The Transfer Portal is now open in college football, and the field has become crowded enough to speculate who will play collegiate football in Columbus, Ohio. College football is a new world with conference realignment, name, Image, and Likeness money going to players. College football players are like professional football players, and it’s a free agency every year.
College football coaches must be like General managers in professional football to manage the transfer portal. Perhaps the best way to think about the transfer portal for Ohio State is by positions on need. That is how this article is organized. The offensive line is the most glaring need for Ohio State to fill in the transfer portal.
Use the Transfer Portal to Get Help on the Offensive Line
The offensive line is the greatest need for Ohio State in the transfer portal. This season, the offensive line was decimated by injuries, and several key players are likely to graduate and play in the National Football League. Ohio State has, to date, signed one offensive lineman from the transfer portal and has hosted others on visits.
This is important because these players already get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars and may one day play in the National Football League. The one player Ohio State signed from the transfer portal on the offensive line is Phillip Daniels from the University of Minnesota. Daniels started at Minnesota and will likely start for Ohio State next season, depending on who else Ohio State signs.
Ohio State was after Isiah World, but he signed on with the University of Oregon. Ohio State has hosted former Northwestern starting offensive lineman Josh Thompson and is interested in former Washington State started Fa’alili Fa’amoe. A team can never have enough offensive linemen.
COLUMBUS, OHIO – AUGUST 31: Quarterback Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes the ball during the first quarter against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium on August 31, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
Use the Transfer Portal to Get Help at Quarterback
With Air Nolad (who may have the best name in college football) Devin Brown entering the transfer portal and Will Howard graduating from Ohio State, the Buckeyes only have three scholarship quarterbacks for the 2025 season: Julian Sayin, Lincoln Keinholtz, and incoming highly touted freshman Tavion St. Clair. Ohio State already has a commitment from the highest-rated quarterback in the 2026 class. Still, there is so much thought that with only three scholarship quarterbacks next year, one being a green true freshman, the Buckeyes will need to get a quarterback from the transfer portal for next season.
Use the Transfer Portal to Get Help at Running Back
This season, James Peoples was a great third option for Ohio State as a running back. With Trevon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins leaving Ohio State (or, in Judkins’s case, is likely to do so), Ohio State would have only three running backs on scholarship next season. The aforementioned People are Dallan Hayden and Sam Williams-Dixson. With only three scholarship running backs for next season, Ohio State also thinks it will get a running back from the transfer portal. There are many good running backs in the transfer portal.
The Best Available Player
After filling these areas of need, Ohio State should look to grab the best available player from the transfer portal. There are, for instance, several graduating seniors on the defensive side of the ball. So, there is ample talent there. If Ohio State satisfies its offensiveness through the portal, Ohio State should look to add the best available player. There are many to choose from.
Conclusion
Many football players on the Ohio State team returned for their senior season instead of attending the National Football League to beat rival Michigan and win a national championship. They failed to do the former and may still do the latter, but having so many graduating seniors means Ohio State will have a lot of needs next year. It’s a brave new world, that’s for certain. The Buckeyes need, and can get, skilled players in needed positions.
