Scarlet Sunrise: Reviewing PFF's highest-graded Ohio State defensive players in regular season

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Reviewing PFF’s highest-graded Ohio State defensive players in regular season

Lettermen Row took a look at the five Ohio State players with the highest Pro Football Focus defensive grades from the regular season.

READ: Reviewing PFF’s highest-graded Ohio State offensive players in regular season

NOTE: A minimum of 100 defensive snaps during the regular season were required to be considered.

1. DE Jack Sawyer (PFF Defensive Grade: 90.0): Sawyer has arguably been the most underrated Buckeyes player this season. His 30 pressures generated are good for second best on the team. So are his 3.5 sacks. Plus, he’s forced two fumbles, defended two passes and — perhaps most notably — nearly doubled his total tackle count from last year (24 in 2022, 44 in 2023). His 26 tackles against the run are the most among non-Ohio State linebackers this season, according to PFF.

2. CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. (PFF Defensive Grade: 86.0): What a true freshman season it has been for Mathews. It started with a 58-yard pick-six against Western Kentucky in Week 3. Then he showed up on special teams. Then he came off the bench to replace cornerback Denzel Burke: first at Purdue and then more extensively against Penn State and Rutgers. Mathews has been targeted 16 times this season and allowed just four catches for 34 yards and a garbage time touchdown, per PFF.

3. S Josh Proctor (PFF Defensive Grade: 81.2): Proctor has enjoyed a resurgent sixth season at Ohio State. He won the free safety competition and showed that he was a different kind of player the moment he stepped on the field at Indiana in Week 1. Proctor swung two games in particular: He got the Buckeyes on the board against Maryland in Week 6 with a pick-six, and then he caused another pick-six at Rutgers in Week 10 that prevented the Scarlet Knights from potentially going up two scores.

4. DT Tyleik Williams (PFF Defensive Grade: 81.0): Stamina is the word that comes to mind when describing Williams’ 2023 regular season. Williams had never played more than 29 defensive snaps in a game before this season. He’s logged at least 30 in each of his 12 outings, reaching or eclipsing the 50-snap mark seven times and even maxing out at 70 against Maryland. Williams has piled up 50 total tackles, more than he recorded his first two years with the Buckeyes combined.

5. CB Denzel Burke (PFF Defensive Grade: 79.1): Burke missed two games, but, before he was sidelined at Purdue in Week 7, an argument could be made for him being the most improved Ohio State player. After an impressive offseason, the Buckeyes’ top corner gave up a mere six receptions over their first four games, according to PFF. He finished the regular season with a 51.1% reception percentage against, allowing 23 catches for 266 yards and one score on 45 targets. Burke’s eight passes defended are tied for the team lead with Proctor.

Ranking impact of Ohio State transfer additions from last offseason

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day brought in 10 players from the transfer portal last offseason, more than he ever had before.

With the regular season in the rear view mirror, Lettermen Row took inventory of the impact of each of those portal additions. Some became starters, others contributed in a reserve role and a few didn’t see the field at all.

Get our impact ranking of those 10 transfers here.

Transfer tracker: Breaking down Buckeyes moves, philosophy in transfer portal

Having trouble keeping track of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal departures?

Lettermen Row has you covered.

The Buckeyes have already seen 14 of their players hit the portal — including starting quarterback Kyle McCord, starting wide receiver Julian Fleming and key running back Chip Trayanum — and there could be more on the way soon.

Follow along here to stay up to date.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 355 days

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