The one and only transfer portal window is set to close in a few days. Ohio State’s previous seasons have been marked by meticulously picking specific players that Ryan Day and his staff believed were going to be able to make an immediate impact. While some programs were filling their rosters with dozens of highly-paid, unproven talent via the portal, Day only added a few. After the 2023 season, Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, Seth McLaughlin, Julian Sayin, Will Kacmarek, and Will Howard all joined the Buckeyes and helped secure the national title.
Last year’s haul was not quite up to that standard. Now, as of January 13, with three days left in the window, there are 32 Buckeyes in the portal, with most still undecided on their future. Of those 32, only one was a starter. While the roles of the rest would have likely improved in 2026, plenty have jumped ship to find a better suitor. As a response, the sky is falling, and the Lunatic Fringe is all fired up again.
The Buckeyes missed out on the likes of Chaz Coleman, Rasheem Biles, and Koi Perich. Plus, the team doesn’t have a scholarship punter or kicker on the roster. The strategy is clear: Ohio State is done paying for projections and “what ifs,” and will pay up for more sure things (Biles and Perich notwithstanding).
This Year’s Ohio State Transfer Portal Strategy Is Clear
To this point, there has been an outside concern that Day and Athletic Director Ross Bjork were playing by the rules. Of course, there really aren’t any “rules” when it comes to NIL right now. So, in essence, the Buckeyes look like they are needlessly hamstringing themselves. Getting proven commodities like Biles and Perich would have been great for 2026. Both players would have been instant-impact players, but they demand that kind of pricetag.
At the same time, the Buckeyes have lost plenty of talent. Some players, like Bryce West, Aaron Scott, Faheem Delane, Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter, and Jarquez Carter, could have been penciled in for larger roles in 2026. While the program is trying to get Graham and Scott back, Ohio State cannot give starting salaries to every player on the roster; that’s not a sustainable model.
Shift in Recruiting
There is likely going to be a change in how the Buckeyes recruit out of high school. The 2026 recruiting class has 27 players. It would not be surprising if that is, by far, the largest in the near future. Why would Ohio State get into bidding wars over players who might hop into the portal after just one season? The 2025 class had 26 members, and already seven have left via the portal, including Porter, the third-best recruit and a former five-star recruit. For reference, 11 of the 22 commits in the 2024 class have left.
Getting into bidding wars for unproven 17 and 18-year-olds may be a thing of the past. Sure, if you get a Jeremiah Smith-type recruit, go get him. But if there is a guy who may need a little molding to get to the standard of playing at Ohio State, wait a year or two and get him from the portal. It’s just the reality we live in today.
There may end up being an unofficial tiering of programs in college football. First, those who sign the big-name recruits and develop them. Then, those who tamper with them to take advantage of their one or two years before heading to the NFL. Curt Cignetti has made his name by loading up on his kind of players. Indiana has yet to sign a five-star recruit or transfer, but here they are in the national championship. The Hoosiers have a roster full of three-star, former Group of 6 players who proved it at a “lower level” and earned a shot in the Big Ten.
Adding to the Defense
All of that to say that Ohio State is not done in the transfer portal. On Monday (January 12), the Buckeyes secured five separate commitments from the portal. After locking down safety/nickel Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) on Sunday, Ohio State added Terry Moore (safety, Duke), Hunter Welcing (tight end, Northwestern), Justyn Martin (quarterback, Maryland), Qua Russaw (linebacker/edge, Alabama), and James Smith (defensive lineman, Alabama).
Little is expected to step into the nickel role that Lorenzo Styles Jr. played, while Moore is expected to battle for the free safety job. Little was once an Alabama teammate of Downs’ and spent two years at FSU after two at Alabama. With the Seminoles, Little played in 24 games and amassed 91 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. Just last year, he forced two fumbles, broke up two passes, and hauled in four interceptions.
Moore missed last year rehabbing from an ACL tear. In the two seasons prior, he totaled 114 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three-and-a-half sacks, two forced fumbles, eight pass breakups, and four interceptions.
Finally, in a joint commitment, the Buckeyes added Russaw and Smith from Alabama. Russaw appeared in 22 games over the last two seasons for Alabama. He contributed 50 tackles, three-and-a-half tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. Smith added 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three-and-a-half sacks, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. He’s a versatile piece on the defensive line, while Russaw could be a third linebacker or EDGE.
More on Offense
Of the 12 who have committed to play for the Buckeyes out of the portal, just four are on the offensive side. As of now, none of those three are offensive linemen.
The first name to commit to Ohio State was Mason Williams from Ohio. In addition to Williams, the Buckeyes added another tight end. Welcing is coming to Ohio State for his final season of eligibility. Last year, he recorded 28 catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns.
This comes at the end of the Max Klare era at Ohio State, as he declared for the draft. In addition, there are two other tight ends currently leaving with Kacmarek to the NFL/graduation and Jelani Thurman to North Carolina.
The third offensive player to join the ranks is another quarterback. Don’t worry, he’s not going to challenge Sayin for the starting role (or Tavien St. Clair, for that matter). Martin has been a college quarterback for three seasons between two schools. In that time, he’s appeared in six games and completed 24-of-35 passing for 179 yards and a touchdown. All of that came in 2024, and the overwhelming majority came in a loss in his only start against Penn State.
Now What?
The Buckeyes are likely not done, but there aren’t many Earth-shattering moves to be made. Of course, there will be calls to add to the offensive line and to figure out special teams.
The offensive line may be set going into 2026, whether fans like it or not. Especially if the four starters who haven’t already left are returning. Ohio State does need to find a kicker and punter for 2026. Even if it brings in a freshman or a walk-on, you’d expect they would want someone with a little experience. Imagine having to go to Austin next fall and needing to rely on a freshman kicker to beat Texas.
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