TJ Alford Led Ohio State Defense Against Illinois
The defender earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade for Ohio State in the team's 42-19 victory over Illinois.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Football
TJ Alford received an 86.2 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus following Ohio State's 42-19 win against Illinois. Alford anchored the defensive effort with three tackles and one pass breakup during the game.
Why it matters
Individual player performance metrics help clarify how specific defensive assignments contributed to the overall score. These grades provide a granular look at defensive efficiency beyond basic box score statistics.
TJ Alford secured an 86.2 defensive grade, while Kenyatta Jackson recorded 63 snaps and Qua Russaw played 47 snaps in the victory.
The players
TJ Alford
He is an Ohio State defensive player who earned the highest Pro Football Focus defensive grade for the team against Illinois.
Ohio State
The institution is a major collegiate football program based in Columbus, Ohio.
The details
Alford stood out on the defensive side of the ball for Ohio State, helping to limit the opponent in the 42-19 outcome. His performance was measured alongside teammates like Eddrick Houston, who earned a 75.9 grade, and Beau Atkinson, who posted a 73.9 mark.
Timeline
September 28, 2026: The game analysis and grades were published.
Season Trajectory
This performance evaluation follows the pattern set by the Pro Football Focus grading methodology of quantifying defensive contributions beyond traditional stat lines. These high individual marks suggest a deepening defensive rotation as Ohio State builds its resume for the remainder of the season.
Alford's high grade and the heavy snap counts for Kenyatta Jackson and Qua Russaw indicate a solidified defensive rotation for upcoming matchups. These performance metrics help determine defensive efficiency trends that impact team power rankings.
The takeaway
Detailed player grades offer fans a deeper understanding of defensive consistency that standard tackle counts often obscure. Implementing these metrics allows observers to track the development of individual contributors within a broader team scheme.
Further reading
For more in-depth coverage of the team, visit the Football section.
