Snap Counts: 58 Ohio State Players Take the Field Against Northwestern in Big Ten Championship Game

By Dan Hope and Matt Gutridge on December 7, 2018 at 11:35 am
Isaiah Prince and Wyatt Davis
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It might feel like longer now with everything that’s happened since, but Ohio State played a game – and won a Big Ten championship – last weekend.

A total of 58 players took the field for the Buckeyes last Saturday in Indianapolis, where Ohio State defeated Northwestern 45-24 to win its second consecutive conference title.

With Urban Meyer suddenly announcing his retirement on Tuesday morning, it’s a little late, but we still took a look back at last weekend’s Big Ten Championship Game to see which Buckeyes played and how much they played against Northwestern.

That look follows in this week’s edition of Snap Counts.

All snap counts listed were compiled by Eleven Warriors data analyst Matt Gutridge and should be considered unofficial, as Ohio State does not make its official snap counts public. It is not always possible to see all 11 players on the field from TV broadcast angles, particularly on special teams plays, so exact special teams snap counts are not included and offensive and defensive snap counts could potentially differ from those tracked by Ohio State’s coaches.

Quarterbacks

Dwayne Haskins: 89

Although Urban Meyer said prior to the Big Ten Championship Game that he wanted Tate Martell to continue to have a role in Ohio State’s offense, Martell never saw the field against Northwestern. There was certainly no reason to take Haskins off the field, as he completed 34 of 41 passes for a school-record 499 yards and five touchdowns against the Wildcats, putting an exclamation point on his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy.

Running Backs

J.K. Dobbins: 58
Mike Weber: 31
Demario McCall: 2

Dobbins saw the majority of the work in Ohio State’s two-back rotation against Northwestern, seeing nearly twice as much playing time as Weber for his second-highest snap count of the season. Even so, they ended up carrying the ball the same number of times, with both getting 17 rushing attempts.

McCall also checked into the game at running back for a pair of third-down passing plays, catching a pass for eight yards on one of those plays.

J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins got the majority of playing time at running back against Northwestern.
Wide Receivers

Johnnie Dixon: 63
K.J. Hill: 59
Terry McLaurin: 48
Binjimen Victor: 39
Parris Campbell: 36
Chris Olave: 24
Ellijah Gardiner: Special teams only
C.J. Saunders: Special teams only

Dixon led Ohio State’s receivers in snaps played for the fifth game in a row, as he continued to play the bulk of snaps at the Z receiver position, and led the Buckeyes with seven catches for 129 yards – including a touchdown – in the process. Olave, for the fifth game in a row, played the least snaps in Ohio State’s six-man rotation, but he made the most of the reps he got, catching five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.

In a change from previous weeks, Hill played substantially more snaps in the slot than Campbell, though they were on the field together for eight four-receiver sets.

McLaurin and Victor continued to split snaps at X receiver against Northwestern, with McLaurin playing that position for the fifth straight game since Austin Mack left the Purdue game with a foot injury.

Tight Ends

Luke Farrell: 57
Rashod Berry: 25
Jeremy Ruckert: 3
Jake Hausmann: Special teams only

Farrell played more than 50 snaps for the sixth game in a row as the Buckeyes’ starting tight end, but Berry played more snaps than he had in any of the Buckeyes’ previous five games. Ruckert did not see the field on offense until the Buckeyes’ final three-play drive of the game.

Offensive Linemen

Thayer Munford: 89
Malcolm Pridgeon: 89
Michael Jordan: 89
Wyatt Davis: 89
Isaiah Prince: 89
Joshua Alabi: Special teams only
Gavin Cupp: Special teams only
Josh Myers: Special teams only
Kevin Woidke: Special teams only

Davis made his first career start in the Big Ten Championship Game in place of injured Demetrius Knox at right guard, and played every offensive snap of the game along with Ohio State’s four other starting linemen: Munford at left tackle, Pridgeon at left guard, Jordan at center and Prince at right tackle.

Defensive Ends

Chase Young: 59
Jonathon Cooper: 56
Jashon Cornell: 16
Tyreke Smith: 7

As has been the case in most games since Nick Bosa’s season came to an end, Young and Cooper both played the majority of snaps at defensive end against Northwestern. Cornell and Smith mixed into the rotation for occasional playing time, with Smith playing two snaps at defensive tackle in the “Rushmen” package in addition to five snaps at defensive end.

Defensive Tackles

Dre’Mont Jones: 61
Robert Landers: 40
Davon Hamilton: 15
Haskell Garrett: 9
Tommy Togiai: 9
Taron Vincent: 5

While Jones, per usual, played the most snaps among defensive tackles, Landers played his second-highest snap count of the season. Landers played the majority of snaps at nose tackle after Hamilton spent part of the game in the locker room with an injury, though he later returned to the game. Togiai rotated in for nine snaps at nose tackle, while Garrett checked in for the same number of snaps at the 3-technique spot. Vincent played nose tackle when the Buckeyes used their three-man defensive line.

Linebackers

Malik Harrison: 70
Tuf Borland: 54
Pete Werner: 38
Baron Browning: 8
Dante Booker: 2
Dallas Gant: Special teams only
Justin Hilliard: Special teams only
Keandre Jones: Special teams only
Teradja Mitchell: Special teams only

Harrison played every one of Ohio State’s defensive snaps for the fifth week in a row. In a change from previous weeks – likely because of Northwestern’s offensive scheme – Borland played the second-most snaps among linebackers, ahead of Werner, who was only on the field for just over half of the Buckeyes’ defensive plays.

Browning substituted in for eight snaps – mostly as the middle linebacker in the Buckeyes’ 3-3-5 defensive formation – while Booker substituted in for Werner at outside linebacker for just a pair of snaps in the base defense.

Tuf Borland
Tuf Borland saw increased playing time against Northwestern.
Cornerbacks

Kendall Sheffield: 58
Shaun Wade: 43
Damon Arnette: 40
Jeffrey Okudah: 40
Sevyn Banks: Special teams only

Ohio State continued with its usual three-man cornerback rotation of Sheffield, Arnette and Okudah against Northwestern, with Sheffield playing the Buckeyes’ most (or in one game, tied for the most) snaps at the position for the 10th time this season. Wade, meanwhile, all 43 snaps at slot cornerback in the Buckeyes’ nickel packages for his third-highest snap count of the season.

Safeties

Jordan Fuller: 70
Brendon White: 70
Josh Proctor: Special teams only
Isaiah Pryor: Special teams only
Amir Riep: Special teams only
Jahsen Wint: Special teams only

Both starting safeties played every one of the Buckeyes’ defensive snaps at the position against Northwestern, marking the ninth time this year that Fuller has played every defensive snap but the first time that White has been on the field for every defensive play.

Field Goals/Extra Points

Blake Haubeil (kicker)
Drue Chrisman (holder)
Liam McCullough (long snapper)
Luke Farrell (blocker)
Joshua Alabi (blocker)
Wyatt Davis (blocker)
Josh Myers (blocker)
Davon Hamilton (blocker)
Gavin Cupp (blocker)
Kevin Woidke (blocker)
Rashod Berry (blocker)

Even with Davis’ move into the starting offensive line, Ohio State made no changes to its placekicking unit against Northwestern, keeping Davis in the lineup for an important game instead of trying to work another lineman into the unit in his place.

Kickoffs

Blake Haubeil (kicker)
Baron Browning (gunner)
Teradja Mitchell (gunner)
Amir Riep (gunner)
Isaiah Pryor (gunner)
Keandre Jones (gunner)
Chris Olave (gunner)
Jahsen Wint (gunner)
Josh Proctor (gunner)
Justin Hilliard (gunner)
Ellijah Gardner (gunner)

Ohio State made no changes to its kickoff unit against Northwestern, with the exception that Olave played all the snaps on the kickoff unit instead of splitting snaps with K.J. Hill, as he had against Michigan.

Kickoff Returns

Demario McCall (returner)
C.J. Saunders (returner/blocker)
Teradja Mitchell (blocker)
Justin Hilliard (blocker)
Jake Hausmann (blocker)
Amir Riep (blocker)
Keandre Jones (blocker)
Dallas Gant (blocker)
Jahsen Wint (blocker)
Josh Proctor (blocker)
Dante Booker (blocker)

Booker was added to the kickoff return unit against Northwestern, replacing L’Christian “Blue” Smith, who did not play in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes made no other changes to their lineup on this unit, with McCall continuing to serve as the primary kickoff returner and Saunders lining up alongside him as the secondary returner.

Punts

Drue Chrisman (punter)
Liam McCullough (long snapper)
Teradja Mitchell (upback)
Tuf Borland (upback)
Pete Werner (upback/wing)
Dante Booker (tackle)
Isaiah Pryor (tackle)
Malik Harrison (guard)
Justin Hilliard (guard)
Terry McLaurin (gunner)
Jeffrey Okudah (gunner)

Ohio State used the same personnel on its punting unit against Northwestern as it had against Michigan.

Punt Blocks/Returners

K.J. Hill (returner)
Amir Riep (rusher/blocker)
Isaiah Pryor (rusher/blocker)
Sevyn Banks (rusher/blocker)
Keandre Jones (rusher/blocker)
Chris Olave (rusher/blocker)
Jahsen Wint (rusher/blocker)
Shaun Wade (rusher/blocker)
Justin Hilliard (rusher/blocker)
Dante Booker (rusher/blocker)
Josh Proctor or Kendall Sheffield or Parris Campbell (rusher/blocker)

Damon Arnette did not play on the punt block/return team against Northwestern, with Proctor, Sheffield and Campbell all seeing snaps on the unit instead. Otherwise, the Buckeyes used the same personnel at the other 10 spots on this unit.

SNAP TRACKER: OFFENSE
POS PLAYER ORST RU TCU TU PSU IU MINN PUR NEB MSU MD UM NW TOTAL
QB DWAYNE HASKINS 68 48 84 43 79 96 77 100 75 80 101 67 89 1007
QB TATE MARTELL 20 26 DNP 34 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 6 1 4 DNP 91
QB CHRIS CHUGUNOV DNP 4 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 4
RB J.K. DOBBINS 38 26 39 33 51 55 42 46 49 37 89 31 58 594
RB MIKE WEBER 34 26 47 12 31 43 35 56 26 51 DNP 40 31 432
RB/WR DEMARIO MCCALL 4 10 DNP 19 DNP DNP DNP ST 3 ST 13 2 2 53
RB MASTER TEAGUE 7 10 DNP 13 DNP DNP ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 30
RB BRIAN SNEAD 11 16 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 27
WR JOHNNIE DIXON 35 23 33 29 36 45 38 46 51 59 66 49 63 572
WR TERRY MCLAURIN 35 29 51 19 44 50 36 57 46 54 47 40 48 556
WR PARRIS CAMPBELL 36 26 35 25 40 42 34 50 39 51 62 38 36 514
WR K.J. HILL 22 19 35 21 32 46 36 59 36 41 60 35 59 501
WR BINJIMEN VICTOR 41 25 32 13 27 31 31 58 26 26 49 29 39 427
WR AUSTIN MACK 38 31 49 36 48 63 47 34 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 346
WR CHRIS OLAVE 18 16 ST 24 ST ST ST ST 12 9 23 17 24 143
WR C.J. SAUNDERS 14 14 9 29 6 6 16 5 DNP DNP ST ST ST 99
WR JAYLEN HARRIS 7 13 DNP 20 DNP DNP DNP 6 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 46
WR JAELEN GILL DNP 6 DNP 9 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 15
WR GARYN PRATER DNP 7 DNP 4 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 11
WR ELLIJAH GARDINER DNP 3 DNP 4 DNP DNP ST DNP ST ST ST ST ST 7
WR SAM WIGLUSZ DNP 7 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 7
WR L'CHRISTIAN "BLUE" SMITH DNP DNP DNP 4 DNP DNP DNP DNP ST DNP DNP 1 DNP 5
TE LUKE FARRELL 43 27 30 18 41 33 33 62 58 74 75 52 57 603
TE RASHOD BERRY 34 27 58 23 37 54 35 17 16 23 19 11 25 379
TE JEREMY RUCKERT 23 23 DNP 22 2 10 2 7 10 4 5 10 3 121
TE JAKE HAUSMANN DNP DNP DNP 9 ST 2 ST ST ST ST DNP DNP ST 11
TE DERRICK MALONE DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
TE MITCH ROSSI DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
TE TATE DUARTE DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
OL MICHAEL JORDAN 70 52 84 49 79 96 77 100 75 86 102 71 89 1030
OL ISAIAH PRINCE 70 52 84 49 79 96 77 100 75 86 102 71 89 1030
OL MALCOLM PRIDGEON 70 52 84 49 79 96 77 100 75 86 102 71 89 1030
OL DEMETRIUS KNOX 70 52 84 49 79 96 77 100 75 86 102 67 DNP 937
OL THAYER MUNFORD 70 52 84 49 79 96 52 100 75 86 17 71 89 920
OL JOSHUA ALABI 18 26 ST 28 ST ST 25 ST ST ST 85 ST ST 182
OL WYATT DAVIS 18 26 ST 28 ST ST ST ST 3 1 2 4 89 171
OL JOSH MYERS 18 26 ST 28 ST ST ST ST ST STP ST ST ST 72
OL NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE 18 26 DNP 28 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 72
OL GAVIN CUPP DNP 19 ST 28 ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST 47
OL BRADY TAYLOR 18 7 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 25
OL KEVIN WOIDKE ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
K SEAN NUERNEBERGER ST ST ST ST ST ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
K BLAKE HAUBEIL ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
SNAP TRACKER: DEFENSE
POS PLAYER ORST RU TCU TU PSU IU MINN PUR NEB MSU MD UM NW TOTAL
DE CHASE YOUNG 28 24 51 24 76 68 55 63 68 56 58 72 59 702
DE JONATHON COOPER 25 22 52 24 58 46 DNP 66 68 37 53 65 56 572
DE JASHON CORNELL 18 9 10 21 15 20 48 17 21 17 14 14 16 240
DE/DT TYREKE SMITH 17 33 6 28 8 15 13 6 12 13 2 12 7 172
DE NICK BOSA 35 37 41 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 113
DE TYLER FRIDAY 12 18 DNP 29 2 6 4 1 DNP 7 DNP 4 DNP 83
DE AARON COX 3 DNP DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 5
DE NOAH DONALD 3 DNP DNP 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 5
DT DRE'MONT JONES 33 35 67 27 75 64 52 72 64 52 49 78 61 729
DT ROBERT LANDERS 18 25 36 DNP 29 30 16 21 41 32 37 37 40 362
DT DAVON HAMILTON 14 10 25 17 36 28 29 39 37 20 24 31 15 325
DT HASKELL GARRETT 15 4 10 13 4 9 4 3 10 14 15 8 9 118
DT TOMMY TOGIAI 13 12 DNP 16 2 10 7 3 7 10 3 10 9 102
DT TARON VINCENT 12 14 DNP 16 DNP 3 4 DNP 6 8 3 8 5 79
DT ANTWUAN JACKSON 4 5 DNP 12 DNP DNP 3 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 24
DT JERRON CAGE 6 3 DNP 8 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 17
LB MALIK HARRISON 56 43 76 29 79 56 DNP 56 84 68 63 86 70 766
LB PETE WERNER 56 48 53 26 79 70 59 47 79 61 63 74 38 753
LB TUF BORLAND 9 21 39 15 36 30 39 38 64 31 50 60 54 486
LB BARON BROWNING 37 17 33 21 31 40 20 31 15 DNP DNP 7 8 260
LB JUSTIN HILLIARD 9 17 ST 21 ST 9 49 3 ST 6 ST ST ST 114
LB DANTE BOOKER 9 15 ST 27 DNP ST ST ST 5 7 ST 12 2 77
LB KEANDRE JONES 9 12 ST 29 ST ST 1 ST ST ST 2 ST ST 53
LB DALLAS GANT ST ST ST 8 ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST 8
LB K'VAUGHAN POPE ST ST ST 2 ST ST ST ST ST ST ST DNP DNP 2
LB TERADJA MITCHELL ST ST DNP 2 ST ST DNP ST ST ST ST ST ST 2
CB KENDALL SHEFFIELD 49 31 65 20 68 60 51 73 84 55 46 68 58 728
CB JEFFREY OKUDAH 42 22 38 29 43 43 55 72 DNP 41 31 59 40 515
CB DAMON ARNETTE 34 37 52 30 47 49 12 DNP 84 40 41 43 40 509
CB/S SHAUN WADE 9 27 39 25 23 34 33 53 84 40 23 29 43 462
CB MARCUS WILLIAMSON 1 21 ST 20 ST ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 42
CB CAMERON BROWN 9 5 ST 10 ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 24
CB TYREKE JOHNSON DNP DNP ST 2 ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
CB SEVYN BANKS DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST ST ST ST ST ST
S JORDAN FULLER DNP 42 77 29 79 76 59 74 28 68 63 86 70 751
S ISAIAH PRYOR 53 34 61 42 60 35 36 73 DNP DNP ST ST ST 394
S BRENDON WHITE 9 13 ST 25 ST ST ST ST 58 65 53 83 70 376
S JAHSEN WINT 56 26 16 22 19 33 ST ST ST ST ST ST ST 172
S AMIR RIEP 12 11 DNP DNP ST 1 ST 2 5 ST ST ST ST 31
S JOSH PROCTOR ST ST DNP 2 DNP DNP ST 1 ST ST ST ST ST 3
MARCUS HOOKER DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
P DRUE CHRISMAN ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
LS LIAM MCCULLOUGH ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
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