Terry McLaurin was named offensive player of the game, Chase Young was named defensive player of the game and four Buckeyes – McLaurin, Drue Chrisman, Justin Hilliard and Jeffrey Okudah – received special teams player of the game honors for their performances in Ohio State's 27-26 win at Penn State on Saturday night.
McLaurin, a fifth-year senior wide receiver, received offensive player of the game honors even though he did not catch a single pass in Saturday's game. Ohio State gave him the award because of what it described as "dominant blocking," which earned him a 93 percent grade from his coaches.
Most notably, McLaurin made the key block on K.J. Hill's game-winning, 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown – moving not one, not two, but three Penn State defenders out of the way to clear Hill's path to the end zone.
We're all still in awe of Terry McLaurin eating three defenders on the game-winning touchdown last night. pic.twitter.com/dQR9qeYuKH
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 30, 2018
Young, meanwhile, made two of the Buckeyes' most crucial defensive plays on Saturday night – breaking up a pass in the backfield on 4th-and-1 late in the third quarter, and then sealing the Buckeyes' victory by burying Penn State running back Miles Sanders for a 2-yard loss on 4th-and-5 on the Nittany Lions' final possession.
For the game as a whole, the sophomore defensive end recorded six total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups, and received an 82 percent grade from his coaches.
McLaurin was among the four Buckeyes to earn special teams player of the game honors because forced the punt returner to fair catch or go out of bounds on three separate punts, and downed a punt at the 2-yard line. Okudah was also credited with three tackles on the punt team, while Hilliard was credited with one tackle each on punt and kickoff. Chrisman was honored for a performance in which he punted nine times and averaged 47.9 yards per punt, including three punts of 50-plus yards (long of 58) and three punts downed inside the 20.
Your special teams Players of the Game from yesterdays comeback win at Penn State, per the Buckeye coaching staff.@DChrisman91@JHilliard47@TheTerry_25@jokudah_#GoBucks #WinTheMoment pic.twitter.com/HunItHIvW3
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 30, 2018
McLaurin previously earned offensive player of the game honors for his performance in Ohio State's season opener against Oregon State, while Hilliard also received special teams player of the game honors for that game. Chrisman also received special teams player of the game honors for his performance last weekend against Tulane.
| Unit | Pos | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | WR | TERRY MCLAURIN | "DOMINANT BLOCKING," 93 PERCENT GRADE |
| DEFENSE | DE | CHASE YOUNG | 6 TACKLES, 3 TFL, 2 SACKS, 2 PBU |
| CO-SPECIAL TEAMS | P | DRUE CHRISMAN | 47.9 YARDS PER PUNT (9 PUNTS), 3 PUNTS INSIDE 20-YARD LINE |
| CO-SPECIAL TEAMS | LB | JUSTIN HILLIARD | 2 TACKLES (1 TACKLE ON KICKOFF, 1 TACKLE ON PUNT) |
| CO-SPECIAL TEAMS | WR | TERRY MCLAURIN | 3 FORCED FAIR CATCHES/OUT OF BOUNDS ON PUNT, DOWNED PUNT AT 2-YARD LINE |
| CO-SPECIAL TEAMS | CB | JEFFREY OKUDAH | 3 TACKLES ON PUNT |
