{"id":69951,"date":"2025-02-27T15:00:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T20:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=69951"},"modified":"2025-09-16T21:34:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T01:34:53","slug":"ohio-state-qb-devin-brown-headlines-group-transferring-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2025\/02\/27\/ohio-state-qb-devin-brown-headlines-group-transferring-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio State QB Devin Brown Headlines Group Transferring Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ohio State transfer portal losses through the years have not come back to bite the Buckeyes. Just last year, Ohio State got to face off against former players Quinn Ewers (Texas),\u00a0 Julian Fleming (Penn State), Kaleb Brown (Iowa), Andre Turrentine (Tennessee), and Nigel Glover (Northwestern). With the Winter transfer portal window closing, a baker’s dozen players on the 2024 roster are off to find greener pastures. With the portal opening back up for 10 days on April 16, the Buckeyes have a little time to get a feel for what 2025 has in store<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As for the 13 leaving Columbus, 11 will stay in the Power 5 while two others will jump to the Mountain West in its final season in its current makeup.<\/p>\n

Ohio State Backup QB Devin Brown, 12 Others Transferring Out<\/h2>\n

See You Next Year<\/h3>\n

Of Ohio State’s 12 opponents on the schedule for 2025, two will be taking in former Buckeyes via the portal. The eighth-best wide receiver of the 2021 recruiting cycle, Jayden Ballard<\/a> is headed to Wisconsin. He was the third-best player in Ohio in that cycle and was expected to be one of the veteran contributors last year. However, that did not materialize. In four seasons, Ballard contributed 177 yards and one score off 11 receptions. That touchdown and 155 yards came in 2022. He was one of the fastest players on the Ohio State roster last year and will use his final season of eligibility to give the Badgers a spark on offense.<\/p>\n

The remade offensive line will have a test in Week 1 against Texas and Hero Kanu<\/a> should be a prominent player for a unit that has produced numerous NFL players. Kanu was a four-star player in the 2022 class and earned a little time in the defensive tackle rotation last year. In his third year in the program, Kanu had the fifth-most snaps of the defensive tackles. In three seasons, he amassed 14 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack.<\/p>\n

B1G to ACC<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the biggest name hitting the portal is Devin Brown<\/a>. As the sixth-best quarterback of the 2022 recruiting cycle, Brown was expected to compete for the starting job once C.J. Stroud left for the NFL. He did just that in 2023 and 2024, losing to Kyle McCord and Will Howard, respectively. Brown is known for his athletic ability and was even a goal-line specialist for the Buckeyes in 2023 before his first injury. He started the Cotton Bowl but was eventually knocked out due to another injury. Last year, Brown was the first quarterback off the bench and capped off a touchdown drive (thanks to a couple of ridiculous Jeremiah Smith catches) in the win over Michigan State.<\/p>\n

The number 33-wearing quarterback is headed out west to Cal with two years of eligibility remaining.<\/p>\n

The next Ohio State-to-ACC transfer is Mitchell Melton<\/a>. Ever since coming to Columbus in 2020, it has been bumpy. After not appearing in any action as a true freshman, Melton missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to injury. Over the last two seasons, he was part of the defensive end rotation and totaled just 15 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, and three sacks. He will use his free COVID eligibility year at Virginia.<\/p>\n

Finally, Jayden Bonsu<\/a> will be heading to Pitt. After two seasons with the Buckeyes, Bonsu is looking for a new beginning. He was a four-star safety in the 2023 recruiting class. However, in those two seasons, he did not see the field. He will have three years of eligibility remaining for the Panthers.<\/p>\n

B1G to Big 12<\/h3>\n

Four Buckeyes are set to compete in the Big 12 next year. The offensive line depth took a hit as George Fitzpatrick<\/a> transferred to Kansas State. After only appearing in one game as a true freshman in 2022, Fitzpatrick made three appearances. Last season, Fitzpatrick saw his usage spike with 84 offensive snaps in nine games.<\/p>\n

Perhaps one of the more disappointing departures is Gabe Powers<\/a>.\u00a0 After three seasons with Ohio State, Powers will join Fitzpatrick at Kansas State. The athletic linebacker looked like he was going to earn more playing time in 2025 but will use his final two seasons of eligibility with the Wildcats. He managed just 12 tackles and one tackle for loss. However, in the win over Akron last year, he was brought down a tipped pass and returned it for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

One of the more underrated and underappreciated players over the last few seasons, Patrick Gurd<\/a> is going to use his final season of eligibility at Cincinnati. Despite being a walk-on, Gurd saw a generous amount of playing time as a blocking fullback. He will head to Cincinnati with exactly two catches over the last two seasons for 15 yards.<\/p>\n

Finally, if there is one area (that’s not wide receiver) that Ohio State can afford a transfer, it’s at corner. Even then, losing four-star Calvin Simpson-Hunt<\/a> to Baylor is going to be felt. As a true freshman, Simpson-Hunt appeared in five games, including the Cotton Bowl, thus preserving his redshirt. Last year, he appeared in nine games and each of the first eight. In those two seasons, he recorded four tackles.<\/p>\n

Four More<\/h3>\n

After just one season in Columbus, former four-star quarterback Air Noland<\/a> is headed to South Carolina. In his only season at Ohio State, Noland did not take a single snap as he was buried on the depth chart. With the impending quarterback battle<\/a>, Noland elected to try to make a difference elsewhere. With four seasons of eligibility remaining, the southpaw will learn behind the Gamecocks’ star for at least one season.<\/p>\n

Another offensive depth piece set to transfer is former four-star wide receiver, Kojo Antwi<\/a>. In three seasons, Antwi appeared in 13 games and recorded just one catch. Antwi’s transfer to Colorado State marks the fourth receiver recruit out of four in the Buckeyes’ 2022 class to transfer out.<\/p>\n

There is one player headed to a Big Ten program not on the Buckeyes’ 2025 schedule. A career backup, Zen Michalski<\/a> appeared in 35 games over four seasons and made one start. That start came last year against Nebraska after Josh Simmons<\/a> was lost to injury. Michalski was later knocked out due to an injury of his own. With one year of eligibility remaining, Michalski will compete at Indiana next year.<\/p>\n

Finally, Miles Walker<\/a> is off to Boise State. Walker was a three-star recruit from the 2023 class and never appeared in a game for the Buckeyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Image: \u00a0Adam Cairns\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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