Snap Counts: TreVeyon Henderson, Carnell Tate, Xavier Johnson and Mike Hall See Increased Playing Time at Wisconsin

The Buckeyes’ 14-point margin of victory over Wisconsin was the largest lead they held all night, which meant Ohio State needed its core players to play four full quarters for the second week in a row. 

Offensively, eight Buckeyes played more than 60 snaps: quarterback Kyle McCord, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Cade Stover and all five starting offensive linemen. Defensively, eight Buckeyes played more than 50 snaps: defensive end JT Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, cornerbacks Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock and safety Josh Proctor.

Several other Buckeyes played their highest snap counts of the season to date against Wisconsin, including running back TreVeyon Henderson, who played more than 50 snaps for the first time all season in his return from a three-game absence due to injury. Carnell Tate and Xavier Johnson both played the largest snap counts of their Ohio State careers to date as Emeka Egbuka missed the entire game and Julian Fleming missed part of the game due to injury. Mike Hall also played a career-high snap count at defensive tackle even though Ty Hamilton started the game in front of him at nose tackle.

In total, 53 Ohio State players saw action against Wisconsin, one more than against Penn State. Sixteen Buckeyes played snaps on offense and 22 Buckeyes got in the game on defense – with Caden Curry playing on both sides of the ball – while another 16 Buckeyes played only on special teams.

Henderson, starting cornerback Denzel Burke, backup defensive tackles Hero Kanu and Tywone Malone, freshman defender Arvell Reese and backup nickelback Cameron Martinez were all in action against Wisconsin after not playing at all against the Nittany Lions one week before. Buckeyes who played against Penn State who did not play at Wisconsin were quarterback Devin Brown, running back Miyan Williams, offensive tackle Luke Montgomery, cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. and safety Ja’Had Carter; Brown, Williams and Carter were all unavailable for the trip to Madison due to injuries.

Our full report on how many snaps every Buckeye played against Wisconsin is below. Pro Football Focus’ premium statistics were used to compile offensive and defensive snap counts (with adjustments made for any discrepancies found in film review) while special teams snap counts were compiled by Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge. All snap counts should be considered unofficial as they were not provided by Ohio State.

Quarterbacks

Kyle McCord: 69

Despite suffering an apparent ankle injury in the third quarter that left him limping for the rest of the game and on his way out of the stadium, McCord was on the field for every offensive snap against Wisconsin. It was the first time in three weeks that McCord played every snap of the game at quarterback for Ohio State; Devin Brown, who was utilized in a red zone package against Purdue and Penn State, was unavailable against the Badgers due to an injury he suffered while running the ball in that package against the Nittany Lions.

Running Backs

TreVeyon Henderson: 52
Chip Trayanum: 19

After missing the Maryland, Purdue and Penn State games with an undisclosed injury that he said stemmed from “a cheap shot” he took early in the Notre Dame game, Henderson returned to the starting lineup against Wisconsin and played more snaps than he had in any previous game this season as he was on the field for all but 17 of Ohio State’s offensive plays in Madison. He touched the ball on over half of those plays and turned them into 207 yards of offense as he ran the ball 24 times for 162 yards and a touchdown and also had four catches for 45 combined yards.

RELATED TreVeyon Henderson Provides Needed Spark for Ohio State’s Offense in Return to Action Against Wisconsin

Trayanum, who had started each of Ohio State’s previous three games at running back with Henderson sidelined, was the only other running back to see action against Wisconsin. He touched the ball on just under half of his 19 plays in the game, running six times for 13 yards and catching two passes for seven yards.

Fullbacks

Caden Curry: 1

Curry played just one snap in his situational role as a fullback against Wisconsin. That play resulted in Henderson being tackled for a loss of yardage on a 3rd-and-1 run in the first quarter, and Curry did not return to the field on offense for the remainder of the game.

Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison Jr.: 64
Carnell Tate: 41
Xavier Johnson: 40
Julian Fleming: 38
David Adolph: Special teams only
Jayden Ballard: Special teams only
Brandon Inniss: Special teams only

Johnson made his third consecutive start in place of Emeka Egbuka, who was held out of action for another week while continuing to recover from the ankle injury he suffered against Maryland. Both Johnson and Tate ended up playing more than 40 offensive snaps for the first time in a game as Buckeyes as Fleming was sidelined for the entire second quarter after suffering an apparent shoulder injury while attempting to catch a pass late in the first quarter.

Fleming was able to return to action on Ohio State’s opening drive of the second half. When Fleming was out of the game, Johnson lined up in the slot while Tate took Fleming’s place outside in three-receiver sets. When Fleming was in the game, Johnson and Tate rotated at slot receiver, with Harrison – who played all but five offensive snaps against Wisconsin – also occasionally moving inside to run routes out of the slot.

Tight Ends

Cade Stover: 61
Gee Scott Jr.: 27
Patrick Gurd: 2

Stover was on the field for all but eight of Ohio State’s offensive plays against Wisconsin, but Scott also played his third-highest snap count of the year as the Buckeyes mixed two-tight end sets into their offensive gameplan over the course of the game.

Gurd made his fourth appearance of the season on offense as he joined Scott on the field in the Buckeyes’ victory formation for their two kneeldowns to end the game.

Offensive Linemen

Josh Simmons: 69
Donovan Jackson: 69
Carson Hinzman: 69
Matt Jones: 69
Josh Fryar: 69
Jakob James: Special teams only
Zen Michalski: Special teams only
Tegra Tshabola: Special teams only
Enokk Vimahi: Special teams only

All five starting offensive linemen were on the field for all of Ohio State’s offensive snaps for the sixth time in eight games this season. They were the only five offensive linemen to see any playing time on offense against Wisconsin; Luke Montgomery, who played at least one snap as a sixth offensive lineman in six of Ohio State’s first seven games this season, did not get in the game against the Badgers.

Defensive Ends

JT Tuimoloau: 57
Jack Sawyer: 43
Caden Curry: 12
Mitchell Melton: 11
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 9

Despite suffering a brief injury scare in the final minute of the first half when he was hit in the side by Sawyer’s helmet, Tuimoloau was on the field for all but nine of Ohio State’s defensive plays against Wisconsin. 

As has been the case all year, Tuimoloau and Sawyer played the majority of snaps among defensive ends while Jackson and Curry were the first defensive ends off the bench. Melton played 11 snaps on Ohio State’s final two defensive series of the game, lining up as a standup rusher on most of them, to play double-digit defensive snaps for just the second time this season.

Defensive Tackles

Tyleik Williams: 55
Mike Hall: 45
Ty Hamilton: 13
Tywone Malone: 5
Hero Kanu: 4
Kayden McDonald: 3
Jaden McKenzie: 3

Williams played more than 50 snaps for the fifth time in Ohio State’s last six games as he was on the field for all but 11 of the Buckeyes’ defensive plays against the Badgers. 

Hamilton made his fifth start of the season at nose tackle but ended up playing his lowest snap count of the year as Hall played most of the game alongside Williams to top 40 snaps in a game for the first time in his Buckeye career.

McKenzie rotated into the game for three snaps on Wisconsin’s final drive of the first half. Kanu substituted into the game three different times for four total plays in the fourth quarter, while Malone and McDonald saw their only action of the night on Wisconsin’s final possession of the game.

RELATED Players of the Game: TreVeyon Henderson and Tyleik Williams Earn Top Honors After Ohio State's Win Over Wisconsin

Linebackers

Tommy Eichenberg: 66
Steele Chambers: 51
Cody Simon: 15
Reid Carrico: Special teams only
C.J. Hicks: Special teams only
Gabe Powers: Special teams only
Arvell Reese: Special teams only

Eichenberg played upwards of 65 snaps for the fourth time in Ohio State’s last five games as he was on the field for all of the Buckeyes’ 66 defensive plays against Wisconsin as their starting Mike linebacker.

Simon continued to rotate with Chambers at Will linebacker against Wisconsin but got on the field for only 15 defensive snaps as the Buckeyes relied primarily on Chambers, who started as he has in every game this year, to play most of the game in Camp Randall Stadium.

Cornerbacks

Denzel Burke: 66
Davison Igbinosun: 66
Jordan Hancock: 65
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: Special teams only

Burke returned to action after missing the Penn State game and played all 66 of Ohio State’s defensive snaps, as did fellow starting cornerback Igbinosun. Hancock, who started in place of Burke at cornerback against Penn State, started at nickel against Wisconsin and was on the field for every play except one that he had to leave the field for after his helmet came off.

RELATED Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Notebook: Four Buckeye Starters Battle Injuries, Marvin Harrison Jr. Continues Building Heisman Case and Defense Makes A Key Goal-Line Stand

Safeties

Josh Proctor: 59
Lathan Ransom: 41
Sonny Styles: 31
Cameron Martinez: 6
Malik Hartford: Special teams only

With Hancock taking over full-time nickel duties against Wisconsin, Styles mixed in at both adjuster and bandit against Wisconsin. He substituted in for Proctor on seven plays and Ransom on two plays in the first half, then finished out the game playing in place of Ransom after Ransom suffered a non-contact leg injury early in the fourth quarter that ended his night prematurely.

Martinez, who had not played in any of Ohio State’s previous four games against Notre Dame, Maryland, Purdue and Penn State, returned to action against Wisconsin, taking Hancock’s place at nickel for one play while also joining him on the field for a handful of plays as a sixth defensive back in a dime package.

Field Goals/Extra Points

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 4
Jesse Mirco (holder): 4
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 4
Enokk Vimahi (wing): 4
Jakob James (end): 4
Josh Simmons (tackle): 4
Donovan Jackson (guard): 4
Tegra Tshabola (guard): 4
Josh Fryar (tackle): 4
Zen Michalski (end): 4
Cade Stover (wing): 4

Ohio State made no changes to its placekicking unit against Wisconsin. Fielding made his only field goal attempt of the game, a 27-yarder in the first quarter, and all three of his extra-point attempts.

Kickoffs

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 5
Denzel Burke: 5
Reid Carrico: 5
Caden Curry: 5
Xavier Johnson: 5
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 5
Gabe Powers: 5
Josh Proctor: 5
Cody Simon: 5
Chip Trayanum: 5
Malik Hartford: 4
Sonny Styles: 1

Burke returned to the kickoff coverage unit against Wisconsin, replacing Lorenzo Styles Jr., who did not play against the Badgers as Ohio State looks to preserve his redshirt by playing him in only four games this season. Styles was on the field for Ohio State’s first kickoff but was replaced by Hartford on the kickoff team for the remainder of the night.

Kickoff Returns

Xavier Johnson (returner): 2
David Adolph: 2
Caden Curry: 2
Patrick Gurd: 2
Malik Hartford: 2
Brandon Inniss: 2
Arvell Reese: 2
Cody Simon: 2
Carnell Tate: 2
Chip Trayanum: 2
Steele Chambers: 1
Julian Fleming: 1

Hartford and Reese joined the kickoff return unit against Wisconsin, with Reese returning to action for the first time since he was injured in kickoff coverage against Youngstown State. They replaced Lorenzo Styles Jr. and C.J. Hicks on the return team from the Penn State game.

Fleming was on the field for Wisconsin’s opening kickoff of the game but was replaced by Chambers for the Badgers’ only other kickoff of the game, which came in the second half after Fleming spent time out of the game with his shoulder injury.

Punts

Jesse Mirco (punter): 4
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 4 
Tommy Eichenberg (upback): 4
Cody Simon (upback): 4
Gee Scott Jr. (guard): 4
Sonny Styles (guard): 4
Xavier Johnson (tackle): 4
Chip Trayanum (tackle): 4
Cade Stover (wing): 4
Jayden Ballard (gunner): 4
Josh Proctor (gunner): 3
Julian Fleming (gunner): 1

Ohio State’s only change to its punting unit against Wisconsin came with Proctor replacing Fleming after Mirco’s first punt of the night. That first punt was returned 35 yards by Wisconsin’s Chimere Dike, but each of his other three punts were fair caught inside the 11-yard line.

Punt Blocks/Returns

Jayden Ballard (returner): 6
Patrick Gurd: 4
Jordan Hancock: 4
Malik Hartford: 4
C.J. Hicks: 4
Davison Igbinosun: 4
Mitchell Melton: 4
Lathan Ransom: 4
Arvell Reese: 4
David Adolph: 3
Caden Curry: 3
Josh Proctor: 3
Carnell Tate: 3
Denzel Burke: 2
Tommy Eichenberg: 2
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 2
JT Tuimoloau: 2
Steele Chambers: 1
Mike Hall: 1
Ty Hamilton: 1
Hero Kanu: 1
Gabe Powers: 1
Cody Simon: 1
Sonny Styles: 1
Tyleik Williams: 1

Ballard handled punt return duties for the third game in a row in place of Emeka Egbuka, returning one of Wisconsin’s six punts for six yards. Gurd, Hancock, Hartford, Hicks, Igbinosun, Melton, Ransom, Reese, Adolph and Tate made up the rest of Ohio State’s primary punt block unit against Wisconsin, with Mathews, Curry, Proctor and Powers also seeing action with that unit and Ohio State keeping its defense on the field for two of Wisconsin’s three second-half punts.

Field Goal/Extra Point Block

Denzel Burke: 3
Tommy Eichenberg: 3
Davison Igbinosun: 3
Josh Proctor: 3
Lathan Ransom: 3
Sonny Styles: 3
JT Tuimoloau: 3
Tyleik Williams: 3
Steele Chambers: 2
Ty Hamilton: 2
Jack Sawyer: 2
Mike Hall: 1
Hero Kanu: 1
Cody Simon: 1

Kanu substituted into the game in place of Sawyer on Wisconsin’s first half-ending field goal, while Styles substituted into the game in place of Jordan Hancock on all three of Nathianel Vakos’ kicks – a 54-yard field goal he missed wide left in the first quarter, his 19-yard made field goal at the end of the second quarter and his lone extra point of the night in the third quarter. The rest of Ohio State’s field goal block team consisted of the players who were on the field for the Buckeyes’ previous defensive play.