The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473191
THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 133 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE By all accounts, Ohio State had a fantastic 2021 season. The Buckeyes earned a Rose Bowl berth and beat Utah in the prestigious game, won 11 contests and finished ranked fifth nationally by the coaches. However, the results didn't meet the pro- gram's lofty, football-factory standards. Last year marked just the second time since 2011 that the Buckeyes won less than 12 contests and also snapped their four-year Big Ten title streak. They also lost to archrival Michigan — 42-27 in Ann Arbor — for the first time since 2011. Fourth-year head coach Ryan Day had a prolific offense that led the nation in both yards per game (561.2) and points per outing (45.7) with a Heisman finalist at quarter- back in C.J. Stroud, two top-11 NFL Draft picks at receiver in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, and a second-team All-Big Ten run- ning back in freshman TreVeyon Henderson. Defense was the issue for the Buckeyes, who yielded 372.6 yards per game (59th na- tionally), 22.8 points per contest (38th) and 5.3 yards per play (43rd). No more than two weeks after the team was beat down by the Maize and Blue, Day made the call to fire defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs and replace him with Jim Knowles, the architect of some stellar Okla- homa State units. Knowles' groups improved each of his four seasons in Stillwater, and his 2021 de- fense led the Big 12 and slotted in the na- tion's top five in sacks (first), tackles for loss (second), third-down defense (second), total defense (fifth) and rushing defense (fifth). The new coordinator has vowed to instill more physicality into a Buckeyes defense that allowed 200-plus rushing yards four times last season, including 297 to U-M, and be more multiple in its fronts and coverages. OSU has six returning starters on defense, and six out of the team's seven leading tack- lers from last season are back. The group is led by junior safety Ronnie Hickman, a second-team All-Big Ten choice. He topped the team with 99 tackles and also added 2 interceptions. Seventy-six percent of OSU's tackles for loss were made by players who are still on the roster, led by senior defensive end Zach Harrison, who made 8 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Despite losing Wilson and Olave, the of- fense is primed to be stellar again. Last season, Stroud completed a school- record 71.9 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns with just 6 inter- ceptions. And given that the Buckeyes' offense was still lethal in the Rose Bowl, a game in which the receiver duo opted out, they likely won't have any problem scoring points. Junior Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the squad in receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606) with 9 touchdowns. He stepped up against Utah, setting Rose Bowl records with 15 receptions for 347 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Sophomore wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. also caught 3 touchdown passes in the game (on 6 catches for 71 yards) and is expected to step into a starting role in 2022. Three starters are back on an offensive line that allowed just 48 tackles for loss (fifth in the country) and 17 sacks (tied 14th). Notes Head coach Ryan Day has lost just one Big Ten game during his tenure … Ohio State saw 14 of its players land on Athlon Sports' preseason All-Big Ten teams, the most out of any school, and three more than U-M … The Buckeyes return the 25th-most production in the country per ESPN.com. ❑ Buckeyes Hope Major Changes On Defense Pay Off 2022 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2021 Result Sept. 3 NOTRE DAME — Sept. 10 ARKANSAS STATE — Sept. 17 TOLEDO — Sept. 24 WISCONSIN — Oct. 1 RUTGERS W, 52-13 Oct. 8 at Michigan State W, 56-7 Oct. 22 IOWA — Oct. 29 at Penn State W, 33-24 Nov. 5 at Northwestern — Nov. 12 INDIANA W, 54-7 Nov. 19 at Maryland W, 66-17 Nov. 26 MICHIGAN L, 42-27 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: C.J. Stroud, R-So., QB His 10.1 yards per pass attempt ranked second in the country in 2021 … Was named a third-team All- American, first-team All-Big Ten and the conference's offensive player of the year. Defense: Zach Harrison, Sr., DE He was a second-team All-Big Ten pick by the media and third-team choice by the coaches last fall. GAME 12 • OHIO STATE BUCKEYES • NOV. 26 • 12 P.M. (FOX) QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 59-52-6 First Meeting: U-M 34, OSU 0 (Oct. 16, 1897 at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 42, OSU 27 (Nov. 27, 2021 at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Ryan Day, 34-4 (4th full year) at OSU and overall 2021 In Review: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten (2nd East) Final 2021 Ranking: 6th in Associated Press, 5th in coaches Returning Starters: 15 (6 offense, 6 defense, 3 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2021 (Rose Bowl vs. Utah, W 48-45) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: C.J. Stroud (4,435 yards, 44 TDs) Rushing: TreVeyon Henderson (1,248 yards, 15 TDs) Receiving: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,606 yards, 9 TDs) Tackles: Ronnie Hickman (99) Sacks: Tyleik Williams (5) Interceptions: Ronnie Hickman (2) Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 95 receptions and 1,606 receiving yards in 2021 set single- season records at OSU. PHOTO BY JEREMY BIRMINGHAM/LETTERMEN ROW