COLUMBUS, Ohio – Part of the lore of Ohio State football’s rivalry with Michigan is the frequency with which someone emerges from the shadows to make a crucial impact in The Game. Amir Riep, come on down. When Shaun Wade’s game-time decision status turned into a no-go, the Buckeyes needed a new slot cornerback. Riep was not the first choice, but he and several other season-long reserves stepped up to bolster the secondary in a 56-27 OSU victory. Per the season-long snap counts chart at Eleven Warriors, Riep had played 126 defensive snaps coming into the Michigan game, and no more than 28 in any game. (Take out the Maryland and Rutgers blowouts and he had not played more than 16.) I counted Riep with around 40 defensive snaps on Saturday. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he expected Wade to return for Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin.…
Continue Reading: How Ohio State’s defense, staggered by Michigan early, came together: Buckeye Rewatch
