Two Ohio State players received Pro Football Focus grades above 90 in the same game for the first time this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, the two Buckeyes with those stellar grades in the shutout win over Purdue were on the defensive side of the ball. Two of Ohio State’s skill-position stars on offense, meanwhile, received grades above 80.
| ELITE | GOOD | ABOVE AVG. | AVG. | BELOW AVG. | POOR | VERY POOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90-100 | 80-89 | 70-79 | 60-69 | 50-59 | 40-49 | Below 40 |
While we all have our own opinions on who Ohio State’s best and worst players against the Boilermakers, we compiled the Pro Football Focus grades for every player from the Purdue game below. We start by highlighting the Buckeyes who received the five best grades and the five worst grades, excluding those who played fewer than 10 snaps.
The Top Five
1. DE JT Tuimoloau (91.7)
Tuimoloau earned a grade of 93.3 from PFF in rush defense, which was the best in the Big Ten and second-best in the nation. The senior forced a fumble, broke up a pass and for the seventh consecutive game, Tuimoloau recorded a tackle for loss. For those efforts, he earned the highest overall game grade for an Ohio State defensive player this season.
: @JT_Tuimoloau pic.twitter.com/AUaubFCeBn
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 10, 2024
2. S Lathan Ransom (90.1)
With an overall defensive grade of 90.1, Ransom was last week's top-rated safety in the Big Ten. The Tucson, Arizona native isn't a one-week wonder. He's been ranked in Ohio State's top five three times this season and his pass-rush grade of 94.4 and overall season grade of 90.8 are the highest of any safety with at least 40 snaps this season by PFF.
Lathan Ransom comes up with the interception for Ohio State! pic.twitter.com/Piq7v9h6kI
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 9, 2024
3. WR Jeremiah Smith (80.6)
Smith had game-highs with 87 yards receiving yards, six catches and a touchdown in the win over the Boilermakers. With that outing, he is now Ohio State's record holder for most receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a freshman. His PFF grade of 80.6 was the highest among all Big Ten receivers in Week 11 of the NCAA schedule.
4. QB Will Howard (80.4)
Completing 21 of his 26 passes, Howard ended his day against Purdue completing 80.8 percent of his passes, earning him a passing grade of 90.2, which was fifth-best in the nation and tops in the Big Ten.
Howard's five games with a completion percentage of 80 or higher are the most ever for an Ohio State quarterback in a season. The previous record of three was held by C.J. Stroud (2022), Justin Fields (2020), and Dwayne Haskins (2018).
5. RB TreVeyon Henderson (78.7)
For the third time this season – and the second straight week – Henderson lands in the coveted top five. He gained 85 yards on six carries, earning him a running grade of 79.1 and an overall grade of 78.7; both of those grades were best in the Big Ten.
| GAME | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | DE Caden Curry (83.9) | DT Tyleik Williams (81.8) | DE Jack Sawyer (81.2) | CB Denzel Burke (78.5) | S Lathan Ransom (77.8) |
| WMU | RB Quinshon Judkins (92.6) | QB Devin Brown (89.1) | LB Cody Simon (86.3) | DE Jack Sawyer (85.2) | DT Ty Hamilton (83.2) |
| Marshall | G Donovan Jackson (86.6) | OT George Fitzpatrick (86.3) | RB TreVeyon Henderson (85.3) | OT Zen Michalski (84.5) | RB Quinshon Judkins (79.7) |
| MSU | TE Bennett Christian (84.6) | WR Jeremiah Smith (80.0) | S Caleb Downs (79.6) | CB Jordan Hancock (79.1) | WR Emeka Egbuka (76.8) |
| Iowa | DT Ty Hamilton (91.3) | DE Jack Sawyer (89.3) | DT Tyleik Williams (86.6) | WR Emeka Egbuka (76.3)* | C Seth McLaughlin (76.3)* |
| Oregon | S Lathan Ransom (78.0) | QB Will Howard (75.2) | WR Emeka Egbuka (74.5) | DE JT Tuimoloau (73.8) | S Caleb Downs (73.2) |
| Nebraska | WR Carnell Tate (80.7) | OT Josh Fryar (77.7) | CB Jordan Hancock (76.5) | TE Bennett Christian (75.0) | G Donovan Jackson (74.5) |
| PSU | CB Davison Igbinosun (78.0) | RB TreVeyon Henderson (77.9) | LB Cody Simon (76.9) | DE JT Tuimoloau (74.6) | QB Will Howard (74.3) |
| Purdue | DE JT Tuimoloau (91.7) | S Lathan Ransom (90.1) | WR Jeremiah Smith (80.6) | QB Will Howard (80.4) | RB TreVeyon Henderson (78.7) |
| *Egbuka and McLaughlin tied for 4th | |||||
The Bottom Five
For the second time this season, the five lowest-graded Buckeyes earned a grade below 50.
1. WR Brandon Inniss (29.7)
Through the nine games played this season, Inniss' grade of 29.7 is the lowest of any Buckeye who was on the field for at least 10 snaps. His grade of 29.7 was also the lowest of any receiver in the country last week.
2. CB Lorenzo Styles Jr. (41.6)
The lowest-graded defensive player in the Big Ten with at least two snaps played last week was Styles Jr. This is the second time for the Ohio State legacy player to be in the bottom five this season.
3. CB Aaron Scott Jr. (44.4)
Scott Jr. scored 43.2 in pass coverage, just behind Styles Jr. (36.7) for the second-worst on the team against Purdue. This is Scott Jr.'s debut in the bottom five.
4. TE Gee Scott Jr. (44.9)
PFF must have something against Gee Scott Jr. as this is his fifth time making the bottom five, the most appearances among all Ohio State players.
PFF might have a thing against players with Jr. at the end of their names as Scott Jr. is the third Buckeye with that suffix – and the second with that last name – in this week's bottom five.
5. DT Tywone Malone (49.9)
Like Inniss, Malone makes his season debut in the bottom five. The Ole Miss transfer was on the field for 16 defensive snaps but did not record a tackle against Purdue.
| GAME | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | QB Devin Brown (52.3) | TE Jelani Thurman (53.1) | LB C.J. Hicks (54.0) | TE Gee Scott Jr. (54.5) | WR Brandon Inniss (54.8) |
| WMU | LB C.J. Hicks (45.5) | DE Caden Curry (54.5) | TE Gee Scott Jr. (55.7) | G Tegra Tshabola (56.2) | CB Denzel Burke (56.5) |
| Marshall | TE Gee Scott Jr. (44.8) | WR Bryson Rodgers (49.3) | OT Josh Fryar (52.6) | TE Jelani Thurman (54.5) | DE Caden Curry (55.2) |
| MSU | G Carson Hinzman (45.2) | QB Julian Sayin (46.6) | CB Davison Igbinosun (47.2) | TE Will Kacmarek (47.4) | OT Josh Fryar (48.7) |
| Iowa | TE Gee Scott Jr. (52.5) | LB Arvell Reese (55.1) | WR Bryson Rodgers (55.9) | DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (56.5) | TE Bennett Christian (58.6) |
| Oregon | OT Zen Michalski (57.2) | OT Josh Simmons (38.3) | G Tegra Tshabola (41.7) | CB Denzel Burke (41.8) | OT Josh Fryar (52.0) |
| Nebraska | LB Arvell Reese (41.4) | CB Lorenzo Styles Jr. (43.2) | DT Kayden McDonald (49.0) | G Tegra Tshabola (53.9) | G Austin Siereveld (55.2) |
| PSU | TE Bennett Christian (30.4) | LT Donovan Jackson (39.4) | LB Arvell Reese (44.1) | WR Emeka Egbuka (51.5) | WR Carnell Tate (52.8) |
| Purdue | WR Brandon Inniss (29.7) | CB Lorenzo Styles Jr. (41.6) | CB Aaron Scott Jr. (44.4) | TE Gee Scott Jr. (44.9) | DT Tywone Malone (49.9) |
Offensive Ratings By Position
Quarterbacks
Will Howard: 80.6 (34 snaps)
Julian Sayin: 59.3 (8 snaps)
Devin Brown: 55.1 (6 snaps)
Running Backs
TreVeyon Henderson: 78.7 (27 snaps)
Quinshon Judkins: 65.1 (27 snaps)
James Peoples: 64.9 (12 snaps)
Sam Williams-Dixon: 57.1 (3 snaps)
Wide Receivers
Jeremiah Smith: 80.6 (34 snaps)
Carnell Tate: 70.2 (43 snaps)
Mylan Graham: 60.0 (2 snaps)
Brennan Schramm: 60.0 (2 snaps)
Damarion Witten: 60.0 (1 snap)
David Adolph: 54.5 (14 snaps)
Emeka Egbuka: 53.1 (35 snaps)
Bryson Rodgers: 52.1 (24 snaps)
Brandon Inniss: 29.7 (23 snaps)
Tight Ends
Jelani Thurman: 70.2 (18 snaps)
Bennett Christian: 62.7 (16 snaps)
Patrick Gurd: 59.6 (9 snaps)
Max LeBlanc: 56.7 (5 snaps)
Gee Scott Jr.: 44.9 (35 snaps)
Offensive Line
Seth McLaughlin: 70.5 (52 snaps)
Josh Fryar: 69.8 (52 snaps)
Carson Hinzman: 67.1 (50 snaps)
Ian Moore: 64.2 (14 snaps)
Tegra Tshabola: 62.2 (52 snaps)
Austin Siereveld: 60.7 (13 snaps)
Luke Montgomery: 59.9 (14 snaps)
George Fitzpatrick: 59.8 (16 snaps)
Joshua Padilla: 59.1 (14 snaps)
Donovan Jackson: 57.1 (50 snaps)
| QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DE | DT | LB | CB | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Howard | TreVeyon Henderson | Jeremiah Smith | Jelani Thurman | Seth McLaughlin | JT Tuimoloau | Kayden McDonald | Payton Pierce | Jordan Hancock | Lathan Ransom |
| 80.4 | 78.7 | 80.6 | 70.2 | 70.5 | 91.7 | 67.3 | 66.5 | 75.5 | 90.1 |
Defensive Ratings by Position
Defensive Ends
JT Tuimoloau: 91.7 (25 snaps)
Joshua Mickens: 73.5 (7 snaps)
Jack Sawyer: 73.1 (25 snaps)
Dominic Kirks: 68.3 (2 snaps)
Caden Curry: 65.1 (35 snaps)
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 62.0 (26 snaps)
Mitchell Melton: 56.8 (4 snaps)
Defensive Tackles
Will Smith Jr.: 76.3 (4 snaps)
Kayden McDonald: 67.3 (21 snaps)
Hero Kanu: 61.7 (11 snaps)
Jason Moore: 59.2 (4 snaps)
Ty Hamilton: 55.8 (28 snaps)
Eddrick Houston: 53.0 (27 snaps)
Tywone Malone Jr.: 49.9 (16 snaps)
Linebackers
Payton Pierce: 66.5 (11 snaps)
Sonny Styles: 61.1 (37 snaps)
Garrett Stover: 60.8 (1 snap)
Arvell Reese: 59.7 (22 snaps)
Cody Simon: 59.4 (35 snaps)
Gabe Powers: 58.7 (9 snaps)
C.J. Hicks: 50.0 (16 snaps)
Cornerbacks
Jordan Hancock: 75.5 (35 snaps)
Davison Igbinosun: 63.3 (32 snaps)
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 62.0 (40 snaps)
Denzel Burke: 61.2 (27 snaps)
Bryce West: 54.4 (6 snaps)
Aaron Scott Jr.: 44.4 (15 snaps)
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 41.6 (24 snaps)
Safeties
Lathan Ransom: 90.1 (38 snaps)
Malik Hartford: 73.0 (17 snaps)
Caleb Downs: 63.3 (43 snaps)
Jaylen McClain: 62.6 (17 snaps)
