Terry McLaurin, Chase Young, Drue Chrisman, Justin Hilliard and Jeffrey Okudah Named Ohio State's Players of the Game Against Penn State

By Dan Hope on September 30, 2018 at 7:28 pm
Terry McLaurin
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Terry McLaurin was named offensive player of the game, Chase Young was named defensive player of the game and four Buckeyes  – McLaurin, Drue Chrisman, Justin Hilliard and Jeffrey Okudah – received special teams player of the game honors for their performances in Ohio State's 27-26 win at Penn State on Saturday night.

McLaurin, a fifth-year senior wide receiver, received offensive player of the game honors even though he did not catch a single pass in Saturday's game. Ohio State gave him the award because of what it described as "dominant blocking," which earned him a 93 percent grade from his coaches.

Most notably, McLaurin made the key block on K.J. Hill's game-winning, 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown – moving not one, not two, but three Penn State defenders out of the way to clear Hill's path to the end zone.

Young, meanwhile, made two of the Buckeyes' most crucial defensive plays on Saturday night – breaking up a pass in the backfield on 4th-and-1 late in the third quarter, and then sealing the Buckeyes' victory by burying Penn State running back Miles Sanders for a 2-yard loss on 4th-and-5 on the Nittany Lions' final possession.

For the game as a whole, the sophomore defensive end recorded six total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups, and received an 82 percent grade from his coaches.

McLaurin was among the four Buckeyes to earn special teams player of the game honors because forced the punt returner to fair catch or go out of bounds on three separate punts, and downed a punt at the 2-yard line. Okudah was also credited with three tackles on the punt team, while Hilliard was credited with one tackle each on punt and kickoff. Chrisman was honored for a performance in which he punted nine times and averaged 47.9 yards per punt, including three punts of 50-plus yards (long of 58) and three punts downed inside the 20. 

McLaurin previously earned offensive player of the game honors for his performance in Ohio State's season opener against Oregon State, while Hilliard also received special teams player of the game honors for that game. Chrisman also received special teams player of the game honors for his performance last weekend against Tulane.

Players of the Game vs. Penn State
Unit Pos Player Stats
OFFENSE WR TERRY MCLAURIN "DOMINANT BLOCKING," 93 PERCENT GRADE
DEFENSE DE CHASE YOUNG 6 TACKLES, 3 TFL, 2 SACKS, 2 PBU
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS P DRUE CHRISMAN 47.9 YARDS PER PUNT (9 PUNTS), 3 PUNTS INSIDE 20-YARD LINE
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS LB JUSTIN HILLIARD 2 TACKLES (1 TACKLE ON KICKOFF, 1 TACKLE ON PUNT)
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS WR TERRY MCLAURIN 3 FORCED FAIR CATCHES/OUT OF BOUNDS ON PUNT, DOWNED PUNT AT 2-YARD LINE
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS CB JEFFREY OKUDAH 3 TACKLES ON PUNT
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