Buckeyes Notebook: QBs Inconsistent, WRs Flash in Ohio State Spring Game

While the Ohio State Buckeyes showed flashes of their College Football Playoff Semifinal selves from a season ago, they also had some head-scratching moments in Saturday's Spring Game.

Ohio State Buckeyes football held its annual spring game Saturday in Columbus, giving the public their first look at what the 2023 Buckeyes have to offer.

In the Team Scarlet offense versus Team Gray defense format, the latter was victorious 40-31, gaining the majority of their points through three-and-out stops.

However, the offense prevailed on five drives, finishing the day with four touchdowns and a field goal.

Here are five observations from the Buckeyes' Spring Game Saturday.

Kyle McCord had ups and downs

Kyle McCord had a golden opportunity to separate himself in the Buckeyes' quarterback battle from Devin Brown, who missed Saturday's game with a finger injury, but the junior gunslinger did not seize the opportunity.

Much like during spring practice, McCord was continually flushed out of the pocket — but I'll get to that in a minute — while having to force some of his throws.

He did rekindle a nice connection with high school teammate receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., whom he connected with for three completions for 62 yards — the second-most for any Buckeyes pass-catcher.

The Mount Laurel, NJ. native finished 18-for-34 with 184 yards and one touchdown — a late 37-yard pitch-and-catch to receiver Carnell Tate.

Though he couldn't be hit by rushing defenders, McCord was credited with getting sacked three times in the game. He ran the ball nine times, netting -3 yards on the ground.

One of the likely keys to being a successful signal-caller for the Buckeyes next season, though, is ball security, and McCord did just that Saturday.

With the wealth of talent in the receivers room, whoever is under center next season will need to limit turnovers, as McCord did not throw an interception in Saturday's contest.

Carnell Tate continues to flash

This Tate kid is something, huh?

In his first live, simulated in-game scenario, he hauled in three passes for 45 yards and one of the Buckeyes' two touchdowns through the air.

In the fourth quarter, Tate ran a fly route, burning cornerback Jyaire Brown down the sidelines for a 37-yard score that trimmed Team Scarlet's deficit to 10 points.

Throughout spring camp, the Chicago native's stock has steadily risen.

Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline said the Buckeyes' receivers room is "a good six or seven deep" and Tate might very well be one of those names that sees playing time.

Cornerback Denzel Burke said after the game that Tate is "a dog" and has been one of the main players that have flashed this spring.

Tate had his Black Stripe removed after just five practices and has continued his climb toward being the next NFL-bound Buckeyes' receiving prospect.

The Buckeyes' ground game shined

As rocky as it may have been getting there, Ohio State's offense netted 555 yards of total offense — and 223 were on the ground.

Running back Chip Trayanum led the Buckeyes with 110 rushing yards, followed by Chase Brecht's 47 yards on eight carries.

Miyan Williams only had four carries for 14 yards, as TreVeyon Henderson was one of three running backs that did not participate in Saturday's contest despite going through pregame warmups.

Dallan Hayden carried the ball 12 times for 30 yards.

Late in the first half, Trayanum busted a 65-yard touchdown run, weaving through the boundary defenders, capitalizing on good tight end blocking and some poor routes from Ohio State's defenders.

Despite Trayanum's monster day, showing that he is a full-time running back after making the position switch from linebacker, head coach Ryan Day said afterward that Archie Griffin was the best back on the field Saturday.

Griffin returned to Ohio Stadium, carrying a stretch run for 25 yards and into the end zone for the only other touchdown run of the day for Team Scarlet.

The two-time Heisman Trophy winner said on the Big Ten Network broadcast that "I only got one in me and that was it."

Offensive line struggles

Despite the success on the ground, keeping the Buckeyes' next quarterback upright is of No. 1 importance.

The offensive line didn't need to worry about the quarterback physically going down, but they surrendered five two-hand-touch sacks on the game. For reference, former quarterback C.J. Stroud was only sacked 12 times all of last season.

There are holes that need to be patched up before next fall, as the Buckeyes are looking for tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones' and center Luke Wypler's replacements.

Day said on April 7 that he's not ready to say Carson Hinzman has won the starting center role yet, but that he's on his way to it after his competition with Louisiana-Monroe transfer Victor Cutler Jr.

Saturday's outcome, like many other practices throughout the spring, may be a byproduct of newcomers having to block rushers like J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall Jr., among others, but regardless, it would be nice to see the quarterbacks comfortable in the pocket for a change.

Sonny Styles Shines

It's funny, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said he didn't have an exact role carved out for safety Sonny Styles just yet, but that it's coming.

Playing the Bandit safety position — which is responsible for covering the boundary in Knowles' three-safety defensive scheme — Styles showed flashes of his potential as the 12th-best prospect in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports.

At 6-4, 215 pounds, Styles played superb coverage, breaking up two passes — which tied with linebacker C.J. Hicks for the most in the game — while recording the second-most tackles of any Buckeye defender with six.

Expect Styles' presence to be felt in the fall like it was Saturday.

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