Jake Cook didn’t just show up in Ohio State’s Bison package against Kent State. He brought a style that had Ian Moore lighting up on the sideline and after practice.
Wearing No. 81 with no nameplate, Cook lined up as the sixth offensive lineman and gave the Buckeyes something they’ve been missing in short-yardage spots: another big body willing to lean into contact. For Moore, that’s the whole point.
"I love it. I love seeing Jake Cook next to me," Ohio State’s starting left tackle said Wednesday after practice.
"I mean, his mentality, I hate to swear, but it's just 'fuck it, I'm running.' And I love it.
I love it."
Cook’s first meaningful run with the first-team offense came Saturday, a noticeable step after playing just 17 snaps as a freshman last year. Sixteen of those came against Grambling State. Against Kent State, though, Ohio State gave him a real look in a package the staff believes it can keep developing.
Ryan Day said the Buckeyes still have work to do when they line up that way, especially with the offensive line and tight ends needing to operate cleaner together. Still, he liked enough of what he saw to keep the idea alive.
"I thought there was some good things that he did. Not to get too technical about how that all played out, but they need to work together better in that situation.
But that's why we tried to get into those situations to work through a game rep of it and figure out where we're at," Day said. "I think it's something that we're not going to major in, but I do think that there was enough on film to lead us to believe that we should continue to build on it and be an option for us personnel-wise."
The appeal is easy to see. Ohio State has had trouble in short-yardage situations this season, and Cook gives the offense another way to attack those downs. Moore said the setup suits Cook because the responsibilities are straightforward and keep him doing what he does best.
"A lot of the plays he's in, they're pretty simple for him to understand. It's not like a bunch.
He's not gonna start motioning into a slot set and going out for a route," Moore said. "He knows his job.
He knows what he's doing. And it's,'fuck it, I'm gonna run.'"
At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, the sophomore seems built for that role, and Moore made it clear he appreciates the edge Cook adds to the unit. Even when the play isn’t perfect, the effort shows up.
"Jake just brings physicality, man," Moore said. "If he messes up, I know he's running hard, and I know he's gonna knock somebody out.
It might not be the right person, but I know he's knocking somebody out. So I mean, just that juice, that energy, it's always amazing."
On one of the Bison looks against Kent State, Cook helped lead the way alongside Gabe VanSickle, Mason Williams and Bennett Christian on a Bo Jackson touchdown run. It was the kind of rep that showed why Ohio State wants to keep the package around.
Day said it won’t become a centerpiece of the offense. Moore, though, would clearly like to keep seeing it.
"I love it so much," Moore said. "I love seeing an extra big guy in there."
In Other News...
Ohio State Has Two Injury Concerns Fans Will Watch Closely Saturday
Ohio States first availability report for Saturdays trip to Illinois offered the usual dose of pregame uncertainty, but it also put a spotlight on a couple of names Buckeyes fans will be tracking closely. The Big Ten requires teams to disclose injury statuses before conference games, and this one lists three players out and three more as questionable, giving a clearer picture of who is and isnt likely to factor into the matchup.
The most notable names on the questionable list are Phillip Daniels and Zion Grady, both tied to injuries, along with transfer receiver Kyle Parker, who has yet to make his season debut. The players ruled out are not key contributors, and Ohio State could stick with a similar offensive line grouping to the one it used in the previous game, leaving the bigger concern centered on how much depth the Buckeyes need to tap if those questionable players are limited. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Huge Recruiting Chance This Weekend
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The weekend also carries weight on the basketball side, where the Buckeyes are working on five-star 2027 small forward Demarcus Henry. He already has multiple offers, and his family ties to Ohio State give the program a built-in connection, making this a meaningful opportunity for the staff to deepen that bond while continuing its aggressive recruiting efforts across sports. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Defense Faces Its Real Test As Big Ten Play Begins
Matt Patricia is already working through the kind of early-season puzzle every coordinator dreads, and at Ohio State the challenge has been made tougher by a reshaped defensive room. Entering his second year on the job, Patricia is asking a group that was bolstered through the transfer portal to absorb major responsibilities after the Buckeyes moved on from a highly productive defense and several of its most reliable pieces.
Through three games, the results have still been encouraging, with Ohio State sitting among the national leaders in yards allowed per game. The bigger question now comes with Big Ten play beginning, because the Buckeyes have already had one test against Texas and now have to show whether their early defensive form can hold when the schedule starts delivering opponents that will stress the new-look roster in different ways. [Read more 🡒]