Snap Counts and PFF Grades: Silver Linings in MSU's Tough Loss to Ohio State

Michigan State Spartans linebacker Jordan Turner (7) signals a fumble during the game against Ohio State at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The Buckeyes won 38-7. (Charlie Nick | MLive.com)

**EAST LANSING** – Michigan State faced a tough challenge against a top-three Ohio State team, and while the night went as expected, it wasn’t as one-sided as in recent years. 

Despite the 38-7 loss, Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades highlighted both areas of deficiency and a few bright spots for the Spartans. Here’s a breakdown:

**Offensive Snap Counts (out of 51):**

- Ashton Lepo: 48

- Rakeem Johnson: 45

- Montorie Foster Jr.: 45

- Aidan Chiles: 39

- Brandon Baldwin: 39

- Luke Newman: 39

- Tanner Miller: 39

- Brennan Parachek: 30

- Jack Velling: 29

- Jaron Glover: 29

- Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams: 25

- Nick Marsh: 22

- Rustin Young: 18

- Aziah Johnson: 18

- Nate Carter: 18

- Ademola Faleye: 13

- Cooper Terpstra: 12

- Dallas Fincher: 12

- Tommy Schuster: 12

- Jack Yanachik: 6

- Jaelen Smith: 6

- Tyneil Hopper: 5

- Makhi Frazier: 3

- Andrew Dennis: 3

- Brandon Tullis: 3

- Jay Coyne: 3

- Joseph Martinez: 2

- Zach Gillespie: 1

**Defensive Snap Counts (out of 77):**

- Nikah Martinez: 65

- Charles Brantley: 62

- Ed Woods: 62

- Malik Spencer: 51

- Jordan Turner: 49

- Cal Haladay: 46

- Khris Bogle: 39

- D’Quan Douse: 38

- Jalen Satchell: 30

- Justin Denson Jr.: 29

- Jalen Thompson: 29

- Alex VanSumeren: 29

- Anthony Jones: 29

- Quindarius Dunnigan: 27

- Armorion Smith: 26

- Wayne Matthews III: 25

- Ben Roberts: 24

- Angelo Grose: 24

- Jordan Hall: 22

- Ken Talley: 21

- Jaylen Thompson: 18

- Andrew Brinson IV: 15

- Jeremiah Hughes: 15

- Marcellius Pullimam: 14

- Ru’Quan Buckley: 14

- Brandon Lewis: 12

- Sam Edwards: 12

- Avery Dunn: 9

- Maverick Hansen: 7

- Darius Snow: 4

**Key PFF Takeaways:**

- **Jordan Turner**: The linebacker earned the highest defensive grade for Michigan State, recording eight tackles (five stops), allowing just three catches for 11 yards, and securing an interception. This was his best performance in his MSU career.

- **Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams**: Despite managing only 35 rushing yards, Lynch-Adams was MSU’s top-ranked offensive player, credited with four forced missed tackles and 23 yards after contact.

- **Pass Blocking Woes**: The Spartans' pass protection struggled, allowing 12 pressures, including six hurries, four hits, and two sacks, primarily due to injuries across the offensive line.

- **Defensive Struggles**: Tackling was a major issue, with the Spartans missing 15 tackles, over half of which came from the starting defensive backs.

- **Historical Comparison**: Although the team’s overall grade of 59.8 was the lowest of the season, it was Michigan State’s highest team grade against Ohio State since 2018.

For more Michigan State football news:

- Takeaways from MSU's 9th straight loss to Ohio State

- Inside MSU’s locker room: Not overwhelmed, no quit

- Missed opportunities doom MSU in loss to No. 3 Ohio State

- Ryan Day’s take on MSU under Jonathan Smith

- MSU falls to No. 3 Ohio State for second straight loss