BREAKING: Update on the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Transfer Portal

College football operates around the clock, with the transfer portal, early signing period, and traditional signing day keeping the action constant. Roster changes, whether from NFL departures or players seeking more playing time, drive activity in the portal. Even powerhouse programs like Ohio State aren’t immune to this movement, especially when talented players find themselves deep on the depth chart.

Yesterday, Air Noland, a four-star prospect ranked 56th overall in the 247Sports composite, committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Noland is recognized as the fourth-best quarterback and eighth-best player from Georgia.

A standout at Langston Hughes High School, Noland led his team to the 2022 6A State Championship and earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors for his remarkable performance. His stats were equally impressive, completing 73% of his passes for 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns.

Will Howard transferred from Kansas State to become Ohio State’s starting quarterback. Devin Brown served as his backup, while Air Noland, a true freshman, redshirted his first year as the third-string quarterback. However, Alabama transfer Julian Sayin eventually overtook Noland on the depth chart.

This shift occurred after Nick Saban announced his retirement from Alabama, sparking significant movement in the transfer portal. Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day and his staff seized the opportunity to bring in Julian Sayin, a five-star quarterback, through the portal. As a result, Noland found himself further down the depth chart.

Looking ahead, with Devin Brown entering the transfer portal and Will Howard set to graduate and declare for the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes’ quarterback competition will feature Julian Sayin and incoming five-star signee Tavien St. Clair next season.

For Ohio State football fans, criticism of the offensive line coach’s recruiting performance has been a recurring topic, and Justin Frye is no exception. Unlike other assistant coaches who consistently land top prospects, Frye has faced scrutiny for relying more on transfer portal additions than on traditional recruiting.

In recent years, the Buckeyes brought in Josh Simmons, an offensive tackle from San Diego State, and Seth McLaughlin, an Alabama transfer who won the Rimington Trophy for the nation’s best center before suffering an Achilles injury. Both were portal acquisitions rather than Frye’s recruits, raising questions from fans and media about his effectiveness as a recruiter at an elite program.

Despite this, the Buckeyes made a significant addition in offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa, widely regarded as the top tackle in the transfer portal. ESPN’s Tom Luginbill expressed surprise that Onianwa didn’t declare for the NFL Draft after a strong season in which he allowed just one sack in 294 pass-blocking snaps. With roster turnover and Josh Simmons headed to the NFL, Onianwa is expected to step in as Simmons’ replacement at left tackle.

Ohio State remains highly active in the transfer portal to maintain its competitive edge. While their work isn’t finished, their moves so far have been impressive.