Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s New Stars Shine
The Ohio State Buckeyes got their 135th season of football off to a good start with a win over Akron. Ohio State won 52-6 and they saw many highly anticipated debuts in the scarlet and gray. None were bigger than true freshman Jeremiah Smith. Smith came in and made six catches for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This got him my Fedora Award for filling Marvin Harrison Jr.’s big shoes. Smith looked so good, if his number were #18 and not #4, Buckeye Nation might think they were in a time loop.
Jeremiah Smith was the Dwayne Haskins Player of the Game. And apparently, he called his shot about his first touchdown in the Shoe.
His outstanding start to his career has him as my Ryan Shazier-Maurice Clarett Newcomer of the Game. His insane one-handed catch in the third quarter was the Devin Smith Bomb of the Game. At this rate, Jeremiah Smith is going to rewrite the Ohio State record books before the ink Marvin Harrison Jr. used is even dry.
Many Buckeyes Provide Fire
It was a host of new faces doing most of the offensive work for Ohio State today alongside Jeremiah Smith. Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins, and James Peoples joined Smith in scoring touchdowns. Howard was 17 of 28 for 228 yards and three touchdowns. #18 also had 18 rushing yards, picking up some much-needed first downs. Judkins finished off a drive with a touchdown run making that possession the 2014 Offensive Moment of the Game. Sophomore Carnell Tate and kicker Jayden Fielding got the rest of the points on offense. Lathan Ransom and Gabe Powers did some scoring on the defensive side. Ransom’s scoop and score in the third quarter was the 2002 Defensive Moment of the Game. While Powers got a deflection off the head of freshman Eddrick Houston and took it to the house. Denzel Burke showed why he and the Buckeye secondary are the Best in America with a great interception.
The defense picked up where they left off last year and despite how 2023 ended, that was a good place for them. With most of the new faces being on offense, the veteran defense looked familiar but better. J.T. Tuimoloau led the way for the Buckeyes and was the Chase Young Defensive Player of the Game. He had three tackles and 1.5 sacks as the defensive line led the way and stymied Akron. Tuimoloau was showing why he is a leader, by keeping this team’s head in the right place today as well.
Archie
Another important story from the game and the month of August has been Ohio State honoring history (like I love and like the great Woody Hayes loved). When it comes to history at Ohio State, no one made more of it than Archie Griffin. #45 turned 70 this August 21st and had a statue of him put up at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and one in front of Ohio Stadium. These were done to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Archie’s first Heisman Trophy season in 1974.
Archie Griffin is Ohio State. He’s been an unofficial ambassador of Ohio State for decades and has only ever been a class act. When interviewed today during the game he said what he wanted people to think of when they saw his statue was the good teammates that made his success possible and that his team never lost in the Horseshoe. That’s why whenever I’m writing about the Buckeyes and they show high character and class it’s the Archie Moment or Award of the Game. Woody Hayes’ praise from 50 years ago was true. “He’s a better (young)man than he is a football player, and he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen.”
At the Bottom of the Ohio River or On the Top of Lake Erie
How do we see a 52-6 win over an Akron team that went 2-10 in 2023? There are reasons to feel like you’re at the bottom of the Ohio River and to feel like you’re cruising on Lake Erie.
At the bottom are things like a struggling offensive line making the offense remind me a lot of 2023. You have an all-time talented wide receiver leading the way in Smith like Harrison did last year. Then you have a quarterback that despite seeing a lot of action still has some uncertainty. And finally, you have a running game that is going gain you yards just on your tailbacks’ talent, but they’ll get banged up because you still have a huge question mark for an offensive line.
At the top is context pointing out that this was game one. That Donovan Jackson the best Buckeye offensive lineman, was out for this first contest with new center Seth McLaughlin. Will Howard’s mobility and poise can help the guys in the trenches tremendously. And confidence gained from success can do wonders for any unit. Howard certainly looked more poised than his predecessor and is ready to move to keep passing plays alive and defenses honest. Keeping Judkins and Henderson fresh and healthy outweighs getting on track quickly. It also helps that Brandon Iniss and the kick returners look like they will bring one to the house before this season wraps up.
And you know what, I’m going to look forward to the next 11 games like TreVeyon Henderson in pass protection! Here’s his Mike Doss Hit of the Game! And after all at least we’re not the cheaters up north. Go Bucks!
