Combining a late November game and conference and playoff implications with Ohio State's third top-five matchup of the season, there weren't many opportunities for Ohio State's freshmen to see the field against Indiana. Still, seven true freshmen saw action in the Buckeyes' 38-15 blowout victory over the Hoosiers.
Jeremiah Smith had a quiet day for his standards. He finished the day with three catches for 34 yards and one carry for 12 yards.
In the second quarter, Smith could have changed his stat line and more importantly, the game. He almost came down with a Smith-esque touchdown grab, but the timing of his jump was slightly off and he couldn't come down with a spectacular one-handed grab.
If Jeremiah Smith wouldve caught this pic.twitter.com/BMEUtNfLUg
— The Jump Sports (@TheJumpSports) November 23, 2024
In the third quarter, Smith showed off his incredible body control as he came down with this 13-yard toe-tapper on 3rd-and-7.
Jeremiah Smith made this catch look way easier than it was pic.twitter.com/5vLCEpjqlu
— CleBuckeye (@CleBuckeye23) November 23, 2024
Smith already owns the freshman record for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns and is now 101 yards away from joining a select group of Ohio State players to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
| SEASON | PLAYER | REC | YARDS | TD | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | David Boston | 74 | 1,330 | 13 | 18.0 |
| 1995 | Terry Glenn | 53 | 1,244 | 17 | 23.5 |
| 2021 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 69 | 1,132 | 6 | 16.4 |
| 2023 | Marvin Harrison Jr. | 62 | 1,093 | 13 | 17.6 |
| 2022 | Marvin Harrison Jr. | 65 | 1,037 | 11 | 16.0 |
| 1986 | Cris Carter | 58 | 991 | 9 | 17.1 |
| 2021 | Garrett Wilson | 60 | 939 | 11 | 15.7 |
| 2022 | Emeka Egbuka | 57 | 914 | 8 | 16.0 |
| 2024 | Jeremiah Smith | 52 | 899 | 9 | 17.3 |
| 2002 | Michael Jenkins | 47 | 833 | 5 | 17.7 |
| 2018 | Parris Campbell | 66 | 711 | 9 | 10.8 |
Stat Book Stuffers
Jaylen McClain was in on one defensive snap against Indiana. Along with Smith, they are the only Ohio State freshmen to play in every game this season. McClain was also on the kickoff, kickoff return and punt return units against the Hoosiers. He made a key block on Indiana's Aiden Fisher to spring Caleb Downs on his 79-yard punt return touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 21-7 early in the third quarter. Not only did McClain seal off Fisher at the 31-yard line but he also picked up the pace to escort Downs into the end zone.
Caleb Downs scores Ohio State's first punt return touchdown since Jalin Marshall against Indiana in 2014.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) November 23, 2024
Clean pickup off the bounce
Clean spin move
Clean blocks
Incredible stuff.pic.twitter.com/4HDXRKLY1Z
Eddrick Houston led all Buckeye freshmen with 10 defensive snaps played against Indiana. Payton Pierce was on the kickoff, kickoff coverage and punt return teams, while Leroy Roker III, Bryce West and Garrett Stover all saw action on the kickoff coverage team.
West or Stover would burn their redshirts if either of them plays against Michigan.
Under the NCAA's redshirt rules, a player can appear in up to four games during the regular season – plus play in any postseason games – and still count it as his redshirt year. Ten games into the season, 19 Ohio State freshmen have played in at least one game, with six freshmen – Houston, McClain, James Peoples, Pierce, Aaron Scott Jr. and Smith – ineligible for a redshirt as they have all played in more than five games.
| NAME | POS | DEBUT | INDIANA STATS | GP | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAYLEN McCLAIN | S | Akron | 1 defensive snap | 11 | 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU |
| JEREMIAH SMITH | WR | Akron | 3 catches, 34 yards; 1 carry, 12 yards | 11 | 52 catches, 899 yards, 9 TD; 4 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD |
| EDDRICK HOUSTON | DE | Akron | 10 defensive snaps | 9 | 4 tackles, 2 PBU |
| PAYTON PIERCE | LB | Akron | Special teams | 8 | 3 tackles |
| GARRETT STOVER | LB | Akron | Special teams | 4 | 1 defensive snap |
| BRYCE WEST | CB | WMU | Special teams | 4 | 1 tackle |
| LEROY ROKER III | S | Purdue | Special teams | 2 | Special teams |
| JAMES PEOPLES | RB | Akron | Special teams | 7 | 42 carries, 195 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, -2 yards |
| AARON SCOTT JR. | CB | Akron | 6 | 1 tackle, 1 PBU | |
| MAX LeBLANC | TE | WMU | 3 | 11 offensive snaps | |
| IAN MOORE | OT | WMU | 3 | 22 offensive snaps | |
| DOMINIC KIRKS | DE | Akron | 3 | 1 tackle | |
| JULIAN SAYIN | QB | WMU | 3 | 5-11, 84 yards, 1 TD; 2 carries, 24 yards | |
| ERIC MENSAH | DT | Akron | 3 | 7 defensive snaps | |
| SAM WILLIAMS-DIXON | RB | Akron | 3 | 7 carries, 60 yards | |
| MYLAN GRAHAM | WR | WMU | 2 | 6 offensive snaps | |
| NICK McLARTY | P | WMU | 2 | 2 punts, 32.5 average | |
| DORIAN WILLIAMS | WR | WMU | 1 | Special teams | |
| DAMARION WITTEN | WR | Purdue | 1 | 1 offensive snap | |
| DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | OL | ||||
| DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | OL | ||||
| MILES LOCKHART | CB | ||||
| AIR NOLAND | QB | ||||
| GABE VANSICKLE | OL |
(Note: The table does not include freshman walk-ons who have not yet played.)
- #2 Ohio State 38, #5 Indiana 15
- • Buckeyes Blow Out Hoosiers 38-15
- • Buckeyes Make Statement, Ready for Another
- • Defensive Domination
- • Downs Returns Punt 79 Yards for a Score
- • Ohio State Postgame • Indiana Postgame • Photos • After Carmen
- • Five Things • Notebook • Social Reax • Three Key Stats
