During Student Appreciation Day on Saturday, when students and former Ohio State players had the chance to observe the football team take part in practice, the Buckeyes’ defense seemed to have the upper hand.
At the beginning of practice, rising sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin was sacked multiple times in 11-on-11 drills, including once by sophomore defensive tackle Eddrick Houston.
It wasn’t just the defensive line that was wreaking havoc, incoming freshmen Simeon Caldwell and Blaine Bradford each had pass breakups in drills.
On a crucial fourth-down play later on in 11-on-11 drills, rising senior defensive tackle James Smith came up with a sack. Smith, the former Alabama transfer, and other defensive linemen, including former North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson, seemed to get in the backfield at will all day.
The Buckeyes’ offense had its moments, though. In one seven-on-seven drill, Sayin flashed his precision and accuracy by fitting a ball into a tight window to find rising senior receiver Brandon Inniss.
Sayin also connected with Inniss later on in practice for a touchdown during a red zone drill.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair had a strong practice. St. Clair connected with former UTSA transfer Devin McCuin, who made a nice move to pick up a few extra yards during 11-on-11 drills.
St. Clair often used his legs and athleticism in practice to extend plays and looked more than comfortable throwing on the run. However, he did make a freshman mistake one play when he attempted to find freshman receiver Chris Henry Jr., but was nearly intercepted by rising sophomore cornerback Miles Lockhart.
Perhaps the biggest play of the practice came during the red zone period. On a fourth-and-goal play from inside the 5-yard line, Sayin extended the play by rolling out of the pocket and threw a desperation pass toward the end zone. Although he may have stepped out of bounds first, rising junior receiver Jeremiah Smith made the catch over projected starters Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Jaylen McClain.
The practice was concluded with a pressure kick from transfer kicker Connor Hawkins. Hawkins, who transferred into Ohio State from Baylor over the offseason, was surrounded by his teammates as he drilled a 36-yard field goal.
