Freshman Tracker: Dallan Hayden Scores A Hat Trick of Touchdowns As Seven First-Year Buckeyes Play at Maryland

For the second straight road game against an unranked opponent, Ohio State had difficulties shaking free from a heavy underdog. On Saturday, the weather wasn't to blame for the 43-30 victory against Maryland. Due to the competitiveness of the game, only seven of the 13 freshmen that traveled to College Park saw playing time: Jyaire Brown, Caden Curry, Jayden Fielding, Dallan Hayden, C.J. Hicks, Kye Stokes and Sonny Styles.

Eight scholarship freshmen were not on the travel roster: Omari Abor, Caleb Burton, Kyion Grayes, Avery Henry, Carson Hinzman, Kenyatta Jackson, Hero Kanu and Gabe Powers. Hinzman made the trip to Northwestern, but did not travel to SECU Stadium.

Hat trick for Hayden

Say. His. Name. Dallan Hayden, Dallan Hayden, Dallan Hayden. The Man from Memphis arguably saved Ohio State's season. With the running game stuck in neutral – 13 attempts for 28 yards in the first half – Hayden put the offense in gear by hitting the nitro button in the second half. 

What a half it was.

Hayden hit holes with decisiveness, power and speed. He saw the lanes and racked up 143 yards on 26 carries for three touchdowns in the last 30 minutes of play. Not since 2002, when Maurice Clarett tallied three scores in the first half against Indiana, has a freshman rushed for a trio of touchdowns in a half.

The Buckeyes needed every inch of Hayden's 143 second-half rushing yards. Without the spark Hayden provided, Ohio State might have been entering The Game with its fourth road loss to an unranked opponent since 2016.

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This isn't an anomaly. 

When given the chance, Hayden has flashed his ability. The alumnus of Christian Brothers High School became the Buckeyes’ first true freshman to have back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since J.K. Dobbins hit the century mark in wins against Michigan and Wisconsin in 2017.

Hayden has a special blend of quickness, vision and strength, qualities fans have become used to seeing in Ohio State running backs over the years. His style has dashes of Michael Wiley, Ezekiel Elliott and Dobbins. 

The question now is will Day trust the freshman in what some consider the most important game yet for the fourth-year coach?

Dallan Hayden is good. Like, really good. pic.twitter.com/HY0AfRa05e

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 19, 2022

Dallan Hayden is (and will be) special. pic.twitter.com/nMtfvMSjl7

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 19, 2022

The last time Dallan Hayden played on ABC, his dad Aaron had to remind people his son's name isn't Dallas. After his performance against Maryland, everybody knows his name.

The Game

With a Big Ten East title and a berth to the Big Ten Championship Game on the line, there’s a good chance the freshmen who played against the Terrapins will be the only ones who see the field against Michigan. Unless the contest with the Wolverines gets out of hand, Ohio State will stick with the players it trusts most as it looks for revenge against its rivals.

Rest of the class

Jyaire Brown was in the secondary for 18 snaps and made one tackle.

Caden Curry was on the field for every kickoff (9), kickoff return (6) and PAT/FG attempt (8). Following Noah Ruggles' final field goal, Curry tackled Jacob Copeland at the 16-yard line on the ensuing kickoff. The defensive end also participated in two of the Buckeyes’ five punt returns including the game-changing blocked punt by Lathan Ransom.

Jayden Fielding had nine kickoffs with four being touchbacks.

C.J. Hicks was on every kickoff return, all but one kickoff and two of Ohio State’s five punt returns, including the block. Hicks also tackled Copeland at the 14-yard line on a kickoff return.

Sonny Styles saw action on every kickoff, kickoff return and PAT/FG block team. Like Curry and Hicks, Styles was on the field for Ransom's blocked punt.

Kye Stokes entered the game for four kickoffs. (Correction: This article previously omitted Stokes from the list of freshmen who played.)

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 11th game of the 2022 season, 18 of Ohio State's 21 scholarship true freshmen have seen the field, with eight – Kojo Antwi, Jyaire Brown, Kaleb Brown, Curry, Hayden, Hicks, Stokes and Styles – now ineligible for a redshirt as they have appeared in five or more games. Fielding, who is not on scholarship, has also burned his redshirt by playing in all 11 games.

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

• #2 Ohio State 43, Maryland 30
• Nov. 19, 2022 • SECU Stadium • College Park, MD
• • Buckeyes Battle to Beat Maryland, 43-30
• • Just Hand it to Hayden
• • Ransom, Eichenberg Battle Through Injuries
• • Welcome to Hate Week
• • Ohio State Postgame • Photos • Notebook • Quotebook • Debriefing
• • Maryland Postgame • 3 Key Stats • Five Things • Social Reactions