Kent State was never going to threaten Ohio State, so becoming a bug on the Buckeyes’ windshield was no surprise.
The question is what good comes from a 59-3 thrashing against an overmatched Mid-American Conference opponent? Renewed confidence, for one thing. After collapsing against Texas, Ohio State needed to scrub the effects of that 100-degree fiasco. The Buckeyes piled up 470 yards of offense and got a big-man touchdown from freshman defensive tackle Jamir Perez.
Mission accomplished.
Jay Timmons eases pain of losing Caleb Downs
The player Ohio State lost to the NFL who was going to be irreplaceable this season? I voted for safety Caleb Downs, who was indispensable not only for his talent but also his leadership and professionalism.
Who would have thought a true freshman defensive back
would prove me wrong? I can’t yet speak for Jay Timmons’ leadership, but his talent is off the charts, and he plays the game like a steeled veteran.
Timmons’ stats against Kent State were not amazing – just one tackle – but he was a defensive force all the same while patrolling the secondary and pressuring KSU quarterbacks.
Timmons and Downs don’t play the same position – Earl Little Jr. had done an admirable job replacing Downs at strong safety – but like Downs he is the motor that runs the defense. Certainly, linebackers Sonny Styles Jr. and Arvell Reese were exceptional last season, but Downs was the Dude among dudes. And Timmons is on his way to becoming the next Downs.
Buckeyes actually have more than Jeremiah Smith at WR
Just when you thought Ohio State’s wide receiver group was a one-man show (Jeremiah Smith) the Buckeyes came out wanting to prove otherwise. After collecting just two catches against Texas, wideouts not named Smith doubled that output barely seven minutes into the game. Brandon Innis and Devin McCuin each caught two passes, as did Smith, who finished with five catches. Innis and freshman Brock Boyd each had four, Phillip Bell three and McCuin two.
And then there was Chris Henry Jr, who turned a medium-range throw from backup quarterback Luke Fahey into a 75-yard shake-and-bake touchdown in the fourth quarter, which will only fire up fans who think Henry Jr. should see more action.
Jeremiah Smith snags record from underappreciated WR
Smith’s second catch of the day, a 23-yard reception, broke the school career receiving yards record (2,898) held by Michael Jenkins since 2003. Smith is all-world; I rank him among OSU’s top-five all-time, joining Cris Carter, David Boston, Terry Glenn and Marvin Harrison Jr. But it also is worth honoring the player he passed.
Jenkins was a three-year starter who made some of the biggest catches in program history, including being on the receiving end of Holy Buckeye and gaining 17 yards on fourth-and-14 in overtime of the 2003 national championship win against Miami.
Jenkins was a pleasure to cover, and remains all class, as proved by the congratulatory message he delivered to Smith on the stadium video board when the record fell.
Buckeyes red zone offense glitches
For those looking for OSU offensive trouble, it was easy to spot midway through the second quarter. After Riley Pettijohn’s interception, the Buckeyes had first-and-10 on Kent State’s 13-yard line. Easy six points, right?
Not so fast. Sayin overthrew tight end Christian Bennett on first down, followed by a 5-yard run by Ja’Kobi Jackson to make it third-and-5. Sayin and Boyd then appeared to have a communication mixup, with Sayin throwing to the corner of the end zone while Boyd ran his route to the middle for an ugly incompletion. Rather than give kicker Connor Hawkins easy target practice with a 25-yard field goal attempt, Ohio State went for it on fourth-and-5, but turned it over on downs when Sayin was sacked.
For optimists, it should be noted that OSU was otherwise perfect in the red zone, finishing 5 of 6. For pessimists, through three quarters the Buckeyes were 0-7 on third down.
Rubbing it in or needed target practice?
Ohio State led 28-0 with three seconds left in the half when, on first-and-10 from the KSU 49-yard line, Day opted to throw deep rather than take a knee. Sayin evaded the rush, rolled to his right and launched a heave into the end zone, where Brandon Innis hauled it against shoddy coverage.
I had no problem with the call, because OSU might need to complete a Hail Mary at some point this season, so might as well practice converting one. This wasn’t Oregon leading Portland State 84-0 and still trying to score, as was the case Sept. 18 in Eugene.
Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at @rollerCD.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Instant Ohio State opinions: Jay Timmons looks like a star; other WRs step up
