On the road – in Madison, Wisconsin – at night is not the ideal situation to play true freshmen. Like last week against Penn State, Ryan Day allowed only six freshmen to get playing time in Ohio State's 24-10 victory over Wisconsin.
Carnell Tate was the only freshman to play on offense while Kayden McDonald was the only freshman to play on defense.
Tate took 41 offensive snaps and caught one pass for 14 yards. He has now caught at least one pass in four consecutive games and in seven of Ohio State’s eight games this season for a total of 12 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown.
He was also Kyle McCord's well-blanketed target on the interception in the end zone.
After misfiring on a screen pass to RB Chip Trayanum (was low), Ohio State QB Kyle McCord completes a 14-yard dart to WR Carnell Tate.
— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) October 29, 2023
Another up-and-down start from McCord pic.twitter.com/chAe8BIfjU
Tate was also on two special teams units as he was on the field for both of Ohio State’s kickoff returns and three of its six punt returns.
McDonald was deployed on the defensive line for the third straight game, playing three snaps.
Malik Hartford, Brandon Inniss, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Arvell Reese each played only on special teams. Like Tate, Hartford, Inniss and Reese were all on Ohio State’s kickoff return team against Wisconsin. Hartford and Mathews participated on the kickoff coverage and punt return teams.
Reese saw his first action since Week 2 against Youngstown State, when he was injured on Ohio State’s first kickoff of the game.
A trip to Piscataway, New Jersey, to play Rutgers and the fighting Schianos at noon is on deck. Last year, 14 freshmen saw action against the Scarlet Knights. If history holds true, we should see plenty of young faces next weekend.
Through eight games, 11 of Ohio State's 21 scholarship true freshmen have seen the field with five – Hartford, Inniss, Mathews, Luke Montgomery and Tate – now ineligible for a redshirt as they have played in five or more games. McDonald is in line to shed his redshirt if he plays in one more game.
| NAME | POS | DEBUT | WISCONSIN STATS | GP | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARNELL TATE | WR | Indiana | 1 catch, 14 yards | 8 | 12 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD |
| MALIK HARTFORD | S | Indiana | Special teams | 7 | 5 tackles, 1 PBU |
| BRANDON INNISS | WR | Indiana | Special teams | 7 | 1 catch, 58 yards, 1 TD |
| JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | CB | Indiana | Special teams | 6 | 7 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 TD |
| KAYDEN McDONALD | DT | WKU | 3 defensive snaps | 4 | 1 tackle, 0.5 TFL, 1 PBU |
| ARVELL REESE | LB | Indiana | Special teams | 3 | Special teams |
| LUKE MONTGOMERY | OL | Indiana | 6 | 26 offensive snaps | |
| NOAH ROGERS | WR | Indiana | 3 | 11 offensive snaps | |
| JELANI THURMAN | TE | WKU | 2 | 6 offensive snaps | |
| JASON MOORE | DL | WKU | 1 | 3 defensive snaps | |
| BRYSON RODGERS | WR | Purdue | 1 | 3 offensive snaps | |
| JAYDEN BONSU | S | ||||
| NIGEL GLOVER | LB | ||||
| CEDRICK HAWKINS | S | ||||
| LINCOLN KIENHOLZ | QB | ||||
| JOSHUA MICKENS | DE | ||||
| JOSHUA PADILLA | OL | ||||
| AUSTIN SIEREVELD | OL | ||||
| CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | CB | ||||
| WILL SMITH JR. | DT | ||||
| MILES WALKER | OT |
(Note: The table does not include freshman walk-ons who have not yet played.)
- #3 Ohio State 24, Wisconsin 10
- • OSU Earns 10th Straight Win Over Wisconsin
- • McCord "Fine" After Injury Scare vs. UW
- • Henderson Provides Needed Spark
- • Missed Opportunities Plague Offense
- • Ohio State Postgame • Wisconsin Postgame • Photos
- • Notebook • Social Reax • Five Things
