Jack Emerson, BSB: Steele Chambers gets my Buckeye Leaf this week, largely thanks to his play recognition and the speed he ran with to the ball.
Chambers gave the Rutgers offense fits all afternoon, as he near-constantly blew up plays thanks to the aforementioned traits he showcased.
Chambers finished the afternoon with a team-high 11 tackles, two of which resulted in a loss. But, Chambers’ impact wasn’t just felt in the running game as he tallied the second interception of his career during the game’s third quarter. He also added a quarterback hit, showing off his pass rushing prowess as well.
Chambers was at the center of an Ohio State defense that held Rutgers to just 107 rushing yards, an average of 3.0 per carry.
Braden Moles, BSB: There wasn’t a player on the field against Rutgers more impactful than third-year running back Miyan Williams.
His presence was important early for Ohio State, as he got the Buckeyes on the board with a 2-yard score after a surprising start to the game in which the Scarlet Knights took a 7-0 lead. His contributions also came as running back TreVeyon Henderson was a late scratch for Ohio State and did not appear in the game.
But that wasn’t it for Williams. He went on to score four more times on the afternoon, finishing tied for an Ohio State record with five rushing touchdowns on the afternoon. This mark tied Pete Johnson and Eddie George, the only other Buckeye backs to find the end zone five times in one game.
He finished the game with 189 rushing yards on 21 attempts, good for 9.0 yards per attempt, and the aforementioned five touchdowns, highlighted by a 70-yard tote in the third quarter. It was one of more impressive rushing performances in recent history by a Buckeye, and Williams will go down in the record books for his outstanding game.
