The Ohio State Buckeyes are a week away from taking on Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. Both are entering undefeated, and it’ll of course be each team’s most challenging matchup of the season.
For the Buckeyes, it’ll be both Chase Young and Jeff Okudah, two projected top-five picks, that must make their presence felt. However, with what Clemson can do through the air, Okudah might be the most important of the two.
In fact, Okudah will likely be shadowing the Tigers’ most dangerous receiver, Tee Higgins.
A junior, Higgins is a projected first-round pick and tallied over 1,000 receiving yards this season. He’s also been able to find the endzone 13 times, eight of which came in Clemson’s last three games.
The Tigers started off the season as a more run-heavy offense, but have transitioned back to Trevor Lawrence and the receivers throughout these last few weeks. And while there’s more than Higgins that can make electric plays, he’s been the biggest threat to make the most important game-breaking moments throughout the year.
He’s totaled over 280 yards his last two games. It’s clear that for the majority of the season Higgins has been Clemson’s No. 1 target on the edge. That’s where Okudah must come on strong.
Arguably the best cornerback in college, Okudah has forced many opposing offensive coordinators to limit where their offense to one-half of the field. He’s that good.
However, college football’s top wide receiver prospects are from Clemson, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Okudah faces players like Chris Olave and K.J. Hill in practice every week, but Higgins may be a different animal with his size, speed and ability to high-point the ball.
This will be the matchup of the game, and if Okudah wins it, you can expect the Buckeyes to have a good chance to come out on top.
