Freshman Tracker: Zach Harrison is a Star, Steele Chambers Returns and Freshmen Snaps Are Plentiful

By Matt Gutridge on November 17, 2019 at 3:30 pm
Cade Stover and Tommy Eichenberg
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 Plenty of freshmen saw action during the Buckeyes' 56-21 rout of Rutgers.

With the majority of Ohio State's starters sitting out the second half, Dawand Jones (39), Enokk Vimahi (39), Jameson Williams (37), Cade Stover (23), Steele Chambers (20) and Tommy Eichenberg (6) had career highs in snaps played.

The last time Chambers saw the field was Week four against Miami. Against the Scarlet Knights, Day called his number nine times and the running back from Roswell, GA gained an impressive 56 yards on nine carries (6.2 ypc).

Saturday was Chambers' fourth game of the season, and with the NCAA's redshirt rules allowing a player to play four games during a redshirt season, it is likely we will not see him play again this season. If that is the case, the guy with one of the best names on the team will finish the year with 19 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown.

The dynamic duo of Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams weren't so dynamic in Piscataway. Wilson finished the game with just one catch for 13 yards. He also muffed a punt late in the first quarter that led to Rutgers' first score of the game.

Williams had several passes thrown his way, but he was unable to come down with one. He almost had a sensational sideline grab in the third quarter, but he was unable to keep his foot in play. Early in the fourth quarter, the receiver from St. Louis had a scoring chance, but he was unable to control a deep pass after the ball went through the hands of a Rutgers' defender.

Williams did use his hands for good as he helped shove Jaelen Gill across the end zone for the Buckeyes' final score of the game.

The offensive line made a massive overhaul after the first drive of the second half. Harry Miller, Dawand Jones and Ennok Vimahi were called upon to relieve the starters. For the majority of the second half, Ohio State's offensive line comprised mostly of true freshmen. Although there were a couple of penalties and stalled drives, the future appears bright in the trenches.

Zach Harrison is a star in the making and the talented defensive end recorded 3 tackles and quarterback hurry against the outmatched Scarlet Knights in his second start of his career.

Cade Stover moved from linebacker and joined Harrison and his mates on the defensive line. Although he did not etch his name in the stat book, Stover did play in a career-high 23 snaps. Is a position move in the making? We probably won't find out until next year, because like Chambers, this was Stover's fourth game. He is likely finished for the season with 36 defensive snaps and contributions on special teams.

Bryson Shaw did not see the field at safety, but he did play on special teams. The Maryland native made the most of his opportunity and recorded his first career tackle.

Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg entered the game for two plays early in the third quarter and had his number called four times during Rutgers' final drive of the game. He did not record a tackle, but did have his first action since the Miami game.

Running back Marcus Crowley and defensive end Noah Potter had career games against Maryland, but neither played against Rutgers. In fact, neither player was on the travel roster.

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. In all, 14 freshmen have seen playing time this season, with Crowley, Harrison, Jones, Miller, Williams, Wilson and Young are those who are now ineligible for redshirts as they have played in at least five games this season.

Chambers, Potter and Stover have now played in four games this season, so Ohio State will have to make a decision on whether they should play in any more games and burn their redshirts.

CLASS OF 2019 TRACKER
NAME POS DEBUT RUTGERS STATS GP SEASON STATS
ZACH HARRISON DE FAU 3 tackles, QB hurry 10 14 tackles, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks
JAMESON WILLIAMS WR FAU 37 snaps 10 6 catches, 112 yards, TD
GARRETT WILSON WR FAU 1 catch, 13 yards 10 19 catches, 229 yards, 4 TD
HARRY MILLER OL FAU 39 snaps 9 135 offensive snaps
CRAIG YOUNG LB FAU 4 snaps 8 4 tackles
MARCUS CROWLEY RB FAU   7 25 rushes, 237 yards, TD
1 catch, 7 yards, TD
DAWAND JONES OL UC 39 snaps 6 51 offensive snaps
STEELE CHAMBERS RB UC 9 rushes, 56 yards 4 19 rushes, 135 yards, TD
CADE STOVER DE/LB UC 22 snaps 4 36 defensive snaps
NOAH POTTER DE FAU   4 2 tackles
BRYSON SHAW S MIAMI 1 tackle 3 1 tackle
TOMMY EICHENBERG LB MIAMI 6 snaps 2 7 defensive snaps
ENOKK VIMAHI OL MD 39 snaps 2 16 offensive snaps
JADEN McKENZIE DT MIAMI   2 11 defensive snaps
CORMONTAE HAMILTON TE        
RONNIE HICKMAN S        
RYAN JACOBY OL        
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