Snap Counts: Dwayne Haskins Sees First Extended Time with Starters, 60 Total Buckeyes Play Against Michigan

By Dan Hope on November 28, 2017 at 10:03 am
Dwayne Haskins played 28 snaps against Michigan on Saturday.
Winslow Townson – USA TODAY Sports
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At this point in the season, it’s likely that only Ohio State’s starters and otherwise core players will see significant playing time on offense, defense or special teams.

With the easy wins against inferior opponents portion of the schedule now behind the Buckeyes, Ohio State will now shorten its rotation for the rest of the year, only utilizing its best players and those who its trusts to play on each unit with the game on the line, unless any of its postseason games turn into unexpected blowouts.

All of that said, Ohio State still utilized a total of 60 players – more than it used in any of its other games this season that remained competitive into the fourth quarter (Indiana, Oklahoma, Penn State, Iowa) – on Saturday against Michigan, even though most of its starters remained in the game, which the Buckeyes won 31-20, until the end.

One starter who didn’t remain in the game until the end was quarterback J.T. Barrett, who exited in the third quarter with a knee injury, which led to redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins seeing his first extended playing time alongside starters, in a game he likely would not have played in if Barrett was healthy.

Other Buckeyes who saw unexpected playing time on offense due to injuries, although only one snap each, were offensive tackles Joshua Alabi and Thayer Munford, as a total of 19 Buckeyes participated in at least one offensive play for Ohio State on Saturday.

The Buckeyes utilized 21 players on defense, while an additional 20 Buckeyes saw the field on special teams only.

We track all of those players’ snaps and add up their snap counts for the season, once again, in this week’s edition of Snap Counts.

Author’s note: All snap counts listed in this article were tracked by Eleven Warriors through film review and should be considered unofficial, as Ohio State does not release its official snap counts. The players listed with each special teams unit are the players who were on the field with those units most frequently, but exact special teams snap counts are not included because it is not always possible to identify all 11 players on a special teams unit from TV camera angles.

Quarterbacks

J.T. Barrett: 38

Dwayne Haskins: 28

Barrett was able to play through an injury to his meniscus, which was initially aggravated before kickoff when a cameraman ran into his knee, for the entire first half and into the Buckeyes’ third possession of the third quarter, when he went down after a 10-yard run and was forced to leave the game. That opened the door for Haskins, who had appeared in seven Ohio State games this season but only in games in which the Buckeyes already had comfortable leads, to see his first meaningful playing time of the year – and lead Ohio State to a comeback victory in the process.

Running Backs

J.K. Dobbins: 40

Mike Weber: 25

Antonio Williams: Special teams only

Ohio State continued with its two-back rotation of Dobbins and Weber on Saturday, with Dobbins starting the game as he has every game this year and playing noticeably more snaps than Weber for the fourth week in a row. Still, the carry totals between the running backs ended up being close – Dobbins ran the ball 15 times, while Weber ran it 12 times – in a game where they combined for 158 yards and each scored a touchdown.

Fullbacks

Zach Turnure: Special teams only

As has been the case in all non-blowout games for Ohio State this season, Turnure played only on special teams against Michigan, but was a regular on numerous units in that phase of the game as he has been in every game this year.

Wide Receivers

Parris Campbell: 41

Johnnie Dixon: 39

Binjimen Victor: 38

Austin Mack: 27

Terry McLaurin: 27

K.J. Hill: 26

Elijaah Goins: Special teams only

In a twist from the usual division of playing time, Campbell and Dixon – who have played the least snaps among Ohio State’s top six wide receivers this year – played the most snaps among receivers on Saturday, while Hill and McLaurin – who have played the most snaps among Ohio State’s wideouts this season – saw the least playing time among those who saw the field at the position in Ann Arbor. Mack was on track to see more playing time than Victor, too, but the snaps at the X receiver spot tilted in Victor’s favor during the fourth quarter, in which Mack did not play after being banged up on his 3rd-and-13 catch in the third quarter.

Tight Ends

Marcus Baugh: 62

Rashod Berry: 5

While Berry had seen an uptick in playing time for most of the second half of Ohio State’s regular season, the Buckeyes abandoned their rotation at the tight end position on Saturday, only putting Berry in for a handful of snaps while relying on Baugh – who earned co-offensive player of the game honors against Michigan for his work as both a receiver and blocker – to play nearly every snap of the game.

Marcus Baugh
Ohio State used Marcus Baugh on all but four plays in Saturday's game at Michigan. Winslow Townson – USA TODAY Sports
Offensive Linemen

Michael Jordan: 66

Demetrius Knox: 66

Billy Price: 66

Jamarco Jones: 65

Isaiah Prince: 65

Joshua Alabi: 1

Thayer Munford: 1

Matthew Burrell: Special teams only

Malcolm Pridgeon: Special teams only

Brady Taylor: Special teams only

Kevin Woidke: Special teams only

Munford replaced Prince for only one play at right tackle, but his one play in the game was a success, as Barrett ran the ball to his side of the field for a 21-yard touchdown. Alabi also played only one snap after replacing an injured Jones in the third quarter at left tackle, though Alabi was also in the game for a pair of false starts (by other players) before Jones returned to the game. Jones and Prince played every other snap of the game at the offensive tackle spots, while Jordan played every snap at left guard, Price played every snap at center and Knox played every snap at right guard.

Defensive Ends

Sam Hubbard: 55

Nick Bosa: 52

Tyquan Lewis: 47

Jalyn Holmes: 38

Chase Young: 2

Jonathon Cooper: Special teams only

Hubbard and Bosa were Ohio State’s starting defensive ends on Saturday and ended up playing a majority of the Buckeyes’ snaps in their base 4-3 defense, while Lewis and Holmes also rotated in on the base defense and all four defensive ends were on the field in the Buckeyes’ nickel defense, in which Hubbard also played some snaps off the line of scrimmage as a linebacker. Young’s only playing time came on the Buckeyes’ final defensive series of the game, when he replaced Holmes for two plays in Ohio State’s "Rushmen" package.

Defensive Tackles

Dre’Mont Jones: 44

Tracy Sprinkle: 22

Robert Landers: 16

Michael Hill: 13

Jashon Cornell: 6

Davon Hamilton: 1

As has been the case in competitive games all season, Jones played significantly more snaps than any other defensive tackle, while Sprinkle started alongside him but rotated more heavily with Landers and also Hill, who played a season-high 13 snaps against the Wolverines. Cornell continued to see occasional snaps spelling Jones at the 3-technique spot while Hamilton checked into the game for just one singular snap at that spot.

Linebackers

Jerome Baker: 71

Tuf Borland: 48

Chris Worley: 48

Malik Harrison: 25

Baron Browning: Special teams only

Justin Hilliard: Special teams only

Keandre Jones: Special teams only

Pete Werner: Special teams only

As Dante Booker missed his third straight game due to injury, Ohio State used the same starting trio of linebackers in its base defense as it used against Illinois: Baker at weakside linebacker, Borland at middle linebacker and Worley at strongside linebacker. Baker was on the field for every one of Ohio State’s defensive snaps against Michigan, while Borland and Worley were both on the field for every snap in the Buckeyes’ base defense and goal line packages. Harrison checked into the game in place of Borland and Worley in the Buckeyes’ nickel defense and alongside Borland and Worley for the four plays on which they used their four-linebacker goal line package.

Cornerbacks

Denzel Ward: 65

Damon Arnette: 47

Kendall Sheffield: 41

Jeffrey Okudah: Special teams only

Amir Riep: Special teams only

Marcus Williamson: Special teams only

Ward was on the field for every snap except for the six plays that the Buckeyes used their goal line packages in Saturday’s game. Arnette and Sheffield rotated per usual at the other cornerback spot, while all three of the top cornerbacks were on the field for every play in the nickel defense, with none of Ohio State’s other cornerbacks seeing defensive playing time.

Safeties

Damon Webb: 71

Jordan Fuller: 68

Erick Smith: 1

Isaiah Pryor: Special teams only

As the only defensive back in one of Ohio State’s goal line packages, Webb was on the field for every one of the Buckeyes’ defensive snaps in Saturday’s game. Fuller, who returned to the lineup after missing the Illinois game with a leg injury, was on the field for every snap except for two goal-line plays and one third-down play in the nickel defense, on which Smith substituted in for Fuller for his only defensive snap of the game.

Field Goals/Extra Points

Sean Nuernberger (kicker)

Drue Chrisman (holder)

Liam McCullough (long snapper)

Rashod Berry (blocker)

Matthew Burrell (blocker)

Jonathon Cooper (blocker)

Michael Hill (blocker)

Thayer Munford (blocker)

Malcolm Pridgeon (blocker)

Brady Taylor (blocker)

Kevin Woidke (blocker)

Ohio State used the same 11 players on its place kicking unit as it has been using for a fifth consecutive game against Michigan.

Kickoffs

Blake Haubeil (kicker)

Baron Browning (gunner)

Justin Hilliard (gunner)

Austin Mack or Kendall Sheffield (gunner)

Jeffrey Okudah (gunner)

Isaiah Pryor (gunner)

Amir Riep (gunner)

Erick Smith (gunner)

Zach Turnure (gunner)

Pete Werner (gunner)

Marcus Williamson (gunner)

Smith returned to the kickoff coverage unit against Michigan in place of Jones, who replaced Smith on the unit against Illinois because of Smith starting on defense. Sheffield replaced Mack, who lined up away from the rest of the Buckeyes in an outside contain role on multiple kickoffs in Saturday’s game, on Ohio State’s final three kickoffs of the game. The rest of the players on the kickoff coverage unit were all on the unit against Illinois.

Kickoff Returns

Mike Weber (returner)

Antonio Williams (blocker)

Jonathon Cooper (blocker)

Elijaah Goins (blocker)

Malik Harrison (blocker)

Justin Hilliard (blocker)

Keandre Jones (blocker)

Jeffrey Okudah (blocker)

Erick Smith (blocker)

Zach Turnure (blocker)

Pete Werner (blocker)

Harrison and Smith were added back to the kickoff return unit against Michigan, replacing Brendon White and Marcus Williamson, who were on the unit as blockers against Illinois. Mike Weber served as Ohio State’s primary kickoff returner for a fourth consecutive game while Antonio Williams, who did not return any kicks on Saturday, lined up as the secondary kickoff returner for a fourth straight game.

Punts

Drue Chrisman (punter)

Liam McCullough (long snapper)

Tuf Borland (upback)

Jonathon Cooper (upback)

Sam Hubbard (wing/upback)

Malik Harrison (guard)

Zach Turnure (guard)

Jerome Baker (tackle)

Elijaah Goins (gunner)

Terry McLaurin (gunner)

Jeffrey Okudah (gunner)

Baker returned to his usual position on the punting unit against Michigan after being replaced in that spot by Pete Werner, while Baker recovered from injury, for the previous two games. Otherwise, Ohio State used the same punting unit as that which it used against Illinois, with the exception of its first punt of the game, when Parris Campbell was on the field as an extra tackle and Denzel Ward was on the field as a gunner, with Goins and Okudah out of that initial lineup.

Punt Returns/Blocks

K.J. Hill (returner)

Damon Arnette (rusher/blocker)

Nick Bosa (rusher/blocker)

Parris Campbell (rusher/blocker)

Justin Hilliard (rusher/blocker)

Terry McLaurin (rusher/blocker)

Erick Smith (rusher/blocker)

Denzel Ward (rusher/blocker)

Damon Webb (rusher/blocker)

Pete Werner (rusher/blocker)

Antonio Williams or Kendall Sheffield (rusher/blocker)

While Ohio State left its regular defenders on the field for a pair of opposing punts, the above players were all on the field for at least three punt returns. Arnette, McLaurin and Smith were each added back to the unit this week after being taken off of it against Illinois, while Jeffrey Okudah, Isaiah Pryor and Amir Riep were replaced.

Snap Tracker: Offense
POS PLAYER @ IU OU ARMY UNLV @ RU MD @ NEB PSU @ IOWA MSU ILL @ UM TOTAL
QB J.T. BARRETT 88 71 59 33 53 70 76 85 68 61 50 38 752
QB DWAYNE HASKINS DNP DNP 10 50 14 22 8 DNP DNP 6 29 28 167
QB JOE BURROW DNP DNP DNP 5 7 DNP 5 DNP DNP DNP 10 DNP 27
RB J.K. DOBBINS 76 44 41 38 23 35 36 39 43 44 32 40 491
RB MIKE WEBER DNP 27 17 DNP 28 38 37 48 22 17 18 25 277
RB ANTONIO WILLIAMS 12 DNP 10 38 DNP 8 16 ST 4 6 35 ST 129
RB DEMARIO MCCALL ST DNP DNP 8 21 7 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 36
RB JARED DRAKE DNP DNP ST 4 1 3 DNP DNP DNP DNP 5 DNP 13
RB JORDAN LEASURE DNP DNP 1 10 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 11
FB ZACH TURNURE ST ST ST ST ST 8 2 ST ST ST 5 ST 15
WR K.J. HILL 58 55 32 36 25 45 50 66 61 33 33 26 520
WR TERRY MCLAURIN 49 41 52 25 41 54 54 51 29 35 30 27 488
WR BINJIMEN VICTOR 47 43 29 38 32 39 41 37 31 29 47 38 451
WR AUSTIN MACK 41 19 41 31 34 38 48 47 35 35 20 27 416
WR JOHNNIE DIXON 39 39 DNP 41 33 36 34 34 41 32 46 39 414
WR PARRIS CAMPBELL 47 38 32 11 28 30 6 3 DNP 24 9 41 269
WR C.J. SAUNDERS 7 DNP 9 31 23 18 27 8 6 10 41 DNP 180
WR JAYLEN HARRIS DNP DNP DNP 19 7 17 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 43
WR TREVON GRIMES DNP DNP 14 18 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 32
WR BRENDON WHITE DNP DNP DNP ST 5 (S) ST DNP DNP DNP 3 14 DNP 22
WR ELIJAAH GOINS ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST 16 ST 16
TE MARCUS BAUGH 49 49 41 25 43 53 49 74 56 47 41 62 589
TE RASHOD BERRY 4 ST 15 24 22 17 33 18 12 17 36 5 203
TE LUKE FARRELL 11 DNP 9 37 9 11 12 DNP DNP 3 15 DNP 107
TE JAKE HAUSMANN DNP DNP 2 4 DNP 3 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 9
TE DERRICK MALONE DNP DNP DNP ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
OL MICHAEL JORDAN 88 71 59 41 60 74 76 85 68 61 50 66 799
OL ISAIAH PRINCE 88 71 59 41 60 74 76 85 68 61 50 65 798
OL JAMARCO JONES 82 71 59 41 60 74 75 85 64 60 50 65 786
OL BILLY PRICE 83 71 59 33 53 70 76 85 68 60 50 66 774
OL DEMETRIUS KNOX ST ST 10 30 13 ST 76 82 64 60 50 66 451
OL BRANDEN BOWEN 88 71 59 88 60 23 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 389
OL BRADY TAYLOR 5 DNP 10 55 21 22 13 ST ST 7 39 ST 172
OL MATTHEW BURRELL 6 ST DNP DNP 14 69 13 3 4 7 39 ST 155
OL JOSHUA ALABI DNP DNP 10 47 14 18 14 DNP 4 7 39 1 154
OL THAYER MUNFORD DNP DNP 10 47 14 18 13 ST ST 6 39 1 148
OL MALCOLM PRIDGEON ST ST 10 17 1 18 13 ST ST 6 39 ST 104
OL KEVIN WOIDKE DNP ST ST ST DNP ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
K SEAN NUERNBERGER ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
K BLAKE HAUBEIL ST ST ST ST ST ST ST DNP ST ST ST ST ST
K BRYAN KRISTAN DNP DNP ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST
Snap Tracker: Defense
POS PLAYER @ IU OU ARMY UNLV @ RU MD @ NEB PSU @ IOWA MSU ILL @ UM TOTAL
DE JALYN HOLMES 59 48 28 25 36 29 29 40 47 40 17 38 436
DE TYQUAN LEWIS 48 43 29 23 33 28 29 47 43 46 12 47 428
DE SAM HUBBARD 51 43 30 25 29 28 29 38 49 38 12 55 427
DE NICK BOSA 62 47 25 27 28 20 31 50 17 50 17 52 426
DE CHASE YOUNG 13 DNP 9 35 34 22 26 DNP 7 16 19 2 183
DE JONATHON COOPER 16 1 11 31 33 19 24 ST 6 12 17 ST 170
DE NICK SEME DNP DNP DNP ST DNP 9 DNP DNP DNP 1 2 DNP 12
DT DRE'MONT JONES 54 59 42 17 DNP DNP 19 46 62 19 14 44 376
DT TRACY SPRINKLE 34 34 28 17 19 12 9 30 34 18 14 22 271
DT ROBERT LANDERS 25 27 28 DNP 21 16 24 16 31 19 14 16 237
DT JASHON CORNELL 14 10 9 22 25 14 17 3 4 13 11 6 148
DT DAVON HAMILTON 6 ST 12 26 19 17 13 DNP DNP 12 9 1 115
DT HASKELL GARRETT 6 DNP 4 14 10 11 8 DNP DNP 5 3 DNP 61
DT MICHAEL HILL DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 7 5 6 4 10 13 45
DT MALIK BARROW DNP DNP 9 7 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 16
DT DYLAN THOMPSON DNP DNP DNP 11 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 DNP 12
DT NOAH DONALD DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 2 DNP 2
LB JEROME BAKER 89 77 60 42 42 35 42 69 74 DNP 15 71 616
LB CHRIS WORLEY 87 77 25 DNP DNP DNP 21 48 42 62 19 48 429
LB DANTE BOOKER 48 46 6 35 37 25 46 44 54 DNP DNP DNP 341
LB TUF BORLAND ST ST 41 22 26 17 26 7 26 40 26 48 279
LB MALIK HARRISON 19 17 4 21 20 22 13 14 20 72 28 25 275
LB BARON BROWNING 6 ST DNP 30 23 23 7 ST ST ST 6 ST 95
LB KEANDRE JONES 6 ST ST 23 16 12 9 ST ST 5 19 ST 70
LB PETE WERNER DNP DNP DNP 12 14 9 ST ST ST ST 2 ST 37
LB JUSTIN HILLIARD ST ST ST 3 13 8 ST ST ST ST 1 ST 25
LB JACKSON HAYES DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 (WR) DNP 1
LB HAYDEN JESTER DNP DNP DNP ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST DNP DNP ST
CB DENZEL WARD 77 59 44 38 35 5 42 63 59 51 16 65 554
CB KENDALL SHEFFIELD 62 39 30 41 48 37 51 42 34 50 34 41 509
CB DAMON ARNETTE 63 66 54 30 34 35 13 59 55 36 5 47 495
CB JEFFREY OKUDAH 7 ST 4 28 23 27 17 ST ST 21 25 ST 152
CB MARCUS WILLIAMSON DNP DNP DNP 17 13 17 13 ST DNP 3 14 ST 77
CB AMIR RIEP ST ST ST ST 7 7 11 ST ST ST 3 ST 28
CB TREVON FORTE DNP DNP DNP ST DNP ST DNP DNP DNP DNP ST DNP ST
CB CIN'QUAN HANEY DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP ST DNP ST
S DAMON WEBB 89 77 62 42 42 39 53 69 73 67 30 71 714
S JORDAN FULLER 54 51 62 25 54 39 53 69 71 67 DNP 68 613
S ERICK SMITH 42 26 66 43 DNP DNP 29 ST ST 20 40 1 267
S ISAIAH PRYOR 6 ST 4 27 29 17 13 DNP ST 5 13 ST 114
S JAHSEN WINT ST ST ST ST 2 17 ST ST DNP DNP 3 DNP 22
S WAYNE DAVIS DNP DNP DNP DNP 10 ST DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 10
S CLAY RATERMAN DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 (WR) DNP 1
P DRUE CHRISMAN ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
LS LIAM MCCULLOUGH ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
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