On Ohio State tight end Gee Scott Jr.’s blocking and linebacker Chip Trayanum’s kickoff returns: Buckeye Bits

Columbus, Ohio  G.  Scott Jr. never looked more like an Ohio State football tight end than in the third quarter against Arkansas State last Saturday.

   The Buckeyes lined up in two tight end sets, with Scott ahead of Cade Stover on the right side of the line.  Running back Travian Henderson took the handoff and ran toward him.  Scott moved his man several yards out of route, clearing a wide hole through which Henderson broke for a 23 yard touchdown run.

   This could be the defining game of Scott's OSU career so far.  Yet he said he would only give himself a 6.5 or 7 on a scale of 10 for that block.

   I think I made a good move but I have to put my hands up Scott said.  There are many technical things I can do to get better at this.

   Being on the field in the second quarter of the game with only two scores indicates the progress Scott has made in two years from receiver to tight end.  Ohio State coach Ryan Day noted that Arkansas State tried to treat Scott the same way. When he came into the game the receiver adjusted and put a big body on him.

   You have to respect me in the run game as well as Scott said you can't just treat me as a big receiver.  If you want to bring a kid into the game and play against me, I am going to prove one thing and that kid is going to get hit hard out there.

   Scott said he walked off the field Saturday feeling confident based on a completely blocked performance. He must have been self conscious about not getting that reception two years ago.

   The big question was, can I block?  Scott said and I want to prove it. On every occasion I am given that my mindset is to get someone off the ground.

   Receiver Emeka Agbuka said teammates Jackson Smith Njigba and Julian Fleming are moving forward with their injuries and rehearsing this week. Egbuka said they are both working hard to return as soon as possible.  It would be great if they could comes back.  We are glad to have them.  If they can not do that we are focusing on keeping them healthy and making sure we have them for the rest of the season.  As Egbuka played in place of Smith Njigba last week, linebacker Chip Trynum lined up deep for the kickoff return. Egbuka said he could be better than me and told him he was probably the best player on the team.  He was one of the fastest players on the 230 pound team, Agbuka said.  He can turn around like it is nothing. And he is one of the strongest guys in the weight rooms. If that happens to me personally on the kickoff team I do not want to deal with it. Trinum did not have a chance to return any of those kickoffs in the game. When he does Egbuka he thinks he can not stop running until he reaches the end. You do not know how fast he is until he assists Egbuka at that crease. And once he is in the crease nobody on the scout kickoff team can catch him.

   Senior safety Tanner McCallister said Denzel Burke continued to rely on refinement despite his struggles against Arkansas State. He asked what he was doing wrong and got feedback from secondary coach Tim Walton. McCallister, a coach or parent said he was hard on himself. He wants to be great. Safety Lathan Ransom used a current NFL example to express his faith in Burke. You saw that Jalen Ramsey did not have his best first game and he is still one of the best corners in the league Ransom said. Denzel is still the best corner in the country and he's going to show it soon. Redshirt freshman cornerback Jordan Hancock, who missed the first two games with an injury stayed after Wednesday's practice for some extra work.  Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said he expects the cornerback to play Friday.  Rose was unable to practice in the spring due to a broken leg in the bowl.  In the meantime he tried to sharpen other aspects of his game which helped him make the transition quickly.  I was emotional running onto the field at the Notre Dame game, knowing the work I did at Ransom. I did not get to play that first games. I will never forget it. And that inspires me.

   McCallister said the defense is ahead of his expectations. He has been particularly impressed with the play of linebacker Tommy Eichenberg.  Tommy is someone I would not say shocked me but impressed, McCallister said.  Being a linebacker in that defense, you are expected to do a lot of different thing makes a lot of different checks and run around and fill a lot of different spots and he is doing that. Jones watched Kayden Curry play Notre Dame edge rusher Isaiah Foskey on the freshman scout team.  I think it gives us a good look.  Curry had four tackles for a loss in his fourth quarter debut against Arkansas State. She has felt in recent weeks that she is closer to getting her chance.  I felt like I was holding my ground there and getting more comfortable in my position and learning everything and playing without thinking about anything Curry said.