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

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

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

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

1. WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (PFF Offensive Grade: 89.9): Harrison’s 13 contested catches this season are tied for 10th nationally, according to PFF. He did have six drops, three more than he posted during 2022, but he commanded a higher target share in 2023.

2. RB TreVeyon Henderson (PFF Offensive Grade: 89.4): Henderson recorded a breakaway percentage of 43.9%, per PFF, good for second in the Big Ten among running backs with at least 50 attempts. PFF defines breakaway percentage as a player’s percentage of “rushing yardage on designed attempts more than 15 yards.” Henderson had a breakaway percentage of just 28.3% in 2022.

3. TE Cade Stover (PFF Offensive Grade: 77.8): Stover posted a reception percentage of 80.4%, the highest of any Buckeyes player with at least 25 targets this season, according to PFF. The two-time captain didn’t have a single drop and caught 41 of his 51 targets.

T-4. QB Kyle McCord (PFF Offensive Grade: 76.4): McCord had only one game without a turnover-worthy play, per PFF, but he was one of the best deep ball throwers in the Big Ten. His 24 completions of 20-plus air yards were tied for second most in the league with Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. While McCarthy completed a slightly higher percentage of those attempts (54.5% vs. 50.0%), McCord posted more “big time throws” (15 vs. 13) in that depth.

T-4. RT Josh Fryar (PFF Offensive Grade: 76.4): On one hand, Fryar gave up a team-high five sacks, according to PFF. On the other hand, his 12 pressures allowed were tied for the eighth fewest among Big Ten tackles with at least 100 pass block snaps, according to PFF. And that’s not to mention his 77.2 PFF run blocking score that was tops on the team in the regular season.

Marvin Harrison Jr. finishes fourth in Heisman Trophy voting

Ohio State superstar wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting Saturday night. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the award, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was the runner-up and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix came in third.

Harrison was the lone Heisman finalist who wasn’t a quarterback. He was also the youngest of the group and the only non-transfer.

Harrison’s trip to New York City signified the sixth straight year Ohio State has had a Heisman finalist. He isn’t leaving The Big Apple empty-handed, either. Harrison became the second-ever Buckeyes player to win the Biletnikoff Award Friday night.

RELATED

• Marvin Harrison Jr. takes a Biletnikoff bow for Ohio State’s ‘Zone 6’
• Three Buckeyes who could gain Heisman buzz, earn trip to New York next season

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.

Ohio State hoops blows 18-point second-half lead at Penn State

Penn State ended its five-game skid and snapped Ohio State’s seven-game win streak with an 83-80 comeback victory in Happy Valley.

The Buckeyes were up by as many as 18 points in the second half. It marked just the second time in the last 10 years that Ohio State lost after entering halftime with a double-digit lead.

Penn State flipped the script in the final frame, beating the Buckeyes at their own game with eight 3-pointers and 10 offensive rebounds in the second period.

For the full game story, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 356 days

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