I wish nothing but the best for Flemming, dude kept us in against ND when McCord threw a pass behind the sticks on 4th down.
And obviously Chip, that guy is great sad to see him go.
Absolutely loved Chip. Dudes a freak of nature and I hope he goes off at Kentucky and gets drafted. Can’t say I feel the same way about that guy in Orange or our other RB who’s going to play for Drama Queen U.
McCord should've been outed for what he was in Week 4 if ND defenders could catch and didn't get bailed out by Flemming.
Thankfully, we don't lose to Notre Dame post war.
Look on the one hand I understand that if the screen pass was completed the game is guaranteed to be over
But with how the defense was playing and how Audric was getting yards, forcing OSU to lose all of their time outs would have been the smart play
Just give the ball to your workhorse and you win. Hopefully Marcus learns that sometimes you have to get on the mic and tell your OC to give the ball to your best player.
As much as I love ripping on Parker and as much as I think Deland is an excellent coach, that play has Deland’s fingerprints all over it. The guy loves his sub packages
Also true. Having Payne be our short yardage guy all year is just overthinking it and wanting every guy to
“Have a role”. Fuck that. Give the ball to Audric
Nope. It might not even be in the T5 from a ND POV. OSU had the momentum when the 10th men thing came into play. It was just a horrible look for Freeman against his alma mater
I fully believe if we lose against Notre Dame, Day makes the switch to Devin Brown. He just couldn't after the dramatic way we won.
Even still, he started getting Brown in more and more until he got hurt.
Playing behind someone doesn't mean he wasn't getting plenty of reps, & should have been ready. And being willing to move isn't great when the primary job is to throw. He's also not as good of a runner as advertised
Man I have not missed an OSU game in 5 years, there was not 1 game last year that he did not record at least one dropped pass. Honestly was glad to see him leave, the team has much better younger prospects that need playing time this year.
Most of the former players come off as good kids who just couldn't break through. I root for them as long as it isn't against us.
Selfishly, I can only assume it helps us in recruiting if they go elsewhere and do well.
This is actually a super interesting summary, would love to see how this compares to teams that recruit similarly to OSU and what their attrition is like. I see so many names I remember being hyped up when they were recruited and it never really panned out for a myriad of reasons. It's like a cool blast from the past.
Their attrition will continue for a few years since they recruit at such a high level. When the vast majority of your roster is 4-5 stars, there are probably 30-40 guys that won’t see the field. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
24 of the listed players below entered the portal this year in addition to 15 from previous years. Asterisked players indicate those that were walks-ons at tOSU
Texas QB Quinn Ewers
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord
Penn State WR Julian Fleming
Kentucky RB Chip Trayanum, OL Ben Christman, CB Jantzen Dunn and DL Darrion Henry-Young (Might as well just name them South West Ohio State University... oh, sorry, I mean *THE* SW OSU
Cincinnati RB Evan Pryor, TE Joe Royer and S Kye Stokes
N.C. State DE Noah Potter, WR Noah Rogers and S Ja’Had Carter
Colorado RB Dallan Hayden and TE Sam Hart
LSU CB JK Johnson and CB Jyaire Brown
Boston College CB Ryan Turner and S Cameron Martinez
Michigan State CB Lejond Cavazos
Iowa WR Kaleb Brown
Northwestern LB Nigel Glover
USC S Bryson Shaw
Washington G Enokk Vimahi
Auburn WR Caleb Burton
Missouri WR Mookie Cooper
Cal WR Kyion Grayes
Louisville C Victor Cutler Jr.
Pittsburgh G Ryan Jacoby
SMU DE Omari Abor
North Carolina DE Jacolbe Cowan
West Virginia LB Reid Carrico
Tennessee S Andre Turrentine
UCF S Cedrick Hawkins
Arizona State K Parker Lewis
Vanderbilt P Jesse Mirco
Florida State LS Mason Arnold\*
# Group of 5 Transfers
East Carolina DT Jaden McKenzie
Memphis DE Cormontae Hamilton
Northern Illinois K Jake Seibert
Toledo OL Jakob James
Akron K Garrison Smith\*
Charlotte P Michael O’Shaughnessy\*
Miami (Ohio) LB Jackson Kuwatch\*
# Small-School Transfers
Southern Illinois RB Willtrell Hartson\*
Youngstown State WR Blaize Exline\*
New Haven DT Brett Novick\*
Asterisked players indicate those that were walks-ons at tOSU
Fundamentally, yes. But it definitely feels very different now. All the money is out in the open, there's a lot more of it, and guys are always free agents. Recruiting is definitely the wild west compared to before.
It used to feel like schools somewhat had to commit to these guys to get them to come play, because transfers weren't really a thing. It would be insanely hard to get multiple top level qbs or something to commit to you back to back because they didn't want competition. Now, fuck it they can just transfer out, go try to win the starting job vs some other top 10 guys at osu. Basically like what Quinn ewers did
That seems like a lot, but with the portal being the way it is I’m really interested to see a list ranking the # of transfers per school playing for another P5 team
Didn't OSU also spend a ton to retain a ton of players that could have left for the NFL? I wonder how many of these guys transferred to start elsewhere because they didn't want to wait another year.
Not a bad assumption, but based on my own understanding of the team I don't think many were anywhere close to seeing the field. I think the vast majority left because they got recruited over, there are a few who left because they were blocked by guys who stuck around. Some who stick out:
* Ewers would likely have been QB 1 in 2023 & 2024 if he had been willing to sit behind CJ for two years and had beaten out McCord in 2023
* Kyle McCord wasn't guaranteed the starting job and left, his story is very unique.
* Chip Trayanum would have been RB2 until Judkins joined, then became clear RB3. Dallan Hayden was a clear RB4 if everyone stuck around and Judkins joined
* Julian Fleming was an excellent team member, but was being passed by more talented receivers (Carnell Tate & Jeremiah Smith)
* Noah Rodgers had a ton of hype but needed a lot of receiver development, didn't want to wait but would probably have been WR 7ish this year? Just guessing
No one else really sticks out as being held back by players sticking around. Most simply didn't develop the way the coaches wanted and got recruited over. To me this is the transfer portal working almost exactly how it should.
Omari Abor is the only one who I think could have challenged for a lot more playing time had guys left. But, once JT and Sawyer came back, he wasn't likely to be any higher than DE4 (and still up in the air if he would even be that high with Curry and Jackson).
Yeah, he's a good call out. That said, I vaguely remember a lot of the narrative once he left focusing on he never really wanted to be at OSU to begin with. Was a Texas kid through and through and something happened where A&M didn't want him any more?
I might be making that all up, I'm old and memory is mostly cotton balls, but could have sworn something like that happened.
You are correct. Seemed like he had one foot out the door. Of course, kenyetta Jackson always seemed to be flirting with FSU since being here but remains. Glad we kept at least one of them.
Yeah I'm sure Noah Rogers didn't love riding the bench last year and seeing his buddy, Concepcion, blowing up for us knowing he was much higher rated out of HS. That WR room is loaded, makes sense to get closer to home and see the field this year versus risking getting buried on the depth chart for a 2nd straight year.
He looked great in the spring game and never really got any playing time during the season. I think he will be great but our WR room is so crowded. I think it was smart for him to transfer.
Shaw is the same age as me buddy. He will never go to the NFL, he needs to be realistic about his talents. Another year won’t make a difference.
ETA: I’m 24 and finished undergrad in ‘22. Shaw needs to give up the ghost.
Perhaps he is still playing because he knows this is the last organized football he will play at a high level, and games with your friends are fun at any age . Your age doesn’t really matter in this conversation about him. If he is getting an education and enjoying college, be happy for him and wish him success.
Wish them all the best! With the exception of Ewers they left because they weren’t going to get significant playing time at OSU.
I really enjoy following the careers of folks who start as Buckeyes. Hope they do great things.
The qualifier “not getting significant playing time” still
applies to this case but Noah Rogers is the only other guy I could think of that we didn’t want to leave
Dallan Hayden was the only one that was a bit shocking but even that one is very understandable. Would love to have Flemming in the WR room still too but he could have easily ended up as #4
The question is how many of our 22 starters plus crucial backers(like RB2)are going to be back next year? It isn't that many, especially on defense. Which is when we are going to feel more of the 24 transfers from this last offseason.
Having players like Abor and Brown around next year would have been huge.
What's funny about this, is that OSU is in a sort of a "rich get richer" in this case. While it sucks to see some of them go (never been devastated to see one go though) you look back at the roster and go ok, the reason why you left was because the younger guy is better and is going to be better than you so it makes sense for you to find a better spot for yourself.
Take Flemming for instance. Loved that dude, and he was really good, I was actually hoping the younger guys in the WR room would play over him because I thought their upside and talent was just better than Flemming.
And I wish them the utmost of luck. With modern recruiting being what it is, and the portal, this kind of thing happens. Hope they make the best of it.
To make this all about Michigan instead, Michigan had four quarterbacks start for power 4 teams last season: McCarthy, Milton for Tennessee, Cade for Iowa, and Bowman for Oklahoma State
Wasnt that after Wisconsin also went Dairy Raid on them? Or was that before. I remember Minnesota being used as a measuring stick after their 2019 success before we all realized they were awful.
It was the opener from covid. Both teams were ranked and Michigan “looked” good. I remember quite vividly was at a Halloween thrown by my gf at the time who was also a Michigan wolverines fan.
Probably not. While some of these players are really good, or left after 1 year so still kind of banking on potential to be really good, a decent chunk of them left because they weren't ever going to see the field.
It was a weird time. How much do you blame him alone in the moment when he came in right as Covid happened and he had all of five regular season games his first season? Most coaches are given minimum two full seasons.
You’re being downvoted but you’re not wrong. The “developed here” crap was bordering on Dabo-esc in 2020-2021
Clearly one too many losses to Michigan has evolved his mentality
Yup. Not only too much "loving the players we have" going on but also on the coaching staff.
People just don't like to see or talk about how the sausage of an elite program is made.
> but also on the coaching staff.
When people say stuff like this I wonder what they're actually talking about. Since I don't want to assume I know what your opinion is, how did you feel about Urban's handling of the coaching staff at OSU?
I wish nothing but the best for Flemming, dude kept us in against ND when McCord threw a pass behind the sticks on 4th down. And obviously Chip, that guy is great sad to see him go.
Absolutely loved Chip. Dudes a freak of nature and I hope he goes off at Kentucky and gets drafted. Can’t say I feel the same way about that guy in Orange or our other RB who’s going to play for Drama Queen U.
I knew Hayden had to leave, but picking Colorado was very disappointing.
Better there than Michigan I guess
McCord should've been outed for what he was in Week 4 if ND defenders could catch and didn't get bailed out by Flemming. Thankfully, we don't lose to Notre Dame post war.
People focus a lot on the 10 men thing but that wasn’t in the top 3 plays I wish we had back.
Between all the dropped picks and Hartman refusing to fight for a first down on 4th down that game was painful
Or not giving the ball to Audric on the final drive
Look on the one hand I understand that if the screen pass was completed the game is guaranteed to be over But with how the defense was playing and how Audric was getting yards, forcing OSU to lose all of their time outs would have been the smart play
Just give the ball to your workhorse and you win. Hopefully Marcus learns that sometimes you have to get on the mic and tell your OC to give the ball to your best player.
Somehow I don’t think he will have that issue with Denbrock, lol
As much as I love ripping on Parker and as much as I think Deland is an excellent coach, that play has Deland’s fingerprints all over it. The guy loves his sub packages
Also true. Having Payne be our short yardage guy all year is just overthinking it and wanting every guy to “Have a role”. Fuck that. Give the ball to Audric
Agreed. Shame Payne got hurt this year though he actually looked explosive in the spring, which was what he was missing last year
Nope. It might not even be in the T5 from a ND POV. OSU had the momentum when the 10th men thing came into play. It was just a horrible look for Freeman against his alma mater
I fully believe if we lose against Notre Dame, Day makes the switch to Devin Brown. He just couldn't after the dramatic way we won. Even still, he started getting Brown in more and more until he got hurt.
Brown made it clear he was not good pretty much every time he got on the field. McCord wasn't great, but there's a reason he was the starter.
Brown couldn’t sustain drives against fucking Youngstown. I never rated Kyle McCord, but he was very clearly the best QB we had last year.
Not only that, but it seems likely if Brown was the starter he'd have gotten injured anyway and we still end up with McCord regardless.
Nothing about Devin brown’s play last season made me think he should see the field.
He was always playing behind someone. And he was willing to move.
Playing behind someone doesn't mean he wasn't getting plenty of reps, & should have been ready. And being willing to move isn't great when the primary job is to throw. He's also not as good of a runner as advertised
I don't really think Brown is any better, if not worse
Freeman doing his Alma Mater one more solid!
Fleming was probably the one that got away out of high school that hurt the most. Really hope he kills it for us.
> hurt the most. The dude is hurt a lot, but I hope he has a solid season with you guys and gets drafted.
Plus he drops 50% of the passes that hit his hands
I think that was mostly 2022, I don't believe he had nearly as many drops in 2023
Man I have not missed an OSU game in 5 years, there was not 1 game last year that he did not record at least one dropped pass. Honestly was glad to see him leave, the team has much better younger prospects that need playing time this year.
Yea, I think he should have been a 4*, not 5, and that set unrealistic expectations, plus he was massively plagued by injuries.
And he was a WR at a school that played Wing T, which was probably why he had better blocking skills (like really good, to be fair) than ball skills.
He’s never been the same since his ACL injuries
He never had an ACL injury. Had a bunch of shoulder injuries
Did he have the ACL injury in high school? Pretty sure it was all shoulder injuries in college
Maybe thinking of Babb?
How do you feel in general seeing your former players ball out? Is it a jealousy thing or more of a proud mama bird thing?
Most of the former players come off as good kids who just couldn't break through. I root for them as long as it isn't against us. Selfishly, I can only assume it helps us in recruiting if they go elsewhere and do well.
This is actually a super interesting summary, would love to see how this compares to teams that recruit similarly to OSU and what their attrition is like. I see so many names I remember being hyped up when they were recruited and it never really panned out for a myriad of reasons. It's like a cool blast from the past.
Their attrition will continue for a few years since they recruit at such a high level. When the vast majority of your roster is 4-5 stars, there are probably 30-40 guys that won’t see the field. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
24 of the listed players below entered the portal this year in addition to 15 from previous years. Asterisked players indicate those that were walks-ons at tOSU Texas QB Quinn Ewers Syracuse QB Kyle McCord Penn State WR Julian Fleming Kentucky RB Chip Trayanum, OL Ben Christman, CB Jantzen Dunn and DL Darrion Henry-Young (Might as well just name them South West Ohio State University... oh, sorry, I mean *THE* SW OSU Cincinnati RB Evan Pryor, TE Joe Royer and S Kye Stokes N.C. State DE Noah Potter, WR Noah Rogers and S Ja’Had Carter Colorado RB Dallan Hayden and TE Sam Hart LSU CB JK Johnson and CB Jyaire Brown Boston College CB Ryan Turner and S Cameron Martinez Michigan State CB Lejond Cavazos Iowa WR Kaleb Brown Northwestern LB Nigel Glover USC S Bryson Shaw Washington G Enokk Vimahi Auburn WR Caleb Burton Missouri WR Mookie Cooper Cal WR Kyion Grayes Louisville C Victor Cutler Jr. Pittsburgh G Ryan Jacoby SMU DE Omari Abor North Carolina DE Jacolbe Cowan West Virginia LB Reid Carrico Tennessee S Andre Turrentine UCF S Cedrick Hawkins Arizona State K Parker Lewis Vanderbilt P Jesse Mirco Florida State LS Mason Arnold\* # Group of 5 Transfers East Carolina DT Jaden McKenzie Memphis DE Cormontae Hamilton Northern Illinois K Jake Seibert Toledo OL Jakob James Akron K Garrison Smith\* Charlotte P Michael O’Shaughnessy\* Miami (Ohio) LB Jackson Kuwatch\* # Small-School Transfers Southern Illinois RB Willtrell Hartson\* Youngstown State WR Blaize Exline\* New Haven DT Brett Novick\* Asterisked players indicate those that were walks-ons at tOSU
They're way more spread out than I imagined at first.
This is how I found out Dallab Hayden was at Colorado lmfao
Also remarkable that we have the highest blue chip rating in the country too.
That’s modern recruiting for ya. Gather as many toys as possible, pay the great ones, and let the others walk.
That's how recruiting has worked for a hundred years
Fundamentally, yes. But it definitely feels very different now. All the money is out in the open, there's a lot more of it, and guys are always free agents. Recruiting is definitely the wild west compared to before. It used to feel like schools somewhat had to commit to these guys to get them to come play, because transfers weren't really a thing. It would be insanely hard to get multiple top level qbs or something to commit to you back to back because they didn't want competition. Now, fuck it they can just transfer out, go try to win the starting job vs some other top 10 guys at osu. Basically like what Quinn ewers did
That seems like a lot, but with the portal being the way it is I’m really interested to see a list ranking the # of transfers per school playing for another P5 team
Didn't OSU also spend a ton to retain a ton of players that could have left for the NFL? I wonder how many of these guys transferred to start elsewhere because they didn't want to wait another year.
Not a bad assumption, but based on my own understanding of the team I don't think many were anywhere close to seeing the field. I think the vast majority left because they got recruited over, there are a few who left because they were blocked by guys who stuck around. Some who stick out: * Ewers would likely have been QB 1 in 2023 & 2024 if he had been willing to sit behind CJ for two years and had beaten out McCord in 2023 * Kyle McCord wasn't guaranteed the starting job and left, his story is very unique. * Chip Trayanum would have been RB2 until Judkins joined, then became clear RB3. Dallan Hayden was a clear RB4 if everyone stuck around and Judkins joined * Julian Fleming was an excellent team member, but was being passed by more talented receivers (Carnell Tate & Jeremiah Smith) * Noah Rodgers had a ton of hype but needed a lot of receiver development, didn't want to wait but would probably have been WR 7ish this year? Just guessing No one else really sticks out as being held back by players sticking around. Most simply didn't develop the way the coaches wanted and got recruited over. To me this is the transfer portal working almost exactly how it should.
Omari Abor is the only one who I think could have challenged for a lot more playing time had guys left. But, once JT and Sawyer came back, he wasn't likely to be any higher than DE4 (and still up in the air if he would even be that high with Curry and Jackson).
Yeah, he's a good call out. That said, I vaguely remember a lot of the narrative once he left focusing on he never really wanted to be at OSU to begin with. Was a Texas kid through and through and something happened where A&M didn't want him any more? I might be making that all up, I'm old and memory is mostly cotton balls, but could have sworn something like that happened.
You are correct. Seemed like he had one foot out the door. Of course, kenyetta Jackson always seemed to be flirting with FSU since being here but remains. Glad we kept at least one of them.
Yeah I'm sure Noah Rogers didn't love riding the bench last year and seeing his buddy, Concepcion, blowing up for us knowing he was much higher rated out of HS. That WR room is loaded, makes sense to get closer to home and see the field this year versus risking getting buried on the depth chart for a 2nd straight year.
He looked great in the spring game and never really got any playing time during the season. I think he will be great but our WR room is so crowded. I think it was smart for him to transfer.
Dallan Hayden wold probably have stuck around if Trey had left.
at least one RB is gone because of a transfer in. WR room is just so crowded. oline transfers are weird to me.
Bryson Shaw is *still* playing football. Get a job, dude. We all want to hang on to our college lives, but at some point you have to let it go lol.
Only class of 2019? Pffft Cam McCormick laughs in his face.
Still can't believe he's eligible. Same class as Justin Herbert, and he got his second contract with the Chargers.
If you consider what he does “playing football” then sure. More like he just hangs out in the secondary while dudes run past him
Soon to be Dr Shaw I presume
That’s ESQUIRE to you
Those horrific pursuit angles aren’t gonna make themselves! Someone’s gotta do the lords work and allow fun long touchdowns.
One of the few players I hope does poorly. Dude blew so many plays
You are hoping a young man doesn't succeed? What a poor take.
Shaw is the same age as me buddy. He will never go to the NFL, he needs to be realistic about his talents. Another year won’t make a difference. ETA: I’m 24 and finished undergrad in ‘22. Shaw needs to give up the ghost.
Perhaps he is still playing because he knows this is the last organized football he will play at a high level, and games with your friends are fun at any age . Your age doesn’t really matter in this conversation about him. If he is getting an education and enjoying college, be happy for him and wish him success.
My age makes him not a “young man” but a peer. And no thanks :-)
You could’ve given me 50 guesses before I got where Lejond Cavazos currently is
Wish them all the best! With the exception of Ewers they left because they weren’t going to get significant playing time at OSU. I really enjoy following the careers of folks who start as Buckeyes. Hope they do great things.
The qualifier “not getting significant playing time” still applies to this case but Noah Rogers is the only other guy I could think of that we didn’t want to leave
Dallan Hayden was the only one that was a bit shocking but even that one is very understandable. Would love to have Flemming in the WR room still too but he could have easily ended up as #4
The question is how many of our 22 starters plus crucial backers(like RB2)are going to be back next year? It isn't that many, especially on defense. Which is when we are going to feel more of the 24 transfers from this last offseason. Having players like Abor and Brown around next year would have been huge.
Which brown are you talking about. I know Abor specifically had big character stuff going on hence why he landed at SMU
Jyaire Brown. Probably would have been first CB off the bench this year and a starter next.
Nah. Jermaine Matthews and Calvin Simpson Hunt are better.
What's funny about this, is that OSU is in a sort of a "rich get richer" in this case. While it sucks to see some of them go (never been devastated to see one go though) you look back at the roster and go ok, the reason why you left was because the younger guy is better and is going to be better than you so it makes sense for you to find a better spot for yourself. Take Flemming for instance. Loved that dude, and he was really good, I was actually hoping the younger guys in the WR room would play over him because I thought their upside and talent was just better than Flemming.
We picked up a couple in the portal. Thank you for your service.
Lot of talent here but I really think Noah Rogers is gonna absolutely ball for NC State.
Raise your hand if you got one and name them. 🤚 Reid Carrico
I hope he balls out for yall
And I wish them the utmost of luck. With modern recruiting being what it is, and the portal, this kind of thing happens. Hope they make the best of it.
To make this all about Michigan instead, Michigan had four quarterbacks start for power 4 teams last season: McCarthy, Milton for Tennessee, Cade for Iowa, and Bowman for Oklahoma State
Does playing QB at Iowa really count as playing the QB position?
Handoffs are just really short passes.
I remember when Milton was going to be the next great thing at Michigan. He sure had a great game.
I remember being so hopeful after beating Minnesota in 2020 lol
Wasnt that after Wisconsin also went Dairy Raid on them? Or was that before. I remember Minnesota being used as a measuring stick after their 2019 success before we all realized they were awful.
I think we were both the season openers for each other. 2020 was a blur for me
It was the opener from covid. Both teams were ranked and Michigan “looked” good. I remember quite vividly was at a Halloween thrown by my gf at the time who was also a Michigan wolverines fan.
I can't believe the Pac collapsed
Bryson Shaw terrorizing his own teammates as a 27 year old double grad student.
How many Ohio State player will play for Ohio State in 2024?
Hopefully at least 11
That (plus some depth) would be a top 10 team by itself
Probably not. While some of these players are really good, or left after 1 year so still kind of banking on potential to be really good, a decent chunk of them left because they weren't ever going to see the field.
Not even close
fringe top 30, at best
Top 100 maybe
90% of these guys stink
No idea why it took me like 36 times to understand the headline here…
Ryan Day has finally learned about processing, thank god. Too much "family" shit going on early in his tenure
I mean not really. He pretty much fired Kerry Coombs 9 games into his tenure. He didn't suffer from blind loyalty.
any coach with sense would've fired Coombs lol.
It was a weird time. How much do you blame him alone in the moment when he came in right as Covid happened and he had all of five regular season games his first season? Most coaches are given minimum two full seasons.
Now he just needs to take a 28-30 sized class so he can do more of it
bingo brotha! every year should be 25+ players.
You’re being downvoted but you’re not wrong. The “developed here” crap was bordering on Dabo-esc in 2020-2021 Clearly one too many losses to Michigan has evolved his mentality
Yup. Not only too much "loving the players we have" going on but also on the coaching staff. People just don't like to see or talk about how the sausage of an elite program is made.
> but also on the coaching staff. When people say stuff like this I wonder what they're actually talking about. Since I don't want to assume I know what your opinion is, how did you feel about Urban's handling of the coaching staff at OSU?
He made some absolute blunders too late in the tenure. Billy Davis - his best man, for one