After the Buckeyes big win over the No. 1 Texas Longhorns 14-7 to open up the season, they know turn their attention to the Grambling State Tigers, who won their opener 55-7 over NAIA Langston.
Here are five things to know about the Grambling State Tigers…
Czavian Teasett makes the team go
Southern transfer Czavian Teasett finished their opening game completing 20-of-25 passes for 210 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Teasett is a great thrower of the football, and the Ohio State front will have to get some pressure on him
early so that he isn’t able to get comfortable throwing in the pocket.
In the opener, Grambling State defeated Langston from the NAIA, 55-7, after going down 7-0 to open the game. Teasett will look to keep the momentum from that game, and hope it translates at least a little in Columbus.
The Tigers were in the top quarter of the SWAC in scoring
Even with the Tigers going 5-7 last season, they finished third in the conference in scoring, averaging 24.7 points per game. Despite a below average running game, the Tigers were able to put some points on the board with 37 touchdowns and 13 field goals.
This year, Grambling State added two solid running backs along with Teasett, and scored 55 points in their first game, so they won’t be taken lightly by the Buckeyes.
However, they didn’t run the ball well
The rushing attack for the Tigers was not great last season, as they ranked No. 10 out of the 12 teams in the SWAC conference, averaging only 111.7 yards per game. Only Bethune-Cookman and Mississippi Valley State were worse.
They added some new weapons this offseason, however, and had a huge first game.
But they ran all over the field in the opener
Tre Bradford, Clyde McClendon Jr., Andre Crews and Byron Eaton Jr., make up the new Tigers backfield and, as a group, ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns on 43 carries in the win over Langston.
The Buckeyes will need to slow down this rushing attack early on and put the majority of the pressure on Teasett’s arm, since Ohio State’s back seven will really make it hard on the Tigers pass catchers.
The Grambling State Tigers Marching Band is world famous
The Grambling State Tigers Band is world famous, as they performed at halftime of Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II. They returned for Super Bowl XXXII as part of a Motown lineup.
They’ve played in the inauguration parade of three United States Presidents, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, plus the inauguration of President William R. Tolbert in 1972.
They have also appeared in Coca-Cola commercials and movies throughout the past 40 years.
