackles |
Isaiah Pryor | DB | Indiana | 2 tackles | 10 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PBUs |
J.K. Dobbins | RB | Indiana | 18 rush, 124 yards; 4 rec, 20 yards, 1 TD | 137 att, 1,038 yards, 5 TD; 17 rec, 109 yards, 1 TD |
Jaylen Harris | WR | UNLV | 2 receptions, 27 yards | |
Jeffrey Okudah | DB | Indiana | 2 tackles | 6 tackles, 1 PBU |
Jerron Cage | DL | |||
Josh Myers | OL | |||
Marcus Williamson | DB | UNLV | Game participation | 5 tackles |
Pete Werner | LB | UNLV | Game participation | 8 tackles, 0.5 TFL |
Shaun Wade | DB | |||
Tate Martell | QB | |||
Thayer Munford | OL | Army | Game participation | |
Trevon Grimes | WR | Army | 3 receptions, 20 yards | |
Wyatt Davis | OL |