Across The Shield: Ohio State Wide Receivers Historically Great in NFL Week 8

By Dan Hope on October 29, 2024 at 10:10 am
Terry McLaurin
Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
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Across The Shield is Eleven Warriors’ weekly recap of the best and most notable performances from former Ohio State players throughout the NFL.

A historic day for NFL Buckeye wideouts

Sunday was National Tight Ends Day in the NFL, but it might as well have been National Receivers from Ohio State Day.

All six wide receivers who played their college football at Ohio State that played in NFL games in Week 8 had at least 69 receiving yards on Sunday. The six of them combined for 598 receiving yards on 33 catches with two touchdowns.

The big day for Zone 6 alumni was headlined by Noah Brown, who was on the receiving end of what will likely go down as the NFL’s play of the year. Brown scored the game-winning touchdown in the Washington Commanders’ last-second win over the Chicago Bears as he was in the right place at the right time to catch Jayden Daniels’ 52-yard Hail Mary after it was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

Brown’s first touchdown of the season put the Commanders in front as the clock hit zeroes for an 18-15 win. In total, Brown caught three passes for 73 yards, his most productive game since he joined the Commanders, who picked him up before the start of the season after he was released by the Houston Texans.

Four other Ohio State wide receivers had 100-yard games in Week 8.

The leader in yardage among them – and the fourth-leading receiver in the entire NFL for Week 8 – was Brown’s Commanders teammate Terry McLaurin, who had five catches for 125 yards, including a 13-yard catch on the game’s second-to-last play that was crucial to setting up the game-winning Hail Mary.

McLaurin had one of the week’s longest receptions earlier in the game when he hauled in a deep ball from Daniels from a 61-yard gain.

Marvin Harrison Jr. was another star of Week 8, making six catches – the most he’s had so far in an NFL game – for 111 yards. Several of those catches were of the acrobatic variety, including a diving 22-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter and a pair of back-to-back grabs for 16 and 22 yards on the Cardinals’ next drive, helping lead Arizona to another touchdown in their comeback win against the Miami Dolphins. 

Garrett Wilson had his third 100-yard game in four weeks as he made five catches for 113 yards, including three receptions of 26 yards or more, in the New York Jets’ loss to the New England Patriots.

Chris Olave joined them in triple digits with his first 100-yard game of the season as he caught eight passes for 107 yards in the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba rounded out the highly productive day for wide receivers from Ohio State by leading the Seattle Seahawks with six catches for 69 yards in their loss to the Buffalo Bills.

It’s the first time four receivers who finished their college careers at Ohio State have all topped 100 receiving yards in the same week of NFL games.

Any of those four receivers – or Brown – would have been valid choices for this week’s Pro Buck of the Week award, but the nod for Ohio State’s top NFL performer of Week 8 goes to Harrison since he was the only one among them to both top 100 yards and score a touchdown. Harrison becomes the second two-time winner of Pro Buck of the Week honors this season, joining Nick Bosa.

Pro Bucks of the Week
Week Player Stats
1 Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins 10 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches, 4 yards
2 Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. 4 catches, 130 yards, 2 TD
3 Commanders WR Terry McLaurin 4 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD
4 49ers DE Nick Bosa 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR, 9 QB pressures
5 Seahawks LB Jerome Baker 14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
6 49ers DE Nick Bosa 4 tackles, 2 QB hits, 14 QB pressures
7 Bengals DE Sam Hubbard 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, 3 QB hits
8 Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. 6 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD

Another dominant game by Bosa

Speaking of Bosa, the former Ohio State defensive end had another dominant performance in the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

Late in the first quarter, Bosa forced Dak Prescott to throw an interception by hitting him in the process of throwing a deep ball.

Bosa sacked Prescott on the Cowboys’ next possession, bringing his sack total to 4.5 for the year.

Bosa was a difference-maker throughout the 49ers’ 30-24 win over the Cowboys as he recorded three total tackles and three quarterback hits among five total quarterback pressures over the course of the game.

Heyward makes Steelers history

No defensive player in the storied 91-year history of the Pittsburgh Steelers has played in more games wearing the black and gold than Cameron Heyward.

The former Ohio State defensive lineman, who is now in his 14th NFL season, played in his 202nd game with the Steelers – the team he’s spent his entire pro career with – in their Monday Night Football win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Heyward, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the Steelers in September with the vision of playing his entire career in Pittsburgh, broke the record of 201 game appearances by a Steelers defender that was held by Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Donnie Shell. Heyward now ranks fourth in team history for all-time game appearances among all players behind only Ben Roethlisberger (249), Mike Webster (220) and Hines Ward (217).

Heyward was productive on his milestone-setting night, tying his season-high with six total tackles while also recording two quarterback hits and a pass deflection in the Steelers’ 26-18 victory.

Baker goes to Nashville

Jerome Baker’s tenure with the Seattle Seahawks ended after less than half of a season as they sent the former Ohio State linebacker to the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday along with a fourth-round pick in exchange for linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was traded for the second time this year after previously being dealt to the Titans by the Los Angeles Rams.

Baker, who signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Seahawks this offseason after six years with the Miami Dolphins, recorded 37 tackles with a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups in just five games with Seattle. He was inactive for his first game with the Titans, who suffered a 52-14 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 8, but Titans coach Brian Callahan said Monday that Baker will be more involved in Week 9 after a full week of practice.

Quick Hits

  • C.J. Stroud completed 25 of 37 passing attempts for 285 yards and a touchdown in the Houston Texans’ 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts – and became a top-five passer in Texans history in the process, having already thrown for 6,056 yards just eight games into his second NFL season.
  • J.K. Dobbins ran for his fourth touchdown of the season on a 1-yard rush as part of a 17-carry, 57-yard outing in the Chargers’ 26-8 win over the Saints.
  • Ezekiel Elliott ran for his second touchdown of the season on a 1-yard rush as part of a 10-carry, 34-yard night in the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
  • DaVon Hamilton recorded a season-high seven tackles in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ loss to the Green Bay Packers.
  • Jalyn Holmes recorded the third sack of his NFL career in his second game with the Commanders, who signed him earlier this month after he was released by the New York Jets.
  • Pete Werner recorded a season-high nine tackles with two tackles for loss in the Saints’ loss to the Chargers, his first game back after missing three games with a hamstring injury.
  • Marshon Lattimore suffered a hamstring injury in the Saints’ loss and was unable to return to the game.
  • Denzel Ward left the Cleveland Browns’ win over the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion – the second he’s suffered this season and the sixth he’s suffered in his NFL career.
  • Justin Fields was inactive for the Steelers’ Monday night game against the Giants due to a hamstring injury.
  • The Philadelphia Eagles added Parris Campbell to their practice squad after releasing him from their active roster. He played in four games with the Eagles before his release, catching six passes for 30 yards and one touchdown.
  • The Chargers added Shaun Wade to their practice squad after releasing him from their active roster. He was only on the active roster for their Monday night game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7 and did not play in that game.
  • The Titans added Isaiah Prince to their practice squad. Prince had not been on an NFL roster since he was released by the Atlanta Falcons in September 2023.
  • Tyquan Lewis, who is currently on the Colts’ injured reserve due to an elbow injury, paid off a bet with Colts teammate DeForest Buckner by dressing up as the Oregon Duck.

Week 8 Stats

The following table, compiled by Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge, includes statistics for this week and the entire 2024 season for every Buckeye who has played in at least one game this season. (Note: The table only includes players who finished their college careers at Ohio State.)

Buckeyes Around the NFL
PLAYER POSITION TEAM WEEK 8 STATS SEASON STATS
JEROME BAKER LB TITANS Inactive 37 tackles, 1 sack (0 yards), 2 TFL, 1 QB hit, 2 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
VONN BELL S BENGALS 3 tackles 41 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 INT, 2 PD
JOEY BOSA DE CHARGERS Played at DE 9 tackles, 2 sacks (14 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits
NICK BOSA DE 49ERS 3 tackles, 1 sack (5 yards), 3 QB hits 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks (19.5 yards), 7 TFL, 12 QB hits, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
NOAH BROWN WR COMMANDERS 3 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD 17 catches, 258 yards, 1 TD
BARON BROWNING LB BRONCOS 1 tackle 6 tackles, 1 TFL
PARRIS CAMPBELL WR EAGLES Practice squad 6 catches, 30 yards, 1 TD
JONATHON COOPER LB BRONCOS 5 tackles, 1 sack (3 yards), 2 TFL, 1 QB hit 31 tackles, 5.5 sacks (27.5 yards), 6 TFL, 11 QB hits, 1 FF
TAYLOR DECKER OT LIONS Started at LT 7 starts at LT
J.K. DOBBINS RB CHARGERS 17 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD 112 carries, 535 yards, 4 TD; 14 catches, 76 yards
TOMMY EICHENBERG LB RAIDERS 1 tackle 7 tackles
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT RB COWBOYS 10 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch 4 yards 48 carries, 149 yards, 2 TD; 3 catches, 15 yards
LUKE FARRELL TE JAGUARS Started at TE 5 catches, 31 yards; 1 tackle
JUSTIN FIELDS QB STEELERS Inactive 106/160, 1,106 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT; 55 carries, 231 yards, 5 TD
JORDAN FULLER S PANTHERS Injured reserve (hamstring) 15 tackles
MIKE HALL JR. DT BROWNS 1 tackle, 1 QB hit 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit
DAVON HAMILTON DT JAGUARS 7 tackles 21 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 QB hit
JOHNATHAN HANKINS DT SEAHAWKS 1 tackle 21 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 QB hit
MALIK HARRISON LB RAVENS 3 tackles 12 tackles
ZACH HARRISON DL FALCONS 2 tackles 10 tackles
MARVIN HARRISON JR. WR CARDINALS 6 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD 26 catches, 411 yards, 5 TD
CAMERON HEYWARD DT STEELERS 6 tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 PD 33 tackles, 3 sacks (26 yards), 4 TFL, 12 QB hits, 2 PD
RONNIE HICKMAN S BROWNS Inactive 17 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FR
JALYN HOLMES DE COMMANDERS 1 tackle, 1 sack (5 yards) 6 tackles, 1 sack (5 yards), 2 TFL, 2 QB hits
MALIK HOOKER S COWBOYS 6 tackles 32 tackles, 2 PD
SAM HUBBARD DE BENGALS 5 tackles 33 tackles, 2 sacks (6 yards), 3 TFL, 6 QB hits, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF
JONAH JACKSON OG RAMS Injured reserve (shoulder) 1 start at C, 1 start at LG
PARIS JOHNSON JR. OL CARDINALS Started at LT 8 starts at LT
CAMERON JOHNSTON P STEELERS Injured reserve (knee) 2 punts, 51.5 average, 1 inside 20
DAWAND JONES OT BROWNS Started at LT 5 starts at RT, 1 start at LT, 7 games played
DRE'MONT JONES DE SEAHAWKS Started at DE 18 tackles, 3 sacks (27 yards), 5 TFL, 7 QB hits, 1 PD, 1 FF
MICHAEL JORDAN OG PATRIOTS Started at LG 7 starts at LG, 1 FR
MARSHON LATTIMORE CB SAINTS 2 tackles, 1 PD 30 tackles, 2 PD
TYQUAN LEWIS DT COLTS Injured reserve (elbow) 17 tackles, 1.5 sack (9.5 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits
TANNER McCALISTER S BRONCOS Practice squad 1 tackle
LIAM McCULLOUGH LS FALCONS Played at LS 8 games played
TERRY McLAURIN WR COMMANDERS 5 catches, 125 yards 40 catches, 579 yards, 4 TD; 2 carries, 2 yards
RAEKWON McMILLAN LB PATRIOTS 3 tackles 42 tackles, 1 QB hit
THAYER MUNFORD OT RAIDERS Played at OT 3 starts at RT, 5 games played
JOSH MYERS C PACKERS Started at C 8 starts at C
JEFF OKUDAH CB TEXANS Injured reserve (hip) Played on special teams
CHRIS OLAVE WR SAINTS 8 catches, 107 yards 31 catches, 387 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 7 yards; 2 tackles
NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE OL TITANS Inactive 4 starts at RT
JEREMY RUCKERT TE JETS 3 catches, 14 yards; 1 tackle 9 catches, 46 yards; 1 tackle
CURTIS SAMUEL WR BILLS Inactive 12 catches, 92 yards; 3 carries, 6 yards
TREY SERMON RB COLTS 1 catch, 14 yards 45 carries, 127 yards, 2 TD; 9 catches, 59 yards
KENDALL SHEFFIELD CB JETS Practice squad 2 tackles
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA WR SEAHAWKS 6 catches, 69 yards 43 catches, 388 yards, 1 TD; 1/1 passing, 35 yards
CADE STOVER TE TEXANS 2 catches, 19 yards 7 catches, 85 yards
C.J. STROUD QB TEXANS 25/37, 285 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, -10 yards 177/266, 1,948 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT; 23 carries, 84 yards
NICK VANNETT TE TITANS Started at TE 8 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD
SHAUN WADE CB CHARGERS Practice squad Has not played
DENZEL WARD CB BROWNS 1 tackle 15 tackles, 1 QB hit, 12 PD
PETE WERNER LB SAINTS 9 tackles, 2 TFL 30 tackles, 2 TFL
GARRETT WILSON WR JETS 5 catches, 113 yards 51 catches, 573 yards, 3 TD
LUKE WYPLER C BROWNS Injured reserve (ankle) Has not played
CHASE YOUNG DE SAINTS 2 tackles, 0.5 sack (2.5 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QB hits, 1 PD 17 tackles, 2.0 sacks (11.5 yards), 4 TFL, 12 QB hits, 1 PD
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Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin (right) shakes hands with Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day (left) following the completion of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State defeated Penn State 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-Imagn Images
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