Ohio State’s snap counts in the Cotton Bowl looked significantly different at several offensive positions than its snap counts from its 12 regular-season games.
The differences started at the quarterback position. After Kyle McCord started all 12 regular-season games then transferred to Syracuse, Devin Brown made his first career start but Lincoln Kienholz ended up playing most of the snaps behind center after Brown left the contest with a high ankle sprain.
Elsewhere on offense, Carnell Tate and Xavier Johnson played expanded roles at wide receiver after Marvin Harrison Jr. opted out to preserve his health and Julian Fleming entered the transfer portal. Up front, Ohio State opted to change its offensive line by moving Matt Jones to center, benching Carson Hinzman and starting Enokk Vimahi at right guard.
Defensively, every Buckeye who played a major role in the Cotton Bowl also played at least 300 defensive snaps during the regular season, which was certainly a factor in the defense being far more effective than the offense in Ohio State’s 14-3 loss to Missouri. Cody Simon played every snap at Mike linebacker and Sonny Styles played every snap at strong safety in place of Tommy Eichenberg and Lathan Ransom, who were both out for the game with injuries, but the Buckeyes didn’t have any defenders playing major roles for the first time in the final game of the season.
With the season now complete, offensive linemen Josh Simmons, Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar tied for the most snaps played on offense this season with 825 each while cornerback Davison Igbinosun led the Buckeyes with 769 snaps played on defense.
Below, we break down Ohio State’s full snap counts for the final game of the year as well as for the entire 2023 season. Offensive and defensive snap counts were provided by Pro Football Focus while special teams snap counts were compiled by Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge. All snap counts should be considered unofficial as they were not confirmed by Ohio State.
Quarterbacks
Lincoln Kienholz: 40
Devin Brown: 17
Ohio State’s plan entering the Cotton Bowl was for Brown to play the entire game, but that plan was ruined when Brown suffered a high ankle sprain while being sacked on the Buckeyes’ third possession. Brown remained in the game for one more possession before exiting.
Kienholz went on to play twice as many snaps as he did in the entire regular season as the true freshman led Ohio State’s offense for its remaining seven drives of the game.
Behind a porous offensive line – more on that to come – neither quarterback was able to get much going as they combined to complete just 10 of 24 passing attempts for 106 yards.
Running Backs
TreVeyon Henderson: 47
Dallan Hayden: 1
Despite moving up to the No. 2 spot on the running back depth chart with the transfers of Chip Trayanum and Evan Pryor, Hayden got on the field for just one play in the Cotton Bowl. That was the same play on which Brown suffered his injury, though it’s unclear if that had any impact on Hayden not playing again, as Hayden did not appear to be responsible for a pass block on the play.
Henderson was on the field for all but 10 of Ohio State’s offensive plays against Missouri, carrying the ball 19 times for 72 yards. Ohio State did not have a traditional running back on the field for its other nine plays, though wide receiver Xavier Johnson and tight end Gee Scott Jr. each lined up in the backfield for several plays.
Fullbacks
Kayden McDonald: 3
After using defensive end Caden Curry as a fullback in six regular-season games, Ohio State turned to a bigger defensive lineman to play that role against Missouri, putting 6-foot-2, 319-pound defensive tackle Kayden McDonald in the game for three plays as an extra blocker in jumbo packages. Those three plays were the first offensive plays of the freshman’s Ohio State career.
Wide Receivers
Emeka Egbuka: 54
Carnell Tate: 53
Xavier Johnson: 38
Brandon Inniss: 9
Jayden Ballard: 2
David Adolph: Special teams only
Egbuka was on the field for all but three plays while Tate was on the field for all but four plays as Ohio State’s starting wide receivers in the Cotton Bowl. The 53 offensive snaps were a new career-high for Tate, who capped off his freshman year by making his first career start against Missouri, though he was only able to turn those snaps into one catch for four yards.
After starting at slot receiver in the regular season, Egbuka lined up mostly outside in the Cotton Bowl as Xavier Johnson played the majority of slot snaps in three-receiver formations. Also including his snaps at running back, Johnson played the second-highest offensive snap count of his Ohio State career in his final game as a Buckeye, behind only the 40 snaps he played in Ohio State’s October game against Wisconsin.
Inniss mixed in with the offensive starters for the first time in his Ohio State career as he played nine snaps at slot receiver. Ballard got on the field for two snaps as an outside receiver on plays where Johnson lined up in the backfield and either Egbuka or Tate moved inside to the slot.
Tight Ends
Gee Scott Jr.: 37
Cade Stover: 34
Jelani Thurman: 2
Patrick Gurd: Special teams only
Stover said in the week leading up to the game that he would likely play fewer snaps than usual due to the lingering knee injury he’s been battling since the Penn State game in October, and that proved true as he played his second-lowest snap count of the season (not including the Rutgers game in which he did not play due to that injury).
Scott played the most snaps among tight ends for just the second time all season as he was on the field for all but 20 of Ohio State’s offensive plays, including 10 snaps in the backfield. He was one of two tight ends on the field for 16 of those plays.
Thurman made his first career start as he joined Scott as one of two tight ends on the field for the first two plays of the game, but those would be the only two offensive plays that Thurman played for the entire contest.
Jelani Thurman made his first career start but played only the first two offensive plays of the game.
Offensive Linemen
Josh Simmons: 57
Donovan Jackson: 57
Matt Jones: 57
Enokk Vimahi: 57
Josh Fryar: 57
Tegra Tshabola: 5
Zen Michalski: Special teams only
Luke Montgomery: Special teams only
Ohio State’s most controversial personnel decision of the Cotton Bowl came on the offensive line as Jones played every snap of the game at center in place of Carson Hinzman, who started every regular-season game at center but did not play at all despite being available against Missouri. With Jones moving to the middle of the line from his usual right guard spot, Vimahi played every snap of the night at right guard – 14 more snaps then he played in the entire regular season.
Those personnel changes did not work as Ohio State’s offensive line proved overmatched for four quarters, allowing four sacks and repeated quarterback pressures while also failing to open holes with any consistency in the run game.
Simmons at left tackle, Jackson at left guard and Fryar at right tackle each played all 57 of Ohio State’s offensive snaps in their usual starting spots from the regular season. Tshabola joined them on the field for five plays as a sixth offensive lineman, taking over the role that had been played by Montgomery during the regular season.
| Pos | Player | IND | YSU | WKU | ND | MD | PUR | PSU | WIS | RUT | MSU | MIN | MICH | MIZ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | KYLE MCCORD | 64 | 30 | 43 | 69 | 63 | 60 | 77 | 69 | 54 | 56 | 60 | 58 | DNP | 703 |
| QB | DEVIN BROWN | 6 | 35 | 17 | DNP | DNP | 12 | 2 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 17 | 89 |
| QB | LINCOLN KIENHOLZ | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 12 | 8 | DNP | 40 | 60 |
| RB | TREVEYON HENDERSON | 34 | 25 | 36 | 50 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 52 | 47 | 33 | 32 | 45 | 47 | 401 |
| RB | CHIP TRAYANUM | 24 | 26 | 10 | 15 | 50 | 17 | 27 | 19 | 11 | 24 | 14 | 12 | DNP | 249 |
| RB | MIYAN WILLIAMS | 15 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 15 | DNP | 54 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 108 |
| RB | DALLAN HAYDEN | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 45 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 14 | DNP | 1 | 63 |
| RB | EVAN PRYOR | DNP | DNP | 5 | DNP | DNP | 9 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 10 | 8 | DNP | DNP | 32 |
| FB | CADEN CURRY | DEF | DEF | DEF | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | DEF | DEF | 2 | DEF | DEF | 10 |
| FB | KAYDEN MCDONALD | DNP | DNP | DEF | DNP | DNP | DEF | DEF | DEF | DNP | DEF | DEF | DNP | 3 | 3 |
| WR | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | 58 | 50 | 36 | 66 | 53 | 52 | 70 | 64 | 53 | 46 | 43 | 58 | DNP | 649 |
| WR | JULIAN FLEMING | 36 | 41 | 39 | 57 | 38 | 61 | 76 | 39 | 30 | 37 | 45 | 53 | DNP | 552 |
| WR | EMEKA EGBUKA | 53 | 56 | 30 | 64 | 33 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 32 | 41 | 36 | 52 | 54 | 451 |
| WR | CARNELL TATE | 14 | 16 | 23 | ST | 9 | 26 | 36 | 41 | 23 | 28 | 23 | ST | 53 | 292 |
| WR | XAVIER JOHNSON | 3 | 10 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 26 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 38 | 239 |
| WR | JAYDEN BALLARD | ST | 2 | 8 | ST | 9 | 6 | ST | ST | ST | 19 | 8 | ST | 2 | 54 |
| WR | BRANDON INNISS | 2 | ST | 5 | DNP | ST | 6 | ST | ST | ST | 4 | 6 | ST | 9 | 32 |
| WR | NOAH ROGERS | 3 | DNP | 5 | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 14 |
| WR | DAVID ADOLPH | 3 | DNP | ST | ST | ST | 3 | ST | ST | ST | 3 | ST | ST | ST | 9 |
| WR | BRYSON RODGERS | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 6 |
| WR | KOJO ANTWI | DNP | DNP | ST | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 5 | DNP | DNP | 5 |
| TE | CADE STOVER | 56 | 41 | 40 | 67 | 55 | 53 | 77 | 61 | DNP | 29 | 44 | 56 | 34 | 613 |
| TE | GEE SCOTT JR. | 25 | 22 | 24 | 13 | 37 | 41 | 19 | 27 | 48 | 23 | 28 | 6 | 37 | 350 |
| TE | JOE ROYER | 16 | 21 | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 6 | DNP | DNP | 44 |
| TE | PATRICK GURD | 1 | DNP | 7 | DNP | DNP | 4 | ST | 2 | 14 | 5 | 6 | ST | ST | 39 |
| TE | JELANI THURMAN | DNP | DNP | 5 | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 13 | 3 | DNP | 2 | 24 |
| OL | JOSH SIMMONS | 70 | 65 | 50 | 69 | 63 | 69 | 79 | 69 | 54 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 57 | 825 |
| OL | DONOVAN JACKSON | 70 | 65 | 50 | 69 | 63 | 69 | 79 | 69 | 54 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 57 | 825 |
| OL | JOSH FRYAR | 70 | 65 | 50 | 69 | 63 | 69 | 79 | 69 | 54 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 57 | 825 |
| OL | MATT JONES | 70 | 65 | 50 | 69 | 63 | 69 | 79 | 69 | 54 | 62 | 54 | 58 | 57 | 819 |
| OL | CARSON HINZMAN | 70 | 65 | 50 | 69 | 63 | 69 | 79 | 69 | 54 | 52 | 60 | 58 | DNP | 758 |
| OL | ENOKK VIMAHI | DNP | DNP | 10 | ST | ST | 3 | ST | ST | ST | 16 | 14 | ST | 57 | 100 |
| OL | LUKE MONTGOMERY | 4 | 1 | 12 | 3 | DNP | 4 | 2 | DNP | 2 | 6 | 10 | ST | ST | 44 |
| OL | TEGRA TSHABOLA | ST | ST | 10 | ST | ST | 3 | ST | ST | ST | 6 | 8 | ST | 5 | 32 |
| OL | ZEN MICHALSKI | ST | ST | 9 | ST | ST | 3 | ST | ST | ST | 3 | 6 | ST | ST | 21 |
| OL | VICTOR CUTLER JR. | DNP | DNP | 9 | DNP | ST | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | 6 | DNP | DNP | 21 |
| OL | JAKOB JAMES | ST | ST | 1 | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | 3 | 2 | ST | DNP | 6 |
| OL | GEORGE FITZPATRICK | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | 2 | DNP | DNP | 6 |
Defensive Ends
Jack Sawyer: 61
JT Tuimoloau: 54
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 21
Caden Curry: 10
Mitchell Melton: Special teams only
Sawyer topped 60 defensive snaps for just the second time all season and played more snaps than Tuimoloau for just the third time all year, and he made the most of them as Ohio State’s most dominant defender against Missouri, registering a career-high three sacks to tie OSU’s bowl game sack record. Sawyer was on the field for all but 12 of Ohio State’s defensive snaps in the season finale.
Jackson tied his season-high for snaps played as he rotated in for 21 snaps as Ohio State’s third defensive end in the Cotton Bowl. Curry, who played one more defensive snap than Jackson during the regular season, played less than half as many snaps as Jackson against Missouri.
Defensive Tackles
Tyleik Williams: 59
Mike Hall: 48
Ty Hamilton: 21
Hero Kanu: 9
Kayden McDonald: 4
Tywone Malone: 2
As he did in every game this season, Williams led Ohio State’s defensive tackles in playing time as he played all but 14 of the Buckeyes’ defensive plays in the Cotton Bowl as Ohio State’s starting 3-technique.
Hall played a career-high 48 snaps in his final game as a Buckeye as he played just under two-thirds of Ohio State’s defensive snaps as the Buckeyes’ starting nose tackle. He did not return to action after hopping off the field with an apparent lower-body injury on the Buckeyes’ second-to-last defensive series.
Hamilton played his third-lowest snap count of the season but made the most of the 21 snaps he got, tying his career-high with six total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
Kanu mixed in for five first-half snaps at 3-technique, then returned to the field alongside McDonald for the game’s final four plays. Malone played his only two snaps of the game on the final two plays of the third quarter.
Linebackers
Cody Simon: 73
Steele Chambers: 68
C.J. Hicks: 4
Gabe Powers: Special teams only
Arvell Reese: Special teams only
Simon set a new career-high with 73 defensive snaps as he played every snap of the game at Mike linebacker in place of Tommy Eichenberg. He turned those 73 snaps into a career-high 12 tackles.
Chambers also played a season-high number of snaps as he left the field for just five defensive plays in the Cotton Bowl, recording eight tackles on his 68 defensive snaps.
Hicks, who played only in games that were already decided during the regular season, replaced Chambers for part of a series in the third quarter when Chambers had to briefly check out of the game after appearing to jam a finger.
Cornerbacks
Denzel Burke: 73
Davison Igbinosun: 73
Jordan Hancock: 72
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 2
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 1
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: Special teams only
Burke and Igbinosun were on the field for all 73 of Ohio State’s defensive plays as the Buckeyes’ starting outside cornerbacks while Hancock was on the field for all but one play against Missouri as the Buckeyes’ slot cornerback, with Hicks replacing him on the field as a third linebacker for one play.
Styles played his second and third defensive snaps of the season on the final two plays of the first half as the Buckeyes brought him in as an extra defensive back for their prevent defense. Mathews played his only defensive snap of the game in a dime package in the second quarter, helping force an incompletion with strong coverage against former Ohio State wide receiver Mookie Cooper on a 3rd-and-6 passing attempt.
Safeties
Josh Proctor: 73
Sonny Styles: 73
Malik Hartford: 2
Ja’Had Carter: Special teams only
Proctor made his 11th start of the season at free safety in his final game as a Buckeye and Styles made his fifth consecutive start to end the season at strong safety in place of the injured Lathan Ransom. Both of them were on the field for all 73 of Ohio State’s defensive plays.
Like Lorenzo Styles, Hartford played his only two defensive snaps of the game on the final two plays of the first half as the Buckeyes put seven defensive backs on the field to guard against a potential Hail Mary.
| Pos | Player | IND | YSU | WKU | ND | MD | PUR | PSU | WIS | RUT | MSU | MIN | MICH | MIZ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | JT TUIMOLOAU | 40 | 43 | 48 | 65 | 69 | 40 | 65 | 57 | 66 | 37 | 29 | 60 | 54 | 673 |
| DE | JACK SAWYER | 34 | 35 | 48 | 65 | 53 | 43 | 46 | 43 | 56 | 37 | 31 | 57 | 61 | 605 |
| DE | KENYATTA JACKSON JR. | 17 | 16 | 21 | DNP | 13 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 176 |
| DE | CADEN CURRY | 17 | 16 | 23 | 1 | 16 | 23 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 166 |
| DE | MITCHELL MELTON | 6 | 5 | 8 | DNP | 3 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 6 | ST | ST | 63 |
| DE | OMARI ABOR | DNP | 5 | 3 | DNP | DNP | 7 | DNP | DNP | 3 | 5 | 6 | DNP | DNP | 29 |
| DE | JOSHUA MICKENS | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 |
| DT | TYLEIK WILLIAMS | 30 | 35 | 50 | 56 | 70 | 41 | 62 | 55 | 58 | 38 | 31 | 57 | 59 | 642 |
| DT | MIKE HALL | 26 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 45 | 42 | 10 | DNP | 35 | 48 | 419 |
| DT | TY HAMILTON | 25 | 26 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 13 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 21 | 343 |
| DT | HERO KANU | 7 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 12 | DNP | 5 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 90 |
| DT | JADEN MCKENZIE | 13 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 3 | DNP | 6 | 11 | DNP | DNP | 79 |
| DT | TYWONE MALONE | 5 | 7 | 5 | DNP | DNP | 7 | DNP | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | DNP | 2 | 49 |
| DT | KAYDEN MCDONALD | DNP | DNP | 4 | DNP | DNP | 12 | 1 | 3 | DNP | 5 | 6 | DNP | 4 | 35 |
| DT | JASON MOORE | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 |
| DT | BRYCE PRATER | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 |
| LB | STEELE CHAMBERS | 54 | 43 | 62 | 54 | 59 | 32 | 52 | 51 | 44 | 36 | 34 | 60 | 68 | 649 |
| LB | TOMMY EICHENBERG | 48 | 43 | 56 | 65 | 73 | 55 | 70 | 66 | 70 | DNP | DNP | 60 | DNP | 606 |
| LB | CODY SIMON | 7 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 45 | 19 | 15 | 39 | 49 | 34 | 22 | 73 | 373 |
| LB | C.J. HICKS | 1 | 16 | 11 | ST | ST | 11 | ST | ST | ST | 18 | 14 | ST | 4 | 75 |
| LB | GABE POWERS | DNP | ST | ST | ST | ST | 1 | ST | ST | ST | 6 | 14 | ST | ST | 21 |
| LB | REID CARRICO | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | DNP | DNP | DNP | ST |
| LB | ARVELL REESE | ST | ST | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | ST | ST | ST | ST | ST | DNP | ST |
| CB | DAVISON IGBINOSUN | 45 | 49 | 63 | 60 | 77 | 61 | 69 | 66 | 74 | 41 | 34 | 57 | 73 | 769 |
| CB | JORDAN HANCOCK | 28 | 21 | 50 | 21 | 53 | 54 | 69 | 65 | 74 | 41 | 28 | 38 | 72 | 616 |
| CB | DENZEL BURKE | 37 | 42 | 63 | 63 | 77 | 36 | DNP | 66 | DNP | 31 | 34 | 57 | 73 | 579 |
| CB | JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | ST | 10 | 11 | DNP | ST | 25 | 47 | ST | 69 | 15 | 14 | ST | 1 | 194 |
| CB | JYAIRE BROWN | DNP | 11 | 11 | DNP | DNP | 11 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 14 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 47 |
| CB | RYAN TURNER | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 14 | 14 | DNP | DNP | 28 |
| CB | CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | ST | 9 | 14 | ST | ST | 23 |
| CB | LORENZO STYLES JR. | ST | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | ST | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | ST | 2 | 3 |
| S | JOSH PROCTOR | 30 | DNP | 55 | 65 | 77 | 61 | 70 | 59 | 43 | DNP | 34 | 60 | 73 | 627 |
| S | SONNY STYLES | 49 | 31 | 27 | 45 | 29 | 30 | 24 | 31 | 74 | 30 | 34 | 60 | 73 | 537 |
| S | LATHAN RANSOM | 55 | 59 | 59 | 65 | 77 | 61 | 70 | 41 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 487 |
| S | MALIK HARTFORD | 25 | 12 | 11 | DNP | ST | 11 | ST | ST | 31 | 49 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 158 |
| S | JA’HAD CARTER | DNP | 47 | 19 | ST | ST | 11 | ST | DNP | DNP | 26 | 17 | 2 | ST | 122 |
| S | CAMERON MARTINEZ | 6 | 14 | 2 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 6 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 28 |
| S | KYE STOKES | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | 6 | 3 | DNP | DNP | 10 |
| S | BRENTEN “INKY” JONES | DNP | DNP | ST | DNP | DNP | ST | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | ST | DNP | DNP | ST |
Field Goals/Extra Points
Jayden Fielding (kicker): 2
Jesse Mirco (holder): 2
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 2
Enokk Vimahi (wing): 2
Luke Montgomery (end): 2
Josh Simmons (tackle): 2
Donovan Jackson (guard): 2
Tegra Tshabola (guard): 2
Josh Fryar (tackle): 2
Zen Michalski (end): 2
Jelani Thurman (wing): 2
Thurman joined the field goal unit for Ohio State’s final game of the season as Cade Stover did not play any special teams snaps due to his injury. Montgomery, who had played in place of Stover on the wing for the final month of the regular season, moved into the spot previously occupied in the lineup by Jakob James, who did not play in the Cotton Bowl after transferring to Toledo.
Fielding went 1-for-2 against Missouri, making a 44-yard field goal before missing a 48-yarder off of the left upright.
Kickoffs
Jayden Fielding (kicker): 2
Denzel Burke: 2
Ja’Had Carter: 2
Caden Curry: 2
Malik Hartford: 2
C.J. Hicks: 2
Xavier Johnson: 2
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 2
Gabe Powers: 2
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: 2
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 2
Carter and Hartford rejoined the kickoff coverage team against Missouri, replacing Cody Simon and Chip Trayanum from the Michigan game.
Kickoff Returns
Xavier Johnson (returner): 3
David Adolph: 3
Steele Chambers: 3
Caden Curry: 3
Patrick Gurd: 3
Brandon Inniss: 3
Mitchell Melton: 3
Gabe Powers: 3
Arvell Reese: 3
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 3
Carnell Tate: 3
Chambers, Inniss and Melton replaced Julian Fleming, Cody Simon and Chip Trayanum on kickoff return from the Michigan game. Johnson did not return any of Missouri’s three kickoffs.
Punts
Jesse Mirco (punter): 8
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 8
Caden Curry (upback): 8
Cody Simon (upback): 8
Gee Scott Jr. (guard): 8
Sonny Styles (guard): 8
Xavier Johnson (tackle): 8
Mitchell Melton (wing): 8
Jayden Ballard (gunner): 8
Lorenzo Styles Jr. (gunner): 8
Calvin Simpson-Hunt (gunner): 5
Patrick Gurd (tackle): 3
Ohio State utilized two different punt teams in the Cotton Bowl, deploying Simpson-Hunt as a third gunner alongside Ballard and Styles Jr. on five of its eight punts while putting Gurd in the game as an extra blocker on three punts. Collectively, they took Chip Trayanum’s place on the punt team from previous games.
Melton rejoined the punt team for the Cotton Bowl in place of Stover.
In what would ultimately be his final game as a Buckeye before entering the transfer portal on Saturday, Mirco had one of the best games of his three-year Ohio State career, averaging 48.2 yards per punt on eight punts.
Punt Blocks/Returns
Jayden Ballard (returner): 8
Davison Igbinosun: 5
David Adolph: 4
Denzel Burke: 4
Ja’Had Carter: 4
Steele Chambers: 4
Caden Curry: 4
C.J. Hicks: 4
Brandon Inniss: 4
Mitchell Melton: 4
Josh Proctor: 4
Cody Simon: 4
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: 4
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 4
Sonny Styles: 4
Carnell Tate: 4
JT Tuimoloau: 4
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 3
Jack Sawyer: 3
Tyleik Williams: 3
Mike Hall: 2
Ty Hamilton: 2
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 1
Hero Kanu: 1
Ballard retook punt returner duties for the Cotton Bowl after a one-game return to that role by Emeka Egbuka against Michigan. Ballard had one just return for two yards while he made three fair catches inside the 10-yard line.
Ohio State kept its defense on the field to play punt safe on exactly half of Missouri’s eight punts. The Buckeyes’ punt block team for Missouri’s other four punts consisted of Adolph, Carter, Curry, Hicks, Inniss, Melton, Simpson-Hunt, Lorenzo Styles, Tate and either Mathews or Igbinosun.
Extra Point Block
Denzel Burke: 2
Steele Chambers: 2
Jordan Hancock: 2
Davison Igbinosun: 2
Josh Proctor: 2
Jack Sawyer: 2
Cody Simon: 2
Sonny Styles: 2
JT Tuimoloau: 2
Tyleik Williams: 2
Mike Hall: 1
Ty Hamilton: 1
Ohio State’s kick-blocking team for Missouri’s two extra points – both of which came after fourth-quarter touchdowns – consisted of the defenders who were on the field for the previous play.
| POS | PLAYER | IND | YSU | WKU | ND | MD | PUR | PSU | WIS | RUT | MSU | MIN | UM | MIZ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | XAVIER JOHNSON | 15 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 186 |
| LB | CODY SIMON | 14 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 183 |
| DE | CADEN CURRY | 11 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 152 |
| K | JAYDEN FIELDING | 11 | 11 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 147 |
| S | SONNY STYLES | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 143 |
| RB | CHIP TRAYANUM | 11 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 15 | DNP | 127 |
| LS | JOHN FERLMANN | 9 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 122 |
| P | JESSE MIRCO | 9 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 122 |
| LB | C.J. HICKS | 11 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 119 |
| WR | JAYDEN BALLARD | 2 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 113 |
| LB | GABE POWERS | DNP | 5 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 105 |
| CB | DAVISON IGBINOSUN | 8 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 101 |
| WR | CARNELL TATE | 6 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 101 |
| CB | DENZEL BURKE | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 6 | DNP | 10 | DNP | 13 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 95 |
| TE | GEE SCOTT JR. | 8 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 90 | |
| CB | JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | 4 | 5 | 5 | DNP | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 89 |
| S | JOSH PROCTOR | 10 | DNP | 4 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 4 | DNP | 3 | 8 | 6 | 86 |
| LB | REID CARRICO | 8 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 80 |
| LB | TOMMY EICHENBERG | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 10 | DNP | DNP | 8 | DNP | 78 |
| TE | CADE STOVER | 9 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 8 | DNP | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 77 |
| OL | ZEN MICHALSKI | 5 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 70 |
| OL | TEGRA TSHABOLA | 5 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 70 |
| OL | JOSH FRYAR | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 68 |
| OL | DONOVAN JACKSON | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 68 |
| OL | JOSH SIMMONS | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 68 |
| S | JA'HAD CARTER | DNP | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 1 | DNP | DNP | 10 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 67 |
| WR | DAVID ADOLPH | DNP | DNP | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 66 |
| LB | STEELE CHAMBERS | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 65 |
| OL | JAKOB JAMES | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | DNP | 65 |
| CB | LORENZO STYLES JR. | 11 | DNP | DNP | 9 | DNP | DNP | 19 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 9 | 17 | 65 |
| WR | BRANDON INNISS | 0 | 2 | 5 | DNP | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 61 |
| S | LATHAN RANSOM | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 7 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 60 |
| WR | JULIAN FLEMING | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | DNP | 59 |
| S | MALIK HARTFORD | 5 | 5 | 4 | DNP | 4 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 59 |
| OL | ENOKK VIMAHI | DNP | DNP | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 59 |
| LB | ARVELL REESE | 6 | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 54 |
| CB | CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 9 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 54 |
| DE | JT TUIMOLOAU | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 53 |
| DE | MITCHELL MELTON | 0 | 0 | 0 | DNP | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 52 |
| CB | JORDAN HANCOCK | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 51 |
| DT | TYLEIK WILLIAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 50 |
| DE | JACK SAWYER | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 48 |
| TE | PATRICK GURD | 3 | DNP | 2 | DNP | DNP | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 44 |
| DT | MIKE HALL | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | DNP | 6 | 3 | 31 |
| OL | LUKE MONTGOMERY | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | DNP | 0 | 0 | DNP | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 27 |
| DL | TY HAMILTON | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 25 |
| WR | EMEKA EGBUKA | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | DNP | 0 | DNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| TE | JOE ROYER | 7 | 7 | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | 14 |
| S | BRENTEN "INKY" JONES | DNP | DNP | 2 | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | DNP | DNP | 13 |
| DE | KENYATTA JACKSON JR. | 0 | 2 | 0 | DNP | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| DT | HERO KANU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | DNP | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| TE | JELANI THURMAN | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | 0 | DNP | 2 | 6 |
| DT | JADEN MCKENZIE | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DNP | DNP | 5 |
| S | KYE STOKES | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | 1 | DNP | DNP | 4 |
| CB | RYAN TURNER | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | 1 | DNP | DNP | 4 |
| CB | JYAIRE BROWN | DNP | 0 | 0 | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 |
| OL | VICTOR CUTLER JR. | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | 1 | 0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | 0 | DNP | DNP | 3 |
| WR | KOJO ANTWI | DNP | DNP | 2 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | 2 |
| OL | GEORGE FITZPATRICK | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 1 | 0 | DNP | DNP | 2 |
| K | PARKER LEWIS | DNP | DNP | 2 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 2 |
| DT | TYWONE MALONE | 0 | 0 | 0 | DNP | DNP | 1 | DNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | DNP | 0 | 2 |
| RB | EVAN PRYOR | DNP | DNP | 2 | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | 0 | 0 | DNP | DNP | 2 |
| RB | MIYAN WILLIAMS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 2 |
| DE | OMARI ABOR | DNP | 0 | 0 | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | 0 | 0 | 1 | DNP | DNP | 1 |
| WR | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DNP | 1 |
| DT | KAYDEN McDONALD | DNP | DNP | 0 | DNP | DNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | DNP | 0 | 1 | DNP | 0 | 1 |
