The Silver Bulletin’s Blake Biscardi shares his takeaways from Ohio State vs Akron, and offers his thoughts on Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith in the Week 1 Edition of Buckeye State of the Union. 

Dear Fellow Buckeyes,

Ohio State football is back, and the Buckeyes had an impressive showing on Saturday against Akron. The Scarlet & Gray defeated the Zips 52-6 thanks to a dominating second in all three phases. The Silver Bullets cashed in two of its three turnovers for touchdowns, one on the ground and the other an interception. 

Complimentary football is a key for the Buckeyes this season, as is getting turnovers. In those respects, there are great things to take away from Saturday’s game. Let’s look at my other three most significant reactions:

1. Will Howard is the right choice at quarterback and Jeremiah Smith is going to be special. 

Despite an 0/4 start, Will Howard solidified himself as the starting quarterback and the right guy for the job. He’s a gritty player with great arm strength and above-average accuracy. Howard’s secret weapon is his legs, which we knew entering Saturday. However, seeing him scramble or on designed runs brought a sense of peace and confidence not felt since JT Barrett or Justin Fields. 

Learning from Ryan Day and Chip Kelly has clearly elevated Will Howard’s game already, and he’ll continue his ascent throughout the season. He found true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith twice for a touchdown against the Zips. Get used to that connection because both athletes have bright futures in Columbus as impact players. 

Brian Hartline deserves so much credit for his talent acquisition and the development of his wide receivers. A constant theme each year is elite body control and ball skills. Smith exemplified his raw abilities on Saturday in flashes. 

One of the biggest keys for Smith was dropping his first pass and then committing a false start the next play. Normally, that sequence would rattle a true freshman, but not JJ Smith. No. 4 finished with four receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. Only the beginning for the young star. 

2. Running Game + Blocking 

TreVeyon Henderson is a dynamic running back with elite quickness and breakaway speed. Add in All-SEC transfer Quinshon Judkins plus the addition of Chip Kelly as OC, and it becomes the most feared room in the country. 

Ohio State will be successful running the football this season. However, the blocking up front will determine how much success. The Buckeyes averaged 5.2 yards per carry, which is slightly above average yet not the number you’re looking for against an inferior opponent. 

The offensive line and perimeter players struggled with blocking assignments in the first half before getting it together after the break. Granted, Donovan Jackson did not play, and his return elevated the offensive line significantly. Ohio State must ride its second-half momentum to sure up the OL and perimeter blocking before its date with Iowa, Ohio State’s first real test, in a month. 

3. The Silver Bullets are locked in.

On paper, Ohio State has one of the best defenses in the country. How well the unit comes together under DC Jim Knowles will determine how good it will be. Ohio State has seen a steady rise up the defensive charts since his arrival and expects to continue the trend in 2024.

Knowles is exceptional in scheme and has elite players in all three levels of his defense. Adding S Caleb Downs and retaining nearly every other player gives the Buckeyes a veteran defensive squad. 

The defensive line put steady pressure on Akron’s quarterbacks all afternoon, while the secondary forced multiple turnovers and turned two into touchdowns. Creating turnovers is a major emphasis for the Silver Bullets this year, as it was a weaker point a year ago. 

Jim Knowles has supreme talent on his defense. Coupled with his scheme, I am confident this could be the No. 1 defense in the country.