Compared to other programs, the Ohio State Buckeyes don’t typically bring in a lot of transfer portal players. And as head coach Ryan Day explained during a press conference this week, that’s all part of the plan for his program.
The Buckeyes brought in five scholarship transfer players this transfer portal window – safety Ja’Had Carter, long snapper John Ferlmann, offensive lineman Victor Cutler, quarterback Tristan Gebbia, and cornerback Davison Igbinosun. And as Ryan Day explains, each of them filled a very specific need on the roster.
“There are two different windows. In the first window there we added five guys, and they’re in different areas,” Day said about the transfer portal, according to On3. “And I think you know, it’s been pretty clear that we bring guys in, from the transfer portal to fill needs. We’re not just bringing guys in to bring guys in. So all these guys fill a need for us.”
Carter was the top safety in the portal and will fill a vacancy left by departing senior Tanner McCalister at one of the most important positions in Ohio State’s defense. Cutler, meanwhile, is expected to play center after the unexpected departure of Luke Wypler and former freshman All-American Igbinosun will help the Buckeyes at one of their weak spots this season. Ferlmann is expected to be the team’s starting long snapper while Gebbia will be the team’s emergency quarterback as he seeks a career in coaching.
It’s certainly a unique approach to the portal, but it seems to work for the Buckeyes.
[On3]
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