Freshman Tracker: TreVeyon Henderson Breaks Records, Tyleik Williams Makes A Game-Changing Play and J.T. Tuimoloau’s Role Continues to Grow

Fortunately, none of those questions are surrounding the Buckeyes' phenomenal freshmen. The young pups are biting and Ryan Day is going to have a hard time keeping them chained to the sideline.

All Aboard

The TreVeyon train has officially left the station. For those of you not on board, you might have time to jump on the Henderson Hype Train. However, the Hopewell High School alum's bandwagon is filling up faster than the uber-talented running back is racking up rushing yards.

Not only did Henderson break Archie Griffin's freshman rushing record, he also set the new Ohio State all-purpose yard record for freshmen. His 282 total yards are 8th best in program history and tops for a freshman.

Five of TreVeyon's 24 carries went for 12 or more yards as he finished the day averaging an eye-popping 11.5 yards per carry – an Ohio State record for a ball carrier with at least 24 rushes in a contest. To put this performance in perspective, Henderson accounted for 86 percent of the Buckeyes' rushing yards against the Golden Hurricane and only had 36 percent of the team's carries.

Each running back is different, but he's a guy that can hit home runs. That's special.– Ryan Day on TreVeyon Henderson

The other Ohio State running backs are capable, but Henderson is a difference maker. The competition may not have been elite, but No. 32 is special. It's time to take all of the coal and bail it in as the TreVeyon Train appears to be right on track.

And he broke the record with style. pic.twitter.com/gBWCoO1KRi

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 18, 2021

Down Goes Davis

At the midpoint of the 4th quarter, Tulsa was down seven and in Ohio State territory. The Golden Hurricane were facing 3rd and 7 when Tyleik Williams made one of, if not the defensive play of the game. The bruising defensive tackle split two Tulsa linemen and bum rushed Davis Brin. The frightened signal-caller tucked his tail, but was chased down by Williams for a 17-yard sack.

When they needed him most, Tyleik Williams delivered

The @OhioStateFB true freshman forces Tulsa into a 17-yard loss pic.twitter.com/ciwuBS5Axr

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2021

This was the turning point in the contest as Ohio State scored on its next two possessions to make it a respectable looking 41-20 final score. 

Williams finished the day with 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and the game-changing sack. 

Ball-Hawker Burke

Phillip Montgomery and Tulsa's offense decided to test Denzel Burke and the Saguaro High School star was having none of it. In his third straight start, the special secondary player broke up two passes and recorded 5 tackles. Burke has broken up at least one pass in all three games.

A quarter of the way thru the regular season, Denzel is presenting a compelling case to be considered Ohio State's defensive MVP. Burke's most impressive play of the day? An interception that the review booth robbed him of late in the 2nd quarter. 

Clearly an interception. Refs have Tulsa +24.

Denzel Burke is a god damn dawg though pic.twitter.com/eeXSYmcIyy

— Barstool OSU (@BarstoolOSU) September 18, 2021

Ryan Day's reaction when his stud corner was denied his first interception.

Mirco Being Mirco

In his third game as the Scarlet and Gray's punter, Jesse Mirco had three punts and dropped all three inside Tulsa's 20-yard line. Five of his last six boots have pinned Ohio State's opponents inside their own 20. There's plenty of meat left on the schedule, but at this point, Mirco's results are looking rather reminiscent of another Australian Buckeye. Cameron Johnston has the school record with 31 punts inside the 20 for a season.

Jack Sawyer And J.T. Tuimoloau Time

Following the Houdini act against Oregon, many were expecting Ohio State's defensive line to produce a new act against Tulsa. J.T. Touimoloau and Jack Sawyer combined for 62 snaps and fulfilled a more prominent role in Larry Johnson's unit. 

Touimoloau made the most of his 45 defensive snaps as he had a career-high 2 tackles and recorded his first quarterback hurry. Although Sawyer didn't make the stat sheet, he also had a career-high 17 defensive snaps. 

Both players were utilized on the punt block, unit and J.T.T. saw action with the FG/PAT block team. A future defensive front with Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Williams is a front that will disrupt the backfields of many opponents to come.

Special Teams And Snaps Spotlight

Donovan Jackson has become a regular on the FG/PAT unit. The 300-pound Texan protected on all seven Ohio State kicking attempts. Jackson’s lone offensive snap came as a sixth OL on Teague’s 3rd-and-1 run on the final offensive possession.

Emeka Egbuka returned two kickoffs for 53 yards. His long was the kick he received at the goal line and ran hard to the Buckeyes' 36-yard line. Egbuka also had seven offensive snaps. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. participated once on the punt block/return team and had a season-high eight offensive snaps.

Denzel Burke was deployed on the FG/PAT block and punt block/return teams.  

Under the NCAA's redshirt rules, a player can appear in up to four games at any point throughout the season and still count it as his redshirt year. Through the third game of the 2021 season, nine of Ohio State's 23 scholarship true freshmen have seen the field.

• #9 Ohio State 41, TULSA 20
• sept. 18, 2021 • OHIO STADIUM • COLUMBUS, OH
• • Ohio State survives a scare against Tulsa
• • treveyon Henderson bailed out the buckeye offense.
• • matt barnes will likely continue to call defensive plays
• • C.j. stroud is confident despite criticism and his injury
• • OHIO STATE POSTGAME • notebook • quotebook
• • PHOTOS • Five things • debriefing • social reax • three key stats