Players of the Game: J.T. Tuimoloau and Marvin Harrison Jr. Earn Top Honors for Performances Against Penn State

By 11W Staff on October 30, 2022 at 3:07 pm
POTG
15 Comments

After each of Ohio State's wins this season, we have honored two Buckeyes with player of the game awards, with offense first and defense second. That order will change for the first time this week.

A no-brainer selection, J.T. Tuimoloau's stat-stuffing performance against Penn State earns defensive player of the game honors and is too good to take a backseat to the offensive player of the game, even if that player is Marvin Harrison Jr.. who played like the best wide receiver in America on Saturday.

Tuimoloau had one of the most dominant performances from an Ohio State defender in program history, racking up six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble, a deflected pass – which led to a Zach Harrison interception – and a touchdown.

The second-year defensive end's presence was felt throughout the game, as his statistics were compiled from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. Tuimoloau's pass breakup and first interception occurred in the first quarter. He then collected some tackles for loss and one of his two sacks in the second and third frames before becoming a one-person wrecking crew in the fourth quarter, recording a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pick-six in the final 15 minutes of the contest.

On Sunday, Tuimoloau was named the Walter Camp Football National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against the Nittany Lions. He was the first Buckeye to claim the award since C.J. Stroud won the honor following a six-touchdown game against Michigan State in 2021.

Harrison is our offensive player of the game for his 10-catch, 185-yard performance against Penn State. Despite being Ohio State's only source of offense for most of the game, the Nittany Lions had no answer for Harrison. On more than one occasion, he showed that his raw talent and development under Brian Hartline make him a tough matchup for any cornerback in college football.

The second-year receiver has 48 catches for 783 yards (16.3 avg) and 10 touchdowns for the Buckeyes this season. Harrison's 10 scores are second-best in the NCAA with Houston's Nathaniel Dell and behind Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt, and his 783 yards are good for 12th in the country – one spot behind teammate Emeka Egbuka, who has 788 yards in 2022.

Tuimoloau is a first-time recipient of the Eleven Warriors defensive player of the game award this year. At the same time, Harrison has now claimed three offensive player of the game honors after he won the accolade for his performances against Arkansas State and Michigan State.

Here is the full list of winners from this season:

Eleven Warriors Players of the Game
Game Offense Defense
NOTRE DAME MIYAN WILLIAMS, RB
96 yards from scrimmage, TD 		TOMMY EICHENBERG, LB
9 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks
ARKANSAS STATE MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR
7 catches, 184 yards, 3 TD 		MIKE HALL JR., DT
3 TFL, 1 sack
TOLEDO C.J. STROUD, QB
22-27, 367 yards, 5 TD 		JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE, DE
2 TFL, 2 sacks, FF
WISCONSIN EMEKA EGBUKA, WR
6 catches, 118 yards, 2 TD 		TOMMY EICHENBERG, LB
14 tackles, 2 TFL
RUTGERS MIYAN WILLIAMS, RB
21 car, 189 yards, 5 TD 		STEELE CHAMBERS, LB
11 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT
@ MICHIGAN STATE MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR
7 catches, 131 yards, 3 TD 		MIKE HALL JR., DT
3 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
IOWA C.J. STROUD, QB
20-30, 286 yards, 4 TD 		ZACH HARRISON, DE
1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 FF, 1 PBU
@ PENN STATE MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR
10 catches, 185 yards 		J.T. TUIMOLOAU, DE
6 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT
FF, FR,  PBU, TD
15 Comments

Arizona Cardinals Draft Marvin Harrison Jr. with No. 4 Overall Pick, Making Him Ohio State’s Highest-Drafted Wide Receiver Ever

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Former Ohio State Center Felix Okpara Commits to Tennessee

Felix Okpara
View 15 Comments