Jerome Baker crossed the goal line first, but Jalyn Holmes was right on his heels.
Ohio State took a 14-0 lead over Oklahoma on Saturday when Baker reached the end zone after he intercepted a tipped pass from Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.
He wouldn’t have gotten there had it not been for Holmes, though, as he was the one who got his hand on Mayfield’s pass to deflect it. That’s precisely why the Buckeyes’ junior defensive end almost ran down the sophomore linebacker on his way toward the goal line.
“I think I was more happy than he was, really,” Holmes joked of the play Wednesday after practice. “I tell people all the time that we’re just having fun out there.”
Fun was a recurring word during Holmes’ time meeting with reporters this week. He usually has some fun when speaking with the media and now, when he’s on the field, Holmes is having a lot of fun, too.
“When I get my chance, I just play my hardest,” he said.
It’s showing on the field.
Holmes does not start for No. 2-ranked Ohio State. He’s technically a reserve defensive end behind Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard. But anybody who has watched the Buckeyes through the first three games of the season would be hard-pressed to find a defensive lineman playing at a much higher level.
So far this year, Holmes ranks second on the team with one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. He has been used in a constant rotation with Hubbard, Lewis and Nick Bosa at defensive end and, at times, all four have been used together in Ohio State’s ‘Rushmen’ package.
When asked what the key was to his early-season success, Holmes used the F word once more.
“I feel like I’m having more fun,” he said. “I feel like I was in high school just having fun. Seeing my teammates play hard, it just encourages me to go hard. I’m just having fun and that’s all it is.”
The Buckeyes’ defense is enjoying itself, as well, fresh off last Saturday’s 45-24 win in Norman. Ohio State’s group is tied for first nationally having forced 11 turnovers in the first three games and Holmes is doing his part despite not playing every down.
He’ll continue to be a key cog in the Buckeyes’ unit going forward. Ohio State does not play this weekend, but Holmes said the fun is going to start back up again next Saturday when the Buckeyes host Rutgers to open Big Ten play.
“Coming off a big win we’ve got a break, get to watch the film and the coaches will get into us to humble us and get us back down to earth because you know everybody will blow you up,” Holmes said. “I feel like this is a great time to have a bye week and get ready for the Big Ten.”
