Breaking news: How Denzel Burke, Jack Sawyer and the rest of Ohio State’s defense graded against Michigan…..

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s defense isn’t to blame for its fourth-straight Michigan loss, but it also missed some key plays down the stretch that couldn’t prevent it.

That’s reflected in the Buckeyes Pro Football Focus grades with eight different guys grading out at 70 or better. Arvell Reese led that group with a career-high 91.2 to go along with seven tackles.

Jack Sawyer followed with an 88.6 after recording four tackles. But his most important play was an interception deep into the red that gave OSU back the ball with less than eight minutes to play.

t was the type of play that should’ve been one of the greatest moments in program history. Instead, it won’t get the love it deserves because the offense couldn’t make anything of it.

Here’s how the rest of the defense graded:

(PFF grades every player on every play and uses a scale of 0-100, with higher grades indicating better play. PFF has explained its grades this way: 100-90 elite; 89-85 Pro Bowler; 84-70 starter; 69-60 backup; 59-0 replaceable. In other words, it’s similar to how we would match up percentages with traditional letter grades in school.)

NOTE: Snap counts in parentheses.

DEFENSIVE END

Jack Sawyer: 88.6 (52)

Mitchell Melton: 74.7 (3)

J.T. Tuimoloau: 66.8 (53)

Kenyatta Jackson: 60.7 (7)

Caden Curry: 60.7 (3)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Kayden McDonald: 80.6 (13)

Tyleik Williams: 74.1 (53)

Eddrick Houston: 60.0 (2)

Hero Kanu: 60.0 (1)

Ty Hamilton: 55.7 (53)

LINEBACKER

Arvell Reese: 91.2 (36)

Cody Simon: 74.0 (59)

C.J. Hicks: 61.9 (4)

Sonny Styles: 44.8 (59)

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