Dave-Te Draft Sleeper-Jalyn Holmes-DE-Ohio State

JALYN HOLMES
Defensive End/Edge Rusher/Strong-side Outside Linebacker
The Ohio State University Buckeyes
#11
6:04.5-274
Norfolk, Virginia
Lake Taylor High School

OVERVIEW
For any other player, the war cry would be, “what does a man have to do to get some respect around here? Yet, talk to anyone on staff or in the locker room at Ohio State and they will tell you that Jalyn has not only been the consummate team player, but has never voiced his complain about a mysterious situation – having never started any of the 37 games he’s appeared in.

In early July, the Football Writers Association of America announced the watch list for a prestigious college football award - the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented to the national defensive player of the year. The team includes a total of four Buckeyes, including three of their defensive ends.

Junior defensive end Sam Hubbard joined sophomore Nick Bosa and graduated senior Tyquan Lewis - on the Nagurski Trophy watch list. A fourth-year junior from Cincinnati, Hubbard was a first-team Academic All-American last year after recording 46 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss (totaling 42 yards), three sacks and four quarterback pressures. Bosa was second on the team in sacks last year (five) and Lewis, the reigning Big Ten defensive lineman of the year, were previously named to the Bednarik Award watch list, which also is presented to the nation's outstanding defensive player.

Where’s Holmes? Puzzling, for sure, especially when he is considered to be the team’s “fifth down lineman.” Holmes could make a case for his inclusion, but his worth ethic and class instilled in him by his mother, Tasha, would not allow him to voice concerns. Putting aside individual national honors, he strives to return Ohio State to the national; championship picture in 2017.

Still, a strong case for his inclusion for that trophy stands out. All three honored on the preseason Nagurski Trophy list have played more than double Holmes’ 400 defensive snaps in 2016, but if you look at what he accomplished as a junior, compared to that trio, calling him overlooked might be a huge understatement.

Used mostly in short yardage and running situations, Holmes had just two sacks last season, with Lewis the leader of the pack at eight. However, impacting the pocket to chase down ball carriers was Holmes’ specialty. He had at least one stop behind the line of scrimmage in nine consecutive games and in eleven of the Buckeyes’ twelve regular season contests. Bosa’s string of five-straight games with a tackle-for-loss placed second among that quartet. Holmes’ 9.5 stops behind was surpassed only Lewis, who accomplished 10.5 of those hits.

Holmes delivered the final play on nineteen of the opponent’s offensive possessions – the other three combined for twenty total, including eight by Lewis. Holmes also registered eighteen third-down stops, with Lewis trailing next at ten. The junior came out of his area to make five touchdown-saving tackles vs. the run, with Hubbard ranked second at three.

Professional scouts recognize that Holmes is dominant in attempts to split double-teams and always seems to manage to find a way to get his long arms and big hands in the quarterback's face. He is a smart player who recognizes screens quickly and comes off his initial rush move to get to the ball or the sideline. He also displays good awareness to get his hands up in passing lane to knock down passes. Imagine what their report might say if he was receiving extended snaps like the other three.

Prior to joining the Buckeyes, Holmes competed as a defensive end and tight end at Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.) High School, where the two-time All-State selection posted 48 tackles, ten sacks and nineteen stops behind the line of scrimmage as a senior. He added 79 tackles, including 40 stops-for-loss and eleven sacks while also being named Division III first-team all-state as a tight end after he caught 24 passes for 351 yards and seven touchdowns his junior campaign. He also made 60 tackles, five sacks and thirteen stops-for-loss as a sophomore.



During his first two seasons at Ohio State, Holmes was “spotted” by the coaches, combining for 22 tackles that included three stops-for-loss in a combined 24 appearances. Last season, he posted 33 tackles, two sacks, 9.5 stops for minus 44 yards, getting to at least one opponent in the backfield in eleven of twelve regular season games, including a league-leading nine consecutive contests.

As he enters his final college season, NFL teams are keeping a close eye on his continued development. The first thing you notice on film is that he plays with a high motor and has excellent initial quickness to surprise the lethargic offensive lineman. He shows above average balance working down the line and in pursuit. He gains advantage with his change of direction agility, doing a nice job of using his hands and arm extension to avoid low blocks and maintain balance on the move. He is a quick twitch type of player with the natural movement skills to pursue from the backside, shooting the inside gaps.

CAREER NOTES
A valuable “fifth man” for the Buckeyes, Holmes has appeared in 37 college games, recording 55 tackles (23 solos) with three sacks for minus 11 yards, 12.5 stops for losses of 48 yards and five quarterback pressures…Caused two fumbles and recovered another, advancing one two yards, as he also deflected one pass.
Holmes Statistical Breakdown…Holmes was involved in 55 running plays, making six touchdown-saving tackles…Assisted on 28 stops for net yardage totals of eight and posted 25 solo hits for zero yards…Charged with three first downs (one via a penalty), registering twelve third-down tackles, as eight of his stops occurred inside the red zone, including five on goal-line snaps while collecting nineteen tackles-for-loss (solos/assists), in addition to taking down seven runners at the line of scrimmage for no gain…Made the final play on nineteen of the opposition’s offensive possessions…
Saw nine passes targeted into his area, rerouting one opponent away from a pass play, deflecting one other toss…Recorded six third-down plays vs. the aerial game, stopping two receivers from scoring…Added a tackle as a member of the kickoff coverage squad.

2017 PRESEASON
All four starters from 2016 return, giving the unit 66 combined starts with senior Tyquan Lewis the leader with 25 and junior Sam Hubbard (14 starts), senior Michael Hill (14) and sophomore Dre’Mont Jones (12) significantly seasoned. Holmes is a starter, even though he doesn’t have a start. As part of the Scarlet squad, Holmes recorded a solo tackle in the annual spring game.

2016 SEASON
Despite not starting any of the thirteen contests that he appeared in, the junior weak-side defensive end received All-Big Ten Conference accolades, and rightfully so…Even though he did not enjoy the high amount of snaps as the first unit front line players, he recorded 33 tackles (12 solos), the most recorded on the team by a non-starter…Produced two sacks for minus 19 yards and three quarter-back pressures in just 400 defensive snaps…Added 35 more plays with the special team coverage units…While first unit defensive linemen appeared in as many as 882 snaps, Holmes finished third on the team with 8.5 stops for losses totaling 42 yards in less than half that amount of plays (note, during recent film view, our staff charted a running play for a loss of two yards made by Holmes that was inadvertently not credited on his final game stats chart and is currently being reviewed by the school to verify that it is official)…He caused a fumble and paced the Buckeyes with a pair of fumble recoveries…Also broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage…Part of a squad that finished sixth in the nation in total defense, yielding 297.77 yards per game…The Buckeyes placed seventh nationally in pass defense (172.23 ypg), third in passing efficiency defense (94.36 rating) and 19th in run defense (124.54)….The team allowed opponents to gain 100 or more yards on the ground in six contests, but three of those saw Ohio State allow over 200 yards (236 by Wisconsin; 207 by Michigan State and 205 by Clemson)…The Buckeyes still held their competition to just 15.5 points per game, the third-lowest average in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks…The defense also ranked fifth in the FBS for fewest first downs allowed, yielding 120 on 690 carries (17.39% of the attempts) and 135 more on 495 passes (27.27%)…Ohio State ranked fifth-best in red zone defense, as the opposition reach that level forty times, scoring eight rushing touchdowns, seven more through the air and fourteen scores via field goals.
Holmes Statistical Breakdown vs. the Running Game…Holmes was directly involved in 34 running plays that netted opponents minus 13 yards (-0.41 ypc)…On fifteen solo stops, he held those ball carriers to zero yards, the results coming from eleven tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 47 yards…Assisted on nineteen of those running plays that generated losses of 13 yards (-0.68 ypc)…After missed tackles by fellow Buckeyes defenders, Holmes came out of his area to make five touchdown-saving tackles, as he produced ten third-down tackles, making seven of his stops inside the red zone, including four via goal-line plays…In addition to recording fifteen tackles-for-loss (four solos, eleven assists), Holmes too down five ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain…Made the final play on eighteen of the opposition’s 177 offensive possessions (10.17%), despite playing less than half the snaps as the team’s regulars.
Holmes Statistical Breakdown vs. the Passing Game…The junior was involved in just seven pass plays, but he came out of his area twice to registered touchdown-saving tackles, pressuring the pocket three times and rerouting/jamming his coverage assignment away from one incomplete pass.

2016 SEASON GAME ANALYSIS
Bowling Green…Ohio State scored ten offensive touchdowns and rolled up a school record 776 yards in beating Bowling Green Saturday, but was it enough to impress coach Urban Meyer? Maybe not yet, but after the 77-10 romp, Meyer made it clear that he wants to see what his team can do when the competition gets more difficult, especially in two weeks when the No. 6 Buckeyes have to travel to Oklahoma. ''Well, it's one game,'' he said. ''Let's chat in about four weeks and see how we're doing.'' Meyer started the day worried about how his many inexperienced players would perform on the big stage. Thirty Ohio State players were participating in their first college game. Lots of them ended up getting involved in the record-breaking day. The 776 yards topped the 718 yards Ohio State put up against Mount Union in 1930…Holmes contributed two tackles that included a sack to the winning cause…Holmes first tackle for the season came when he defeated a block by left offensive tackle Logan Dietz, angling inside to trip up tailback Fred Coppet at the OSU 41 after a 2-yard run late in the first quarter…Bowling Green was forced to punt late in the third quarter. Holmes fired out of the blocks from the left end position and Dietz attempted to ride him in-line, but the Buckeye got a good hand jolt to escape, redirecting to be the first defender to reach James Knapke before defensive tackle Davon Hamilton joined the fray on thord-& -8 to sack the quarterback for a 10-yard loss back to the opponent’s 24-yard marker. Television cameras zeroed in on the coaches’ booth, where defensive coordinator Greg Schiano was sporting a huge grin after seeing #11 explode into the backfield for that emphatic sack.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#53-Logan Dietz (6:06-313); LOG#72-Ben Steward (6:06-303)…Holmes
Game Impact…The defensive end registered two tackles vs. the running game, as he was the initial tackler on a 10-yard sack during a third-down stop and brought down another ball carrier after a 2-yard gain, making the final play during one offensive possession…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus four yards, with Bowling Green averaging 2.81 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 69 yards, four first downs and no touchdowns on 28 carries (2.46 ypc), as the opponent completed 21-of-44 passes (47.73%) for 175 yards, ten first downs, no touchdowns and three interceptions, finishing the day with 244 yards on a total of 72 plays (3.39 yards per attempt)… Against fifteen Bowling Green offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded two sacks for minus 23 yards, five stops for losses of 31 yards, two quarterback pressures and five pass deflections.

Tulsa…Ohio State overcame a sluggish offensive start, a lightning delay and a driving rainstorm in the second half to beat Tulsa, 48-3. After piling up a school-record 776 yards of offense the previous last week vs. Bowling Green, the Buckeyes didn't score an offensive touchdown against Tulsa until quarterback J.T. Barrett ran in from 11 yards with 9:42 left in the third quarter…Holmes prevented the Golden Helmets from scoring, as he angled inside after exploding off a third-& -goal snap, getting through traffic to take down tailback James Flanders at the OSU 1-yard marker on a running play. Ohio State would hold the line on fourth-& -goal, gang-tackling Flanders to deny the runner room to run, as Tulsa’s offense headed to the sidelines after failing to come away with any points from an 8-play march during first quarter action…Holmes exploded off the snap and blasted past left guard Tyler Bowling and tight end Chris Minter to get into the backfield before clobbering tailback D’Angelo Brewer for a 1-yard loss during a rush attempt at the OSU 39 late during first half action.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#66-Evan Plagg (6:04-292); LOG#72-Tyler Bowling; TE#6-Chris Minter (6:03-247)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered four tackles vs. the running game, as he was the initial tackler on two stops for a 1-yard gain that included one hit behind the line of scrimmage and assisted on two other plays that netted the opponent eight yards on the ground, posting one third-down touchdown-saving tackle on a goal-line play and making the final snap on one offensive possession…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of 0.50 yards, with Tulsa averaging 1.58 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 61 yards, four first downs and no touchdowns on 37 carries (1.65 ypc), as the opponent completed 15-of-32 passes (46.88%) for 127 yards, nine first downs, no touchdowns and four interceptions, finishing the day with 188 yards on a total of 69 plays (2.72 yards per attempt)…Against sixteen Tulsa offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded two sacks for minus 18 yards, six stops for losses of 34 yards, one quarterback pressure and six pass deflections.

Oklahoma…Still feeding off teams from the Sooner state, Ohio State first beat Tulsa by a 48-3 margin and vs. Oklahoma, they went home with 45-24 victory in a game where Holmes delivered two of his three tackles behind the line of scrimmage while also pressuring the pocket once…On offense, the Buckeyes’ Noah Brown tied a school record with four touchdown receptions, a remarkable turn-around for the red-shirt junior that had just five catches and one touchdown during his career…
After he was stalled in attempts to get into the backfield three times during an early second quarter drive, Holmes executed a fake that massive 6:08, 348-pound Orlando Brown “bought into,” as the left tackle moved inside to combat, but the defensive end just looped around to give chase in the backfield on a first-& -goal snap, joining safety Malik Hooker to sack Heisman Trophy finalist Baker Mayfield for a 13-yard loss, dropping the quarterback along the right side of the field, back to the OSU 16. Oklahoma would later salvage some points from that 8-play, 73-yard series by kicking a 26-yard field goal…For the third consecutive tackle, Holmes registered that hit in the opponent’s backfield. Early in the fourth frame, Holmes shifted to strong-side end, using his big paws to push off center Erick Wren to angle inside to take tailback Samaje Perine down for a 1-yard loss on a third-& -3 carry. Oklahoma would go for it all on fourth-& -4 rather than punt, but Mayfield was swallowed by a group of Buckeyes for a 1-yard sack and Ohio State took over…Holmes first took Perine down on a 1-yard run and then jolted Wren, causing the center to stumble. The Buckeye then shot through the gap on third-& -9, almost sacking Mayfield in the end zone for a safety before the frantic quarterback threw the ball away and the Sooner’s punt unit came on the field.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#78-Orlando Brown (6:08-348); LOG#74-Cody Ford (6:03-320); ROT#75-Dru Samia (6:04-305); OC/ROG#58-Erick Wren (6:02-308)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered three tackles vs. the running game, as he was the initial tackler on two stops for a total of 13 yards in losses and one another assisted stop that measured one yard, making one hit inside the red zone and two touchdown-saving tackle – one inside the red zone and another on a goal-line snap…Added a third-down play via a quarterback pressure and made the final snap on two offensive possessions…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus 4.33 yards, with Oklahoma averaging 5.43 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 177 yards, fourteen first downs and no touchdowns on 36 carries (4.92 ypc), as the opponent completed 17-of-32 passes (53.13%) for 226 yards, seven first downs, two touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the day with 403 yards on a total of 68 plays (5.93 yards per attempt)…Against thirteen Oklahoma offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded three sacks for minus 26 yards, seven stops for losses of 30 yards, two quarterback pressures and four pass deflections.

Rutgers…The first units on both offense and defense were not on the field much in the second half, as Ohio State rolled to a 58-0 rout. Holmes chipped in with three tackles, including one from behind the line of scrimmage…J.T. Barrett broke the school record for career touchdown passes with the third of his four scoring tosses and Ohio State's stifling defense forced Rutgers to punt on each of its ten drives, as the surging Buckeyes gave Rutgers head coach and former OSU assistant, Chris Ash, a rude welcome in his return to The Horseshoe with a 58-0 victory. It was also a special win for Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. Prior to joining the Buckeyes program in December, 2015, Schiano led Rutgers University’s football program for eleven seasons and won five-straight bowl games before coaching two years in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers…With the coach’s watchful eyes from the booth, Ohio State's superb defense never allowed the Scarlet Knights to penetrate deeper than the Ohio State 38-yard line. They sacked quarterback Chris Laviano three times and allowed just 33 passing yards. ''They smothered us,'' said Ash, who spent the past two seasons as a co-defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes. ''They played exceptionally well today, so no, they were not better than I thought, and I thought all along they were pretty darn good.''…Late in the second quarter, Holmes played off a block by left tackle Tariq Cole to join outside linebacker Chris Worley in the backfield, as the Ohio State defensive tandem captured Robert Martin for a 1-yard loss on a running play up the middle…A bootleg executed by Tylin Oden was thwarted when Holmes crashed into the quarterback at the Rutgers 17-yard line. On the next snap, Oden was sacked by Buckeyes rush end Nick Bosa, as Holmes flattened Cole on the play in order for his teammate to have a clear path to the quarterback. Cole injured his ankle on the play and was forced to leave the game and head to the locker room late in the third quarter.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#65-Tariq Cole (6:06-323); R/LOT#77-J.J. Denman (6:05-315); LOG#60-Dorian Miller (6:02-294)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered three tackles vs. the running game, as he was the initial tackler on one stop for a 3-yard gain and assisted on two others that netted four yards and included one stop for a 1-yard loss…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of 1.75 yards, with Bowling Green averaging 2.24 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 83 yards, six first downs and no touchdowns on 38 carries (2.18 ypc), as the opponent hit on 3-of-16 passes (18.75%) for 33 yards, two first downs, no touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing the day with 116 yards on a total of 54 plays (2.14 yards per attempt)…Against twelve Rutgers offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded three sacks for minus 18 yards, seven stops for losses of 24 yards, one quarterback pressure and five pass deflections.

Indiana…Maybe the Hoosiers should have examined Ohio State game film better. If they did, they would see that when Holmes steps on to the field, something bad will happen in an opponent’s backfield. Despite seeing less than half of the defensive snaps, the junior recorded a tackle-for-loss in each of Ohio State’s first five games on the 2016 calendar, registering three stops for the third-straight week, but added a new wrinkle, as he also caused and recovered fumbles…Quarterback J.T. Barrett ran for 137 yards and a touchdown and passed for another score in an Ohio State 38-17 victory, as the Buckeyes were forced to rely mostly on its ground game, which accounted for 290 yards, and some tough play by its defense - including a critical fourth-quarter stop on its own 4-yard line following a Barrett inception - to fend off the Hoosiers, who had upset Michigan State the previous week…Ohio State's defense held when it had to, also forcing Indiana to turn the ball over on downs on the Hoosiers' own 33 with 5:22 left and the Buckeyes leading 31-17. Five plays later, Barrett hit Dontre Wilson with a 37-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach…The first quarter ended with an explosive collision, as Holmes met tailback Devine Redding head-on at the line of scrimmage, colliding with the ball carrier with such force at the Indiana 18, that the Hoosiers tailback had to be assisted off the field… Holmes forced Indiana to punt after their next series, as he and fellow defensive end Nick Bosa converged in the backfield to take Mike Majette down for a 3-yard loss on a third-& -25 running play. After the punt, Ohio State took five plays before Curtis Samuel would score on a 5-yard reverse to stake the Buckeyes lead to 17-3 with 3:32 remaining in the first half…In the fourth quarter, it was unfortunate for Redding that he was again attacked by Holmes during a running play. The violent hit sent the already wobbly-legged ball carrier to the ground and the ball squirted out of his hands. Fortunately for the tailback, the bounce of the ball went his way and he was able to recover it at the OSU 5-yard line, but the defensive end did his job by preventing his opponent from scoring. Three plays later, Indiana turned the ball over on downs, with no points to show for having run four snaps from the Buckeyes’ 5-yard line.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#54-Coy Crunk (6:05-293); LOG#76-Wes Martin (6:03-310); ROG#67-Dan Feeney (6:03-309)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered four stops vs. the running game, as he was the initial tackler on one stop for no gain that caused a fumble, taking down another ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain, while recovering a fumble that resulted in a 2-yard loss…Also assisted in taking down a runner on a play for minus three yards, posting two third-down hits, a pair of stops inside the red zone that prevented two touchdowns by his opponent, registering the final play on two offensive possessions…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus 2.50 yards, with Indiana averaging 2.89 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 99 yards, seven first downs and no touchdowns on 40 carries (2.48 ypc), as the opponent completed 14-of-28 passes (50.00%) for 182 yards, six first downs, two touchdowns and one interception, finishing the day with 281 yards on a total of 68 plays (4.13 yards per attempt)…Against fifteen Indiana offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded one sack for minus two yards, nine stops for losses of 17 yards, one quarterback pressure and five pass deflections.

Wisconsin…Don’t confuse Holmes for being an offensive player – he just likes residing in an opponent’s backfield and wreaking havoc, much like he did twice in a 30-23 decision over the Badgers, making both of his tackles for losses. Quarterback J.T. Barrett set a school record and led Ohio State to its toughest win of the season. The do-it-all quarterback threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to leaping receiver Noah Brown in overtime, and the second-ranked Buckeyes finished off Wisconsin with a sack on fourth-& -goal from the OSU 4-yard line for a 30-23 win. "That was a ball game," coach Urban Meyer said. The Buckeyes rushed the field after defensive end Tyquan Lewis sacked quarterback Alex Hornibrook to end the thriller. Just in time too, after school officials warned fans that severe weather was rolling through the area right before the final play…Wisconsin’s opening drive of the second half ended with them punting after five plays. On third-& -7, Hornibrook dropped back to pass. Lining up at strong-side defensive tackle with Lewis on his flank, Holmes executed a swim and then a rip move to barrel past right guard Beau Benzschawel to engulf the Badgers quarterback for an 8-yard loss back at the Wisconsin 30…Back at his customary weak-side end position, Holmes was no match for a pair of Badgers blockers, splitting into the rush lane between left guard Micah Kapoi and All-American tackle Ryan Ramczyk to flatten tailback Corey Clement in the backfield for a loss on the first snap during Wisconsin’s next third quarter series.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#65-Ryan Ramczyk (6:06-314); LOG#75-Micah Kapoi (6:03-334); ROG#66-Beau Benzschawel (6:06-321)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered two stops vs. the running game, as he took down one ball carrier for a 1-yard loss and recorded an 8-yard sack via a third-down snap, making the final play on one offensive possession…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus 4.5 yards, with Wisconsin averaging 5.57 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed a season-high 236 yards, thirteen first downs, but just one touchdown on 46 carries (5.13 ypc), as the opponent completed 16-of-28 passes (57.14%) for 214 yards, nine first downs, one touchdown and one interception, finishing the day with 450 yards on a total of 74 plays (6.08 yards per attempt)…Against twelve Wisconsin offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded four sacks for minus 34 yards, eight stops for losses of 42 yards, three quarterback pressures and one pass deflection.

Penn State…Ohio State not only suffered an upset 24-21 loss to Penn State, their hopes for playing in the national championship playoffs took a huge hit, even though Holmes “hits” in the backfield kept coming at a steady rate. In every game this season, the junior has impacted an opponent to register a tackle-for-loss, even though he is awarded for that effort by playing half the snaps accorded other Ohio State down linemen…Never one to complain about his playing time, Holmes continued his stellar “lunch pail” work mode, bringing an end to the Nittany Lions’ game-opening drive to “mark” his turf. On third-& -6, quarter-back Trace McSorley decided to take off on an option play. Nick Bosa tried to reach the opponent from the slot, but Holmes, inserted at strong-side end, used a strong hand slap to negate a blocking effort by right guard Connor McGovern, as the Buckeye reached into the middle of traffic, latched on to McSorley’s jersey and wrapped his arms around the passer to drop him for no gain on the running play. Having marched 54 yards on eight plays, Penn State intended to salvage some points from that drive by attempting a 39-yard field goal, but the Buckeyes blocked the kick, taking over at their own 34-yard line…Holmes and safety Damon Webb held a little “meeting” in the Penn State backfield later in the first frame, with Miles Sanders their intended target. Playing over the head of Ryan Bates, Holmes pushed the left guard out of the way after stalling Penn State’s intentions to execute a double reverse. Sanders tried to reverse field, but Holmes gave chance and flattened the tailback as Webb piled on, good for a 10-yard loss…In the second quarter, Penn State had a three-& -out series, with Holmes racing past as slew of blockers to take McSorley down on a third-& -10 option run that fell three yards short of a first down, leading to the opponent’s punt unit stepping on to the field.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#73-Paris Palmer (6:07-303); LOG#52-Ryan Bates (6:04-307)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered four stops vs. the running game, as he took down one ball carrier for a 10-yard loss and upended one ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain, along with posting a pair of third-down hits, making the final play on two offensive possessions… Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus 0.5 yards, with Penn State averaging 6.44 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 122 yards, six first downs and one touchdown on 37 carries (3.30 ypc), as the opponent completed 8-of-23 passes (34.78%) for 154 yards, six first downs, one touchdown and no interceptions, finishing the day with 276 yards on a total of 60 plays (4.60 yards per attempt)…Against fifteen Penn State offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded one sack for minus one yard, six stops for losses of 25 yards, no quarterback pressures and five pass deflections.

Northwestern…Curtis Samuel ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 9:43 left to give Ohio State a lead, and J.T. Barrett converted two third downs on the game-sealing drive in a 24-20 victory. Holmes continued to do what he does best – penetrate the line of scrimmage. This marked his seventh-straight game recording a tackle-for-loss this season…If not for the defensive end and reserve cornerback Denzel Ward, slot-back Cameron Green appeared to have no obstacles in his way after snaring a third-& -2 pass over the middle of the field, but he might have felt like a squeeze toy as Ward hit him from one side and Holmes from the other to bring the Badger down at the Wildcats 43 late in the first quarter. It would be Holmes’ first tackle on a pass play for the 2016 campaign…The Wildcats almost tied the game up late in the first quarter, but on first-& -goal, Holmes prevented a touchdown, getting a good push with his hands to knock offensive tackle Eric Olson off balance, as the defensive end grabbed Clayton Thorson in the backfield and safety Malik Hooker nearly decapitated the quarterback as the three crashed to the ground for a 2-yard loss. When that 16-play, 60-yard drive stalled, Northwestern settled for a 33-yard field goal to close Ohio State’s gap to a
24-20 score with 3:31 remaining in the contest.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#72-Blake Hance (6:05-307); ROT#76-Eric Olson (6:06-311)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered one stop vs. the running game, as he prevented a touchdown on a goal-line play for a 2-yard loss and also helped prevent a possible score when he came out of his area to assist in stopping a receiver after a catch on a third-down toss…Made the final play on two offensive possessions…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus one yard, with Northwestern averaging 5.36 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…
Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 148 yards, six first downs and one touchdown on 29 carries (5.10 ypc), as the opponent completed 23-of-44 passes (52.27%) for 258 yards, fifteen first downs, one touchdown and one interception, finishing the day with 406 yards on a total of 73 plays (5.56 yards per attempt)…Against ten Northwestern offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded one sack for minus eight yards, four stops for losses of 17 yards, no quarterback pressures and two pass deflections.

Nebraska…Even when Holmes manages just one tackle in a contest, he makes sure he does it with flare in the opponent’s backfield. His head coach, Urban Meyer seemed to be feeling pretty good about his team in the week leading up to Ohio State's game vs. Nebraska. Despite three previous weeks of tight games - including a stinging loss - spotty offense and a general lack of ''explosiveness,'' the Buckeyes coach exuded confidence. ''No, I've been going to acting school,'' Meyer said. ''I was a mess.''…The Buckeyes expected another tight tussle with the tenth-ranked Huskers. Instead, they scored one of the most dominant victories in the storied history of the program en route to a 62-3 drubbing of the Huskers, as Holmes shifting inside, using a strong hand slap to get by right guard Tanner Farmer and right into the “grille” of Tommy Armstrong Jr. on a third-& -goal situation, as the quarterback had no choice but to throw the ball out of the right side of the end zone to avoid being sacked by the junior, failing to see a wide-open tight end – Cethan Carter- waving his arms before the ball sailed over his head. Nebraska then settled for their only points for the day, kicking a 20-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 72-yard march on their first possession for the game…Later in the second quarter, left guard Cole Conrad was no match for Holmes, who played off the block, spun around and grabbed split end De’Mornay Pierson-El in the backfield on an end-around, holding on as a slew of Buckeyes piled on to record a tackle for a 1-yard loss.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#68-Nick Gates (6:05-2990); LOG#62-Cole Conrad (6:03-309); ROG#63-Tanner Farmer (6:04-299)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered one stop vs. the running game, good for a 1-yard loss and his third-down quarterback pressure on a goal-line snap prevented a possible touchdown, making the final play on one offensive possession…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of minus one yard, with Nebraska averaging 3.43 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 78 yards, two first downs and no touch-downs on 24 carries (3.25 ypc), as the opponent completed 9-of-33 passes (27.27%) for 126 yards, six first downs, no touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the day with 204 yards on a total of 57 plays (3.58 yards per attempt)…Against twelve Nebraska offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded no sacks, five stops for losses of 11 yards, three quarterback pressures and ten pass deflections.

Maryland…After beating then-tenth ranked Nebraska by the identical score last week (62-3), Ohio State poured it on vs. Maryland, going up 21-3 after the first quarter and 45-3 at halftime. Holmes saw his tackle-for-loss string snapped at nine consecutive games, but he still managed to impact the backfield and create a turnover, as he recovered a fumble…Just before halftime, the defensive end stopped tailback Ty Johnson on a 3-yard carry. On the next snap, it was Wes Brown’s turn to tote the pigskin, but he fumbled the handoff and Holmes recovered the ball for a 2-yard loss. Ohio State would then kick a field goal from the turnover, heading into the locker room at halftime with a commanding 45-3 lead, but not before one more big play from Holmes. With just seconds left on the clock in the second quarter, Johnson again tried to run with the ball, only to be met head on by the defensive end, hitting the ground at the line of scrimmage for no gain.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#76-Michael Dunn (6:05-309); LOG#63-Mike Minter (6:03-311)… Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered three stops vs. the running game, recovering a fumble for a 2-yard loss while stopping another ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain…
Made the final play on one offensive possession…Holmes held his opponent to a rushing average of 0.33 yards, with Maryland averaging 1.22 yards per carry vs. the rest of the Ohio State defense… Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 43 yards, three first downs and no touchdowns on 40 carries (1.08 ypc), as the opponent completed 15-of-27 passes (55.56%) for 133 yards, seven first downs, no touchdowns and one interception, finishing the day with 176 yards on a total of 67 plays (2.63 yards per attempt)…Against fifteen Maryland offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded five sacks for minus 26 yards, twelve stops for losses of 53 yards, no quarterback pressures and one pass deflection.


Michigan State…Even though his string of tackles-for-loss ended last week after nine games, Holmes did technically record a stop behind the line of scrimmage for lost yardage via a fumble recovery vs. Maryland. However, midway through the second quarter, he was rolled up on by a teammate in his pursuit of the quarterback, suffering a left leg injury that required him being helped off the field, as his teammates greeted him on the sideline…Before his coaches could count him out, he ran on to the field midway through the third quarter to stunned faces from his coaches. Perhaps that is why those that know Holmes realize they have to “hide his helmet” from preventing him from doing the task at hand…He would again impact an opponent’s backfield vs. the Spartans, adding five tackles while propelling the Buckeyes to a nail-biting 17-16 decision. Ohio State could now move on to their showdown with rival Michigan, but only after withstanding a spirited challenge from a Michigan State team that derailed the Buckeyes' national title bids in two of the previous three seasons…After assisting in stopping L.J. Scott on a 5-yard carry, Holmes quick burst to the line of scrimmage saw left tackle Cole Chewins come out of his stance too early and the Spartans were flagged for a false start. That first quarter series ended with the Spartans punting after Holmes charged into the backfield on third-& -4 to chase Tyler O’Connor out of the pocket, as the quarter-back threw off-balance, failing to reach his target on the pass play…With just four minutes left in the first half, Michigan State was forced to punt again after Holmes helped take O’Connor down on a third-& -10 bootleg that fell three yards short of a first down at the MSU 43…The defensive end assisted in stalling a 2-yard carry by Scott and helped bring MSU’s punt team back on the field at the end of that three-& -out series, as he played off a block by Chewins, and with defensive back-like instincts, mirrored R.J. Shelton on a third-& -3 pass play that fell to the ground, rather than reach its intended target…The Spartans knew that Holmes was not a “serial killer,” but did not imagine that he was a “series killer.” On third-& -20, before the third period ended, O’Connor bolted from the pocket, only to be met by the junior end at the line of scrimmage for no gain, again being forced to punt the ball away. It was not only the fourth third-down stop for Holmes in the contest, but he also took over the team-lead, as it marked his fifteenth third-down stop in ten 2016 games…Putting the “icing on the cake” for his day’s performance, Holmes captured Shelton for a loss on a carry in the backfield in the fourth frame…Record Watch-Holmes’ fifteen stops on third-down plays were the most for any non-starter in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks during the 2016 schedule, with more to come over his next two appearances.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#61-Cole Chewins (6:08-273); LOG#65-Brian Allen (6:02-304); ROT#79-Kodi Kieler (6:06-319)…Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered five stops vs. the running game, two coming on third-down snaps while posting one stop-for-loss and taking another ball carrier down at the line of scrimmage. Assisted on three running plays that netted ten yards and made solo tackles on two others that resulted in a loss of one yard…Killed two other drives on third-down plays vs. the passing game, coming on a quarterback pressure and after rerouting a player away from a pass attempt…Made the final play on four of the opponent’s twelve offensive possessions…Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 207 yards, nine first downs and one touchdown on 35 carries (5.91 ypc), as the opponent completed 8-of-21 passes (38.10%) for 127 yards, four first downs, one touchdown and two interceptions, finishing the day with 334 yards on a total of 56 plays (5.96 yards per attempt)…Against twelve Michigan State offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded two sacks for minus 13 yards, six stops for losses of 23 yards, no quarterback pressures and one pass deflection.

Michigan…In a 30-27 overtime victory thriller, Ohio State not only beat their heated rivals, but also secured one of the four playoff spots to compete for the national championship. In 113 meetings between the two teams, Ohio State never had their starting linebackers all record double-digit tackles, until today (SLB Chris Worley-11: MLB Raekwon McMillan-16: WLB Jerome Baker-15). Holmes also continued his march into the backfield, as one of his two stops resulted in lost yardage as he assisted in taking down De’Veon Smith for minus one yard during a late first quarter drive…
Despite all of the defensive heroics, it was still the “29 Lead play” that will go down in history as how Ohio State beat Michigan in one of the greatest games ever played by the Big Ten's most storied rivals. That's pretty much all Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer wanted to talk about. Everything else about the second-ranked Buckeyes' 30-27 victory over the third-ranked Wolverines on Saturday was almost too over-whelming for Meyer to sort out so soon after what he called an instant classic. It was the first time in the 113 meetings that the teams played in overtime. The entire contest was filled with drama, thrills and controversy. Michigan went away feeling dejected and cheated after Ohio State went home the victors.
Head to Head Competition-LOT#71-Ben Braden (6:06-338); LOG#74-Ben Bredeson (6:05-314)…
Holmes Game Impact…The defensive end registered two stops vs. the running game, stopping one ball carrier for a 1-yard loss, as the opponent netted just a 1-yard gain from those two carries… Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 91 yards, seven first downs and one touchdown on 43 carries (2.12 ypc), as the opponent completed 23-of-36 passes (63.89%) for 219 yards, nine first downs, two touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the day with 310 yards on a total of 79 plays (3.92 yards per attempt)…Against sixteen Michigan offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded two sacks for minus 16 yards, five stops for losses of 26 yards, two quarterback pressures and three pass deflections.

Clemson (Fiesta Bowl)…In perhaps the worst loss in school postseason history, Ohio State was shut out by the eventual national champions, 31-0…For the only time this season, Holmes was held to no tackles…Holmes was penalized for roughing the passer late in the second quarter, but Deshaun Watson was still able to complete a 30-yard touchdown toss to tailback C.J. Fuller to stake the Tigers to a 17-0 lead…He did force Clemson to punt just before halftime, after he pressured Watson into throwing away a third-& -1 pass attempt.
Team Defensive Impact…Ohio State allowed 205 yards, twelve first downs and three touchdowns on 48 carries (4.27 ypc), as the opponent completed 24-of-37 passes (64.86%) for 265 yards, twelve first downs, one touchdown and two interceptions, finishing the day with 470 yards on a total of 85 plays (5.53 yards per attempt)…Against fourteen Clemson offensive possessions, Ohio State recorded two sacks for minus 17 yards, seven stops for losses of 24 yards, no quarterback pressures and one pass deflection.