Caleb Houser
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Ohio State prioritizing transfer portal recruiting with the 2025 class wrapped up
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes are focusing on the portal now that their 2025 class is signed and completed.
It’s only been about two weeks since Ohio State has played their regular season finale, and already so much has gone on as the team prepares for their College Football Playoff matchup with Tennessee. Whether it be signing their 2025 class, focusing recruiting efforts towards the transfer portal or having staffers reportedly interview elsewhere, there’s been zero down time for the Buckeyes.
With plenty more to come and go over the next couple of weeks, Ohio State's first priority will be doing their best to beat Tennessee at home, but if this program wants any chance of being better in 2025, that transfer portal needs to have their full attention. At least right now that fortunately seems to be the case.
Last offseason Ohio State landed the commitment of Caleb Downs when he decided to leave Alabama after Nick Saban’s departure. Far and away the best player on Ohio State’s defense this past season, Downs gave the Buckeyes an elite safety to not only secure the back end, but really lead the unit entirely with Lathan Ransom as his counterpart.
Looking to 2025, the Buckeyes know they’ll need to replace the production of Ransom. While there’s certainly suitors on the current roster, you’d be foolish in today’s landscape not to look at the portal for what could provide potentially a better player to fit the system, and right now that’s exactly what Ohio State is doing.
Purdue transfer target Dillon Thieneman looks to be next in line for Ohio State’s plan of adding elite safeties from the portal, and the staff seems to be in a good position. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year during the 2023 season, Thieneman is arguably the best safety in the portal and would be an incredible addition to the back end of this defense. Pairing him with Downs, the secondary would have a hole filled immediately and would without much debate be the best safety tandem in the country if this works out.
Planning a future visit to Columbus in the coming days, the Buckeyes will have other programs to beat out such as Notre Dame and Oregon, but the best pitch is knowing they too are close enough to Dillon’s home state of Indiana and they have every ability to compete for championships as well as selling the fact they have the current best safety in the country.
Work to be done, but this is a recruitment from the portal the staff needs to win. For now, the momentum seems to be growing.
In sticking with the transfer portal theme, it takes no real thought to realize Ohio State’s biggest area of need is along their offensive line. A unit that plain and simple needs to be overhauled with depth, Justin Frye and the Buckeyes have to be as successful in the portal this winter if they want to have any shot of reaching their ultimate goals in 2025. Needing to secure at least one and likely two offensive tackles, this position group should be turning over every stone.
Plenty of big names already entering the portal, Ohio State should be going after a bunch of them with resources that help their cause, and Nevada’s Isaiah World may be the first in line to not only hear from Ohio State, but also have a strong interest in becoming a Buckeye for his next home.
Arguably the best offensive tackle in the portal currently, World is an impressive 6-foot-8, 310 pounds and has plenty of stock behind why he’s being so highly sought after. Allowing just 13 sacks in three years with over 1,200 hundred pass-blocking snaps, World did not allow a single sack in 2024, and would be the absolute home run for this staff that needs to land two guys to help anchor the tackle positions in 2025.
Right now, there’s growing belief that World is keeping Ohio State atop of his list and may even be the leader in his recruitment thus far. Reports coming from Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts stating that Ohio State is in good position to win this battle needs to be the consensus moving forward, but if Frye is able to land this one sooner rather than later, you have to like the chances the Buckeyes have of getting more done to get this unit to where it needs to be.
Immediately a connection because of the family relation, you’d have to think Ohio State has a real shot here at landing 247Sport’s 55th ranked corner in his 2022 class at the time. For now, play close attention to where he visits, and if Columbus is on the list, the Buckeyes may be the frontrunner here.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes are focusing on the portal now that their 2025 class is signed and completed.
It’s only been about two weeks since Ohio State has played their regular season finale, and already so much has gone on as the team prepares for their College Football Playoff matchup with Tennessee. Whether it be signing their 2025 class, focusing recruiting efforts towards the transfer portal or having staffers reportedly interview elsewhere, there’s been zero down time for the Buckeyes.
With plenty more to come and go over the next couple of weeks, Ohio State's first priority will be doing their best to beat Tennessee at home, but if this program wants any chance of being better in 2025, that transfer portal needs to have their full attention. At least right now that fortunately seems to be the case.
Securing the back end of the defense
Last offseason Ohio State landed the commitment of Caleb Downs when he decided to leave Alabama after Nick Saban’s departure. Far and away the best player on Ohio State’s defense this past season, Downs gave the Buckeyes an elite safety to not only secure the back end, but really lead the unit entirely with Lathan Ransom as his counterpart.
Looking to 2025, the Buckeyes know they’ll need to replace the production of Ransom. While there’s certainly suitors on the current roster, you’d be foolish in today’s landscape not to look at the portal for what could provide potentially a better player to fit the system, and right now that’s exactly what Ohio State is doing.
Purdue transfer target Dillon Thieneman looks to be next in line for Ohio State’s plan of adding elite safeties from the portal, and the staff seems to be in a good position. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year during the 2023 season, Thieneman is arguably the best safety in the portal and would be an incredible addition to the back end of this defense. Pairing him with Downs, the secondary would have a hole filled immediately and would without much debate be the best safety tandem in the country if this works out.
Planning a future visit to Columbus in the coming days, the Buckeyes will have other programs to beat out such as Notre Dame and Oregon, but the best pitch is knowing they too are close enough to Dillon’s home state of Indiana and they have every ability to compete for championships as well as selling the fact they have the current best safety in the country.
Work to be done, but this is a recruitment from the portal the staff needs to win. For now, the momentum seems to be growing.
Do whatever it takes to win!
In sticking with the transfer portal theme, it takes no real thought to realize Ohio State’s biggest area of need is along their offensive line. A unit that plain and simple needs to be overhauled with depth, Justin Frye and the Buckeyes have to be as successful in the portal this winter if they want to have any shot of reaching their ultimate goals in 2025. Needing to secure at least one and likely two offensive tackles, this position group should be turning over every stone.
Plenty of big names already entering the portal, Ohio State should be going after a bunch of them with resources that help their cause, and Nevada’s Isaiah World may be the first in line to not only hear from Ohio State, but also have a strong interest in becoming a Buckeye for his next home.
Arguably the best offensive tackle in the portal currently, World is an impressive 6-foot-8, 310 pounds and has plenty of stock behind why he’s being so highly sought after. Allowing just 13 sacks in three years with over 1,200 hundred pass-blocking snaps, World did not allow a single sack in 2024, and would be the absolute home run for this staff that needs to land two guys to help anchor the tackle positions in 2025.
Right now, there’s growing belief that World is keeping Ohio State atop of his list and may even be the leader in his recruitment thus far. Reports coming from Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts stating that Ohio State is in good position to win this battle needs to be the consensus moving forward, but if Frye is able to land this one sooner rather than later, you have to like the chances the Buckeyes have of getting more done to get this unit to where it needs to be.
The #Buckeyes move into a good spot for a huge transfer portal offensive tackle.
@Bill_Kurelic https://t.co/X2CIX1EVK2 pic.twitter.com/FRnEKlHFTl
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) December 12, 2024
Quick Hits
- No shortage of younger guys ready to step up, Ohio State is still looking at the transfer portal for depth to help the secondary and specifically at the cornerback position. A name that has surfaced quickly as a potential match is Virginia Tech’s Mansoor Delane, who of course is the older brother to recent 2025 signee, Faheem Delane.
Immediately a connection because of the family relation, you’d have to think Ohio State has a real shot here at landing 247Sport’s 55th ranked corner in his 2022 class at the time. For now, play close attention to where he visits, and if Columbus is on the list, the Buckeyes may be the frontrunner here.
Continue reading...