Snap Counts: Devin Brown Plays Slightly More Than Kyle McCord As 56 Ohio State Players See Action Against Youngstown State

While Ohio State was in full control for most of the game, finishing the day with a 35-7 win, the Buckeyes never completely pulled their starters on either side of the ball. 

Ohio State had only 10 possessions on offense (with one of those being just one play to run out the clock) due to a combination of college football’s new clock rules and Youngstown State possessing the ball for 34 of the game’s 60 minutes, and the Buckeyes kept their starting offensive line in for the entire game while Kyle McCord and Devin Brown split reps at quarterback. Defensively, the Buckeyes played a bit deeper into their bench in the second half, though Lathan Ransom played every snap at safety for the second week in a row.

Overall, Ohio State actually played two fewer players against Youngstown State than it did in its season opener against Indiana as only 56 total Buckeyes saw action – 20 on offense, 26 on defense and 10 on special teams only. By comparison, 63 Buckeyes saw playing time against Arkansas State and 73 Buckeyes saw the field against Toledo in Ohio State’s non-Notre Dame non-conference games last season. 

Defensive end Omari Abor, linebacker Gabe Powers, cornerback Jyaire Brown and safety Ja’Had Carter were the only Buckeyes that didn’t play against Indiana who played against Youngstown State, while running back Dallan Hayden, wide receivers David Adolph and Noah Rogers, tight end Patrick Gurd, cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. and safety Josh Proctor saw no action against the Penguins after playing against the Hoosiers.

Our full report on how many snaps every Buckeye played against Youngstown State can be found below. Pro Football Focus’ premium statistics were used to compile offensive and defensive snap counts while special teams snap counts were charted by Eleven Warriors’ Matt Gutridge. All snap counts are unofficial as they were not provided by Ohio State.

Quarterbacks

Devin Brown: 35
Kyle McCord: 30

Ryan Day said Brown would play more against Youngstown State after playing only six snaps against Indiana, and Day fulfilled that promise. Although Brown played only four drives compared to six for McCord, the backup quarterback ended up taking five more snaps than McCord as two of his drives lasted 13 plays, the longest of the day for Ohio State’s offense.

That said, McCord started the game, was Ohio State’s quarterback for six of the Buckeyes’ first seven possessions and was far more efficient passing the ball, throwing for 258 yards and three touchdowns on 20 passing attempts compared to 101 yards and zero touchdowns on 13 attempts by Brown. As a result, there’s a strong case to be made for McCord for taking all the snaps at quarterback in Ohio State’s next game – or at least all of the snaps with the first-team offense.

Running Backs

TreVeyon Henderson: 26
Chip Trayanum: 25
Miyan Williams: 14

Ohio State split carries between three running backs for the second game in a row to begin the season, with Henderson starting and playing the most snaps and Trayanum playing the second-most snaps among running backs just as they did against Indiana. Williams, who didn’t enter the game until Ohio State’s fifth possession, played only the third-most snaps among Ohio State RBs for a second consecutive game.

Trayanum lined up at fullback for only one play against Youngstown State – leading Williams to a touchdown run just as he did twice against Indiana, but picking up a holding penalty in the process that nullified the play – after playing six snaps as a fullback/tight end against Indiana.

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Wide Receivers

Emeka Egbuka: 56
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 54
Julian Fleming: 41
Carnell Tate: 12
Xavier Johnson: 10
Jayden Ballard: 2
Brandon Inniss: Special teams only

While Ohio State could have opted to give Egbuka and Harrison a light day of work after taking a 28-7 lead into halftime, the Buckeyes’ star wide receivers continued playing all the way into the fourth quarter, giving Brown the opportunity to throw to Ohio State’s top pass-catchers as he saw extended work in the second half. Egbuka was on the field for all but nine of Ohio State’s offensive plays while Harrison was in the lineup for all but 11.

Fleming also played a majority of the Buckeyes’ offensive snaps against Youngstown State. Tate mixed in for a dozen snaps at outside receiver, seeing most of his playing time in the second half. Johnson, who played only three snaps against Indiana, mixed in more frequently against YSU, rotating in for nine snaps at wide receiver – mostly in place of Egbuka in the slot – as well as one snap at running back, on which he gained six yards on a pass out of the backfield, on the game’s opening drive.

Ballard, who did not see the field on offense against Indiana, saw his first action at wide receiver in the fourth quarter against Youngstown State.

Tight Ends

Cade Stover: 41
Joe Royer: 23
Gee Scott Jr.: 20

After leaning on Stover to play 56 of 70 offensive snaps against Indiana, Ohio State lightened its starting tight end’s workload a bit in the home opener. Scott saw more action as a solo tight end against Youngstown State after playing primarily in two-tight end sets against Indiana, but Royer ended up playing the second-most snaps of any tight end against the Penguins even though Scott was the second tight end to enter the game.

Offensive Linemen

Josh Simmons: 65
Donovan Jackson: 65
Carson Hinzman: 65
Matt Jones: 65
Josh Fryar: 65
Luke Montgomery: 1
Jakob James: Special teams only
Zen Michalski: Special teams only
Tegra Tshabola: Special teams only

Ohio State’s five starting offensive linemen – Simmons, Jackson, Hinzman, Jones and Fryar – have now been on the field for all 135 of the Buckeyes’ offensive snaps (including plays that were nullified by penalties) through the first two games of the season. Montgomery joined them on the field for one 1st-and-goal snap as a sixth offensive lineman after playing four snaps in that same capacity against Indiana.

Defensive Ends

JT Tuimoloau: 43
Jack Sawyer: 35
Caden Curry: 16
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 16
Mitchell Melton: 6
Omari Abor: 4

Tuimoloau rarely left the field in the first three quarters against Youngstown State, playing 43 of Ohio State’s first 46 defensive snaps before checking out for the fourth quarter. Sawyer saw a similar workload as he was on the field for 35 of Ohio State’s first 43 defensive plays of the game.

Curry and Jackson played an identical number of snaps for the second week in a row as both of them mixed in for occasional work with the first-team defense at defensive end while Curry reprised his role as a pass-rushing defensive tackle in the Buckeyes’ third-down Rushmen package. Melton and Abor played their only snaps of the game on Youngstown State’s final possession, with Abor returning to the field just one month after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed injury.

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Defensive Tackles

Tyleik Williams: 35
Mike Hall: 26
Ty Hamilton: 26
Jaden McKenzie: 11
Hero Kanu: 10
Tywone Malone: 7

Although Hall and Hamilton were the starters against Youngstown State, Williams played the most snaps among defensive tackles for the second game in a row – and made the most of them, recording five tackles with a tackle for loss – as the Buckeyes’ top three defensive tackles continued to rotate with one another frequently.

McKenzie mixed in for double-digit snaps for the second game in a row, once again seeing most of his action in the second half. Malone saw playing time on each of YSU’s final two possessions while Kanu played the entirety of Youngstown State’s 10-play final drive.

Tyleik Williams played the most snaps among Ohio State defensive tackles for the second game in a row to begin the season.

Linebackers

Steele Chambers: 43
Tommy Eichenberg: 43
C.J. Hicks: 16
Cody Simon: 16
Reid Carrico: Special teams only
Gabe Powers: Special teams only
Arvell Reese: Special teams only

Jim Knowles continued to lean entirely on Chambers and Eichenberg to play every snap at linebacker on Ohio State’s first eight defensive series against Youngstown State. Hicks replaced Chambers at Will linebacker and Simon replaced Eichenberg at Mike linebacker for the Buckeyes’ final two defensive series of the game.

Cornerbacks

Davison Igbinosun: 49
Denzel Burke: 42
Jordan Hancock: 21
Jyaire Brown: 11
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 10

Igbinosun started and played the most snaps among cornerbacks for the second game in a row as he was on the field for every play of Ohio State’s first nine defensive series. Burke was on the field for every play except one, with Brown taking his place on the field after Burke had to leave the game for a play because his helmet came off, until Ohio State’s final two defensive series against the Penguins.

Hancock played 15 snaps as a slot cornerback against Youngstown State, taking Sonny Styles’ place on the field at nickel for 14 plays and also joining him on the field for one play in a dime package, before playing one series as an outside cornerback in place of Burke. Brown and Mathews were the cornerbacks for Ohio State’s final defensive series of the game, with Mathews playing the first 10 snaps of his Buckeye career and recording a fourth-down pass breakup on the Buckeyes’ final defensive play of the game.

Safeties

Lathan Ransom: 59
Ja’Had Carter: 47
Sonny Styles: 31
Cameron Martinez: 14
Malik Hartford: 12

Ransom was the only Buckeye defender to play every defensive snap for the second game in a row as he manned the strong safety position for all 59 of Ohio State’s defensive plays against Youngstown State.

With Josh Proctor held out due to injury, Hartford started at free safety in just the second game of his Ohio State career. After the Buckeyes gave up a touchdown on Youngstown State’s opening drive, however, Carter replaced Hartford at the adjuster spot and manned the position for the remainder of the contest in his Ohio State debut.

Styles, who played all but six defensive snaps against Indiana, played just over half of Ohio State’s defensive plays against Youngstown State. With the Penguins running a more traditional spread offense in contrast to the option offense Indiana ran in Week 1, Styles was subbed out of the game more frequently – especially in third-down passing situations – in favor of Martinez or Hancock. Martinez was the first player to sub in for Styles, but Hancock would end up playing one more snap in the slot than Martinez after Martinez gave up a 36-yard catch to Youngstown State’s Max Tomczak on the Penguins’ first drive.

Extra Points

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 5
Jesse Mirco (holder): 5
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 5
Joe Royer (wing): 5
Jakob James (end): 5
Josh Simmons (tackle): 5
Donovan Jackson (guard): 5
Tegra Tshabola (guard): 5
Josh Fryar (tackle): 5
Zen Michalski (end): 5
Cade Stover (wing): 5

Ohio State utilized the same 11 players for its five extra points against Youngstown State as it did for its three field goals and two extra points against Indiana. Fielding converted all five of his kicks for the second game in a row to remain perfect on the season, though he did not attempt any field goals in Week 2.

Kickoffs

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 6
Reid Carrico: 6
Caden Curry: 6
Xavier Johnson: 6
Cody Simon: 6
Ja’Had Carter: 5
Davison Igbinosun: 5
Gabe Powers: 5
Sonny Styles: 5
Chip Trayanum: 5
Denzel Burke: 4
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 2
Carnell Tate: 2
Jayden Ballard: 1
C.J. Hicks: 1
Arvell Reese: 1

Carter joined the kickoff coverage unit in his Ohio State debut, replacing Josh Proctor in that role, too. Igbinosun also joined the starting kickoff unit against Youngstown State as the Buckeyes elected not to play Lorenzo Styles Jr. – a possible indicator that Ohio State wants to leave open the option of redshirting Styles this season.

Reese started on the kickoff coverage unit for the second game in a row but did not return to the game after he was injured on a collision on the Buckeyes’ first kickoff of the game. Powers, who did not make the travel roster for the Indiana game, saw his first playing time of the season as he replaced Reese on the kickoff unit for the remainder of the game.

Kickoff Returns

Xavier Johnson (returner): 2
Caden Curry: 2
Julian Fleming: 2
Jordan Hancock: 2
C.J. Hicks: 2
Brandon Inniss: 2
Joe Royer: 2
Gee Scott Jr.: 2
Cody Simon: 2
Carnell Tate: 2
Chip Trayanum: 2

Inniss took the place of Lorenzo Styles Jr. as a blocker on Ohio State’s kickoff return unit against Youngstown State. The rest of the return team for Youngstown State’s two kickoffs featured the same Buckeyes who started on that unit against Indiana.

Punts

Jesse Mirco (punter): 3
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 3
Tommy Eichenberg (upback): 3
Cody Simon (upback): 3
Gee Scott Jr. (guard): 3
Sonny Styles (guard): 3
Xavier Johnson (tackle): 3
Chip Trayanum (tackle): 3
Cade Stover (wing): 3
Julian Fleming (gunner): 3
Jayden Ballard (gunner): 3

Ballard took Proctor’s place as a punt gunner against Youngstown State. The rest of the punt team for Mirco’s three punts against the Penguins was the same as the unit that started the game against Indiana.

Punt Blocks/Returns

Emeka Egbuka (returner): 6
Ja’Had Carter: 6
Lathan Ransom: 6
Jordan Hancock: 5
C.J. Hicks: 5
Cody Simon: 5
Malik Hartford: 4
Xavier Johnson: 4
Gee Scott Jr.: 4
Carnell Tate: 4
Davison Igbinosun: 3
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 3
Mike Hall Jr.: 2
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 2
Denzel Burke: 1
Steele Chambers: 1
Caden Curry: 1
Tommy Eichenberg: 1
Jaden McKenzie: 1
JT Tuimoloau: 1
Tyleik Williams: 1

Carter also joined the punt return unit in his first game as a Buckeye, joining Ransom and Egbuka as Buckeyes who were on the field for all six of Youngstown State’s punts. Hancock, Hicks, Simon, Hartford, Johnson, Scott, Tate and Mathews made up the rest of Ohio State’s primary punt block/return unit against Youngstown State, with the Buckeyes keeping their defense on the field to play punt safe for two punts.

Extra Point Block

Denzel Burke: 1
Steele Chambers: 1
Tommy Eichenberg: 1
Mike Hall: 1
Malik Hartford: 1
Davison Igbinosun: 1
Lathan Ransom: 1
Jack Sawyer: 1
Sonny Styles: 1
JT Tuimoloau: 1
Tyleik Williams: 1

Youngstown State’s only extra point came after its opening drive, which meant Ohio State had its starting defenders on the field (except for Williams in place of Ty Hamilton). The Penguins did not attempt any field goals against the Buckeyes.