Cody Simon had never fully experienced a true college football atmosphere until Thursday’s season opener against Minnesota.
All 14 of the linebacker’s defensive snaps as a freshman in 2020 came in front of sparse crowds because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when he did see the field, the young 6-foot-2, 233-pound Buckeye wasn’t asked to do much besides play on special teams. Both narratives changed against the Gophers in the Buckeyes’ 45-31 victory Thursday.
Simon logged more than double his 2020 season snap count total on defense in one game (37 plays) and finished with seven total tackles while also recording OSU’s first sack of the season in front of more than 50,000 fans in a hostile environment.