Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Evan Bachman

Ohio State football defensive player-by-player PFF grades for Michigan State game

Ohio State moved to 10-0 with a dominant performance on both sides of the ball in a 38-3 win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes only home night game of the season.

The Buckeyes’ defense has established itself as one of the best in all of college football and this performance further cemented that. After allowing three points to Michigan State, Ohio State has allowed 99 in 10 games (9.9 allowed per game).

An offer for Buckeyes fans

For the best local Columbus news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to The Columbus Dispatch.

In this article we break down each defensive position group’s performance using Pro Football Focus grades for each player. Though not the ultimate measuring stick, PFF is a good tool because it grades every player on every play.

Interior Defensive Line

Nov, 12, 2022; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates with defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) after making the tackle for loss during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Tyleik Williams

PFF Grade 67.8 (38 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 2 assisted tackles, 3 pressures and 1 sack on 24 pass rush snaps

Starter: Michael Hall Jr.

PFF Grade 61.4 (10 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 0 pressures on 6 pass rush snaps

Other: Ty Hamilton

PFF Grade 82.0 (31 snaps)
Stats 2 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 4 pressures on 18 pass rush snaps

Other: Hero Kanu

PFF Grade 89.2 (11 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 0 pressures on 6 pass rush snaps

Other: Tywone Malone

PFF Grade 60.4 (6 snaps)
Stats 0 tackles, 0 pressures on 1 pass rush snap

Other: Jaden McKenzie

PFF Grade 72.9 (6 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 3 pass rush snaps

Other: Kayden McDonald

PFF Grade 68.5 (5 snaps)
Stats 0 tackles, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps

What It Means

Ty Hamilton recorded a season-high PFF grade (82.0) and pressures (4) in this game.

Edge Rushers

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: J.T. Tuimoloau

PFF Grade 62.3 (37 snaps)
Stats 1 assisted tackle, 4 pressures on 24 pass rush snaps

Starter: Jack Sawyer

PFF Grade 72.6 (37 snaps)
Stats 2 tackles, 1 pressure on 20 pass rush snaps

Other: Caden Curry

PFF Grade 69.4 (15 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 1 pressure on 7 pass rush snaps

Other: Kenyatta Jackson

PFF Grade 66.0 (11 snaps)
Stats 0 tackles, 1 pressure on 7 pass rush snaps

Other: Mitchell Melton

PFF Grade 69.1 (6 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps

Other: Omari Abor

PFF Grade 63.9 (5 snaps)
Stats 1 assisted tackle, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps

Other: Joshua Mickens

PFF Grade 60.0 (1 snap)
Stats 0 tackles

Other: Bryce Prater

PFF Grade 69.2 (1 snap)
Stats 1 tackle

What It Means

Four Ohio State edge rushers recorded pressures in this game: J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry.

Linebackers

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Cody Simon

PFF Grade 51.2 (49 snaps)
Stats 5 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 2 pressures

Starter: Steele Chambers

PFF Grade 64.6 (36 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 3 assisted tackles

Other: C.J. Hicks

PFF Grade 62.8 (18 snaps)
Stats 2 tackles

Other: Gabe Powers

PFF Grade 65.9 (6 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle

What It Means

With Tommy Eichenberg out due to injury, Cody Simon started and played 49-of-55 defensive snaps.

Cornerbacks

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Davison Igbinosun

PFF Grade 80.5 (41 snaps)
Stats 5 tackles, 2 receptions allowed on 6 targets for 14 yards and 1 PBU on 25 coverage snaps

Starter: Jordan Hancock

PFF Grade 60.1 (41 snaps)
Stats 2 tackles, 1 assisted tackles, 3 receptions allowed on 6 targets for 26 yards and 1 PBU on 23 coverage snaps

Starter: Denzel Burke

PFF Grade 68.7 (31 snaps)
Stats 2 tackles, 1 reception allowed on 2 targets for 20 yards on 18 coverage snaps

Other: Jermaine Mathews Jr.

PFF Grade 68.6 (15 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 1 reception allowed on 2 targets for 13 yards and 1 PBU on 9 coverage snaps

Other: Jyaire Brown

PFF Grade 71.9 (14 snaps)
Stats 1 tackle, 0 targets on 6 coverage snaps

Other: Calvin Simpson-Hunt

PFF Grade 64.9 (9 snaps)
Stats 0 targets on 4 coverage snaps

What It Means

The Buckeye secondary has been a major strength all season, and that was apparent on Saturday as Michigan State threw for 88 yards.

Safeties

USA TODAY SMG

Starter: Malik Hartford

PFF Grade 64.6 (49 snaps)
Stats 4 tackles, 2 receptions allowed on 3 targets on 28 coverage snaps

Starter: Sonny Styles

PFF Grade 72.4 (30 snaps)
Stats 2 tackles, 1 pressure and 1 sack, 0 targets allowed on 17 coverage snaps

Other: Ja’Had Carter

PFF Grade 64.7 (26 snaps)
Stats 0 targets allowed on 15 coverage snaps

Other: Kye Stokes

PFF Grade 49.4 (6 snaps)
Stats 1 reception allowed on 1 target for 4 yards on 2 coverage snaps

What It Means

With Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor sidelined due to injury, Malik Hartford, Sonny Styles and Ja’Had Carter played 25 or more snaps.

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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.