If you’re an Ohio State football player and you were available to play in Saturday’s spring game, you probably did.
With the exceptions of only a few players who weren’t listed as unavailable, the vast majority of healthy Ohio State players – 84 in total – saw action in the Buckeyes’ end-of-spring scrimmage, which featured the offense going head-to-head with the defense for a total of 122 plays plus 20 special teams plays.
Unlike many past years in which the Buckeyes have split up into Scarlet and Gray teams for the spring game, this year’s spring game was played as an offense vs. defense scrimmage with the offense serving as the Scarlet team and the defense functioning as the Gray squad. That allowed Ohio State to divvy up snaps exactly how it wanted to on both sides of the ball rather than worrying about which team had the ball or having to switch players between teams to get them more snaps.
Here at Eleven Warriors, we went back and rewatched every play of the spring game to compile a full list of who was on the field for every single play, and have compiled the snap totals for every unit below along with details on where exactly each player lined up and when each player saw their snaps. All snap counts were compiled by Eleven Warriors staff members and should be considered unofficial.
While in most cases, the players who saw the most snaps in the spring game likely won’t be the ones who play the most in the fall, taking a look at which players saw the most action with the first-team units – and which players came out of the game early to preserve their health – gives us an idea of who could be in line to play major roles this fall.
Quarterbacks
Devin Brown: 46
C.J. Stroud: 38
Kyle McCord: 38
If the goal going into the spring game was to split up reps as evenly as possible between the three scholarship quarterbacks, Ohio State did so successfully, as Stroud and McCord each played an identical number of snaps while Brown played just eight more.
Stroud started the game and played every other series in the first half (five drives out of nine), but did not play at all in the second half. McCord and Brown each played two series with the second-team offense on an alternating basis in the first half, then alternated drives throughout the second half until the final two possessions of the game, as Brown stayed in the game for the final drive after throwing an interception on the game’s second-to-last possession.
Stroud, who’s locked in as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, was the only QB to take snaps with the first-team offense on Saturday.
Running Backs
Evan Pryor: 46
Cayden Saunders: 36
Miyan Williams: 33
TreVeyon Henderson: 7
Ohio State didn’t take any chances with its starting running back in the spring game, keeping him on the field for only the first seven snaps – on which the Buckeyes were “thudding” rather than tackling – and giving him just three carries before shelving him for the rest of the day.
With Henderson watching from the sideline, Williams and Pryor – the only other two available scholarship running backs – each took reps with the first- and second-team offenses. Both of them took advantage of the extra snaps, as Williams ran for 101 yards on 15 carries and Pryor had 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 total touches (nine carries, four catches).
From the time Williams entered the game on the opening drive, he and Pryor split all of the reps at running back through the early third quarter. Saunders was the running back for 36 of the game’s final 48 plays, including all 27 plays of the fourth quarter.
Wide Receivers
Jayden Ballard: 53
Kyion Grayes: 47
Xavier Johnson: 47
Reis Stocksdale: 46
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 37
Caleb Burton: 36
Emeka Egbuka: 36
Sam Wiglusz: 31
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 16
Joop Mitchell: 6
Like Henderson, Smith-Njigba got the established star treatment, as he played only on the first and third possessions of the game – the only two series on which the Buckeyes didn’t tackle – before watching from the sideline for the rest of the day.
Harrison Jr. and Egbuka, the other two starting wide receivers, also played exclusively with Stroud and the first-team offense; Harrison was on the field for all but one of Stroud’s snaps, while Egbuka was on the field for all but two. Harrison lined up as the first-team X receiver; Egbuka started at Z receiver but moved to the slot after Smith-Njigba exited the game.
Ballard played the most snaps of any wideout as he took snaps with the first- and second-team offenses at Z receiver. Johnson was the second X receiver into the game while Wiglusz – who was making his final appearance as a Buckeye before entering the transfer portal – was the second-team slot receiver.
Grayes made his spring game debut in the second quarter while fellow true freshman Burton played his first snaps in the third quarter. The wide receiver lineup for the majority of the second half consisted of Grayes at Z, Burton at X and Stocksdale in the slot, while Mitchell also mixed in for six fourth-quarter snaps at X.
Julian Fleming, who likely would have seen snaps with Stroud and the first-team offense if he played, was held out for precautionary reasons due to an injury.
Tight Ends
Gee Scott Jr.: 34
Cade Stover: 22
Patrick Gurd: 21
Sam Hart: 19
Joe Royer: 19
Bennett Christian: 18
Scott, Stover and Royer played all of the first-half snaps while Gurd, Hart and Christian played all of the second-half snaps at tight end in Saturday’s spring game.
As expected, Stover got the start at tight end, but Scott and Royer also mixed in for snaps with Stroud and the first-team offense while all three of them also played second-team snaps with McCord and Brown. Scott, who played 12 more snaps than any other tight end, also finished the game with the most receptions (five for 40 yards) of any Buckeye.
Gurd, Hart and Christian rotated in and out of the game throughout the second half, mostly alternating in segments of three snaps at a time.
Gee Scott Jr. had reason to smile after playing the most snaps among all tight ends and catching the most passes of any player in the spring game.
Offensive Line
George Fitzpatrick: 72
Jakob James: 64
Grant Toutant: 64
Toby Wilson: 60
Quinton Burke: 45
Enokk Vimahi: 45
Jack Forsman: 42
Donovan Jackson: 40
Paris Johnson Jr.: 38
Luke Wypler: 38
Matt Jones: 38
Dawand Jones: 38
Ryan Smith: 26
There were no surprises on the starting offensive line for the spring game, which consisted of Johnson at left tackle, Jackson at left guard, Wypler at center, Matt Jones at right guard and Dawand Jones at right tackle. All of them played exclusively with Stroud and the first-team offense with the exception of Jackson, who played one series at left tackle with the second-team offense (and was in turn replaced by Vimahi for one series at left guard with the first-team offense).
Fitzpatrick took over at left tackle when the second-team offensive line re-entered the game and went on to play the rest of the snaps at LT when the starters weren’t on the field, including every play of the second half. The rest of the second-team offensive line for the first half consisted of Wilson at left guard, James at center, Vimahi at right guard and Toutant at right tackle.
Wilson also played some second-half snaps at center when James wasn’t on the field, while Forsman and Smith both played second-half snaps at left guard and Forsman also mixed in at right tackle. Burke was on the field for all of the game’s final 45 plays at right guard.
Defensive Ends
Caden Curry: 53
Jack Sawyer: 42
J.T. Tuimoloau: 42
Noah Potter: 39
Zach Cicero: 21
Mitchell Melton: 18
Zach Harrison: 17
Javontae Jean-Baptiste: 17
Harrison and Jean-Baptiste were the starting defensive ends and were both on the field for 17 total snaps – all together and all within the first five series of the game – before watching from the sideline for the remainder of the game.
Tuimoloau and Sawyer also played all of their snaps together, as they both played a total of 42 snaps, which were spread from the opening drive of the game to the fourth quarter.
The third pair of edge defenders into the game were Melton and Potter, but Melton – who stood up as a Jack linebacker for all 18 of his snaps – exited the game in the second quarter with a lower-body injury. Potter also kicked inside to play five snaps as a 3-technique defensive tackle in addition to the 34 snaps he played at defensive end.
Curry, who initially entered the game as a traditional defensive end lining up opposite Melton, ended up playing a majority of his snaps as a Jack linebacker – and the most overall snaps of any defensive end – after Melton’s exit. Cicero played all 21 of his snaps in the second half opposite either Curry or Potter.
Like Melton and Curry, Sawyer also stood up to play the hybrid Jack position for a majority of his snaps.
Defensive Tackles
Mike Hall: 42
Ty Hamilton: 37
Jaden McKenzie: 36
Tyleik Williams: 35
Bryce Prater: 28
Zach Prater: 27
Jerron Cage: 17
Taron Vincent: 17
Like Harrison and Jean-Baptiste, Cage and Vincent started the game on the defensive line but played only 17 snaps before watching their less experienced teammates play the rest of the afternoon.
Williams was the second 3-technique defensive tackle to enter the game, behind Vincent and followed by McKenzie; Hamilton was the second nose tackle into the game, after Cage and followed by Hall. As aforementioned, Potter also slid inside to play defensive tackle for five snaps, all in the first half.
The Prater twins, both walk-ons, played all of their snaps in the second half.
Linebackers
Gabe Powers: 42
Tommy Eichenberg: 35
Steele Chambers: 32
C.J. Hicks: 30
Teradja Mitchell: 26
Chip Trayanum: 24
Reid Carrico: 22
Jackson Kuwatch: 19
Jalen Pace: 14
Eichenberg and Chambers started the game at linebacker and each played roughly half of the spring game’s 66 first-half plays, after which they watched from the sideline. Eichenberg started the game at Mike linebacker while Chambers started at Will.
Mitchell was the second Mike linebacker into the game while Trayanum was the second Will linebacker in. Carrico was the third Will linebacker into the game, followed by Hicks, while Powers – who played a majority of his snaps along fellow true freshman Hicks in the second half – ended up playing the most snaps of any linebacker as the No. 3 Mike.
Kuwatch and Pace, both walk-ons, saw all of their snaps in the second half.
Cornerbacks
Ryan Turner: 62
Jyaire Brown: 42
Cameron Kittle: 34
Jordan Hancock: 32
JK Johnson: 31
Denzel Burke: 24
Cameron Brown: 19
Burke and Brown started the game but played the fewest snaps among the seven cornerbacks who saw action – which, like the starting defensive linemen, is a reflection of their experience. Brown played only in the first half while Burke played the first two snaps of the second half before checking out for the rest of the day.
Hancock and Johnson were the second pair of cornerbacks into the game and also played the majority of their snaps in the first half, while true freshmen Brown and Turner saw regular playing time in both halves to lead the cornerbacks in playing time. Turner’s 62 snaps included all 27 plays of the fourth quarter, most of which came with Kittle – the lone walk-on cornerback who played in the spring game, and the only player who recorded an interception on Saturday – lining up opposite Turner.
Freshman defensive backs Kye Stokes and Ryan Turner were both on the field for more than half of the defensive plays in the spring game.
Safeties
Andre Turrentine: 106
Kye Stokes: 91
Andrew Moore: 65
Tanner McCalister: 41
Ronnie Hickman: 31
Cameron Martinez: 16
Josh Proctor: 16
Kourt Williams: Special teams only
The starting lineup at safety consisted of Hickman at adjuster, Proctor at bandit and McCalister at nickel. Proctor, who did not participate in full-contact work this spring while continuing to work his way back from the season-ending leg fracture he suffered in September, played only on the two non-tackling possessions of the game.
Turrentine and Stokes played the most snaps among all spring game participants as Turrentine played every snap Proctor did not play at bandit and Stokes played every snap Hickman did not play at adjuster, including all 56 plays in the second half. Walk-on Andrew Moore also played more than half of the game’s snaps at nickel safety as Martinez played only 16 snaps, all in the first quarter.
Williams did not play any defensive snaps after suffering a hamstring injury this spring while Jantzen Dunn, Marcus Hooker, Jaylen Johnson and Lathan Ransom were also sidelined by injuries, leaving the Buckeyes with only seven available safeties for the spring game.
Field Goals/Extra Points
Joe Royer (wing): 7
Bradley Robinson (long snapper): 5
Matt Jones (guard): 5
Dawand Jones (tackle): 5
Enokk Vimahi (rocker): 5
Cade Stover (wing): 5
Jesse Mirco (holder): 4
Toby Wilson (rocker): 4
Paris Johnson Jr. (tackle): 4
Donovan Jackson (guard): 4
Jayden Fielding (kicker): 3
Michael O’Shaughnessy (holder): 3
Ryan Smith (rocker): 3
George Fitzpatrick (tackle): 3
Quinton Burke (guard): 3
Jake Seibert (kicker): 2
Garrison Smith (kicker): 2
Mason Arnold (long snapper): 2
Grant Toutant (guard): 2
Jack Forsman (tackle): 2
Jakob James (rocker): 2
Gee Scott Jr. (wing): 2
With Noah Ruggles away from the team this spring, Ohio State split kicking duties between Seibert, Fielding and Smith in the spring game. All three kickers had the opportunity to attempt one field goal, with Seibert making one from 42 yards out and Smith making a 38-yarder but Fielding missing his 38-yard try wide right.
Mirco and Robinson reprised their roles as the starting holder and long snapper, but their backups O’Shaughnessy and Arnold also got opportunities to play in the spring game.
The blocking unit for Seibert’s field goal and all three first-half points after touchdowns consisted of Royer, Wilson, Johnson, Jackson, Matt and Dawand Jones, Vimahi and Stover. Royer was the only Buckeye who took the field for every field goal and extra point attempt, however, as backups mixed in at the other spots in the second half.
Kickoffs
Jayden Fielding (kicker): 1
Garrison Smith (kicker): 1
The only kickoffs in Saturday’s spring game came at the start of each half, and they consisted solely of a kicker kicking the ball to a returner. Fielding handled the first-half kickoff while Smith got his chance in the second half.
Kickoff Returns
Emeka Egbuka (returner): 1
Evan Pryor (returner): 1
Egbuka was the deep man for the first-half kickoff while Pryor fielded the second-half kickoff. Because there was no kickoff teams or blockers on the field, there were no actual kickoff returns, as every drive of the game started from the 35-yard line.
Punts
Tommy Eichenberg (upback): 4
Teradja Mitchell (upback): 4
Cade Stover (wing): 4
Xavier Johnson (guard): 4
Kourt Williams (guard): 4
Ronnie Hickman (tackle): 4
Jayden Ballard (gunner): 4
Jesse Mirco (punter): 3
Bradley Robinson (long snapper): 3
Sam Wiglusz (tackle): 3
JK Johnson (gunner): 3
Michael O'Shaughnessy (punter): 1
Max Lomonico (long snapper): 1
Emeka Egbuka (tackle): 1
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (gunner): 1
Although there were also no live punt returns in the spring game, Ohio State did field a full punt team, giving a potential preview of what the punt team could look like this fall.
Eichenberg, Mitchell, Stover, Johnson, Williams, Hickman and Ballard were all on the field for all four punts of the game. Egbuka and Smith-Njigba were on the punt team for the first punt, but Smith-Njigba was replaced by Johnson and Egbuka was replaced by Wiglusz as Smith-Njigba exited the game early and Egbuka lined up at punt returner. Lomonico and O’Shaughnessy took the field in place of Mirco and Robinson for one punt in the second quarter, on which O’Shaughnessy downed a 38-yard punt at the 18-yard line.
Punt Returns
Emeka Egbuka: 3
Cameron Martinez: 1
Martinez lined up as the punt returner for Mirco’s first punt of the game, while Egbuka took over that duty for the rest of the game’s punts. Like with kickoffs, there were no live punt returns in the spring game as there was no punt block team on the field.
Extra Point/Field Goal Block
Andre Turrentine: 6
Kye Stokes: 5
Andrew Moore: 5
Jyaire Brown: 4
Caden Curry: 4
Ryan Turner: 4
Mike Hall: 3
Ty Hamilton: 3
C.J. Hicks: 3
Noah Potter: 3
Jack Sawyer: 3
J.T. Tuimoloau: 3
Tyleik Williams: 3
Tommy Eichenberg: 2
Ronnie Hickman: 2
Cameron Kittle: 2
Tanner McCalister: 2
Jaden McKenzie: 2
Teradja Mitchell: 2
Chip Trayanum: 2
Cameron Brown: 1
Denzel Burke: 1
Reid Carrico: 1
Zach Cicero: 1
Jordan Hancock: 1
JK Johnson: 1
Jackson Kuwatch: 1
Mitchell Melton: 1
Teradja Mitchell: 1
Jalen Pace: 1
Gabe Powers: 1
Bryce Prater: 1
Zach Prater: 1
Josh Proctor: 1
In a game where the defense did not actually attempt to block field goals or extra points, the players on the field for the field goal block team always consisted of the 11 defenders who had been on the field for the previous play.
