Buckeye Leaves: Bo Jackson, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Sonny Styles Play Part In 48-10 Win Over UCLA

The Buckeyes improved to 10-0 with a 48-10 win over UCLA in primetime on Saturday. As has been the case many times for the Buckeyes this season, many players have likely been deserving of Buckeyes Leaves in the victory.

Here’s the three players who the BSB staff is giving Buckeye Leaves:

Sam Cipriani: For his team-leading seven-tackle performance in No. 1 Ohio State’s victory over UCLA, I’m giving my Buckeye Leaf to senior linebacker Sonny Styles. The Pickerington, Ohio, native anchored the Buckeyes defense throughout the night, serving a vital role manning the middle of the field for Ohio State.

Styles’ most impactful moment of the night came on UCLA’s final drive of the first half. On second-and-15 with just over a minute to play in the half, the Buckeyes captain took down Bruins running back Anthony Woods for a 1-yard loss to force a third-and-16.

Bobby Gorbett: My Buckeye Leaf is going to Lorenzo Styles Jr., the man who had Ohio State’s first kickoff return touchdown in 15 years.

Styles, Ohio State’s starting nickel cornerback, made the explosive special teams play in the third quarter when the Buckeyes were leading 34-7. Styles started his return a few yards into the endzone and cut across the field to find a wide-open hole in the Bruins’ kick coverage.

Styles’ speed was no match for UCLA kicker Mateen Bhaghani, and he was able to cruise into the end zone for Ohio State’s first kick return touchdown since former Ohio State running back Jordan Hall had an 85-yard kick return touchdown during Ohio State’s 37-7 win over Michigan in 2010.

Styles also had a solid performance defensively. The 6-1 cornerback had five total tackles, which was tied for the second most on the team.

Greg Wilson: I’m giving my Buckeye Leaf to freshman running back Bo Jackson, who was a major part of getting Ohio State’s run game going in the past few games. He shouldered the load for Ohio State’s ground game against UCLA, getting 15 carries in the game.

He also took the role of the injured CJ Donaldson Jr. when the Buckeyes made it to the goal line in the first quarter, and it took just one handoff for Jackson to walk into the end zone for his third touchdown of the season.

He finished the game with 112 yards on 15 carries (7.5 yards per carry) and the score.