Brown the “X” factor for Buckeyes against Tigers?
Redshirt freshman quarterback Devin Brown stiff arms a Youngstown State defender in their game on Sept. 9. Picture by Sam Fahmi/Columbus Wired.
When No. 7 Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) squares up against No. 9 Missouri (10-2, 6-2 SEC) in the 88th annual Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night, the Buckeyes will be relying on Devin Brown to get the job done, who will make his first-ever start under center.
This is the 13th meeting between the two schools with this game being the first in a bowl matchup. Ohio State won the last two games, 31-10 and 35-14 in 1997 and ‘98, respectively - and owns the all-time record, 10-1-1.
Undoubtedly, this is the biggest start for the redshirt freshman. Now, he’s being asked to come in on snap number one of OSU’s first offensive possession and take the reigns in what is definitely the biggest game of his career up to this point.
So can it be said that Brown will be the “X” factor for the Buckeyes?
For Brown, this game is just old hat.
“Obviously, there’s going to be a little bit of pressure with the game (and) even my family was asking me, ‘are you nervous for this game?’ and this and that. And I’m like, ‘I’ve been playing this game since I was seven years old. It’s the same game, just in a bigger stadium,” Brown said on Wednesday.
It’s not like Brown is going to be a total nube in his first time as the main signal caller. He played in five games this year and went 12-of-22 through the air for 197 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and ran the ball 19 times for 35 yards with one TD and one fumble.
A majority of those stats came in both the Western Kentucky and Purdue games, where he went 7-of-13 passing for a season-high 101 yards but was sacked twice against the Hilltoppers. Against the Boilermakers, he carried the ball eight times for 20 yards and had both the TD and fumble, which each came on a goal line situation. He only threw the ball twice against the Boilermakers but completed a huge pass to true freshman wide receiver Brandon Inniss in the fourth quarter for a 58-yard touchdown.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has confidence that Brown can get the job done.
“He’s seen big games, he’s been around it, he’s seen a couple different quarterbacks play ahead of him so he knows what the preparation looks like and he was right there with (former starter) Kyle (McCord) in the preseason,” Day said on Thursday.
Brown came to Columbus in 2022 from Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah by way of Queen Creek High School in Gilbert, Ariz., where he played for three years under head coach and former OSU quarterback, Joe Germaine.
During his freshman season, he sat behind both McCord - who started this year for the Buckeyes - and C.J. Stroud.
He had an epic summer camp battle with McCord, who ended up winning the job this year only to throw Day and the Buckeyes a peace sign when the transfer portal window opened up on Dec. 4.
But even before setting foot in Columbus, Brown already had his fair share of battle scars when he had to battle three other guys for the starting job at Corner Canyon, including Isaac Wilson, who is the younger brother of current New York Jets quarterback, Zach Wilson.
So having to battle is nothing new and Brown feels it will add to his ability to lead them against the Tigers.
“I think it really helps (and) I think it drives the confidence, especially just in myself,” he said. “You’re here for a reason and you’ve been training your whole life to go do this thing (so) let’s go get it.”
Even after sitting the last two years, Day said Brown continued to grind and his attitude never wavered waiting for his chance. And it’s that positivity that has rubbed off onto his teammates and given them confidence he’ll be ready to go.
“Having a leader - especially at quarterback - that’s gonna be our best player on the team,” cornerback Denzel Burke said. “He’s gonna be our leader. He’s got to bring guys together, and that’s what he’s doing. He’s been taking care of the ball in practice, making good reads, making good decisions, and I’m excited for him.”
It’s that confidence that also made him decide to wear the No. 33, which was perplexing for some in Buckeye Nation. Even after the reason he gave, some were left scratching their head. That’s because he wanted to pay homage to former TCU QB “Slingin” Sammy Baugh, who played in the mid-1930’s.
So why a number of a guy that most current college football fans have only heard of and never saw play?
“He was just a tough S.O.B.,” said Brown. “There was nobody tougher on the field than him, he played all over the place, did what he was told and just went out there and was a baller.”
Ironically, when it comes to the Cotton Bowl, Baugh played in the inaugural rendition against Marquette in 1937, bringing home a 16-6 win for the Horned Frogs.
Brown said he can only hope to come close to emulating Baugh’s toughness come Friday night. The ankle injury he suffered against Penn State on Oct. 21 might make some a little leery, not of his toughness but whether or not he’s fully healthy to play an entire game against a hard-nosed Mizzou defense that ranks 13th in the country with 35 sacks. He practiced this week with the ankle taped.
“That’s just precautionary stuff, it’s all good,” he said.
Day said at the very least, he believes Brown will go out and give it everything he’s got.
“I think Devin has always had (it in) his mind that he wants to get on the field. He’s been competitive since the day he stepped on campus (and) I know he’s looking forward to playing in this game,” Day said on Thursday.