Gene Ross
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No. 1 OT visits Ohio State; Buckeyes lose transfer portal target to Oregon
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Jackson Cantrell | Via @jcantwell2499 on Twitter
Ohio State remains active on the recruiting trail with its CFP game less than a week away.
Ohio State has a College Football Playoff game at home in less than a week, but thanks to the NCAA’s eternal lack of foresight and planning, it is also a pivotal time for the Buckeyes to be active in the transfer portal. Ohio State’s staff also must maintain their focus on the traditional recruiting trail for the 2026 class, with only three players currently committed in next year’s cycle and a ton of work to be done.
Luckily, it seems as though game preparation has not prevented Ryan Day and his crew from hosting some big names on visits this past weekend. With offensive line a massive point of emphasis for the program moving forward, perhaps none of those visits are more important than 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
Making the trek to Columbus on Saturday, the 6-foot-7.5 lineman is the No. 1 OT and the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite. With at least 30 offers to his name from all of the nation’s top programs, Ohio State is obviously not alone in its pursuit of Cantwell, who also made a trip to Ann Arbor on Sunday to check in with rival Michigan. Following his visit, Cantwell told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the Buckeyes are, “in the mix,” moving forward.
Having offered the standout tackle back in October of 2023, Ohio State has to be happy to get one of the early visits in the process, but will have their work cut out from them in luring him north from his home state of Missouri. The son of two Olympic shot put throwers, and a two-time Missouri Class 5A state champion in the shot put himself, Cantwell’s father is a Mizzou alum. On top of owning the national record for a sophomore in shot put, Cantwell was named the 2024 MaxPreps Missouri High School Football Player of the Year.
Speaking of offensive linemen, Ohio State will need to add at least two guys and probably even three through the transfer portal this offseason, and that have already begun zeroing in on a handful of big names. That includes former Northwestern OL Josh Thompson, former Nevada OT Isaiah World, and former Texas A&M OL Kam Dewberry.
Thompson, the No. 5 IOL in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, visited Ohio State on Friday, and has further visits scheduled with Michigan State, Michigan and Auburn. Set to be a fifth-year senior in 2025, Thompson has experience at both tackle and guard with the Wildcats, having spent the 2023 season as Northwestern’s starting tackle, but the Buckeyes would likely slot him in as a guard should be decide to continue his career in Columbus.
World, the No. 1 OT and No. 19 overall player in the transfer portal per 247Sports, appears to have some mutual interest with Ohio State. The 6-foot-8, 309-pound blocker reportedly plans to visit with the Buckeyes sometime this week, and is obvious a huge priority for Justin Frye and company as OSU will need two new tackles next season. World has three years of starting experience at Nevada, and allowed zero sacks in 13 games this past season per PFF.
Dewberry is an interesting prospect, as Ohio State had previously finished second in his initial recruitment before he ultimately committed to Texas A&M. At one point, he had told Alex Gleitman of On3 that his trip to Columbus was the, “best visit he ever had.” It is unclear whether Ohio State has reached out to Dewberry now that he is in the portal, but it would be surprising for the Buckeyes to not at least check in on the No. 9 transfer IOL having clearly had some mutual interest in the past.
Elsewhere, Ohio State would also like to add a running back via the transfer portal with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins set to move on to the NFL. Position coach Carlos Locklyn brought in an impressive haul of backs in the 2025 class with the trio of Bo Jackson, Anthony Rogers and Isaiah West, but the Buckeyes would love to add an experienced ball-carrier to pair with second-year man James Peoples next season.
One of the names linked to Ohio State at the position has been former USC running back Quinten Joyner. Joyner, who visited Columbus this past weekend, is set to be just a redshirt sophomore in 2025, but has already racked up over 600 yards and four touchdowns over parts of two seasons with the Trojans. The 5-foot-11 Texas native is the No. 5 RB in the portal per 247Sports, has already proven he can be a successful runner in the Big Ten, and would be an instant contributor for the Buckeyes.
The other big running back linked to Ohio State is Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. Like the aforementioned Dewberry, Ohio State finished as the likely No. 2 during Haynes’ recruitment before he committed to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. Now back on the market, Pete Nakos on On3 has reported that there is, “significant interest” from the Buckeyes in the rising junior back. Of note, Haynes is good friends with Caleb Downs, with the two having both played high school football in Georgia in addition to their time in Tuscaloosa.
Haynes is the No. 1 RB in the transfer portal, per 247Sports. The sophomore ran for a little under 500 yards and seven touchdowns on just 79 carries while catching 17 passes for 99 for Alabama this past season.
Thieneman was the No. 1 safety in the transfer portal.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Jackson Cantrell | Via @jcantwell2499 on Twitter
Ohio State remains active on the recruiting trail with its CFP game less than a week away.
Ohio State has a College Football Playoff game at home in less than a week, but thanks to the NCAA’s eternal lack of foresight and planning, it is also a pivotal time for the Buckeyes to be active in the transfer portal. Ohio State’s staff also must maintain their focus on the traditional recruiting trail for the 2026 class, with only three players currently committed in next year’s cycle and a ton of work to be done.
Big Time Visitor in Columbus
Luckily, it seems as though game preparation has not prevented Ryan Day and his crew from hosting some big names on visits this past weekend. With offensive line a massive point of emphasis for the program moving forward, perhaps none of those visits are more important than 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
Making the trek to Columbus on Saturday, the 6-foot-7.5 lineman is the No. 1 OT and the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite. With at least 30 offers to his name from all of the nation’s top programs, Ohio State is obviously not alone in its pursuit of Cantwell, who also made a trip to Ann Arbor on Sunday to check in with rival Michigan. Following his visit, Cantwell told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the Buckeyes are, “in the mix,” moving forward.
Having offered the standout tackle back in October of 2023, Ohio State has to be happy to get one of the early visits in the process, but will have their work cut out from them in luring him north from his home state of Missouri. The son of two Olympic shot put throwers, and a two-time Missouri Class 5A state champion in the shot put himself, Cantwell’s father is a Mizzou alum. On top of owning the national record for a sophomore in shot put, Cantwell was named the 2024 MaxPreps Missouri High School Football Player of the Year.
The Latest Transfer Portal Rumblings
Speaking of offensive linemen, Ohio State will need to add at least two guys and probably even three through the transfer portal this offseason, and that have already begun zeroing in on a handful of big names. That includes former Northwestern OL Josh Thompson, former Nevada OT Isaiah World, and former Texas A&M OL Kam Dewberry.
Thompson, the No. 5 IOL in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, visited Ohio State on Friday, and has further visits scheduled with Michigan State, Michigan and Auburn. Set to be a fifth-year senior in 2025, Thompson has experience at both tackle and guard with the Wildcats, having spent the 2023 season as Northwestern’s starting tackle, but the Buckeyes would likely slot him in as a guard should be decide to continue his career in Columbus.
World, the No. 1 OT and No. 19 overall player in the transfer portal per 247Sports, appears to have some mutual interest with Ohio State. The 6-foot-8, 309-pound blocker reportedly plans to visit with the Buckeyes sometime this week, and is obvious a huge priority for Justin Frye and company as OSU will need two new tackles next season. World has three years of starting experience at Nevada, and allowed zero sacks in 13 games this past season per PFF.
Dewberry is an interesting prospect, as Ohio State had previously finished second in his initial recruitment before he ultimately committed to Texas A&M. At one point, he had told Alex Gleitman of On3 that his trip to Columbus was the, “best visit he ever had.” It is unclear whether Ohio State has reached out to Dewberry now that he is in the portal, but it would be surprising for the Buckeyes to not at least check in on the No. 9 transfer IOL having clearly had some mutual interest in the past.
Elsewhere, Ohio State would also like to add a running back via the transfer portal with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins set to move on to the NFL. Position coach Carlos Locklyn brought in an impressive haul of backs in the 2025 class with the trio of Bo Jackson, Anthony Rogers and Isaiah West, but the Buckeyes would love to add an experienced ball-carrier to pair with second-year man James Peoples next season.
One of the names linked to Ohio State at the position has been former USC running back Quinten Joyner. Joyner, who visited Columbus this past weekend, is set to be just a redshirt sophomore in 2025, but has already racked up over 600 yards and four touchdowns over parts of two seasons with the Trojans. The 5-foot-11 Texas native is the No. 5 RB in the portal per 247Sports, has already proven he can be a successful runner in the Big Ten, and would be an instant contributor for the Buckeyes.
The other big running back linked to Ohio State is Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. Like the aforementioned Dewberry, Ohio State finished as the likely No. 2 during Haynes’ recruitment before he committed to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. Now back on the market, Pete Nakos on On3 has reported that there is, “significant interest” from the Buckeyes in the rising junior back. Of note, Haynes is good friends with Caleb Downs, with the two having both played high school football in Georgia in addition to their time in Tuscaloosa.
Haynes is the No. 1 RB in the transfer portal, per 247Sports. The sophomore ran for a little under 500 yards and seven touchdowns on just 79 carries while catching 17 passes for 99 for Alabama this past season.
Quick Hits
- One player Ohio State knows it will not be landing in the transfer portal this offseason is former Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman, who committed to Oregon over the weekend. The Buckeyes have gotten accustomed to losing out to the Ducks on premiere defensive back talent of late, including the signing day flip of five-star corner Na’eem Offord as well as fellow DB targets Dorian Brew and Trey McNutt.
Thieneman was the No. 1 safety in the transfer portal.
- Ohio State could potential see a familiar face lined up across the field next season, as Buckeyes wide receiver transfer Jayden Ballard made a trip to Wisconsin this past weekend. Ballard spent each of the past four seasons in Columbus, but caught only 11 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown during that time. Ohio State will play Wisconsin in Madison on Oct. 18, 2025.
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