“Going into the transfer portal, I wanted to be somewhere that had a familiar environment. I didn’t want to go somewhere where it was going to be unfamiliar and I would just have learn a whole new environment,” Trayanum said in the spring. “Coming back here, I felt like it was just the best place to fit myself around a great group of people, to push me to reach that next level.”
Trayanum did not only swap the team he would represent, but also made a shift to the defensive side of the ball — where he hadn’t played since high school. Although he had to re-learn the linebacker position, Trayanum has quickly brought himself to speed as he removed his black stripe on Tuesday.
Fellow linebacker Steele Chambers underwent a similar transition from running back during the 2021 offseason. Trayanum received high praise from Chambers, who called him the fastest and strongest member of the linebackers room.
“He hit like 23 miles per hour, maybe 24, I don’t how he does it but he does it,” Chambers said. “He’s Hercules, man.”
Teradja Mitchell echoed Chambers’ sentiments, calling Trayanum “one of the most athletic people I’ve seen” come through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
“He’s fast, he’s strong. I’m excited to see him play,” Mitchell said. “I feel like he’s made a great transition over from running back to linebacker.”