5 KEY Players To Watch For In The Ohio State vs. Akron Game

[Music] well it's been a while since the Buckey have taken the field and I'm so happy to finally say this one day left until it's Saturday and Ohio State College football is back hi everybody Matt Goldman here on the Ohio State football report welcome in if you haven't subscribed come join us if you haven't seen our videos yet thanks for tuning in on today's show I want to talk about the five players I'm watching out for during the opening game between Ohio State and Oregon we talked about a preview in a couple videos ago if you want to see a more detailed preview of both sides check that out but I'm curious for you guys who's your player that you're most looking forward to in this akine game let me know because there are so many different options that we can talk I only named five today but there's plenty there's 22 starters there's plenty of players that are going to play pivotal rules that aren't starting but are going to play significant time there are so many different options that we can talk about that Ryan day has at his artillery so let's get into it and that starts with Carell Tate Carnell Tate who was the number one wide receiver few years ago in the recruiting rankings went to IMG University he didn't have the sophomore campaign I think people expected just because the fact that Marvin Harrison Jr and AAA were on the field and he had to share playing time as wide receiver 3/4 with Julian Fleming who's off to Penn State but 18 receptions 264 yards just one touchdown that really wasn't the goal in mind that Carnell Tade had I know that for a fact because Carnell Tade is as hungry as it gets in terms of wanting to be productive but this is a year where he can take a major step in the right direction for Ohio State as I talked about with the mecca abuka abuka has the year to be wide receiver one and get over 1,000 yards and be that Superstar wide receiver with Marvin Harrison gone we don't have that next Marvin Harrison right now that could be Jeremiah Smith in a few years that could be Cardell Tate this year that could be a Mecca this year but this is the year where a Mecca n excuse me Carnell can get at least 500 yards a lot more receptions and a lot more significant playing time I think that is huge for his de development and there's a reason why Ohio State wanted him so bad and he was down to Ohio State and Tennessee when it came down to in recruiting and on three the website talked about his comparison to who he's like in the NFL I thought this was nice Carell's Tate Dimension Dimensions athleticism and ball skills are similar to Tyler Boyd at the same stage both are Savvy skilled receivers with the ability to win at the catch Point those aren't too bad to think about if you really understand who Tyler Boyd is and how he's become a pretty solid role player in the NFL that's an NFL guy not every guy makes the NFL and if Carell Tate already has that comparison to an NFL guy at just 19 20 years old I'm not too upset about that especially because Carell Tate hasn't really had much to prove on the field yet and if someone's already seen that in the intangibles and what he's done on film and just the short amount of reps he's had I like to hear that so I'm curious from you guys what do you guys believe Carell statline will be in the game I'm going to say about eight receptions 79 yards I know that was very specific but I thought it was going to be it and hopefully my producer thinks something similar to that maybe he thinks I'm an expert after saying 79 not 80 maybe I don't know but I want to hear from you guys and I want you to tell me the exact stat line I don't say a touchdown only because I think Ohio State's going to run the ball when it gets towards the end zone and kind of prove what chip Kelly's been all about in terms of running the ball so that's why I say Carnell is going to have a nice eight receptions for 79 yards the second player that I'm watching out for newly appointed starter Sunny Styles converted from safety now to a linebacker just announced this week by Ryan day and he had a lot to say about sunny it's a change for sunny because he's playing in the box from a low position instead of dropping in so things happen a lot faster but he's re acted superbly I mean he's a guy who has football intelligence he understands the scheme played a lot of positions I think he's going to be great because one of the biggest parts of being a linebacker is you have to know all the pieces around you so you can play fast and sunny has shown a lot of that in Sunny stats last year back up what kind of Ryan Day talked about he kind of was a doit all kind of guy his stats aren't eye popping in terms of big numbers but he was productive all over the field tackles tackled for loss sack Force fumbles this guy was also to play pass coverage at times against tight ends he was pretty phenomenal when you got him out on the field and everyone and everyone excuse me could see his development from when he was just 17 and came into the program and he beefed up like crazy I mean he looks a lot bigger than his fifth year brother Lorenzo who transfering from Notre Dame who's got a few years on him and sunny looks like an NFL player if you were to see him in person this is a major year for him and coming up on the 2024 season Sunny has a chance to be that linebacker that Ohio State hasn't had to be that guy since like James L knas St that's a long time ago I was like five years old when James L nice was the star linebacker for Ohio State everyone knew who he was and now James L ice is the linebacker coach for sunny Styles in this Ohio State Defense so if it's going to be a guy I think it could be sunny Styles in the development he can have in terms of just being now the will linebacker Ohio state has needed in the last few years and he's in a gyals defense sets unlike anything else we've seen in college football again I like to remind you guys if you're not sub because noticing still a lot of people that are just finding these videos which I love I love people want to learn more about the Buckey but hit that sub button if you want to keep learning about the Buckeyes and you want to shove it to Michigan and those fans because they think they can win all the time but we're going to beat them down the subs we're going to beat them this year so I want you guys to stay motivated stay hungry on being the best Ohio State fans you can be and that brings me to my third player to watch that's Josh Fri someone who doesn't stick out to me as an eye popping guy especially box score because as an offensive lineman you don't really have those stats to always back it up he struggled last year he really did allowed five sacks three hits allowed his run block raade was his best grade out of any that I was able to find so I need to find one positive at least to shine regarding joshh fire but the hurries sacks allowed is what really concerns me and when you look at this offensive line that Ohio State's had I talked about a few shows ago I'm not too pleased with the way this o line Looks tegro was just named The Right Guard starting this past week and I think that could flip-flop too this right side of the line from Seth McLaughlin on I don't know how comfortable I really feel with the way they'll play and that's anchored with Josh fryer and Josh Simmons your two tackles anchor your offensive line if you can't protect will Howard's Blind Side that's going to be an issue and especially for Josh frier he didn't show like he was going to be that guy and he really struggled in the beginning of the Season got better as the season went along PFF has him as one of the te top best running blockers in the country I find that kind of crazy to think about only because we really didn't see a ton where I was like where it wowed me and what he was doing with blocking Simmons if anything was more of a guy that I was wowed by in terms of the development and how got a lot better throughout the year but Josh frier doesn't seem to be exactly the guy that Ohio State's had in the past they've had Paris Johnson in the line Dewan Jones they don't have that guy Paris Johnson was a force to be reckon with he was the number one tackle taken two years ago in the NFL draft there was a reason for that that the Arizona Cardinals wanted him so bad Josh frier and Josh Simmons but especially frier haven't shown to be that a guy who I believe will show something different this year is late than Ransom the safety the captain he has dealt with so many injuries throughout his career at Ohio State but I believe it's finally his time to be that lock down free safety that we haven't seen from lean Ransom he's been good he's had moments that he shined in especially in Big Time games at certain moments like the Notre aame games from the last two years but besides that lean Ransom has been very inconsistent but it's not always fault it's the injuries that really hurt him and lean had this to say to the local media on why he decided to come back because lean could have been a third a fourth round pick in the NFL draft but wanted to come back he said this we have three goals here at Ohio State beat the team up north win the Big 10 and win the national championship I still have yet to achieve these goals the next level the NFL that's my all-time dream but I still haven't finished my legacy here at Ohio State with achieving those three goals so made the decision to return a lot easier I chills just reading that because I mean talk about a guy who wants to run through a brick wall right now I want to run through a brick wall just thinking about what he's been able to bring in terms of leadership to Ohio State but in terms of his history and what he's had to deal with at Ohio State it's a lot and for a guy to have that mental toughness after dealing with a lot of injuries and setbacks I love it I'm really excited and these two injuries that he broke his FIB tibia in the 2021 Rose bolt with his fibula and he had a foot injury in 23 but he has had a pretty good career when you really look at the career stats overall he was an honorable Big 10 mention in 2022 in 2023 which was really nice to see for lean Ransom because there's three there the first team the second team and the third team he's an honorable mention we'll take it any day but for lean I think the biggest thing is just keep getting out there and getting those reps and being consistent with Jim n's defense but I love the fact that we have a leader in the locker room like him to be in that DB room that DB's room is getting older there's a lot of juniors in that room but he's a fifth year guy's 22 23 years old he's seen a lot he's been here since covid this guy has been to a national championship this guy has lost to Michigan multiple times he hasn't beaten Michigan either because Michigan didn't play in 2020 Ohio State and hasn't won so this guy has a sour taste in his mouth to win he wants to win quite frankly and I love that about him I want him to win I want the Buckeyes to win why not I think Caleb DS the All-American safety who I've talked about a ton who I think is the best overall Athlete on this Ohio State team is going to make him a lot better one that competition but two Caleb was taught by Nick Sabin the seven time National Champion coach at Alabama before he transferred to Hawai State I believe having those two together to learn from each other to get to know each other to know their playing Styles is super helpful and I think Caleb brings in that greatness presence for not just lean but for everybody on that defense it makes everyone a lot better and that's kind of just Teamwork Makes the Dream workor last guy I will talk about on this video Jack Sawyer somebody who Ohio State expects big big things from this year after a pretty good season I mean he was really good in terms of tackle for loss PFF had him as the highest graded defensive end after the Notre Dame game that week in the country and that was was a big game for Jack Sawyer to show off and do what he needed to do in terms of showing that pure dominance like we saw with Joey Boza Nick Boza Chase young but we didn't get that consistently we got that a little bit in the beginning of the year and then more towards the end of the year the sack numbers were pretty good but I'd like to see a Bucky named Jack Sawyer or jtt but let's stick with Jack Sawyer get about 10 sacks at least double digits I love some double digits Jack Sawyer he talked about his 2023 season and just the way it went he said this my confidence level kept growing and growing when you start making plays it helps early in the year there were a lot of plays I could have made but I was a step away I love that he realizes that he needs to improve and get better I mean what person doesn't want to get better in anything they do in life I believe that with Jack Sawyer you need to have that mentality of I'm the best I'm a local kid I grew up here I know what I'm doing and it's my time to lead it's why he went to go speak at Big 10 media days that's always a big deal for Ohio State to send just three players they send the guys that the team believes well represent what the Buckeyes are all about this guy represents the Buckeyes in the strongest way possible dedicated could have gone to the NFL draft been a second round pick wanted to come back with his brothers play for Ryan day he was Ryan day's first recruit he solidified in the 2021 class first ever recruit Ryan day had which was pretty special he wants to win for Ryan his coaching staff his teammates and for himself and I love that I want to know from you guys if there was a player I didn't mention or that I did mention who's the player you believe needs to prove most on my list and I think it's going to be Josh fire I really believe that I'm curious if you guys agree with me but there were a lot of different answers here because Carell T can really become that great player that we so want him to be but at the same time Josh frier needs to step up on that right side Jack Sawyer he could be that guy that's all for now Ohio State game day tomorrow get hyped oh we'll see you next time go box [Music]