Ohio State Offensive Players Preview Challenge vs. Tennessee

Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Various Ohio State offensive players spoke to the media ahead of their first-round College Football Playoff game against No. 7 Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) on Dec. 21 at Ohio Stadium. The No. 6 Buckeyes' (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten Conference) offense will face a Volunteers defense that ranks top-5 in nearly every major statistical category. TreyVeon Henderson, Donovan Jackson and Will Howard spent time at the podium, speaking to the press on Dec. 16.

TreyVeon Henderson, RB

Henderson had a consistent theme throughout his time at the podium. He constantly reiterated the importance of "the brotherhood" at Ohio State. For example, he highlighted a team meeting after the disappointing 13-10 loss to Michigan (7-5, 5-4) on Nov. 30, and said the players came together and moved ahead while still learning from the loss.

"Our focus is on Tennessee," he said. "Not looking behind us, but looking forward."

Henderson is a leader on offense and will be integral in a rushing attack that will look to reestablish some success against the Volunteers after recent lackluster performances.

Donovan Jackson, OL

Jackson has been an anchor for the offensive line this year. The former left guard moved to left tackle mid-year after injuries to tackles Josh Simmons and Zen Michalski. Asked about his comfort at the new spot now as opposed to his first start at the position against No. 4 Penn State (11-2, 8-1), he explained "In a lot of my sets that game, I found myself panicking." He elaborated more about learning the new role in the trenches, specifically noting how he has realized the imperative of patience when blocking opposing rushers in pass protection at the tackle spot, in contrast to the need to instigate quick initial contact at guard.

Jackson also addressed Luke Montgomery's insertion into the lineup to start at the guard position.

"I feel like he's taken a step in the right direction," he said. "We were all kind of waiting for him to take that step. He's had a couple more reps available to him, and he's taken advantage of it."

Jackson will likely line up next to Montgomery on the left side against the Vols, allowing him to help the sophomore even more in his first collegiate start.

When asked about his communication with new starters replacing injured teammates, Jackson said "I've gotten really good at giving motivational speeches." He said he takes pride in being a veteran his less experienced cohorts can lean on.

Will Howard, QB

Howard had his worst performance as a Buckeye against the Wolverines. The game plan did not necessarily help him, but he was clear in the Dec. 16 news conference that he must be better in the playoff, stressing the need to make "good decisions with the football and also kind of just letting the game come to [him] and not forcing things to happen." Howard has made critical mistakes this season with forced throws and mental lapses. Despite those blunders, he has also shown a unique skill to bounce back quickly. After a rough outing against Michigan, he will have a huge stage in the first-round CFP matchup with Tennessee as he attempts to show his resiliency.

Howard showed he is focused exclusively on the Volunteers, emphasizing the point of not looking ahead and stressing that he and his teammates realize Tennessee is a talented team. He was clear about his desire to give everything he and his fellow Buckeyes have left in each game moving forward.

"There's no other option than to just empty the tank and leave it all out here, because this is all we have left as college athletes," Howard said.

Howard expressed how much the rivalry loss hurt but noted the need to move past it and focus on what lies ahead.

"That game, it sucked. It was terrible for all of us. You know, terrible loss," he said. "But man, we can't let them beat us twice."

Adamant that the team is moving forward in the postseason, he acknowledged the team still feels the loss to the Wolverines but isn't allowing the setback to adversely affect their mindset.

Ohio State vs. Tennessee's Defense at a Glance

All Ohio State players specifically mentioned the Volunteers' defensive line and depth. Jackson pointed out how well they rotate and how each player has the ability to affect the game. Howard specifically mentioned cornerback Jermod McCoy and how impactful he is on the perimeter. The defense is very aggressive and Ohio State will need to stay on schedule in terms of down-and-distances.

They could also take advantage of that aggressiveness, which allows more opportunities for explosive plays. The game plan will need to account for that attacking nature. The Buckeyes must also rely on Howard and the offense to execute well, not beating themselves as they did against Michigan. Ohio State seems well-prepared and ready for the task facing the team on Dec. 21.