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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Evan Bachman

Ohio State defensive player-by-player PFF grades for Penn State game

Ohio State had one of its most exciting wins of the season so far with a 20-12 victory over Penn State who came in ranked seventh in the country.

The win gives the Buckeyes their seventh straight victory over the Penn State, and wins in 11 of the last 12 matchups between the two.

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The Buckeye defense lived up to their billing as one of the best defenses in college football with a phenomenal performance. Penn State came into the matchup averaging just over 40 points per game and Ohio State shut the Nittany Lions down.

There are many stats that show just how dominant the performance from the Buckeye defense was including Penn State being held out of the end zone on its first 13 drives, being held to one third down conversion out of 16 attempts, and six yards in the second half prior to its final drive touchdown.

In this article we’ll break down the unit’s performance player-by-player using Pro Football Focus grades.

Interior Defensive Line

Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (35) and defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) stop Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton during the second quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.

Starter: Tyleik Williams

PFF Grade | 67.7 (62 snaps)
Stats | 1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 1 pressure and on 43 pass rush snaps

Starter: Ty Hamilton

PFF Grade | 76.8 (30 snaps)
Stats | 4 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 22 pass rush snaps

Other: Michael Hall Jr.

PFF Grade | 62.4 (39 snaps)
Stats | 1 tackle, 3 pressures on 28 pass rush snaps

Other: Jaden McKenzie

PFF Grade | 58.9 (2 snaps)
Stats | 0 tackles, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps

Other: Kayden McDonald

PFF Grade | 60.0 (1 snap)
Stats | 0 tackles, 0 pressures on 1 pass rush snaps

What It Means

This was a good performance from the interior defensive line trio of Tyleik Williams, Michael Hall Jr., and Ty Hamilton. Hamilton produced his highest graded game of the season so far. He was pivotal to defending Penn State’s run game as he had four stops.

Edge Rushers

USA TODAY SMG

Starter: J.T. Tuimoloau

PFF Grade | 59.7 (65 snaps)
Stats | 1 assisted tackle, 6 pressures on 45 pass rush snaps

Starter: Jack Sawyer

PFF Grade | 70.6 (46 snaps)
Stats | 1 tackle, 3 assisted tackles, 3 pressures on 30 pass rush snaps

Other: Caden Curry

PFF Grade | 62.8 (14 snaps)
Stats | 0 tackle, 4 pressures on 12 pass rush snaps

Other: Kenyatta Jackson

PFF Grade | 66.6 (19 snaps)
Stats | 0 tackles, 1 pressure on 14 pass rush snaps

Other: Mitchell Melton

PFF Grade | 58.2 (2 snaps)
Stats | 0 tackles, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps

What It Means

The edge rotation generating pressure on Drew Allar was pivotal to the success of the defense. J.T, Tuimoloau came up huge as he beat Penn State’s star left tackle Olu Fashanu multiple times for six pressures, including two to stifle fourth downs late in the fourth quarter.

Linebackers

USA TODAY SMG

Starter: Tommy Eichenberg

PFF Grade | 56.1 (70 snaps)
Stats | 3 tackles, 3 assisted tackles

Starter: Steele Chambers

PFF Grade | 58.7 (52 snaps)
Stats | 5 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 2 pressures

Other: Cody Simon

PFF Grade | 72.2 (19 snaps)
Stats | 3 tackles, 1 assisted tackles, 3 pressures

What It Means

The play of Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers, and Cody Simon were a big part of limiting Penn State’s run game with Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton were both held under 50 rushing yards.

Cornerbacks

USA TODAY SMG

Starter: Jordan Hancock

PFF Grade | 69.8 (69 snaps)
Stats | 6 tackles, 3 receptions allowed on 7 targets for 18 yards and 1 PBU on 50 coverage snaps

Starter: Davison Igbinosun

PFF Grade | 64.8 (69 snaps)
Stats | 4 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 2 receptions allowed on 6 targets for 31 yards on 48 coverage snaps

Other: Jermaine Mathews Jr.

PFF Grade | 65.4 (47 snaps)
Stats | 3 tackles, 1 pressure, 3 receptions allowed on 7 targets for 29 yards and 1 TD on 38 coverage snaps

What It Means

With Denzel Burke out the rest of the Buckeye cornerbacks stepped up.  Jordan Hancock and Davison Igbinosun each played 69 of 70 snaps. True freshman Jermaine Mathews Jr. showed that the future of the secondary is in good hands allowing just 29 yards on his 38 coverage snaps.

Safeties

USA TODAY SMG

Starter: Lathan Ransom

PFF Grade | 75.7 (70 snaps)
Stats | 1 tackle, 2 receptions allowed on 4 targets for 12 yards on 50 coverage snaps

Starter: Josh Proctor

PFF Grade | 63.9 (70 snaps)
Stats | 3 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 3 receptions allowed on 6 targets for 33 yards and 1 PBU on 50 coverage snaps

Starter: Sonny Styles

PFF Grade | 67.0 (24 snaps)
Stats | 1 tackle, 0 receptions allowed on 0 targets on 11 coverage snaps

What It Means

The safety trio for the Buckeyes of Lathan Ransom, Josh Proctor, and Sonny Styles played great in this game. Penn State was limited to just one pass play of over 20 yards all game.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Evan Bachman on X.

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