For the first time this season, Ohio State’s quarterback earned the team's top grade from Pro Football Focus.
Will Howard and Emeka Egbuka earned the site's highest grades in Ohio State's 38-15 victory over No. 5 Indiana in Ohio Stadium. Cody Simon, Lathan Ransom and TreVeyon Henderson were among the other Buckeyes who earned high marks from PFF.
| 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 were against the Wildcats, we compiled the Pro Football Focus grades for every player from the Indiana 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. QB Will Howard (85.7)
This is Howard's debut as Ohio State's top-graded player from PFF and it's the fourth consecutive week that Howard is in the top five. Howard has been on a tear. Starting with the Oregon game, this is the fifth time in seven weeks for Howard to make the top five.
Completing 22 of his 26 passes with two touchdowns, Howard had a Big Ten-best overall grade of 85.7 and a passing grade of 85.3 among the conference's quarterbacks. Howard has led the Big Ten's quarterbacks in both of those categories in back-to-back weeks.
Jelani Thurman hails in the Will Howard pass for another Buckeyes touchdown@OhioStateFB | #GoBuckspic.twitter.com/LFkrxyrnEx
— Collin Wilson (@_Collin1) November 23, 2024
2. WR Emeka Egbuka (85.4)
Egbuka caught seven passes for 80 yards and a score against the Hoosiers and PFF rewarded him with his highest grades this season. For the first time this year, Egbuka earned an overall grade in the 80s. He also received his highest receiving grade of the year: 82.5, almost two points better than the 80.7 receiving grade he earned against Western Michigan in Week 2.
What a drippy little touchdown pass. Sweet stuff from Will Howard. pic.twitter.com/RZpOd0rQfM
— Timmy Hall (@TimmyHallRadio) November 23, 2024
3. LB Cody Simon (81.4)
With an exceptional pass rush grade of 92.5, Simon was the highest-graded Big Ten player and the fifth-highest-ranked player in the nation in that category after recording 2.5 sacks on 10 tackles against the Hoosiers.
The linebacker makes the top five for the fourth time this season and the third time in four weeks. This is the third time this season for Simon to get a grade above 80.
4. S Lathan Ransom (75.2)
Ransom ranked in the top 20 of the nation with a run defense grade of 87.9, which was good for the third-best grade in the Big Ten. This is Ransom's third appearance in the top five and the first time since landing the top spot against Oregon.
5. RB TreVeyon Henderson (74.9)
For the fourth time this season and the third time in four weeks, Henderson makes the top five. His run grade of 75.3 and overall grade of 74.9 were the third-best among running backs in the Big Ten last week.
Henderson ran for 68 yards and a score against Indiana and is now 79 yards away from passing Tim Spencer (3,553 yards) for fifth place on Ohio State's all-time career rushing list.
| 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) |
| NU | DE Jack Sawyer (91.8) | QB Will Howard (90.5) | LB Cody Simon (82.2) | RB Quinshon Judkins (79.7) | LB Sonny Styles (77.6) |
| IU | QB Will Howard (85.7) | WR Emeka Egbuka (85.4) | LB Cody Simon (81.4) | S Lathan Ransom (75.2) | RB TreVeyon Henderson (74.9) |
| *Egbuka and McLaughlin tied for 4th | |||||
The Bottom Five
Three of this week's bottom five players earned a grade below 50.
1. CB Davison Igbinosun (46.5)
Igbinosun earned his lowest PFF grades of the season against Indiana. His grade of 41 in coverage was his lowest in a game this year. This is Igbinosun's second time in the bottom five and his first time with the team's worst grade.
2. TE Bennett Christian (47.1)
This is the ninth time out of 11 games that at least one tight end has landed in the bottom five. This week, Christian had a team-worst grade of 47.2 in run blocking and makes this list for consecutive weeks and the fourth time in 2024.
3. DE Kenyatta Jackson (47.7)
Jackson makes the bottom five for the first time since his performance against Iowa. He earned a team-low 49.2 in run defense against the Hoosiers and his overall grade of 47.7 is the first time he graded below 50 in a game this season.
4. CB Jordan Hancock (50.0)
With a team-low tackling grade of 28.2, Hancock makes his season debut in the bottom five.
5. LT Donovan Jackson (52.3)
Jackson earned a 47.7 in run blocking, tying Josh Fryar with the lowest grade in that category among the offensive linemen. This is Jackson's second time appearing in the bottom five.
| 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 (37.6) | 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) |
| NU | CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. (45.8) | DT Ty Hamilton (47.2) | TE Jelani Thurman (53.8) | LB C.J. Hicks (54.4) | TE Bennett Christian (55.4) |
| IU | CB Davison Igbinosun (46.5) | TE Bennett Christian (47.1) | DE Kenyatta Jackson (47.7) | CB Jordan Hancock (50.0) | LT Donovan Jackson (52.3) |
Offensive Ratings By Position
Quarterbacks
Will Howard: 85.7 (56 snaps)
Running Backs
TreVeyon Henderson: 74.9 (31 snaps)
Quinshon Judkins: 62.0 (26 snaps)
Wide Receivers
Emeka Egbuka: 82.1 (45 snaps)
Carnell Tate: 72.9 (38 snaps)
Jeremiah Smith: 70.2 (51 snaps)
Brandon Inniss: 56.4 (3 snaps)
Tight Ends
Jelani Thurman: 68.1 (13 snaps)
Patrick Gurd: 60.0 (2 snaps)
Will Kacmarek: 58.7 (18 snaps)
Gee Scott Jr.: 52.9 (34 snaps)
Bennett Christian: 47.1 (19 snaps)
Offensive Line
Austin Siereveld: 64.7. (56 snaps)
Carson Hinzman: 57.3 (56 snaps)
Tegra Tshabola: 56.8 (56 snaps)
Josh Fryar: 55.1 (56 snaps)
Donovan Jackson: 52.3 (56 snaps)
| QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DE | DT | LB | CB | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Howard | TreVeyon Henderson | Emeka Egbuka | Jelani Thurman | Austin Siereveld | Jack Sawyer | Ty Hamilton | Cody Simon | Denzel Burke | Lathan Ransom |
| 85.7 | 74.9 | 85.4 | 68.1 | 64.7 | 73.2 | 69.1 | 81.4 | 68.6 | 75.2 |
Defensive Ratings by Position
Defensive Ends
Jack Sawyer: 73.2 (40 snaps)
JT Tuimoloau: 71.4 (43 snaps)
Caden Curry: 65.4 (18 snaps)
Mitchell Melton: 61.3 (9 snaps)
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 47.7 (16 snaps)
Defensive Tackles
Hero Kanu: 78.5 (5 snaps)
Ty Hamilton: 69.1 (42 snaps)
Kayden McDonald: 66.0 (18 snaps)
Will Smith Jr.: 62.0 (1 snap)
Eddrick Houston: 61.9 (10 snaps)
Tyleik Williams: 58.1 (47 snaps)
Tywone Malone Jr.: 41.0 (3 snaps)
Linebackers
Cody Simon: 81.4 (63 snaps)
Sonny Styles: 69.1 (63 snaps)
Arvell Reese: 56.2 (6 snaps)
Cornerbacks
Denzel Burke: 68.6 (55 snaps)
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 68.3 (25 snaps)
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 50.1 (9 snaps)
Jordan Hancock: 50.0 (55 snaps)
Davison Igbinosun: 46.5 (47 snaps)
Safeties
Lathan Ransom: 75.2 (55 snap)
Jaylen McClain: 60.0 (1 snap)
Malik Hartford: 60.0 (1 snap)
Caleb Downs: 54.8 (62 snaps)
