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Only once in Ohio State history has a kickoff returner ever had more yards in a game than Emeka Egbuka against Maryland.
Egbuka returned Maryland’s four kickoffs in Saturday’s game for 166 yards, the second-highest ever recorded by an individual Ohio State player in a single game. Only Carlos Snow, who had 213 yards on five kickoff returns against Pittsburgh in 1988, has ever had more.
The real first-year wide receiver, who has been Ohio State’s main kick-off returner since Game 2 of the season, provided a spark in the kick-off return game the Buckeyes have been missing for years. years. For the season, he’s now gained 275 yards – already the biggest by an individual Buckeye since Parris Campbell in 2017 – on just eight returns, averaging over 34 yards per returner.
Ryan Day is not surprised by Egbuka’s early successes.
“I have to give Emeka credit because his approach has been very mature,” Day said after the Ohio State 66-17 win. “Not quite like a freshman.”
Ohio State still hasn’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown since Jordan Hall in 2010, but Egbuka came close in the second quarter of Saturday’s game, when he returned a 67-yard kickoff to Maryland’s 29-yard line. Egbuka also recorded returns of 46 and 33 yards in Saturday’s game.
Let us tell you something you already know:
12 is going to be special.@emeka_egbuka // @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/IymxowNJpq
– Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 9, 2021
He hopes to end the 11-year kickoff return hit drought in Ohio State in the near future.
“I feel like it’s definitely going to happen, something I just have to keep going,” Egbuka said. “We know we’ll be opening one soon.”
Egbuka, who was ranked No.10 in the recruiting class of 2021, has a combination of speed and liveliness that makes him a threat to make a big play whenever the ball is in his hands. Of course, he can’t do it on his own; Egbuka said one of the main reasons he has enjoyed rapid success as a kickoff returner is because he gets “amazing blocks” from his teammates.
“You can’t just come back on your own, you need a really good unit in front of you, and I think these guys have worked a lot and we’ve seen where it’s been one or two guys who can- be haven’t completed their block and that would have been at least on the kicker, and we got there today, ”Day said. “It really turns the tide for us. Bringing the ball to midfield is huge. But that’s everyone involved. There are a lot of guys on this kickoff comeback who deserve credit. ”
Egbuka believes the Buckeyes’ kick-off return unit is just beginning.
“Our mindset is to return every kick if we can if we have the chance, so we are always looking to open one,” Egbuka said. “We know we have the best kickoff comeback in the country, and we’re here to prove it.”
Coombs gets the game ball
The Ohio State defense had another strong performance against Maryland, holding the Terrapins – who averaged 32.6 points and 469.6 yards per game – to just 17 points on 335 yards. The Buckeyes’ defense has clearly improved since Matt Barnes took over defensive duties from Kerry Coombs and revamped the defensive plan following Ohio State’s loss to Oregon, and Saturday was another step in the right direction. because the Buckeyes also had two interceptions. , including a 70-yard six pick by Craig Young to score a defensive touchdown for a fourth straight game.
Just because Coombs no longer calls for punches doesn’t mean he isn’t playing a role in Ohio State’s defensive improvement, and Day wanted to make that clear after Saturday’s game.
He did so by giving Coombs the game-winning ball.
“Kerry Coombs got the ball for the game, and it’s because of everything he’s been through in the last two weeks,” Day said. “And he continues to show up every day. He’s a big part of the defense.
Coombs has been the only full-time defensive coach in the press box during games since Barnes came down to the pitch to call the defense, and Day said Coombs had done a great job providing information to the rest of the staff. of the stand. . And although his responsibilities have been reduced, defensive players at Day and Ohio State say Coombs has been more committed to his job than ever.
“He’s been through a lot, but nothing has changed with him,” said linebacker Cody Simon. “Every day he arrives with the most energy, he’s always ready to go, always helping the defense 24/7. I appreciate him because everything is not going in your direction, but he held on. bang and he always does his thing, so we just like Coach Coombs.
Day congratulated Ohio State’s four full-time defensive coaches – Barnes, Coombs, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebacker coach Al Washington – for their efforts to improve the defense during the month. latest. He believes the synergy between them has improved every week, and it shows in the results of the defense on the pitch.
“I think (Coombs) does a great job seeing him from the box, I think Matt does a great job calling him, I think Larry does a great job with his guys up front, Al Washington starts off to build some stability at the linebacker and these guys who are all working together are starting to see it through one lens, and you can feel it there, “Day said.” The confidence is there, it’s strong. We are. We still have a lot of football to play and some really good opponents here in the second half of the season, so we haven’t done anything yet, but we’re building on it.
Day full of hope that Garrett can come back after goodbye
Even though Ohio State had a 49-10 lead after scoring in their first two shots of the third quarter, the Buckeyes decided to hold onto their starting defense in the game for another series. However, it became easy for Ohio State fans to question that decision when star defensive tackle Haskell Garrett fell with an apparent injury.
Garrett had to be helped all the way to the sideline and into the med tent after the injury, which looks like it could be serious. A more positive sign, however, came when Garrett was finally able to get out of the medical tent and return to the Ohio State bench rather than go to the locker room.
Haskell Garrett had to be helped off the field after injuring himself late in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against Maryland.
Day said after the game that Garrett was already suffering from an injury before Saturday’s game. That said, he will have some time to rest as the Buckeyes will be out next weekend before playing their next game in Indiana on October 23, and Day has expressed hope that Garrett will be able to play against the Hoosiers.
“We’ll see,” Day said. “This is something he struggled with, so hopefully we can cure him during the week off.”
Garrett wasn’t the only key Ohio State defense player to be injured against Maryland, as cornerback Cameron Brown also left the game in the second quarter after putting a knee to his helmet the whole time. by making a tackle on the sideline. Brown did not return to the game and no status update was provided after the game, but he was seen coming out of the locker room after the game, indicating he was able to stay at the stadium despite his apparent injury in the head.
Ohio State left-back Thayer Munford also left the game for part of the first quarter with an apparent leg injury after curling up, but he was eventually able to return to the game in the second quarter.
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