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Three Ohio State Football players who will look to tame the Tigers

By Chip Minnich

Oct. 14, 2023; Lafayette, In., USA;Ohio State Buckeyes running back Dallan Hayden (5) is pursued by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Sanoussi Kane (21) during the second half of Saturday's NCAA Division I football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in Lafayette.
Oct. 14, 2023; Lafayette, In., USA;Ohio State Buckeyes running back Dallan Hayden (5) is pursued by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Sanoussi Kane (21) during the second half of Saturday's NCAA Division I football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in Lafayette. /
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The major news announcement of Kyle McCord entering his name into the transfer portal on December 4th has completely and understandably overshadowed anything else related to the upcoming Cotton Bowl game versus Missouri on December 29th. As Ohio State football fans try to warm up to the non-playoff atmosphere of this bowl game, it has led me to ask the following question – who are some of the players who may figure prominently in the Ohio State game plan?

Below are three players who have played for Ohio State in 2023, but could be heavily featured against Missouri. In the final days of the 2023 season, the Cotton Bowl may offer a glimpse of what fans can look forward to with the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes.

1. Carnell Tate~ Tate has caught 17 passes for 260 yards and 1 touchdown this season as a true freshman. For the casual football fan, they might not be overly impressed. As Ohio State football fans will be quick to point out, Tate’s statistics are impressive, considering his status as a true freshman, as well as how he is playing on a team featuring Marvin Harrison, Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming.

While Harrison and Egbuka have not yet, as of this writing, declared intentions of sitting out the Cotton Bowl, Julian Fleming has also announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. Like Marvin Harrison, Jr. demonstrated in the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah, Tate has the potential and talent to emerge as Ohio State’s top wide receiver option heading into the 2024 season.

2. RB Dallan Hayden ~ Similar to what I have written above about Marvin Harrison, Jr., and Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson has not yet announced his intentions about the Cotton Bowl or a possible early entry into the 2024 NFL Draft.

If Henderson does decide to sit out the Cotton Bowl, the opportunity is ripe for Dallan Hayden to start at tailback for the Buckeyes. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has been vocal about the desire to redshirt Hayden this season, and the Cotton Bowl would not impact Hayden’s redshirt status. Hayden had a strong game earlier this season at Purdue (11 carries for 76 yards and 1 touchdown), and could be a big part of the game plan versus Missouri.

3. CB Jermaine Mathews, Jr. ~ Another true freshman who has impressed in limited playing time, Mathews could be the beneficiary of a possible 2024 NFL Draft decision by Denzel Burke, as well as the transfer portal decisions by Ryan Turner and Jyaire Brown. If Burke decides to sit out the Cotton Bowl, Mathews could earn a start at cornerback and put himself in a good position to claim a starting role on the 2024 Ohio State defense.

Next. 3 OSU players who probably won't return in 2024. dark

We’ll see if the Ohio State football team can win the game.

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