Ohio State true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith dazzles in his first road start, complimenting The Silver Bullets stifling performance.
Dear Fellow Buckeyes,
Ohio State smothered Michigan State in its first road test of the season 38-7. The Buckeyes limited the Spartan offense aside from a 12-yard score after Will Howard’s interception. Jim Knowles’ unit forced three turnovers and bent but didn’t break until the second half when the Spartans were shut down.
Offensively, Jeremiah Smith is all that’s necessary in a sentence. The talented true freshman made a pair of tremendous one-handed catches on the same drive, the second going for a touchdown. Smith propelled Ohio State’s offense Saturday night alongside Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson.
Egbuka hauled seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Smith caught five for 83 and a spectacular score. Henderson ran for 69 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry. Chip Kelly’s and Coach Locklyn’s impact on the running game is the story of the year for the offense.
The evolution and progression from last year to now is evident in the offensive scheme, especially on the ground. However, the rubber meets the road in the upcoming four-game stretch for the Buckeyes. Ohio State hosts Iowa before traveling to Oregon for a showdown in Eugene.
Sandwiched between the stretch is Ohio State’s second bye week before Nebraska’s date in The Shoe ahead of a tough road challenge in Happy Valley against Penn State. Undoubtedly, the Buckeyes must run the football effectively in those games, where we will learn what this team is about.
I am confident in Jim Knowles and the playmakers he has on defense. Caleb Downs is a phenomenal addition, and I’d love to see him play more snaps closer to the line of scrimmage. His tackling ability is among the best in the nation.
The linebackers are where I look for an increased rotation between Sonny Styles, Cody Simon, Arvell Reese, and CJ Hicks. No. 11 can double as an edge rusher with his elite pass-rushing ability, which may be a wrinkle from Ohio State over the next month.
Blake Biscardi, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, is The Silver Bulletin’s Senior Editor and the Creator & Host of the Saturday Cadence podcast, a national college football show. As a trusted voice on Ohio State, the Big Ten, and College Football Playoff since 2016, Biscardi is a proud member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a two-time Graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.