Michigan State Notebook: Mike Hall Jr. Makes Big Impact in Smaller Role, Gee Scott Jr. Scores First Touchdown and Spartans Safety Jaden Mangham “In Good Shape” After Scary Collision

By Mike Hall Jr.’s own estimation, he played only 10 defensive snaps in Ohio State’s win over Michigan State. According to Pro Football Focus, Hall played only seven snaps.

He certainly made them count.

Despite playing only in a situational role against the Spartans as a third-down interior pass-rusher, Hall recorded 2.5 sacks in East Lansing. He disrupted even more plays than that, as he was seemingly in the backfield just about every time he got the chance to sub into the game.

After playing at least 27 snaps in each of the first four games he played in this year, all of which he started, Hall said it was strange playing such a smaller amount of snaps against Michigan State. But he embraced the role and made the most of the opportunities he had.

“For this first game, it was just like a weird adjustment, you know, just getting ready like before the game just like I was starting,” Hall said after the game. “I just had to like simmer down a little bit. But just coming in third down, fresh legs, there’s just no better feeling than that.”

Hall said he was nagging Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson on the sideline for more snaps, but understood why the Buckeyes utilized him the way they did on Saturday. He missed the Toledo game after suffering a shoulder injury against Arkansas State and is still working his way back to 100%, so Ohio State opted to start Jerron Cage ahead of Hall and limit Hall’s reps in the Buckeyes’ final game before their midseason bye week.

Because he was only subbing into the game situationally, Hall said he could hear Michigan State’s offensive linemen pointing him out whenever he came into the game. And his defensive teammates say they notice opponents block differently when Hall is on the field.

“He's really disruptive as a pass-rusher,” linebacker Tommy Eichenberg said after the game. “Also great in the run game too, but I think O-line focuses on him and it kind of frees up other people too.”

Scott scores first touchdown

The last of C.J. Stroud’s six touchdown passes against Michigan State was a moment that felt like a long time coming for the player on the receiving end.

So far, Gee Scott Jr.’s Ohio State career hasn’t played out the way many people expected it would when he arrived in Columbus as a top-10 wide receiver in the 2020 class. He did not catch a single pass as a true freshman, then caught only five passes for 42 yards in his first season as a tight end in 2021.

Scott has seen more regular playing time with the first-team offense this year as Ohio State’s third-string tight end, but he still caught only two passes for seven yards in the Buckeyes’ first five games of this season. Late in the third quarter on Saturday, though, Scott finally scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye when he caught a pass in the back of the end zone on a 4th-and-goal play from the 2-yard line.

First career TD @Geescottjr gets in on the action as No. 3 @OhioStateFB extends its lead even more. pic.twitter.com/9tDBMHtlOn
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 8, 2022

Fleming continues touchdown streak

Like Scott, Julian Fleming arrived in Columbus as a highly touted wide receiver prospect in the recruiting class of 2020. Also like Scott, Fleming’s Ohio State career got off to a much quieter start than expected in his first two seasons as a Buckeye. And also like Scott, Fleming caught one of Stroud’s six touchdown passes in East Lansing.

Fleming’s touchdown was of the big-play variety as he caught a deep ball from Stroud and went all the way to the end zone for a 51-yard score.

No. 3 @OhioStateFB's offense continues to operate like a video game. @CJ7STROUD @julian_040 pic.twitter.com/nxDqlrSoAQ
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 8, 2022

In Fleming’s case, his touchdown continued what has been a hot start to his season after he missed the first two games of the year with an injury. Fleming, who scored just one touchdown in his first two seasons as a Buckeye, has now caught five touchdown passes in his first four games of 2022, including at least one in all four games.

His 51-yard catch against Michigan State was the longest of his Ohio State career to date, surpassing the 36-yard touchdown catch he scored one week earlier against Rutgers.

Mangham “in good shape” after scary collision

The scariest moment of Saturday’s game came late in the first quarter when Michigan State safety Jaden Mangham made a high hit on Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson and took a shot to the head and neck area. Following the collision, Mangham was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field before being transported to a hospital for evaluation.

Fortunately, Mangham was able to return to Spartan Stadium before the end of the game and was seen walking off the field with his teammates after the Spartans’ 49-20 loss. Michigan State coach Mel Tucker said after the game that Mangham avoided serious injury.

“He was in the locker room with us just now with his teammates,” Tucker said. “He went to the hospital, they ran some tests, he was in good shape and he came back.”

If theres any good to come out of tonight for Michigan State, its freshman safety Jaden Mangham on the field for the second half and being able to walk off the field. pic.twitter.com/uBSr8DG6hs
— Ian Kress (@ian_kress) October 8, 2022

Both Henderson and Ryan Day went to check on Mangham before he was carted off the field, with Henderson going over to talk to Mangham after he was loaded onto the cart, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud also gave well wishes to Mangham during his postgame press conference.

“I hope No. 1 (Mangham) is OK, I prayed for him while I was out there,” Stroud said. “This is a crazy sport.”