C.J. Stroud, 10 Defensive Starters Among Buckeyes Not Named Champions Following Tulsa Win

By Griffin Strom on September 20, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Ohio State
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No champions were named following Ohio State's Week 2 loss to Oregon, and just 10 players earned that distinction after Saturday's win over Tulsa.

With his 277-yard, three-touchdown explosion, freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson was named the Buckeyes’ offensive player of the game for his record-setting exploits, and second-year defensive back Cameron Martinez was the defensive player of the game after returning an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Xavier Johnson and Cade Kacherski were named the Buckeyes' two special teams players of the game, but aside from those four players, just six other Ohio State players graded out as champions after the 41-20 win.

On offense, wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba got the nod, and tight end Mitch Rossi was named a champion as well. The entire Ohio State starting offensive line graded out as champions following the season opener against Minnesota, but Matthew Jones was the only offensive lineman to do so against Tulsa. C.J. Stroud was notably absent from the list after completing 15-of-25 passes for 185 yards and throwing his third interception of the season.

Joining Martinez from the Buckeyes' defense, which gave up 501 total yards to the Golden Hurricane, are freshman defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, who recorded a crucial third down sack in the fourth quarter, and team tackles leader Ronnie Hickman. Hickman was the lone defensive starter to be named a champion for Ohio State.

Ohio State Champions vs. Tulsa
Offense: TE Mitch Rossi, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Garrett Wilson, OL Matthew Jones
Player of the Game: RB TreVeyon Henderson
Defense: DT Tyleik Williams, SAF Ronnie Hickman
Player of the Game: SAF Cameron Martinez
Special Teams Players of the Game: RB Xavier Johnson and LB Cade Kacherski

Ohio State's 2021 Offensive Champions*
Player Total Games
WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA 2 MINNESOTA, TULSA
LT NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE 1 MINNESOTA
LG THAYER MUNFORD 1 MINNESOTA
WR GARRETT WILSON 1 MINNESOTA
TE JEREMY RUCKERT 1 MINNESOTA
WR CHRIS OLAVE 1 MINNESOTA (PLAYER OF THE GAME)
RB MIYAN WILLIAMS 1 MINNESOTA (PLAYER OF THE GAME)
RB TREVEYON HENDERSON 1 TULSA (PLAYER OF THE GAME)
RT DAWAND JONES 1 MINNESOTA
RG PARIS JOHNSON JR. 1 MINNESOTA
C LUKE WYPLER 1 MINNESOTA
TE MITCH ROSSI 1 TULSA
LG MATTHEW JONES 1 TULSA
Ohio State's 2021 Defensive Champions*
Player Total Games
S RONNIE HICKMAN 2 MINNESOTA, TULSA
DT TYLEIK WILLIAMS 1 TULSA
DT HASKELL GARRETT 1 MINNESOTA
S CAMERON MARTINEZ 1 TULSA (PLAYER OF THE GAME)
DT TARON VINCENT 1 MINNESOTA
DE JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE 1 MINNESOTA
DE ZACH HARRISON 1 MINNESOTA (PLAYER OF THE GAME)
DT ANTWUAN JACKSON 1 MINNESOTA
S JOSH PROCTOR 1 MINNESOTA
S BRYSON SHAW 1 MINNESOTA
CB DENZEL BURKE 1 MINNESOTA
LB CODY SIMON 1 MINNESOTA
LB TERADJA MITCHELL 1 MINNESOTA
LB TOMMY EICHENBERG 1 MINNESOTA

*No champions named following Week 2 matchup with Oregon. 

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