Ohio State portal report: four opinions on quarterbacks, Buckeye exits, and other topics

The transfer portal was opened one week ago, and already the Buckeyes have lost fourteen players.

Nor has Ohio State added any new members. Let’s review the previous week and share some observations about the program’s current status and future directions.

First, here is a complete list of all Ohio State users who have accessed the portal thus far.

I wanted to start with this because, from a national standpoint, I am aware that some individuals, lacking local understanding, believe that the volume of transfers indicates that there is a problem within the program. It’s not true as stated.

There’s nothing happening at Ohio State behind the scenes that leads me to believe the program is in jeopardy, even if the portal has claimed the lives of athletes as young as 14. This is the current state of affairs.

Last week, head coach Ryan Day discussed it, saying that it’s a sign of the times.

Day stated, “You have to build your roster annually, and that’s what we’re going to do.” “That’s no longer the case; will you utilize the portal or not? Is a component of collegiate football.

In the portal, he added, Ohio State would be aggressive. However, you can’t be aggressive unless you also lose players.

What quarterbacks are the Buckeyes aiming for? Other roles that require filling? Ohio State portal report

The fact that just three of the 14 players hoping to transfer saw meaningful playing time in the previous season is one of the reasons I’m not too concerned. The most troubling loss is that of Kyle McCord, but that will be  As Ohio State pushes to get some youth on the field, it seems logical that Julian Fleming, who was entering his final year, would want to have just two scholarship running backs left for the Buckeyes. Chip’s departure is somewhat troubling, but I don’t think he was an Ohio State long-term option. Although he is a gifted back, if Henderson does really sign with the NFL, Hayden should have the opportunity to advance next season. And Henderson would be stealing most of the photos, assuming he stays, which I’ve been told hasn’t been determined yet.

Take a deep breath, Ohio State supporters, if you’re worried. Except for the quarterback, every key member of the squad for the following season is still in place.

And Ohio State’s program hasn’t collapsed if you’re just a national college football fan. Soon, they’ll be contributing to the gateway in the same way as everyone else.

Devin Brown will be riding with the Buckeyes in the bowl game, but what happens next? From USA Today, Robert

Ohio State has been quite quiet about this internally.

Ohio State is somewhat interested in two quarterbacks: Washington State transfer Cam Ward and Duke transfer Riley Leonard.

Although I believe Ward to be the superior candidate, Ohio State doesn’t seem to be fully committed to either one of them.

Although Leonard hasn’t disclosed his plans, it appears like he is headed to Notre Dame.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will get their one-year quarterback if they can persuade him that Columbus is a better match. I’m not sure Ohio State wants to throw everything at Leonard, though. He doesn’t appear to be a real improvement. McCord passed for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions in the previous season. This season, Leonard’s ailments kept him out of several games, but in 2022, he played the entire season and completed 63.9 percent of his throws for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns. 13 touchdowns came via his rush as well. Nevertheless, Leonard appears to be competent but not a game-changer at the caliber Ohio State requires.

Since Ward recently graduated from Washington State, I believe things are about to get better. I am aware that Ohio State and the quarterback have at least spoken, but I’m not sure how far things have progressed from there.

Ward was anticipated to make visits to Miami, Florida State, and Washington; according to ESPN’s Pete Ward, he may visit Ohio State within his five allotted visits.

My inclination is that Ohio State will ride with Devin Brown into the Cotton Bowl, assess his performance, and then assess its circumstances. Despite being injured at the end of the spring, Brown battled McCord all the way to the wire during the previous offseason, and now there’s a chance that rookie Lincoln Kienholz will enter the fray. I am aware that many Ohio State students believe he has a very bright future ahead of him.

Of course, five-star Air Noland is also arriving, but I doubt he’ll be using the field right away.

Though the team has been successful at the position, I know there is a lot of worry about the quarterback position and whether Ohio State will locate its elite man in the portal. However, be patient. I believe there is skill, and if a real upgrade isn’t available, Ohio State doesn’t want to choose someone from the gateway just for the sake of choosing.

The spring portal window should also be taken into account.

What would be the main priority if Ohio State didn’t prioritize a quarterback?

It’s certain that the Buckeyes will bolster their defensive line with some talent.

This past weekend, the Buckeyes welcomed defensive tackle Derrick Harmon from Michigan State, and they should be keeping an eye out for a few more choices to take his place. The portal features some well-known players, primarily from Texas A&M. One such player is defensive end LT Overton, with whom Ohio State is reportedly in communication, according to 247Sports’ Steve. A&M defensive tackle Walter Nolen and Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle Marley Cook, who has already received an offer, are two other players to keep an eye on.

Additionally, Ohio State will be considering a few other openings. The areas with the greatest need right now are undoubtedly the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Texas A&M offensive tackle Chase is a name I’ve heard mentioned a couple times. Before deciding to commit to Texas A&M, he had a lot of interest in Ohio State, so it will be interesting to see if they can win him over again. According to Pro Football Focus, he surrendered four sacks and thirty pressures last season, which tied him for the 18th-highest among offensive tackles. It’s difficult to determine if such dismal results are exclusively attributable to A&M, given that Texas A&M’s pressure rate allowed at year’s end was 128th. He was formerly ranked among the top 100 prospects and has been named a Freshman All-American by several sites. He will have a spot in Ohio State’s starting lineup. They will continue to seek out an offensive lineman, but that’s a huge name I’ve heard mentioned.

There is a need for running backs as well, but Henderson’s performance will likely determine those goals. If he decides to stay, I believe Ohio State will try to add a younger guy who is willing to sit out a season to mature. However, Trevor Etienne, a Florida transfer and the younger brother of former Clemson running back Travis Etienne, is a potential replacement should Henderson decide to go. He had a strong one-two combination with Hayden last season, rushing for 753 yards and eight touchdowns. Many colleges are interested in Etienne, but if he committed to Ohio State and Henderson left, there would only be five scholarship spots available until the freshman arrived.