Freshman Tracker: Dallan Hayden Cracks 100 Yards, Kojo Antwi Sheds His Redshirt and George Fitzpatrick Makes His Debut

After Ohio State went three-and-out to start the game, it appeared the weather was going to be detrimental to the Buckeyes' high-powered offense for a second straight week. The fears were allayed when Ryan Day's team found the endzone on the next three possessions en route to a 56-14 blowout victory over Indiana.

The strong performance enabled nine true freshmen to see action against the Hoosiers.

Hayden holds his own

With a depleted running back room due to injuries, Dallan Hayden was elevated to second on the depth chart. On the ninth play of Ohio State's third drive of the day, the man from Memphis was called on for the first time to give Miyan Williams a spell.

Hayden made the most of his first carry since the Iowa game as he raced off of left tackle for an untouched 14-yard touchdown. The score extended the Buckeyes' lead to 14-0.

Dallan Hayden, folks. pic.twitter.com/Odq7vkTq0N
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 12, 2022

The day wasn't over for Hayden as his number was called 18 more times. He finished the day with a game-high 19 carries for 102 yards, marking the second time this season (along with the Toledo game) Hayden has hit triple digits.

Ryan Day was pleased with Hayden's performance.

“I think Dallan had some really nice runs today,” Day said. “If it was a three-yard run, he was finishing at six. I think he's got good feet, good vision. He’s a really good young player.”

Three on D

For the first time since Ohio State played Iowa on Oct. 23, more than one freshman was credited with a tackle. Jyaire Brown, Kye Stokes and Sonny Styles etched their names in the stat book with stops. Stokes led the trio with three tackles while Brown and Styles had one each.

Styles' stop was the most impressive.

On the last kickoff of the game, Indiana's Jaylin Lucas fielded Jayden Fieding's kick at the two-yard line. Lucas made the poor decision to attempt a return and Styles made him pay with a tackle at the 17-yard line.

Brown led all of the freshmen defensive players with 34 defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. To put the playing time of the cornerback from Lakota West into perspective, he almost doubled the 18 defensive snaps of JK Johnson, who had started five of Ohio State’s previous six games before Cameron Brown and Jordan Hancock replaced him in the starting lineup against Indiana.

All three freshmen were used on the kickoff, punt return and PAT block teams with Styles also on the kickoff return unit.

Antwi burns redshirt, Fitzpatrick debuts

Kojo Antwi made his Buckeye debut against Toledo in Week 3 and seven games later he shed his redshirt. Playing in his fifth game of the year against the Hoosiers, Antwi played a season-high seven snaps at wide receiver and also saw action on the kickoff and punt teams.

The eyes of Englewood, Colorado were focused on the right tackle position of Ohio State's offensive line during the game's final drive. George Fitzpatrick, an alum of Cherry Creek High School, made his Buckeye debut as the offense took the field with 6:13 remaining in the game.

Ohio State gained 46 yards and more importantly, ran out the clock to end the game with Fitzpatrick on the field.

Maryland on tap

The Terrapins were held scoreless by Penn State yesterday and lost 30-0 in Beaver Stadium. Maryland has been outscored 53-10 in consecutive losses. Mike Locksley's struggling team might provide another opportunity for Ohio State to pull the starters and play the youngsters – at least those who make the travel roster – in the second half.

Rest of the class

Caden Curry played four defensive snaps and was on the field for every kickoff (9), kickoff return (3) and PAT attempt (8). He also contributed on 11 of the 12 punt returns.

Jayden Fielding did not have a touchback over his nine kickoffs, but did record his first tackle of the season.

C.J. Hicks was utilized on all of Ohio State’s kickoffs and kickoff returns and 10 of the 12 punt returns.

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. Through the 10th game of the 2022 season, 18 of Ohio State's 21 scholarship true freshmen have seen the field, with eight – Antwi, Jyaire Brown, Kaleb Brown, Curry, Hayden, Hicks, Stokes and Styles – now ineligible for a redshirt as they have appeared in five or more games. Fielding, who is not on scholarship, has also burned his redshirt by playing in all 10 games.

Class of 2022 Tracker
NAME	POS	DEBUT	IU STATS	GP	SEASON STATS
CADEN CURRY	DE	Notre Dame	4 defensive snaps	10	13 tackles, 1.5 TFL (6 yards), 0.5 sack
JAYDEN FIELDING	K	Notre Dame	9 kickoffs, 0 touchbacks; 1 tackle	10	82 kickoffs, 31 touchbacks; 1 tackle
C.J. HICKS	LB	Arkansas State	Special teams	9	4 tackles
SONNY STYLES	S	Arkansas State	1 tackle	9	8 tackles, 1 TFL (2 yards)
JYAIRE BROWN	CB	Arkansas State	1 tackle	8	7 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PBU
DALLAN HAYDEN	RB	Arkansas State	19 rushes, 102 yards, 1 TD	7	73 rushes, 357 yards, 2 TD; 2 catches, 13 yards
KYE STOKES	S	Arkansas State	3 tackles	7	12 tackles, 1 TFL (4 yards), 1 FF
KOJO ANTWI	WR	Toledo	7 offensive snaps	5	13 offensive snaps
GEORGE FITZPATRICK	OL	Indiana	9 offensive snaps	1	9 offensive snaps
KALEB BROWN	WR	Toledo		5	1 catch, 5 yards
TEGRA TSHABOLA	OL	Arkansas State		4	52 offensive snaps
RYAN TURNER	CB	Toledo		4	1 tackle, 1 sack (6 yards), 1 TFL (6 yards)
KENYATTA JACKSON	DE	Arkansas State		3	2 tackles, 1 TFL (1 yard)
HERO KANU	DT	Arkansas State		3	19 defensive snaps
DEVIN BROWN	QB	Toledo		2	1 rush, 1 yard
TC CAFFEY	RB	Toledo	Unavailable (injury)	2	10 rushes, 66 yards, 1 TD
BENNETT CHRISTIAN	TE	Toledo		2	11 offensive snaps
KYION GRAYES	WR	Toledo		2	1 catch, 2 yards
GABE POWERS	LB	Toledo		2	Special team snaps
OMARI ABOR	DE	Arkansas State		1
CALEB BURTON	WR
AVERY HENRY	OL
CARSON HINZMAN	OL