Snap Counts: 70 Buckeyes See Action in Ohio State’s Season-Opening Win over Akron

A total of 70 Ohio State players saw action in the Buckeyes’ season-opening 52-6 win over the Zips. 27 Buckeyes played snaps on offense and 32 Ohio State players got in the game on defense while another 11 scarlet and gray warriors played on special teams only.

Austin Siereveld, who started the game in place of Donovan Jackson at left guard, was the only Buckeye to play every snap on either offense or defense as he remained in with the second-team offensive line. Each of Ohio State’s other starting offensive linemen, quarterback Will Howard and wide receivers Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka also topped 50 snaps, though, as the Buckeyes’ starters played into the fourth quarter after scoring only 17 points in the first half.

Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom led the way in defensive playing time as each of them played every defensive snap through Akron’s first possession of the fourth quarter. All 11 of Ohio State’s defensive starters played at least 30 of the Buckeyes’ 65 defensive snaps, as did backup linebacker Arvell Reese, who rotated with C.J. Hicks at Will linebacker as Styles moved over to Mike linebacker to fill in for Cody Simon, who missed the game due to injury along with Jackson.

Our first Snap Counts report of the season looking at how many snaps every Buckeye played and how Ohio State divided up playing time can be found below. Snap totals are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Quarterbacks

Will Howard: 56
Devin Brown: 10

Howard led nine drives in his first start as Ohio State’s quarterback, throwing passes on exactly half of his 56 snaps and completing 17 of them for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Brown took over for the Buckeyes’ final two possessions, completing just one of three passing attempts for six yards.

Running Backs

Quinshon Judkins: 30
TreVeyon Henderson: 24
James Peoples: 10
Sam Williams-Dixon: 3

While Henderson started the game, Judkins ended up playing the most snaps at running back as they split the workload for the first three quarters, with Judkins also playing on the opening drive of the fourth quarter. Judkins finished the game with 13 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown while Henderson had 65 rushing yards on just eight carries as well as two catches for 18 yards.

Peoples got work with the first-team offense for the final three plays of the third quarter and ran for a 4-yard touchdown on his first career carry on the last snap of the third quarter. He ended up with six carries for 30 yards as he and fellow freshman Williams-Dixon (who had one run for four yards) finished out the game with the second-team offense.

RELATED Freshman Tracker: Jeremiah Smith and James Peoples Score As 10 Freshmen Make Their Collegiate Debut Against Akron

Wide Receivers

Carnell Tate: 56
Emeka Egbuka: 50
Jeremiah Smith: 43
Brandon Inniss: 17
Bryson Rodgers: 10
Kojo Antwi: 9
Jayden Ballard: 7
David Adolph: Special teams only

Smith was in the starting lineup for the first game of his Buckeye career and emerged as an immediate star as he caught six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. He played only the third-most snaps among wide receivers, though, as Tate played every snap with the first-team offense while Egbuka played all but six.

Inniss also mixed in for occasional work with the first-team offense, including multiple plays on which the Buckeyes had all of their top four receivers on the field. Rodgers played one drive with the first-team offense to end the third quarter and made his first career catch on an out route for a 9-yard gain. Antwi and Ballard played all of their offensive snaps with the second-team offense in the fourth quarter. 

Tight Ends

Will Kacmarek: 20
Gee Scott Jr.: 19
Jelani Thurman: 18
Bennett Christian: 9
Patrick Gurd: 5

Ryan Day said in the week leading up to the opener that the Buckeyes planned to “roll the tight ends the best we can,” saying the coaches felt that “they all deserve to play.” Day and Keenan Bailey stayed true to his word as Scott (who started the game), Kacmarek, Thurman and Christian all saw action with the first-team offense, with none playing more than 20 snaps individually.

That makes it tough to suss out a clear depth chart at tight end right now. Kacmarek and Scott appear to be Ohio State’s top two players at the position, but Thurman also played multiple full drives with the starters against Akron. All of Christian’s snaps with the first-team offense came in multi-tight end formations, while he and Gurd split the snaps with the second-team offense in the fourth quarter.

Offensive Linemen

Austin Siereveld: 66
Josh Fryar: 62
Seth McLaughlin: 62
Josh Simmons: 62
Tegra Tshabola: 56
Carson Hinzman: 10
George Fitzpatrick: 4
Zen Michalski: 4
Luke Montgomery: 4
Joshua Padilla: Special teams only

Siereveld played every snap of the game on offense for Ohio State as he started at left guard in place of Jackson, who was held out of the opener while continuing to recover from a preseason injury, and stayed in the game after the rest of the starters came out.

Simmons, McLaughlin and Fryar each played all but four snaps as the starting offensive linemen remained in the game for six plays with Brown at quarterback before Michalski replaced Simmons at left tackle, Hinzman replaced McLaughlin at center and Fitzpatrick replaced Fryar at right tackle for Ohio State’s final four offensive snaps.

Hinzman also played one drive at right guard with the starting offensive line – the Buckeyes’ third possession of the game – but Tshabola, who made his first career start at RG, played the rest of the snaps with the starters. Montgomery finished out the game at right guard.

Defensive Ends

Jack Sawyer: 31
JT Tuimoloau: 30
Kenyatta Jackson: 22
Caden Curry: 16
Mitchell Melton: 15
Eddrick Houston: 11
Joshua Mickens: 8
Dominic Kirks: 2

Ohio State’s defensive end depth was on full display in the opener as Sawyer, Tuimoloau, Jackson, Curry and Melton all saw work with the first-team defense. All of them made their mark on the game as Tuimoloau recorded 1.5 sacks, Sawyer had four quarterback pressures, Curry forced a fumble (which Lathan Ransom returned for a touchdown) and Jackson and Melton combined for a sack.

All eight of Ohio State’s scholarship defensive ends saw action by the end of the game. Houston saw action on each of the Buckeyes’ final four defensive series and tipped two passes in his Ohio State debut, one of which was intercepted by Gabe Powers and returned for a 29-yard touchdown. Mickens and Kirks played their snaps on Akron’s final three possessions of the game.

Ohio State utilized three different Rushmen lineups over the course of the game to get more than two defensive ends on the field in third-down pass-rushing situations. The first put Sawyer and Curry at defensive tackle with Jackson and Melton at defensive end. On another, Sawyer moved inside to DT with Tuimoloau and Jackson at DE but Tyleik Williams remained in the game. In the fourth quarter, Larry Johnson deployed a Rushmen package consisting of Jackson and Curry at DT and Melton and Houston at DE on 3rd-and-11, that being the play that resulted in Jackson and Melton splitting a sack after a fantastic spin move by Jackson against Akron’s center.

Rushmen set with the backup defensive linemen.
Houston and Melton on the edges and curry/Kenyatta Jackson inside. Jackson and melton get home pic.twitter.com/2yHIiatUDA

— Brodie (@BrodieKnowsBall) September 1, 2024

Defensive Tackles

Tyleik Williams: 40
Ty Hamilton: 35
Kayden McDonald: 17
Hero Kanu: 9
Jason Moore: 7
Will Smith Jr.: 7
Tywone Malone: 4
Bryce Prater: 3
Eric Mensah: 2

Ohio State didn’t rotate as much at defensive tackle in the opener as it did at defensive end, with Williams and Hamilton each playing more than half of the Buckeyes’ 65 total defensive plays, but nine DTs still ended up playing by game’s end.

McDonald saw the most work among backup defensive tackles against Akron, mixing in for a few series at nose tackle with the starting defense. Kanu was the first backup to sub in for Williams at 3-technique. Malone was the third man in at nose tackle and Smith was the third man in at 3-technique, with both of them seeing their first action in the third quarter. Moore, Mensah and Prater – the only walk-on to play defensive snaps against Akron –played all of their snaps in the fourth quarter.

Linebackers

Sonny Styles: 55
Arvell Reese: 33
C.J. Hicks: 32
Payton Pierce: 5
Gabe Powers: 5
Garrett Stover: Special teams only
Joey Velazquez: Special teams only

With Cody Simon sidelined by an undisclosed injury, Styles – who’s in line to be the Buckeyes’ starting Will linebacker when Simon returns – took Simon’s place as Ohio State’s Mike linebacker and defensive signal-caller and played every snap of Akron’s first 10 possessions.

Hicks made his first career start at Will linebacker but rotated throughout the game with Reese, who ended up playing one more snap than Hicks. Reese also played one series at Mike linebacker alongside Hicks in the fourth quarter after Styles checked out of the game upon Ohio State taking a 45-6 lead.

Cornerbacks

Jordan Hancock: 54
Davison Igbinosun: 52
Denzel Burke: 49
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 19
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 12
Aaron Scott Jr.: 10
Dianté Griffin: Special teams only
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: Special teams only

Hancock played every snap at nickel of Ohio State’s first 10 defensive series against Akron except for one play on the Zips’ opening drive when he had to leave the game because his helmet popped off. Styles took Hancock’s place on that play; he also entered the game as a sixth defensive back for one 3rd-and-8 dime package, then finished out the game at nickel on Akron's final three possessions.

Burke and Igbinosun each played every snap of Akron’s first eight possessions before Mathews replaced each of them with the starting secondary for one drive. Scott made his Ohio State debut playing opposite Mathews as the Buckeyes’ outside cornerbacks for their final three defensive series.

Safeties

Caleb Downs: 55
Lathan Ransom: 55
Malik Hartford: 10
Jaylen McLain: 10
Brenten “Inky” Jones: Special teams only
Keenan Nelson Jr.: Special teams only

Downs and Ransom played every snap at safety through Akron’s first possession of the fourth quarter. Hartford and McClain finished out the game on Akron’s final three possessions with Hartford replacing Downs at free safety and McClain replacing Ransom at strong safety.

RELATED Three Stars of the Game: Jeremiah Smith, Lathan Ransom and JT Tuimoloau Earn Top Honors For Their Performances Against Akron

Field Goals/Extra Points

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 8
Joe McGuire (holder): 8
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 8
Zen Michalski (end): 8
Austin Siereveld (guard): 8
George Fitzpatrick (end): 8
Jelani Thurman (wing): 8
Will Kacmarek (wing): 7
Josh Simmons (tackle): 7
Tegra Tshabola (guard): 7
Josh Fryar (tackle): 7
Patrick Gurd (wing): 1
Bryce Prater (end): 1
Carson Hinzman (guard): 1
Luke Montgomery (end): 1

Fielding, who is now in his second year as the Buckeyes’ field goal kicker, converted his lone field goal attempt of the day (40 yards) and all seven of his extra point attempts in Ohio State’s first game of the season.

Kickoffs

Jayden Fielding (kicker): 9
Gabe Powers: 9
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: 9
Brenten “Inky” Jones: 9
Jaylen McClain: 9
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 7
Arvell Reese: 6
Patrick Gurd: 5
C.J. Hicks: 5
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 5
Denzel Burke: 5
Caden Curry: 4
Payton Pierce: 4
Keenan Nelson Jr.: 4
Joey Velazquez: 3
Kojo Antwi: 2
Dianté Griffin: 2
Garrett Stover: 2

Ohio State’s starting kickoff coverage unit around Fielding for the season opener consisted of Powers, Simpson-Hunt, Jones, McClain, Styles, Reese, Burke, Hicks, Mathews and Curry.

Griffin, the grandson of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, made his Ohio State debut on the same day his grandfather dotted the ‘i’ in Script Ohio as he joined the kickoff coverage unit for the Buckeyes’ final two kickoffs of the day.

Kickoff Returns

Jayden Ballard (returner): 3
Kojo Antwi: 3
Bennett Christian: 3
Malik Hartford: 3
Brandon Inniss: 3
Gabe Powers: 3
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 3
Jelani Thurman: 3
Joey Velazquez: 3
Arvell Reese: 2
Patrick Gurd: 1

Ballard made his debut as Ohio State’s kickoff returner, returning one of Akron’s three kickoffs for 23 yards. Styles lined up alongside Ballard as the secondary returner but did not field any kicks in the season opener.

Punts

Joe McGuire (punter): 3
John Ferlmann (long snapper): 3
Caden Curry: 3
Patrick Gurd: 3
C.J. Hicks: 3
Mitchell Melton: 3
Lathan Ransom: 3
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: 3
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 3
Caleb Downs: 2
Sonny Styles: 2
Brenten "Inky" Jones: 1
Gabe Powers: 1

While Nick McLarty had been named Ohio State’s starting punter nine days before the game, McGuire ended up handling punting duties against Akron after what Day described as a “much better week of practice” than McLarty. A redshirt freshman walk-on, McGuire averaged 44.7 yards per punt on his first three punts of his Ohio State career, none of which were returned by Akron.

Punt Blocks/Returns

Brandon Inniss (returner): 6
Gabe Powers: 6
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 6
David Adolph: 5
Bennett Christian: 5
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: 5
Jeremiah Smith: 5
Carnell Tate: 5
Arvell Reese: 4 
Payton Pierce: 3
Gee Scott Jr.: 3
Eddrick Houston: 1
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 1
Jaylen McClain: 1
Kayden McDonald: 1
Joshua Mickens: 1
Jason Moore: 1 
Aaron Scott Jr.: 1
Garrett Stover: 1

In his first game as Ohio State’s lead punt returner, Inniss had 60 punt return yards – the most any Buckeye has had in a game since Jalin Marshall in 2015 – as he returned four of Akron’s six punts, looking the part of the game-changer in that phase of the game that the Buckeyes have lacked for most of the last decade.

Field Goal Block

Caleb Downs: 2
Jordan Hancock: 2
Davison Igbinosun: 2
Lathan Ransom: 2
Sonny Styles: 2
Denzel Burke: 1
Ty Hamilton: 1
C.J. Hicks: 1
Kenyatta Jackson: 1
Tywone Malone: 1
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 1
Mitchell Melton: 1
Arvell Reese: 1
Jack Sawyer: 1
Will Smith Jr.: 1
JT Tuimoloau: 1
Tyleik Williams: 1

Ohio State’s kick-block team for each of Garrison Smith’s two field goals – both of which he converted for Akron’s only six points of the game – consisted of the players who were on the field for Ohio State on the previous defensive play.