The Buckeyes’ big man in the trenches is delivering impact plays that show up on the stat sheet.
According to Pro Football Focus’ grades, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was graded as Ohio State’s top rated player in both the Buckeyes’ games against Texas and Grambling State.
McDonald, a Suwanee, Georgia native, posted an 82.4 rating in the Buckeyes’ 14-7 Week 1 win over the Longhorns, then elevated his play against the Tigers with a 93.6 rating — once again leading all Buckeyes.
Through two games, the junior defensive tackle has notched 11 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and added a forced fumble for Ohio State.
In Week 1, defensive tackle Will Smith Jr. (80.7) and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. (78.0) followed McDonald in player ratings, while Week 2 saw tight end Jelani Thurman (93.0) and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (88.1) finish as Ohio State’s second- and third-highest graded performers.
