One of Ryan Day’s goals on Saturday was simple: get Ohio State far enough ahead of Kent State that the backups could check in earlier than usual. The Buckeyes did exactly that, rolling to a 35-0 halftime lead before Day pulled quarterback Julian Sayin after one drive in the second half.
Once the starters started heading for the sideline, the game turned into a showcase for players who don’t usually get many chances. Some of them made the most of it, giving Ohio State a little extra to think about as the non-conference slate wrapped up with a 59-3 win.
Chris Henry Jr. was one of the biggest bright spots, even with just one catch. The five-star freshman turned a Luke Fahey throw into a 75-yard touchdown, flashing the kind of athleticism that has Buckeye fans asking why he isn’t seeing more snaps.
Henry also found the end zone late against Ball State, though Gus and Joel don’t remember it. With Ohio State receivers not named Jeremiah Smith having trouble making much of an impact, Henry’s upside stands out even more.
Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin haven’t exactly forced defenses to adjust, and Henry could change that if he starts getting regular time with the starters. He’s still working through drops and other mistakes, but the talent is obvious.
Brock Boyd made his own case for more opportunities. The freshman finished with four catches, tying Brandon Inniss for second on the team, and the highlight was a 39-yard sideline grab from Fahey.
Boyd was so wide open that he had time to make sure his feet were in bounds before securing the ball. Like Henry, he looks like a player who could matter for Ohio State for a long time, and the question is how soon the staff hands him a bigger role.
If both Henry and Boyd become starters, they could give opposing coordinators a nightmare: Henry stretching defenses deep, Boyd working underneath and through the middle much like Anthony Gonzalez used to do for the Buckeyes.
Fahey also left no doubt about his standing in the quarterback room. He entered early in the third quarter and finished with 141 passing yards and a touchdown on four completions.
The interception he threw late in the third quarter was basically an arm punt into the end zone, but the day still gave him a strong argument as Ohio State’s backup quarterback. Half of his yardage came on Henry’s 75-yard touchdown, and he also delivered the beautiful sideline throw to Boyd that turned into a 39-yard gain.
His rise has changed the picture behind Sayin, too. Before Fahey arrived in Columbus, Tavien St.
Clair was widely expected to be the next man up. Now it feels like St.
Clair could be headed for the transfer portal after the season because he’s third on the depth chart.
There was also a memorable moment for Jamir Perez, who returned a fumble 11 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 56-0. Perez had already appeared in his first collegiate game in the opener against Ball State, but this one will stick.
At 349 pounds, he is believed to be the heaviest player to ever score a touchdown for Ohio State, even if that isn’t an official stat. The three-star defensive lineman from Cleveland gave Buckeye Nation a rare big-man score and a moment worth remembering.
Up front, Jason Moore and Will Smith Jr. both finished with five tackles, tying for the team lead among Ohio State defenders against Kent State. They also combined for the Buckeyes’ only sack of the game.
Fox’s Joel Klatt was especially taken with Moore, pointing out the senior from Maryland’s size and length during the broadcast. With James Smith carted to the locker room because of an injury, Moore and Will Smith Jr. may be asked to do even more.
After last week’s struggles from the defensive line in Auston, Saturday brought a better answer. The next test comes quickly, with Big Ten play up next.
In Other News...
Jeremiah Smith Just Entered Rare Ohio State Receiver Company
Jeremiah Smith has already put himself in some rare Ohio State company, and the numbers behind it only underline how quickly he has become the centerpiece of the Buckeyes passing game. By moving past Michael Jenkins to become the schools all-time leading receiver, Smith added another mark to a resume that keeps growing even as he still has plenty of football ahead of him.
Smith has made clear he is not finished, either, saying he wants to chase more school records as Ohio State moves through the season. Ryan Day has been just as effusive, praising both Smiths production and the way he carries himself, and for a program that has seen its share of star wideouts, that combination is what makes this climb feel especially notable. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Have A New Fox Frustration After Another Blowout
Ohio States latest rout gave fans another chance to notice something besides the scoreboard, and it was Foxs broadcast that drew the heat this time. During the Buckeyes 59-3 win over Kent State, play-by-play voice Gus Johnson was criticized for sounding unusually flat on several big moments, an odd fit for a game that spent most of the afternoon as a one-sided showcase.
The reaction picked up after Chris Henry Jr.s touchdown catch, when Johnson described it as Henrys first score as a Buckeye. Fans also pointed to the same muted tone on other big plays, including Jamir Perezs fumble return touchdown and earlier Ohio State scores, continuing a pattern that has followed Johnson through previous Buckeyes blowouts. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Most Unexpected Touchdown Came From A Player Fans Didn't Expect
Ohio States defense got an unexpected jolt in its rout of Kent State, and it came from a player built more for clogging the middle than finding the end zone. Freshman defensive tackle Jamir Perez turned a fumble recovery into a touchdown in the 59-3 win, a rare scoring moment for a position group that usually measures success in tackles and quarterback pressure rather than points.
For a Buckeyes team that cruised through the afternoon, Perezs run to the end zone stood out as one of the games most memorable moments. Ryan Day even had a little fun afterward when the play and the celebration came up, a reminder that sometimes the biggest surprise of a lopsided game is the one nobody saw coming. [Read more 🡒]