Lathan Ransom, Quinshon Judkins and Jack Sawyer Are PFF’s Highest-Graded Buckeyes at the Midway Point of the Season

Before we get into the individual grades for each player, let’s break down how many players fit into each category on Pro Football Focus’ grading scale:

Good (80-89)

For the season, PFF has nine Buckeyes rated as good with eight of the nine playing at least 150 snaps through six games. The only player with a grade above 80 who has played fewer snaps is linebacker Gabe Powers. Two players with regular playing time flirting with an elite rating are Lathan Ransom and Quinshon Judkins.

Above Average (70-79)

20 Buckeyes currently have season grades in the 70s and Cody Simon, TreVeyon Henderson, Donovan Jackson, JT Tuimoloau and Ty Hamilton are within striking distance of climbing into the 80s. On the other end, Jordan Hancock and Sonny Styles are a subpar game away from falling into the 60s.

Average (60-69)

To this point, 74 Ohio State players have received an offensive or defensive overall grade by PFF. Of the graded Buckeyes, 57 have a grade of at least 60, with 28 of the 57 landing in the “average” category with scores between 60.0 and 69.9. That group includes starting cornerbacks Davison Igbinosun and Denzel Burke.

Below Average

Tegra Tshabola (59.1) and Gee Scott Jr. (56.7) are the only Buckeyes who have played more than 150 snaps with grades below 60. Reserve defensive linemen Eric Mensah and Bryce Prater, who have a combined 12 snaps played, are the only Ohio State players with season grades below 50.

The Top Five

The five Buckeyes who have PFF's highest grades and have played at least 60 snaps through six games:

1. S Lathan Ransom (88.6)

Ransom is Ohio State's best player according to PFF's grades. He's also the site's top-rated safety on pass-rushing plays with a grade of 93.9.

2. RB Quinshon Judkins (87.3)

The Ole Miss transfer is the runaway leader on Ohio State's offensive side of the ball. Judkins is currently behind Michigan's Kalel Mullings (89.4) and Iowa's Kaleb Johnson (89.0) in PFF's grades for the Big Ten's best running backs. 

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3. DE Jack Sawyer (86.4)

Sawyer is graded as the second-best defensive end in the Big Ten and lands at No. 4 among defensive ends with at least 200 snaps this season. Sawyer is the only Ohio State defensive player to rank among PFF’s five highest-graded Buckeyes in three games this season. 

4. WR Emeka Egbuka (85.6)

Like Sawyer, Egbuka is the only Ohio State offensive player to make the top-five list in three games this season. PFF ranks the Seattle native as the Big Ten's best receiver. Egbuka is No. 6 in the country among receivers who have been targeted at least 40 times.

5. S Caleb Downs (85.0)

Jim Knowles' defensive philosophy relies heavily on quality safety play. With Downs and Ransom making the top five Ohio State players at the midpoint of the season, that’s something for Ohio State’s defensive coordinator to build on.

The Bottom Five

The five Buckeyes who have PFF's lowest grades and have played at least 60 snaps through six games:

1. LB C.J. Hicks (52.4)

Hicks’ playing time has decreased as the season has progressed as he was on the field for a total of 12 snaps against Iowa and Oregon. He received a season-low grade of 35.6 in the loss to the Ducks. 

2. C Carson Hinzman (54.9)

Hinzman has a team-low grade of 45.1 in pass blocking for the season.

3. DT Hero Kanu (55.9)

With a tackle grade of 28.6, Kanu ranks second-to-last among Ohio State's defensive players. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has the lowest tackling grade on the team at 27.9. 

4. TE Gee Scott Jr. (56.7)

Scott has graded below 56 in three of the six games this season. His lowest score was 44.8 against Marshall. 

5. RG Tegra Tshabola (59.1)

Tshabola received a season-low grade of 41.7 in the loss to the Ducks. He’s PFF’s second-lowest-graded pass blocker and run blocker among Ohio State's offensive linemen, ranking ahead of only Hinzman in both categories. 

Offensive Ratings By Position

Quarterbacks

Will Howard: 81.1 (337 snaps)
Devin Brown: 75.7 (53 snaps)
Julian Sayin: 68.3 (16 snaps)
Lincoln Kienholz: 60.4 (5 snaps)

Running Backs

Quinshon Judkins: 87.3 (161 snaps)
TreVeyon Henderson: 78.6 (176 snaps)
James Peoples: 77.4 (69 snaps)
Sam Williams-Dixon: 67.3 (6 snaps)
Mason Maggs: 57.5 (1 snap)

Wide Receivers

Emeka Egbuka: 85.6 (285 snaps)
Jeremiah Smith: 82.4 (280 snaps)
David Adolph: 66.9 (14 snaps)
Carnell Tate: 65.4 (242 snap)
Brandon Inniss: 64.2 (111 snaps)
Kojo Antwi: 61.0 (30 snaps)
Mylan Graham: 60.2 (4 snaps)
Joop Mitchell: 60.0 (2 snaps)
Brennen Schramm: 60.0 (1 snap)
Bryson Rodgers: 58.8 (114 snaps)
Jayden Ballard: 57.9 (56 snaps)

Tight Ends

Bennett Christian: 77.2 (80 snaps)
Jace Middleton: 69.0 (4 snaps)
Max LeBlanc: 65.7 (5 snaps)
Will Kacmarek: 63.8 (117 snaps)
Patrick Gurd: 57.9 (24 snaps)
Gee Scott Jr.: 56.7 (188 snaps)
Jelani Thurman: 53.1 (85 snaps)

Offensive Line

Donovan Jackson: 78.0 (242 snaps)
George Fitzpatrick: 77.6 (54 snaps)
Seth McLaughlin: 74.2 (346 snaps)
Josh Simmons: 71.7 (306 snaps)
Ian Moore: 68.0 (5 snaps)
Austin Siereveld: 67.6 (221 snaps)
Luke Montgomery: 66.4 (56 snaps)
Zen Michalski: 64.8 (105 snaps)
Josh Fryar: 60.4 (352 snaps)
Tegra Tshabola: 59.1 (285 snaps)
Carson Hinzman: 54.9 (71 snaps)
Joshua Padilla: 54.0 (12 snaps)

Defensive Ratings by Position

Defensive Ends

Jack Sawyer: 86.4 (229 snaps)
Eddrick Houston: 79.5 (20 snaps)
JT Tuimoloau: 77.9 (217 snaps)
Mitchell Melton: 72.8 (80 snaps)
Caden Curry: 68.5 (89 snaps)
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 65.1 (128 snaps)
Joshua Mickens: 62.3 (14 snaps)
Dominic Kirks: 61.1 (5 snaps)

Defensive Tackles

Tyleik Williams: 83.9 (151 snaps)
Ty Hamilton: 77.7 (200 snaps)
Kayden McDonald: 70.9 (87 snaps)
Tywone Malone: 59.1 (57 snaps)
Jason Moore: 56.8 (47 snaps)
Hero Kanu: 55.9 (63 snaps)
Will Smith Jr.: 50.6 (17 snaps)
Eric Mensah: 43.6 (7 snaps)
Bryce Prater: 39.7 (5 snaps)

Linebackers

Gabe Powers: 88.5 (19 snaps)
Cody Simon: 79.3 (214 snaps)
Arvell Reese: 72.8 (135 snaps)
Sonny Styles: 71.4 (295 snaps)
Joey Velazquez: 60.4 (1 snap)
Payton Pierce: 57.6 (20 snaps)
C.J. Hicks: 52.4 (93 snaps)

Cornerbacks

Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 74.1 (91 snaps)
Jordan Hancock: 70.2 (242 snaps)
Aaron Scott Jr.: 69.8 (47 snaps)
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 63.2 (45 snaps)
Davison Igbinosun: 62.8 (295 snaps)
Calvin Simpson-Hunt: 62.6 (6 snaps)
Denzel Burke: 61.7 (265 snaps)

Safeties

Lathan Ransom: 88.6 (304 snaps)
Caleb Downs: 85.0 (307 snaps)
Jaylen McClain: 75.4 (47 snaps)
Malik Hartford: 65.5 (47 snaps)