After each Ohio State win in 2023, we will select one offensive Buckeye and one defensive Buckeye with distinguished honors.
Following Ohio State's 37-3 win over Minnesota in Week 12, running back TreVeyon Henderson is the Eleven Warriors offensive player of the game, and defensive end Jack Sawyer is the defensive player of the game.
Congratulations to the Eleven Warriors players of the game for Ohio State's 37-3 win over Minnesota.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 19, 2023
TreVeyon Henderson: 15 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs, 2 catches, 26 yards
Jack Sawyer: 6 tackles, 3 solo, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble pic.twitter.com/rn4gSHra45
Henderson recorded 18 touches for 172 yards and two touchdowns vs. Minnesota. It was the third time in four contests that the 5-foot-10, 212-pound running back reached 100 yards of total offense (and then some), as he collected 207 yards and 208 yards in Ohio State's wins over Wisconsin and Rutgers. Henderson had 15 touches for 77 yards and one score vs. Michigan State.
TreVeyon Henderson is a home-run hitter. pic.twitter.com/CSLpSmMmNy
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 18, 2023
Across eight appearances in 2023, Henderson has recorded 118 carries for 794 yards and 10 touchdowns and has added 16 catches for 210 yards as a pass-catcher. The Hopewell, Virginia, native missed Ohio State's wins over Maryland, Purdue and then-No. 6 Penn State due to an undisclosed ailment he suffered in the Buckeyes' Week 4 matchup with then-No. 9 Notre Dame.
“He’s a home-run hitter, and the more opportunities he gets, he gets to the second level,” Day said of Henderson in his postgame press conference. “He’s dangerous.”
Sawyer showed his five-star talent vs. Minnesota, collecting six tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit.
The Jack Sawyer Game pic.twitter.com/2Lxa4VENP0
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 18, 2023
The Pickerington, Ohio, native had already been a quiet standout for Ohio State’s defense this season, especially in recent weeks. Before the Minnesota game, Pro Football Focus ranked Sawyer as the second-best edge defender in the Big Ten this season behind Maryland’s Donnell Brown. While Sawyer entered Saturday’s home finale with only 1.5 sacks for the season, he had generated 22 quarterback pressures while consistently setting the edge in the run game.
This season, Sawyer has embraced his role in Ohio State’s defense as a person who often does the dirty work. However, the Minnesota game showed he’s more than capable of taking over a game, too.
“Jack's been on a great streak. He's really embraced his role. He's consistent. He understands the scheme. He knows when he can take chances,” Jim Knowles said after the game. “He's been really effective in the running game, which I think sometimes goes unnoticed. But he's just a guy we count on, and he's a stalwart for the defense. ... Jack's always been a great team guy, but I see just a steely-eyed focus. He's a nice young man, he really is, but he's turned into a cold-blooded gentleman, which is what we like.”
Henderson and Sawyer are the 11th pair of Buckeyes to be named Eleven Warriors players of the game in 2023. We will keep a running chart of all the recipients as the season continues, with the individual awards to be posted on our social media accounts and the website each Sunday after an Ohio State win.
| Game | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| @ INDIANA |
CADE STOVER, TE 5 catches, 98 yards, 19.6 YPC |
SONNY STYLES, S 4 tackles, 3 solo, 1.5 TFL |
| YOUNGSTOWN STATE |
MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR 7 catches, 160 yards, 2 TD |
TOMMY EICHENBERG, LB 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF |
| WESTERN KENTUCKY |
KYLE MCCORD, QB 19-23, 318 yards, 3 TD |
TYLEIK WILLIAMS, DT 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 TD |
| @ NOTRE DAME |
CHIP TRAYANUM, RB 6 carries, 13 yards, 1 catch, 12 yards, 1 TD |
LATHAN RANSOM, S 13 tackles, 7 solo, 1 QBH |
| MARYLAND |
MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR 8 catches, 163 yards, 1 TD |
JOSH PROCTOR, S 7 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 TD |
| @ PURDUE |
DALLAN HAYDEN, RB 11 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD |
TYLEIK WILLIAMS, DT 3 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 PBU |
| PENN STATE |
MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR 11 catches, 162 yards, 1 TD |
JT TUIMOLOAU, DE 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QBH, 1 PBU |
| @ WISCONSIN |
TREVEYON HENDERSON, RB 24 carries, 162 yards, 1 TD, 4 catches, 45 yards |
TYLEIK WILLIAMS, DT 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU |
| @ RUTGERS |
TREVEYON HENDERSON, RB 22 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD, 5 catches, 80 yards |
JORDAN HANCOCK, DB 5 tackles, 1 solo, 1 INT, 1 TD |
| MICHIGAN STATE |
MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR 7 catches, 149 yards, 2 TD, 1 carry, 19 yards, 1 TD |
DAVISON IGBINOSUN, CB 5 tackles, 3 solo, 2 PBU |
| MINNESOTA |
TREVEYON HENDERSON, RB 15 carries, 146 yards, 2 TD, 2 catches, 26 yards |
JACK SAWYER, DE 6 tackles, 3 solo, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 QBH |
