Freshman Tracker: Dallan Hayden Goes for A Hundred, TC Caffey’s A Beast and Sonny Styles Hits Hard

In the season's second night game, the Buckeyes faced a talented Toledo team. Ohio State's defense had some difficulty containing Rockets quarterback Dequan Finn and gave up a season-high 21 points.

However, with C.J. Stroud and the offense blasting off the second-most total yards in program history, 18 members of the 2022 class saw playing time and seven made their collegiate debuts in the 77-21 trouncing of Toledo.

Dallan Hayden had a day

Dallan Hayden tested the waters of playing big-time college football against Arkansas State, running the ball four times.

A week later, TreVeyon Henderson was sidelined and Hayden showed he can swim in the deep waters. Ryan Day called on No. 5 to hit the field for Ohio State's last drive of the first half. Hayden carried the ball five times for 36 crucial yards on a drive that ended with Julian Fleming's 11-yard touchdown grab to put the Buckeyes up 42-14.

Hayden was given the ball on the Buckeyes' first play of the second half and the freshman appeared to go 48 yards for his first touchdown. He was correctly ruled out at the three-yard line and Mitch Rossi scored his first rushing touchdown a few plays later.

At the 13:49 mark of the fourth quarter, Ohio State faced third-and-goal from the one-yard line. Kyle McCord handed the ball to Hayden and the back knifed his way in for his first score.

The first of many career TDs for Dallan Hayden

cc: @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/OcP7BAVzgz

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2022

When the final whistle blew, Hayden had a game-high 17 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown.

RELATED Toledo Notebook: Julian Fleming Scores Two Touchdowns in Return, Dallan Hayden Seizes His Opportunity and the Defense Finally Forces Turnovers

Sonny Styles delivers hits

Sonny Styles is supposed to still be playing high school football on the fields of Central Ohio on Friday nights. Instead, the Pickerington Central alum is already showing off his unique blend of size, speed, skill and power as an Ohio State freshman.

Styles' first tackle of his Ohio State career was a decleating of Toledo's Adam Beale.

A few minutes later, Styles crept up to the line and blew past a would-blocker to slam Willie Shaw III to the ground for a two-yard loss.

Lorenzo Styles, Sonny's dad, was a linebacker and third-round selection in the 1995 NFL draft. The flashes Sonny is already showing as an underage freshman could lead him to being drafted even higher in a few years.

TC Caffey goes beast mode

Hayden wasn't the only freshman to have a big day on the ground. Walk-on running back TC Caffey had the most exciting run of the early season.

The 5-10, 218 pound back from Hubbard High School looked dead to rights as he started his run to the right of the line. Caffey wiggled free and raced down the Rockets' sideline. Two shifty moves later, Caffey scored Ohio State’s 11th touchdown of the night with a 49-yard highlight reel run.

WE SEE YOU TC CAFFEY

The @OhioStateFB RB breaks off for a HUGE first career TD run pic.twitter.com/xSeUIFdYpQ

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2022

The Trumbull County Player of the year and Division III All-Ohioan is accustomed to big plays and scoring. As a senior, he rushed for 2,638 yards and 27 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with 57 touchdowns.

Rest of the class

Devin Brown entered the game for the Buckeyes' last two series. He ran the ball once for one yard.

Jyaire Brown played 10 defensive snaps at cornerback.

Bennett Christian played 11 snaps at tight end.

Caden Curry collected two tackles on 18 defensive snaps.

Jayden Fielding will need to ice his leg after handling 12 kickoffs with 10 resulting in touchbacks. 

Kyion Grayes hauled in his first catch as a Buckeye for two yards. Kojo Antwi and Kaleb Brown joined Grayes on the field for Ohio State’s final offensive series.

C.J. Hicks played on Ohio State's four kickoff returns and also lined up on the punt and punt block/return teams.

Kenyatta Jackson and Hero Kanu both played on the defensive line on the final defensive series, with Jackson recording a tackle for loss.

Gabe Powers saw playing time on the kickoff coverage unit.

Kye Stokes made the first two tackles of his career and played 12 defensive snaps.

Tegra Tshabola played 23 snaps at right guard with the second-team offensive line.

Ryan Turner played his first six snaps as a Buckeye at cornerback.

The number of freshmen to see the field will likely drop next week as the Buckeyes begin Big Ten play against Wisconsin in primetime.

(Note: The table does not include freshman walk-ons who have not yet played.)

• #3 Ohio State 77, Toledo 21
• Sept. 17, 2022 • Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
• • Buckeyes Bludgeon Rockets, 77-21
• • Injuries Pile Up Before B1G Opener
• • Buckeyes Show How Dynamic They Can Be
• • Ohio State Offense Explodes In Route Of UT
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