Three Ohio State football players make the FWAA Freshmen All-American team

You may have noticed that the Ohio State football team was a young one this year. One in which a lot of its production came from freshmen. Though it may have been a year that fell short of expectations, with so much young talent, the future looks awfully bright in Columbus.

To that end, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced its 2022 Freshmen All-American team on Monday, and OSU was the only team that had three players named to the squad. But it wasn’t the first time three Buckeyes were named to the squad that has been in place since 2001. In 2016, freshmen Mike Weber (running back), Michael Jordan (offensive line), and Dre’Mont Jones (defensive line), were all named.

All told, there were two from offense and one player from the defensive side that got the nod from FWAA voters this season. Here are the three players that received the recognition for being the best freshmen at their positions.

Quarterback - C.J. Stroud

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl against the Utah Utes in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2022. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Statement bio from Ohio State

“Stroud, a redshirt freshman who entered the 2021 season having never attempted a collegiate pass, quickly grew into his role as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback and set himself on a path to end up as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

“He saved his best performance for last: in the Rose Bowl against Utah, Stroud help rally Ohio State from a 14-point halftime deficit with a 573-yard passing performance that included a school-record tying six touchdowns. He finished the season with 4,435 yards passing, a single-season record completion percentage of 71.9 and 44 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Stroud’s efficiency rating of 186.6 in an Ohio State single-season record and his yardage and TD totals are second.

“Following the regular season, Stroud also did something no other Big Ten player has ever done: he swept the league’s Quarterback of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors. He was also named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, becoming the fourth Buckeye in the last four years to earn a trip to New York City.”

Running Back, TreVeyon Henderson

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) hands off to running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Statement bio from Ohio State

“Henderson, a true freshman from Hopewell, Va., introduced himself to the college football world with two unforgettable early-season moments. The first came on in the opener on Sept. 2 at Minnesota when he caught a screen pass and raced 70 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to help seal a 45-31 win over the Gophers.

“The second moment came two weeks later when he burst onto the national scene by rushing for 270 yards – the most ever in a game by a Buckeye freshman – in a victory over Tulsa. His yardage total topped Archie Griffin, who previously set the record 49 years earlier with 239 yards in 1972 vs. North Carolina.

“Henderson went on to finish with 1,248 yards on the season and averaged 6.8 yards per carry – 13th best nationally and tied for first in the Big Ten. He scored 19 total touchdowns (15 rushing, four receiving), setting a new freshman single-season record in that category. His yardage total is second-most ever by a freshman, topped only by the 1,403 that J.K. Dobbins ran for in 2017.”

Defensive Back, Denzel Burke

Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (29) intercepts a pass during the first quarter of an NCAA Division I football game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Statement bio from Ohio State

“When Denzel Burke got the starting cornerback assignment for the season opener at Minnesota, he became the first true freshman to start the season’s first game on defense in 25 years, since Andy Katzenmoyer did it in 1996.

“And, Burke proved to be up to the task all season. He led Ohio State with 12 pass break ups and had 36 tackles. His PBU total ranked second in the Big Ten and 14th nationally. A 13-game starter, his one interception on the year was returned for a touchdown at Rutgers.

“From Scottsdale, Ariz., Burke was a third team All-Big Ten selection by the league coaches and received honorable mention honors from the media.”

The complete FWAA All-Freshmen team

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) hands off to running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) during the first quarter of the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

FWAA 2022 Freshmen All-American Team

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