Backups who shined in Ohio State’s 59-3 win over Kent State

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

One of the goals for Ryan Day on Saturday was to see his team build a big enough lead against Kent State that he could get his backups in the game earlier than normal. By halftime the Buckeyes were up 35-0 on the Golden Flashes, which allowed Day to sit quarterback Julian Sayin after one drive in the second half.

Throughout the rest of the game there were not only backups playing, there were Buckeyes on the field who don’t normally get into games as Ohio State closed out their non-conference schedule with an easy victory. Some of those non-starters impressed in the blowout, either creating momentum for the rest of the season or giving them a moment they’ll never forget.

Who were the best Ohio State players on the field after the starters started to leave the game? Since there wasn’t a whole lot for us to learn from what guys like Sayin and Jeremiah Smith did, a good way to wrap up the Kent State game is to highlight some of the performances of the backups.

Chris Henry Jr.

Even though the five-star freshman receiver only had one catch in Saturday’s victory, Chris Henry Jr. made it count, taking a Luke Fahey pass 75 yards for a touchdown. The athleticism Henry showed on the touchdown, along with finding the end zone late against Ball State (even if Gus and Joel don’t remember it), is making many Buckeye fans wonder why Henry isn’t seeing the field more.

With Ohio State wide receivers not named Jeremiah Smith struggling to make an impact on the game, why not put Henry out on the field with Smith more often? Right now, opposing defenses don’t really have to fear Brandon Inniss or Devin McCuin. The same might not be said if Henry saw more regular playing time with the starters.

There’s no question Henry is the next star at wide receiver for Ohio State, what remains to be seen is how quickly he’ll be able to earn snaps in game situations that have more pressure than what he has faced against Ball State and Kent State. He has had his share of drops and other mistakes, but the upside is tremendous, and he showed it on Saturday.

Brock Boyd

Another Buckeye receiver who had a strong game was Brock Boyd. The freshman was tied with Brandon Inniss for second-most catches in the game for Ohio State, finishing with four. Of those receptions, the most impressive was a 39-yard pass from Fahey along the sideline. Boyd was so open that as the arcing ball fell into his arms, he had time to make sure his feet were inbounds before pulling itnin.

Much like Henry, Boyd is looking like he’ll be a big part of the Ohio State offense over the next few seasons. The question is how quickly will Boyd be given the keys at wide receiver.

When Henry and Boyd do earn starter roles it will be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators, since Henry can hurt defenses over the top, while Boyd can do damage over the middle, much like Anthony Gonzalez used to do for the Buckeyes.

Luke Fahey

If there were still any questions about who Ohio State’s backup quarterback is, Luke Fahey answered them all on Saturday. Fahey entered the game early in the third quarter and had some memorable moments, finishing with 141 yards passing and a touchdown on his four completions.

While Fahey did throw an interception towards the end of the third quarter, it was essentially an arm punt into the end zone. Half of Fahey’s yardage came on Chris Henry Jr.‘s 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown, but Fahey also did have the aforementioned beautiful pass to Brock Boyd along the sidelines, which Boyd was able to toe-tap for a 39-yard game.

Fahey’s emergence in his short time at Ohio State has shaken up the quarterback room. Prior to Fahey arriving in Columbus, it was assumed Tavien St. Clair would be the successor to Sayin at quarterback. Now it feels like St. Clair could be headed for the transfer portal after the season since he is sitting third on the depth chart.

Jamir Perez

After appearing in his first collegiate game in the season opener against Ball State, defensive lineman Jamir Perez made a memorable play in the second half on Saturday, returning a fumble 11 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push Ohio State’s lead to 56-0.

Although this isn’t an official stat, it is believed that at 349 pounds, Perez is the heaviest player to ever score a touchdown for Ohio State. It’ll be interesting to see how the career of the three-star defensive lineman from Cleveland plays out after thrilling Buckeye Nation with a touchdown on Saturday.

Jason Moore and Will Smith Jr.

Jason Moore and Will Smith Jr. finished the game with five tackles apiece, which were tied for the most for a Buckeye defender against the Golden Flashes. Moore and Smith also split a sack, which ended up being Ohio State’s only sack of the game.

Fox’s Joel Klatt was especially smitten with Moore during the broadcast, highlighting the senior from Maryland’s height and length. Both Moore and Smith could be called on even more going forward since fellow defensive tackle James Smith was carted to the locker room after suffering an injury.

After the struggles of the Buckeye defensive line last week in Auston, it was good to see a couple players bounce back this week. Now the key will be to build off this week’s momentum since Ohio State’s schedule is going to get tougher next week when they step into Big Ten play.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos