While Ohio State was able to finally get its running game going against Nebraska this past weekend, the Buckeyes will face a much steeper test in that phase of the game this upcoming weekend.
The Buckeyes head to East Lansing this Saturday (Noon, FOX) to play Michigan State, whose defense leads the entire Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards allowed per game (71.7) and is third nationally in rushing yards allowed per attempt (2.53).
Michigan State’s defense includes nine starters who were already starters in 2017, and that experience has shown this season, as the Spartans rank 16th nationally in points allowed per game (19) and 22nd in total defense (325.1 yards per game), leading the way to their 6-3 record this year.
Offensively, the Spartans entered the season with 10 returning starters. However, injuries have taken their toll on the Spartans on that side of the ball; wide receiver Felton Davis is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, while starting quarterback Brian Lewerke, running back LJ Scott, wide receivers Cody White and Darrell Stewart, left tackle Cole Chewins, left guard David Beedle, center Matt Allen and right guard Kevin Jarvis have all missed time with injuries.
Even when those players have been on the field, they haven’t been great, and as a result, Michigan State ranks 106th in the FBS in total offense (360.3 yards per game) and tied for 111th in scoring offense (23.4 points per game).
As such, the Spartans certainly should present a tougher test on defense than they do on offense, but with the struggles Ohio State has had on the defensive side of the ball, no offense can be overlooked right now.
We take a closer look at how the Spartans stack up on both sides of the ball in this week’s Scouting Report.
Quarterback
14 Brian Lewerke – 6-3, 220, Junior
12 Rocky Lombardi – 6-3, 218, Redshirt Freshman
Expected to be among the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks this season, Lewerke hasn’t performed up to expectations, completing only 55.9 percent of his passes for 1,740 yards with eight touchdowns and interceptions apiece. Battling a shoulder injury, Lewerke has particularly struggled recently, throwing for less than 100 yards and zero touchdowns in each of his last two starts.
When he is on his game, Lewerke has a good ability to throw strikes downfield and is a solid runner who can make plays with his feet. However, he’s impeded by injury right now and hasn’t quite found his rhythm all season, and Michigan State’s offense has suffered for it.
Given Lewerke’s injury, Ohio State will have to prepare to see two quarterbacks on Saturday, as Lombardi has played in each of the Spartans’ last three games, including a start in Michigan State’s 23-13 win over Purdue in which he threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns. That said, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said after the Spartans’ 24-3 win over Maryland on Saturday that Lewerke will remain the starting quarterback, while Lombardi could be the Spartans’ “ace reliever,” according to Matt Wenzel of MLive.com.
Running Back
3 LJ Scott – 6-1, 225, Senior OR 11 Connor Heyward – 6-0, 229, Sophomore
Scott has been the Spartans’ top running back since he was a true freshman in 2015, but the big, athletic runner has been hampered by an ankle injury for nearly all of this season, causing him to miss five games including the trip to Maryland this past Saturday. Dantonio said Sunday that Scott’s status is currently “week-to-week” with his injury, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play against Ohio State.
Heyward, the younger brother of former Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, has started those five games in Scott’s place and is coming off his best game yet against Maryland, running the ball 15 times for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Terrapins. He’s not the shiftiest of backs, but he uses his big build effectively to run through contact and demonstrated breakaway speed with an 80-yard touchdown run this past Saturday.
Heyward is also the Spartans’ lead kickoff returner, gaining 436 yards on 20 returns this season.
Wide Receiver
7 Cody White – 6-3, 210, Sophomore
25 Darrell Stewart Jr. – 6-2, 217, Junior
8 Jalen Nailor – 6-0, 187, Freshman
The Spartans suffered a huge loss to their offense when senior Felton Davis III, their leading receiver this season and last season as well, tore his Achilles in their seventh game of the season against Michigan.
Without Davis, the Spartans’ receiving corps lacks star power, but White and Stewart are the team’s leading targets. Both of them have missed time with injuries this year, too – White suffered a broken hand, while Stewart had an ankle injury – but they’re both back in the lineup and are solid playmakers, with White being the team’s best healthy downfield receiver and Stewart being a top option on short passes.
Nailor, a true freshman who previously caught passes from Ohio State backup quarterback Tate Martell at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, has shown some big-play ability this season as well. Used as both a pass-catcher and on running plays, Nailor has caught seven passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns while he’s also rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Tight End
81 Matt Sokol – 6-6, 260, Redshirt Senior OR 89 Matt Dotson – 6-5, 250 Sophomore
94 Chase Gianacakos – 6-6, 296, Redshirt Senior
40 Collin Lucas – 6-1, 236, Redshirt Senior (Fullback)
Michigan State often uses formations with multiple tight ends in its offense, so each of its top three tight ends see regular playing time.
None of their tight ends are major threats to stretch the field and make big plays, but co-starters Sokol and Dotson are reliable options on short to intermediate passes, while they are also solid blockers. Dotson has 10 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown this year, while Sokol has five catches for 58 yards.
Gianacakos, a converted offensive lineman, is strictly a blocker, but he has started five games this year and can be a strong augmentation to the offensive line in the running game.
The Spartans’ offense also utilizes fullbacks in some formations. While neither has carried the ball or caught a pass this season, Lucas and redshirt freshman Max Rosenthal (6-2, 255) both see their share of playing time as lead blockers.
Offensive Line
61 Cole Chewins – 6-8, 290, Redshirt Junior (Left Tackle)
66 Tyler Higby – 6-5, 285, Redshirt Junior OR 59 David Beedle – 6-5, 333, Redshirt Senior (Left Guard)
66 Blake Bueter – 6-4, 308, Redshirt Freshman OR 64 Matt Allen – 6-3, 300, Redshirt Sophomore (Center)
75 Kevin Jarvis – 6-4, 321, Sophomore OR 62 Luke Campbell – 6-5, 290, Redshirt Sophomore (Right Guard)
55 Jordan Reid – 6-4, 275, Sophomore (Right Tackle)
As previously mentioned, injuries have taken a big toll on this group. Beedle, the regular starting left guard, has missed the last four games with a left arm injury, while Allen has missed the last two games with a left leg injury. Chewins and Jarvis have also missed games with injuries.
With shifting lineups up front all year long, the Spartans’ offensive line has been unable to get into a rhythm, and has struggled particularly in the run game, where Michigan State has averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry this season. Regardless of who the starting five end up being Saturday, Ohio State’s defensive line should have opportunities to make plays against this group.
Defensive End
48 Kenny Willekes – 6-4, 260, Redshirt Junior
96 Jacub Panasiuk – 6-3, 254, Sophomore
A walk-on when he arrived at Michigan State, Willekes has emerged not only as Michigan State’s best pass-rusher but as one of the top defensive ends in the entire Big Ten, ranking third in the conference this year with 13 tackles for loss and tied for second with seven sacks. He’ll put Ohio State’s offensive tackles to the test on Saturday.
Outside of Willekes, however, the Spartans don’t have much pass-rushing presence from this position. Panasiuk is a solid run defender, but he only has two tackles for loss and a half-sack, and their backup defensive ends (led by 6-4, 248-pound redshirt freshman Jack Camper) haven’t made a big impact either.
Defensive Tackle
99 Raequan Williams – 6-4, 300, Redshirt Junior
72 Mike Panasiuk – 6-4, 285, Junior
A big, stout nose tackle who is also very athletic for his size and can blow up plays in the backfield or chase down runners, Williams is one of the Spartans’ best players. He’s recorded 35 total tackles with eight tackles for loss this season, and is a player who opposing offensive lines must account for at all times.
Combined, Williams and the elder Panasiuk brother provide a stout interior that has led for Michigan State’s No. 1-ranked run defense this season. 6-foot-4, 339-pound redshirt sophomore Naquan Jones also rotates in regularly, and like Williams, he has great athleticism for his size which gives him the ability to be considerably disruptive up front when he’s in the game.
Raequan Williams is one of the biggest stars of Michigan State's defense. Mike Carter – USA TODAY Sports
Linebacker
35 Joe Bachie – 6-2, 238, Junior (Mike)
5 Andrew Dowell – 6-1, 225, Senior (Star)
17 Tyriq Thompson – 6-1, 245, Redshirt Junior (Sam)
Michigan State’s leading tackler for the second year in a row, Bachie is a leader of the Spartans defense from his middle linebacker spot. A consistent presence around the ball, Bachie has recorded 68 total tackles this season, including 6.5 tackles for loss, and has an interception and five additional pass breakups, as well as two forced fumbles against Maryland this past weekend.
Dowell, a smaller but speedy linebacker who plays the “Star” position for the Spartans, is also a very active defender for Michigan State, having recorded 61 total tackles, six tackles for loss (three sacks) and six pass breakups this year. He’s the Spartans’ best coverage linebacker, and another experienced player who provides leadership to the group.
Thompson, who plays more around the line of scrimmage as the strongside linebacker, has recorded 19 total tackles this season with one sack.
Other linebackers who see regular playing time for the Spartans include 6-2, 234-pound redshirt sophomore Brandon Bouyer-Randle, who has provided a pass-rushing spark off the bench with 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, and 6-0, 220-pound sophomore Antjuan Simmons, who has recorded 22 tackles and an interception in limited action.
Cornerback
2 Justin Layne – 6-3, 185, Junior (Field)
22 Josiah Scott – 5-10, 175, Sophomore OR 24 Tre Person – 5-10, 165, Sophomore (Boundary)
The Spartans’ secondary got a big boost past weekend when Scott, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a true freshman in 2017, returned to the lineup after missing the first eight games of the season with a knee injury. He played all but one defensive snap in his return from injury, per Matt Charbonneau of The Detroit News.
Still, the Spartans reportedly plan to play Scott in only four games this year and redshirt him, so Person could potentially rejoin the starting lineup in Scott’s place if he is able to play after missing Saturday’s game against Maryland with an injury of his own.
Layne, on the other hand, has been a mainstay at field cornerback for the Spartans for a second straight season. One of the best athletes on the entire team, Layne has also seen some playing time this season at wide receiver due to the injuries Michigan State has at that position, making him a player the Buckeyes will have to prepare for on both sides of the ball.
Safety
6 David Dowell – 6-1, 196, Redshirt Junior (Free)
27 Khari Willis – 6-0, 205, Senior (Strong)
With two interceptions apiece this season, Dowell and Willis are both playmakers on the back end of Michigan State’s secondary. Dowell is the Spartans’ top coverage safety, while Willis makes more plays as a tackler in run support, but both make regular impacts in both phases of defense and patrol the back end well.
Dowell, who also had a team-high five interceptions in his first season as a starter last year, has 43 total tackles this year. Willis, a captain who provides leadership from the back end of the defense, has 56 total tackles as well as seven pass breakups.
Khari Willis has been one of the top playmakers on the back end of Michigan State's defense this year. Mike Carter – USA TODAY Sports
Specialists
4 Matt Coghlin – 5-9, 190, Redshirt Sophomore (Kicker)
99 Bryce Baringer – 6-3, 195, Redshirt Freshman (Punter)
98 Cole Hahn – 5-10, 192, Redshirt Freshman (Kickoffs)
Coghlin has been very consistent in his second season kicking for the Spartans, making all but one of his field goal attempts (12-of-13) and all 23 of his extra point attempts. With 49- and 48-yard field goals on his record this season, Coghlin was recently named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as one of the nation’s best kickers.
The Spartans have lost two punters (Jake Hartbarger and Tyler Hunt) to season-ending injuries this year, forcing Baringer – a walk-on transfer from Illinois – into duty. As you might expect from a third-string punter, he’s struggled so far, averaging just 32.9 yards per punt, so this could play into the Buckeyes’ advantage in the battle of field position.
Overall Outlook
If Ohio State’s defense is capable of playing better down the stretch run of the season, this is a game where it has to prove it. Statistically, Michigan State’s offense will be the second-worst the Buckeyes have faced this year (ahead of only Rutgers), so this should be an opportunity for Ohio State’s defense to turn the corner.
If it doesn’t, Saturday’s game in East Lansing could be a dangerous game for the Buckeyes, as they aren’t likely to be able to run the ball nearly as effectively against the Spartans as they were against Nebraska. Michigan State’s defense hasn’t been as dominant against the pass, so Dwayne Haskins and Ohio State’s wide receivers should have some opportunities to make plays through the air, but considering that the Spartans have held their opponents to 21 points or less in seven of nine games this season, this isn’t a game where the Buckeyes will simply be able to rely on their offense to outscore their opponent.
That said, it will certainly be a test for Ohio State’s running game to demonstrate whether the progress it showed against Nebraska was real improvement or simply taking advantage of a weaker opponent.
