Snap Counts: Season-Low 50 Buckeyes Play Against Penn State As 13 Ohio State Defenders Play Season-High Snap Counts

By Dan Hope on October 31, 2022 at 8:35 am
Ronnie Hickman
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For only the second time in eight games this season, Ohio State had to play its starters for four full quarters in its 44-31 win over Penn State.

Like in the season opener against Notre Dame, Ohio State never had firm control of Saturday’s game in Happy Valley until late in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes actually trailed in the fourth quarter until they rattled off four touchdowns in a span of just six minutes and nine seconds to pull away from the home team.

As a result, Ohio State kept its rotations much tighter against Penn State than in most of its games this season. Giving us a glimpse into which players Ohio State trusts to be on the field in big games in the homestretch of the season, a season-low 50 Buckeyes saw action in the battle with the Nittany Lions.

Only 16 Buckeyes played snaps on offense, and just 20 Buckeyes saw action on defense. Thirteen of those Buckeyes – defensive ends Zach Harrison, J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, defensive tackles Taron Vincent, Tyleik Williams and Jerron Cage, linebackers Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg, cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock and safeties Ronnie Hickman, Lathan Ransom and Tanner McCalister – played their highest defensive snap counts of the season to date as Penn State ran 81 offensive plays, the most Ohio State has faced in a game this year.

Our full report on how many snaps each Buckeye played on offense, defense and special teams follows below. Offensive and defensive snap counts are courtesy of Pro Football Focus’ premium statistics, while special teams snap counts were compiled by Eleven Warriors data analyst Matt Gutridge. All snap counts should be considered unofficial as they were not provided by Ohio State.

Quarterbacks

C.J. Stroud: 64

Stroud played every snap of the game at quarterback for only the second time this season and threw passes on just over half of Ohio State’s 64 offensive snaps, completing 26 of 33 attempts for 354 yards and one touchdown. He also had six rushing attempts (including two sacks) for a net gain of five yards.

Running Backs

TreVeyon Henderson: 59
Miyan Williams: 5
Chip Trayanum: Special teams only

Williams was forced to leave the game after just his second carry and fifth snap of the game due to hand and knee injuries. Henderson was the Buckeyes’ running back for all of their other 59 offensive plays, the most snaps he’s played in any game this season. He ran the ball on 16 of those plays for 78 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for a 5-yard loss.

TreVeyon Henderson
TreVeyon Henderson played a season-high 59 snaps at running back in Ohio State’s win over Penn State.

Wide Receivers

Emeka Egbuka: 58
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 58
Julian Fleming: 50
Xavier Johnson: 7
Jayden Ballard: Special teams only

With Jaxon Smith-Njigba unavailable again, Harrison, Egbuka and Fleming played almost all of the snaps at wide receiver against Penn State, with Egbuka and Harrison each playing all but six of Ohio State’s offensive plays.

Johnson entered the game for two snaps as a wideout when Harrison had to leave the game briefly after landing hard on his shoulder, but the rest of Johnson’s snaps came in the Buckeyes’ jumbo package, in which he replaced Gee Scott Jr. from previous games as the third tight end.

Tight Ends

Cade Stover: 62
Mitch Rossi: 15
Gee Scott Jr.: 1

Stover continued to be a mainstay in Ohio State’s offensive lineup against Penn State, playing all but two snaps at tight end and catching a career-high six passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Rossi mixed in for 15 plays as a tight end/fullback. Scott’s only offensive snap came in victory formation when the Buckeyes kneeled the ball down on the game’s final play.

Offensive Linemen

Paris Johnson Jr.: 64
Donovan Jackson: 64
Luke Wypler: 64
Matt Jones: 64
Dawand Jones: 64
Josh Fryar: 5
Jakob James: Special teams only
Zen Michalski: Special teams only
Enokk Vimahi: Special teams only

Johnson, Jackson, Wypler, Jones and Jones were all on the field for all 64 offensive plays as the five starting offensive linemen, while Fryar joined them in the game as a sixth offensive lineman for five plays in the jumbo package.

Snap Tracker: Offense
Pos Player ND ARST TOL WIS RUT MSU IOWA PSU Total
QB C.J. STROUD 71 48 57 62 53 60 59 64 474
QB KYLE MCCORD DNP 8 14 9 6 16 5 DNP 58
QB DEVIN BROWN DNP DNP 9 DNP 6 DNP DNP DNP 15
RB TREVEYON HENDERSON 43 21 8 47 DNP 37 38 59 253
RB MIYAN WILLIAMS 28 27 25 15 53 DNP 21 5 174
RB DALLAN HAYDEN DNP 8 36 9 12 26 3 DNP 94
RB TC CAFFEY DNP DNP 9 DNP DNP 6 DNP DNP 15
RB CAYDEN SAUNDERS DNP DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
RB CHIP TRAYANUM ST DEF ST DEF DEF DEF 2 ST 2
WR MARVIN HARRISON JR. 67 47 50 59 48 56 53 58 438
WR EMEKA EGBUKA 71 43 42 59 39 47 40 58 399
WR JULIAN FLEMING DNP DNP 18 57 27 50 33 50 235
WR XAVIER JOHNSON 24 37 27 10 12 20 2 7 139
WR JAYDEN BALLARD 20 14 17 10 12 16 ST ST 89
WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA 15 DNP 23 DNP DNP DNP 22 DNP 60
WR REIS STOCKSDALE DNP DNP 5 ST 6 16 2 DNP 29
WR KALEB BROWN DNP DNP 9 9 6 ST 3 DNP 27
WR KOJO ANTWI DNP DNP 6 DNP 6 3 5 DNP 20
WR KYION GRAYES DNP DNP 8 DNP DNP DNP 5 DNP 13
TE CADE STOVER 64 44 52 41 53 59 59 62 434
TE MITCH ROSSI 19 23 19 18 25 20 20 15 159
TE GEE SCOTT JR. 3 16 23 14 17 18 10 1 102
TE SAM HART DNP DNP 2 3 3 3 DNP DNP 11
TE BENNETT CHRISTIAN DNP DNP 9 DNP DNP ST DNP DNP 9
TE PATRICK GURD DNP ST 2 2 2 ST DNP DNP 6
TE ZAK HERBSTREIT DNP DNP 2 1 1 DNP DNP DNP 4
TE JOE ROYER ST ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
OL PARIS JOHNSON JR. 71 48 57 62 53 63 59 64 477
OL DONOVAN JACKSON 71 48 57 62 53 63 59 64 477
OL LUKE WYPLER 71 48 57 62 53 63 59 64 477
OL DAWAND JONES 71 48 57 62 53 63 59 64 477
OL MATT JONES 68 48 57 62 53 53 59 64 464
OL JOSH FRYAR 1 8 29 10 15 16 7 5 91
OL ENOKK VIMAHI 3 8 23 9 12 23 5 ST 83
OL ZEN MICHALSKI ST 8 23 9 12 13 5 ST 70
OL JAKOB JAMES DNP 8 23 9 12 13 5 ST 70
OL TEGRA TSHABOLA DNP 8 23 9 12 DNP DNP DNP 52
OL TOBY WILSON DNP DNP ST DNP DNP 13 5 DNP 18

Defensive Ends

Zach Harrison: 62
J.T. Tuimoloau: 55
Jack Sawyer: 31
Javontae Jean-Baptiste: 23
Caden Curry: Special teams only

Neither Harrison nor Tuimoloau played more than 33 snaps in any of Ohio State’s first seven games, but both played way more than that as the Buckeyes’ starting defensive ends against Penn State. Harrison played the most snaps of any defensive lineman in any game this year one week after he had a dominant performance against Iowa, while Tuimoloau took full advantage of his 55 snaps by forcing four turnovers – three of which he collected himself and one of which was an interception by Harrison – in an all-time great individual performance.

Sawyer also played a season-high 31 snaps, some of which came with Harrison and Tuimoloau also both on the field as the ends in a three-man defensive front with Sawyer playing Jack linebacker. For the first time all season, Ohio State played only four defensive ends on defense as neither Curry nor Tyler Friday played any defensive snaps even though Friday was available after showing up as a non-participant on the status report for three games.

Defensive Tackles

Taron Vincent: 55
Mike Hall Jr.: 31
Tyleik Williams: 30
Jerron Cage: 24
Ty Hamilton: 16

Vincent played 19 more snaps against Penn State than he had previously played in any game this season, while Williams and Cage also played their most prominent roles of the year in the rotation. Hall, who started alongside Vincent, also played his second-highest snap count of the season while Hamilton also factored in the rotation – including four plays where Hamilton, Vincent and Williams were all on the field together as part of a five-man defensive front.

Linebackers

Steele Chambers: 81
Tommy Eichenberg: 81
Palaie Gaotoete IV: 4
Cody Simon: 4
C.J. Hicks: Special teams only

Chambers and Eichenberg were both on the field for all 81 of Ohio State’s defensive plays – a career-high in snaps for both players – as the two inside linebackers in the Buckeyes’ base defense. Gaoteote and Simon joined Chambers and Eichenberg for four plays in a short-yardage defensive package in which the Buckeyes lined up with five defensive linemen, four linebackers and only two defensive backs on the field.

Cornerbacks

Denzel Burke: 77
JK Johnson: 46
Jordan Hancock: 31

Burke played a season-high 77 snaps as he was on the field for every defensive snap except for the four aforementioned short-yardage plays in which the Buckeyes had no cornerbacks on the field. With Cameron Brown unavailable, Johnson started opposite Burke. He played a majority of snaps as Ohio State’s No. 2 cornerback. However, Hancock also rotated in for more than twice as many snaps as he played in his 15-play season debut against Iowa.

Safeties

Ronnie Hickman: 81
Lathan Ransom: 81
Tanner McCalister: 77
Cameron Martinez: 1
Jantzen Dunn: Special teams only
Josh Proctor: Special teams only
Sonny Styles: Special teams only

Hickman, Ransom and McCalister all played their highest snap counts of the season. Ransom and Hickman were both on the field for every defensive play as Ohio State’s two primary safeties. McCalister was in the game for every play except when the Buckeyes had their four-linebacker package on the field. Martinez joined them on the field for just one defensive play.

Snap Tracker: Defense
Pos Player ND ARST TOL WIS RUT MSU IOWA PSU Total
DE J.T. TUIMOLOAU 33 27 26 21 29 24 27 55 242
DE ZACH HARRISON 18 33 17 24 20 26 20 62 220
DE JACK SAWYER 26 27 25 26 27 28 24 31 214
DE JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE 16 25 23 23 23 21 39 23 193
DE CADEN CURRY ST 12 18 9 13 11 10 ST 73
DE/DT TYLER FRIDAY 7 16 18 11 DNP DNP DNP DNP 52
DE KENYATTA JACKSON DNP 12 6 DNP 6 DNP DNP DNP 24
DE OMARI ABOR DNP 9 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 9
DT TARON VINCENT 33 22 28 31 36 29 24 55 258
DT MIKE HALL JR. 30 28 DNP 27 40 7 26 31 189
DT TYLEIK WILLIAMS 15 25 18 20 6 13 24 30 151
DT TY HAMILTON 11 26 19 13 7 29 19 16 140
DT JERRON CAGE 9 17 14 20 14 17 19 24 134
DT JADEN MCKENZIE DNP 21 9 7 10 11 DNP DNP 58
DT HERO KANU DNP 11 3 DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP 16
DT BRYCE PRATER DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 DNP DNP DNP 1
LB TOMMY EICHENBERG 50 63 44 54 52 42 51 81 437
LB STEELE CHAMBERS 26 30 28 48 52 42 51 81 358
LB CODY SIMON 25 48 28 16 15 12 24 4 172
LB CHIP TRAYANUM ST 15 ST 3 6 12 OFF ST 36
LB PALAIE GAOTEOTE IV ST ST 12 ST DNP DNP 8 4 24
LB C.J. HICKS DNP ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
LB REID CARRICO DNP DNP ST ST ST ST ST DNP ST
LB TERADJA MITCHELL ST ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
LB GABE POWERS DNP DNP ST ST DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
LB JACKSON KUWATCH DNP DNP ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
CB DENZEL BURKE 50 43 44 DNP 47 36 40 77 337
CB JK JOHNSON ST 50 33 51 50 25 50 46 305
CB CAMERON BROWN 49 48 17 DNP DNP 27 DNP DNP 141
CB JYAIRE BROWN DNP 15 12 52 9 15 13 DNP 116
CB JORDAN HANCOCK DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 15 31 46
CB RYAN TURNER DNP DNP 6 3 6 5 DNP DNP 20
S RONNIE HICKMAN 50 57 44 54 51 42 51 81 430
S LATHAN RANSOM 46 39 45 DNP 18 36 51 81 316
S TANNER MCCALISTER 49 40 DNP 37 10 36 26 77 275
S JOSH PROCTOR 5 38 DNP 53 41 18 DNP ST 155
S CAMERON MARTINEZ 1 39 44 3 DNP 6 21 1 115
S KYE STOKES DNP 7 12 3 32 12 8 DNP 74
S SONNY STYLES DNP ST 11 9 9 12 8 ST 49
S KOURT WILLIAMS ST 15 12 9 6 ST DNP DNP 42
S JANTZEN DUNN ST ST DNP ST DNP DNP DNP ST ST

Field Goals/Extra Points

Noah Ruggles (kicker): 9
Jesse Mirco (holder): 9
Mason Arnold (long snapper): 9
Caden Curry (wing): 9
Zen Michalski (end): 9
Paris Johnson Jr. (tackle): 9
Donovan Jackson (guard): 9
Enokk Vimahi (guard): 9
Dawand Jones (tackle): 9
Jakob James (end): 9
Cade Stover (wing): 9

Arnold handled long-snapping duties against Penn State as Bradley Robinson was unavailable after suffering a knee injury against Iowa. The rest of Ohio State’s placekicking unit remained the same from previous games for all four of Ruggles’ field goal attempts – three of which he made – and five extra points.

Kickoffs

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 9
Caden Curry: 9
Palaie Gaoteote IV: 9
C.J. Hicks: 9
JK Johnson: 9
Xavier Johnson: 9
Tanner McCalister: 9
Josh Proctor: 9
Cody Simon: 9
Sonny Styles: 9
Chip Trayanum: 9

Gaoteote, JK Johnson and Proctor all rejoined the kickoff coverage team against Penn State, replacing Jayden Ballard, Reid Carrico and Ronnie Hickman on the starting kickoff unit from the Iowa game. Fielding continued to handle every kickoff as he has all season for the Buckeyes.

Kickoff Returns

Xavier Johnson (returner): 6
Steele Chambers: 6
Cody Simon: 6
Jayden Ballard: 5
Caden Curry: 5
Palaie Gaoteote IV: 5
C.J. Hicks: 5
Cameron Martinez: 5
Gee Scott Jr.: 5
Sonny Styles: 5
Chip Trayanum: 5
Emeka Egbuka: 1
Tommy Eichenberg: 1
Julian Fleming: 1
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 1
TreVeyon Henderson: 1
Lathan Ransom: 1
Mitch Rossi: 1
Cade Stover: 1

Johnson lined up as the lead kickoff returner for the second game in a row and ran for 26 yards on his first return of the season. The only change to Ohio State’s primary kickoff return unit from the Iowa game was Martinez replacing Fleming. Egbuka, Fleming, Harrison, Henderson, Rossi, Stover, Eichenberg and Ransom joined Johnson, Chambers and Simon on the hands team for Penn State’s onside kick attempt on its final kickoff of the game, which went out of bounds.

Punts

Jesse Mirco (punter): 3
Mason Arnold (long snapper): 3
Tommy Eichenberg (upback): 3
Mitch Rossi (upback): 3
Steele Chambers (guard): 3
Chip Trayanum (guard): 3
Xavier Johnson (tackle): 3
Cade Stover (wing): 3
Josh Proctor (gunner): 3
Jayden Ballard (gunner): 3
Emeka Egbuka (tackle): 2
Lathan Ransom (tackle): 1

Ransom replaced Egbuka for one of Mirco’s three punts after Egbuka was tackled on a screen pass on the previous play. Otherwise, Ohio State had the same players on the field for all three of Mirco’s punts, all of which he hit longer than 50 yards.

Punt Blocks/Returns

Emeka Egbuka (returner): 3
Caden Curry: 3
Jantzen Dunn: 3
Palaie Gaoteote IV: 3
JK Johnson: 3
Xavier Johnson: 3
Cody Simon: 3
Sonny Styles: 3
Chip Trayanum: 3
C.J. Hicks: 2
Lathan Ransom: 2
Ronnie Hickman: 1
Miyan Williams: 1

Dunn saw his first playing time in four games as he joined the Buckeyes’ punt block unit. Gaoteote, Simon and Williams (who was replaced by Hicks for Penn State’s latter two punts) were also new additions to the starting punt block team against Penn State, replacing Jyaire Brown, Reid Carrico, Cameron Martinez and Gee Scott Jr. Egbuka was the deep returner for all three of Barney Amor’s punts and returned one for eight yards.

Field Goal/Extra Point Block

Denzel Burke: 6
Steele Chambers: 6
Tommy Eichenberg: 6
Ronnie Hickman: 6
Lathan Ransom: 6
Zach Harrison: 5
JK Johnson: 5
Sonny Styles: 5
J.T. Tuimoloau: 4
Tyleik Williams: 4
Mike Hall Jr.: 3
Ty Hamilton: 2
Jack Sawyer: 2
Taron Vincent: 2
Jerron Cage: 1
Jordan Hancock: 1
Javontae Jean-Baptiste: 1
Tanner McCalister: 1

As he has for each of Ohio State’s last three games, Styles took McCalister’s place on the kick-blocking unit with the exception of Penn State’s first extra point, which McCalister remained on the field for. Otherwise, the Buckeyes on the field for Penn State’s field goal or extra point attempt consisted of defensive players who had been in the game on the series leading up to those kicks.

Snap Tracker: Special Teams
Pos Player ND ARST TOL WIS RUT MSU IOWA PSU Total
WR XAVIER JOHNSON 17 22 14 20 18 19 20 21 151
LB CODY SIMON 12 16 12 18 14 15 15 18 120
LB CHIP TRAYANUM 7 20 2 15 15 21 20 20 120
S SONNY STYLES DNP 15 12 15 15 20 20 22 119
DE CADEN CURRY 4 8 12 9 8 10 27 26 104
LB C.J. HICKS DNP 5 18 18 14 17 14 16 102
WR JAYDEN BALLARD 9 11 15 15 19 11 9 8 97
TE CADE STOVER 12 12 10 10 11 8 13 13 89
S KOURT WILLIAMS 12 16 18 18 16 11 DNP DNP 89
P JESSE MIRCO 9 12 12 10 10 10 13 12 88
CB JK JOHNSON 9 18 10 6 6 10 8 17 84
LB STEELE CHAMBERS 8 10 10 7 10 10 10 15 80
LB PALAIE GAOTEOTE IV 12 20 17 8 DNP DNP 4 19 80
WR EMEKA EGBUKA 16 12 7 10 8 9 8 6 76
LS BRADLEY ROBINSON 9 12 12 10 11 10 8 DNP 72
K JAYDEN FIELDING 4 8 12 9 8 8 11 9 69
OL ZEN MICHALSKI 4 7 11 8 7 7 10 9 63
K NOAH RUGGLES 4 7 11 8 7 7 10 9 63
OL ENOKK VIMAHI 4 7 11 8 7 7 10 9 63
LB REID CARRICO DNP DNP 16 11 8 13 14 DNP 62
LB TOMMY EICHENBERG 10 10 6 5 7 5 7 10 62
S RONNIE HICKMAN 8 6 13 8 8 3 8 7 61
OL DONOVAN JACKSON 4 7 8 8 7 7 10 9 60
OL DAWAND JONES 4 7 8 8 7 7 10 9 60
OL JAKOB JAMES DNP 7 11 8 7 7 10 9 59
OL PARIS JOHNSON JR. 4 6 8 8 7 7 10 9 59
S TANNER MCCALISTER 7 15 DNP 6 4 8 9 10 59
TE GEE SCOTT JR. 3 11 7 9 3 9 6 5 53
S CAMERON MARTINEZ 4 12 13 6 DNP 8 3 5 51
TE MITCH ROSSI 8 10 5 6 7 7 3 4 50
S LATHAN RANSOM 9 10 6 DNP 1 3 7 10 46
S JOSH PROCTOR 8 15 DNP 3 3 2 DNP 12 43
S KYE STOKES DNP 0 8 11 9 6 6 DNP 40
CB JYAIRE BROWN DNP 2 10 5 4 7 11 DNP 39
CB DENZEL BURKE 5 4 5 DNP 3 3 4 6 30
DE ZACH HARRISON 5 1 6 3 2 2 2 5 26
LB TERADJA MITCHELL 9 16 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 25
DT TARON VINCENT 3 2 5 3 3 2 1 2 21
WR KOJO ANTWI DNP DNP 8 DNP 6 3 3 DNP 20
LS MASON ARNOLD DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 5 12 17
DE J.T. TUIMOLOAU 3 2 3 0 1 2 2 4 17
S JANTZEN DUNN 5 5 DNP 3 DNP DNP DNP 3 16
DE JACK SAWYER 1 3 1 1 3 1 4 2 16
DT TYLEIK WILLIAMS 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 4 16
DT MIKE HALL JR. 5 1 DNP 1 3 1 1 3 15
WR REIS STOCKSDALE DNP DNP 5 2 0 4 4 DNP 15
WR JULIAN FLEMING DNP DNP 0 1 4 3 5 1 14
DT TY HAMILTON 0 3 1 3 0 2 3 2 14
DE JAVONTAE JEAN-BAPTISTE 2 2 1 1 0 3 4 1 14
CB CAMERON BROWN 5 3 3 DNP DNP 1 DNP DNP 12
DT JERRON CAGE 1 1 3 2 1 2 1 1 12
OL JOSH FRYAR 4 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 12
TE JOE ROYER 8 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 10
WR KALEB BROWN DNP DNP 0 0 3 5 0 DNP 8
TE PATRICK GURD DNP 1 5 0 0 1 DNP DNP 7
WR MARVIN HARRISON JR. 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7
LB GABE POWERS DNP DNP 4 3 DNP DNP DNP DNP 7
TE BENNETT CHRISTIAN DNP DNP 4 DNP DNP 2 DNP DNP 6
CB RYAN TURNER DNP DNP 1 1 1 2 DNP DNP 5
LB JACKSON KUWATCH DNP DNP 4 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 4
DT JADEN MCKENZIE DNP 1 1 1 0 1 DNP DNP 4
OL TEGRA TSHABOLA DNP 0 3 0 0 DNP DNP DNP 3
OL TOBY WILSON DNP DNP 3 DNP DNP 0 0 DNP 3
DE TYLER FRIDAY 0 1 1 0 DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
DE KENYATTA JACKSON DNP 0 1 DNP 1 DNP DNP DNP 2
WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA 2 DNP 0 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
CB JORDAN HANCOCK DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 1
RB TREVEYON HENDERSON DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 1
DT HERO KANU DNP 0 0 DNP 1 DNP DNP DNP 1
P MICHAEL O’SHAUGHNESSY DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 DNP DNP DNP 1
RB MIYAN WILLIAMS DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 1
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