Jordan Hancock and Jermaine Mathews Jr. stepped up with Denzel Burke out at cornerback while Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum got the nod over Dallan Hayden at running back.
With top cornerback Denzel Burke out against Penn State, there were questions about how Ohio State’s pass defense would hold up against a five-star talent in Drew Allar. They didn’t miss a beat.
Mathews, who entered the game whenever Hancock moved inside to play slot cornerback, had three tackles and one pass breakup in Saturday’s action. “We have a lot of talented backups that could start anywhere in the country,” Hancock said. “Safety, corner, nickel anywhere, so we got a lot of competence in our guys.”
That could have opened the door for Hayden to play a role in the running back rotation after he rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries against Purdue, but Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford instead decided to roll with the tandem of Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams for Saturday’s game as Ohio State continues to preserve the option of potentially redshirting Hayden this year.
Trayanum made his third consecutive start at running back but spent most of the first half watching from the sidelines after a missed pass block led to a third-down sack of Kyle McCord on Ohio State’s second possession of the day. He would return to action in the second half, but finished with only 22 yards on nine carries, though he added a 19-yard gain on a reception on the Buckeyes’ opening drive.
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