Behind The Numbers: The Hot 11

Over the course of the season and in seasons past, we have put it on our members to help determine the top 11 players on the team in our Hot 11 series. Fortunately for Ohio State fans, it is much more difficult to cut the list down to just 11 players rather than be able to get to 11 players.

In an average game, more than 40 players are going to see playing time, be it on offense, defense or special teams. Ohio State often has games in-hand by the 4^th quarter and that allows for Ryan Day and the coaches to get reps for younger players, expanding the number some.

But ultimately, we are looking at the starting 11 on offense and the starting 11 on defense with a couple of key substitutions when it comes to players who are considered week-in and week-out.

We got off to a late start, missing the preseason list as well as after a certain game in November, but still have 14 editions of the Hot 11 to look at. We already crowned our “whole season” Hot 11, but who was a fixture on the list, who made a surprise appearance and what can we gain from looking at the data as a whole?

How many players made the list over the season?

21 different players were voted onto the list over the run of the season. There was a 22^nd entry of “the rest of the offensive line” that we allowed to make the list, even if it did break protocols. 11 players on the list were on the offensive side of the ball, meaning that 10 players were on the defensive side of the ball, a very nice breakdown by our voters now that we can check receipts.

Did anyone make the list every week?

Two players made the list each week with Jeremiah Smith on offense and Caleb Downs on defense. Two more players made it every week except one with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and defensive back Lathan Ransom. Once again, it goes to show the challenge of getting this list down to 11 players on a weekly basis when you have to omit so many solid players and performances.

Who had the highest average ranking?

Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith came right out of the gate in a strong way and ranked in the top three of each weekly poll, except one. Texas took Smith out of that game with just one reception for three yards and the voters dropped him to six for the one week. Smith would redeem himself and move back to No. 1 after the Notre Dame game in the final poll.

How many players held the top spot?

While nobody held the top spot more times that Jeremiah Smith, he was joined by four other players in the top spot for at least one week. Quinshon Judkins, Caleb Downs, Will Howard and Jack Sawyer all spent time at the top. The crazy part of things is the fact that despite being No. 1 for at least a week, Sawyer didn’t make the Hot 11 in eight different weeks, Judkins did not make it in five. Lots of volatility in the list with our voters.

Before they were injured

Ohio State dealt with two injuries to starters this season with the loss of Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin. It is easy for offensive linemen to be forgotten in this type of setting, eyes are drawn to the ball, be it on offense or defense and the linemen can sometimes get overlooked. Neither lineman made the first poll of the season, but Simmons made the next four lists before getting hurt in the Oregon game and still made the following list (Nebraska) as a sign of respect for his contributions. McLaughlin made every list after the first one up until his injury in the preparation for the Indiana game. He made it as high as No. 2 (post-Penn State) and was No. 3 in three other polls.

Quick Hitters

Two players (along with ‘the rest of the OL’) only made the list one time and you might be shocked as to who those players were. Josh Fryar would be considered the rest of the OL in some regards, but he did make the list for the Penn State game. Okay, that one isn’t as shocking, we already said that OL are often forgotten by fans. But linebacker Sonny Styles only made the list once, which I was shocked by. And that is saying something as the person who puts the list together weekly. He got the nod after the Northwestern game.

Will Howard got off to a slow start with our voters, finding himself 10^th or 11^th for the first three weeks and then not making the list after the Iowa game. The Oregon game (the first one) saw Howard make his first leap in the rankings, up to 4^th, but he would slide back down after the Penn State game. He wouldn’t finish lower than 4^th for the remainder of the season.

Eight players who made the first list of the season would be in the last list of the season. Tyleik Williams, Denzel Burke and Ty Hamilton did not make the final cut with Cody Simon, JT Tuimoloau, and Donovan Jackson all finding their way into the final list.

Speaking of JT Tuimoloau, can you believe that he didn’t make the first five lists of the season and missed out on eight of the first nine? Jack Sawyer only made two of the first 10 lists. There is something to be said about turning it on at the right time in the season.

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