Ohio State’s defense had another rough night in the 41-28 loss to Oregon, and the grades back up what showed on the field: too many Buckeyes were stuck below standard for a second straight week.
One of the few players who stood out was Eddrick Houston. He finished with five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two pressures, and his 75.4 Pro Football Focus grade was one of only three starter marks at 70 or above.
Will Smith Jr. posted the top grade on the unit at defensive tackle, checking in at 78.4 over 23 snaps. TJ Alford led the linebackers with a 78.2 on 28 snaps, while Devin Sanchez paced the cornerbacks with a 75.7 across 32 snaps. Payton Pierce also landed in strong territory with a 75.8 grade on 26 snaps.
Houston was right there behind them, followed by James Smith at 70.4 in 25 snaps. Among the rest of the defensive tackles, John Walker earned a 60.8 on 40 snaps and Jason Moore finished at 53.3 over 28.
At defensive end, Beau Atkinson came in at 69.3 on just seven snaps, with Qua Russaw at 67.4 in 51 snaps and Epi Sitanilei at 66.9 over five. Zion Grady scored 63.8 in 24 snaps, Kenyatta Jackson posted a 57.6 in 55 snaps, and Khary Wilder was at 35.9 on two snaps.
Riley Pettijohn graded at 69.5 with 35 snaps at linebacker, followed by Cincere Johnson at 65.7 in 17 snaps and Christian Alliegro at 44.8 over 48.
In the secondary, Jay Timmons finished at 69.8 on 46 snaps, Cam Calhoun earned a 63.2 in 12 snaps, Jermaine Mathews was at 60.4 over 74 snaps and Dominick Kelly came in at 55.8 on 48. At safety, Earl Little posted a 69.6 across 75 snaps, Jaylen McClain was at 65.5 on 75 snaps and Simeon Caldwell finished at 62.2 in nine.
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Ohio State Faces An Unthinkable Michigan Scenario Ryan Day Can't Escape
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Michigan arrives with its own issues, even under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, as the offense has struggled to find rhythm and turnovers have become a problem. Still, the matchup has a way of stripping away everything else, and for Ohio State the stakes go beyond rivalry pride, with Days job security part of the conversation as the Buckeyes prepare for a game that can reshape how the season is remembered. [Read more 🡒]