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Ohio State names Players of the Week after season-opening win against Akron

Mark Kern

By Mark Kern

Published:

The Ohio State Buckeyes got the 2024 season off to a good start with a 52-6 win against Akron in Week 1. It was a complete team performance. The offense started a little slow, but showed the big-time potential the unit possesses both passing and rushing the ball.

The defense has been heralded as one of the best in the country, and it delivered. The Buckeyes forced 3 turnovers and allowed only 177 yards of offense.

On Sunday, the team announced on social media the offensive, defensive and special teams Players of the Week. Will Howard, making his first start for Ohio State at quarterback, took the offensive honor.

Howard got off to a slow start for the Buckeyes but got rolling and finished the game 17-of-28 for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. The former Kansas State QB said during the offseason he doesn’t have to do everything at Ohio State, and he showed that on Saturday.

He did a great job of putting the ball in positions where his receivers can go make plays, and that is just what they did. Howard has shown throughout his collegiate career he can make plays, and as long as he doesn’t make mistakes, he should be in store for a very good season in Columbus.

The focus for the defense this season is to cause more big plays via takeaways. The Buckeyes haven’t been great at creating turnovers the past couple of years, but the team put an added emphasis on that, and it paid off in Week 1.

Lathan Ransom had one of the big highlights of the day, as he picked up a fumble and took it the other way for a Buckeyes touchdown. He had 9 tackles, 2 TFLs and the fumble recovery for the touchdown.

Brandon Innis was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after 4 punt returns for 60 yards. He took one of those punts 36 yards and gave the team very good field position.

Some of his best returns were called back due to penalty, but his work with the ball in his hands was encouraging to open the season.

Mark Kern