Ohio State Football: Five takeaways from the Spring Game

Apr. 18—The Team Gray defense defeated the Team Scarlet offense 35-26 in Ohio State's Spring Game on Saturday, April 18. Here are five takeaways from the game:

The weather is undefeated

Shortly after the start of the game the rain arrived and was a constant throughout the rest of the game, limiting what the Buckeye offense was able to accomplish. Despite the dreary conditions, 40,240 fans braved the weather to watch the Ohio State scrimmage.

Defense wins the day

As the final score indicates, the defense put together a dominant performance. Ohio State did limit its starters and top running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West were out completely. The weather played a role as well, but after the first few drives the defense kept making plays to battle back onto the scoreboard. Beau Atkinson intercepted a tipped pass from starting quarterback Julian Sayin, Kenyatta Jackson recorded a pair of sacks and the defense pitched a shutout through the entire second and third quarters.

Tavien St. Clair steps up

This is still returning starter Sayin's team, but St. Clair played with poise and showed his potential. The redshirt freshman from Bellefontaine connected on a trio of long throws, including a 40-yard touchdown strike to freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. St. Clair finished 9-of-21 for 166 yards and a TD. Sayin was 8-of-15 for 82 yards and a rushing score.

Chris Henry Jr. looks legit

Henry made a leaping grab down the sideline in his first drive of the game for a 34-yard reception and followed up that highlight with a 40-yard TD from St. Clair late in the first quarter. With returning starters Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss sure to get playing time, as well as transfer Devin McCuin, Henry made a solid case to see the field on Saturdays.