Buckeyes reserve defensive lineman Darrion Henry-Young enters transfer portal

COLUMBUS — Darrion Henry-Young has been building toward a break out at Ohio State for two seasons.

The untapped potential will have to be realized somewhere else.

Henry-Young entered the transfer portal Monday morning after two years inside the program. The Ohio native defensive lineman and high school teammate of Buckeyes offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Henry-Young appeared sparingly in action for the Rushmen during his career, totaling just one tackle for the Buckeyes across appearances in four games. He now enters the transfer portal as an intriguing option for other schools after two years of learning under defensive line coach Larry Johnson in the Rushmen room.

The Ohio State defensive line room has been stocked with talent, making it increasingly difficult to find time on the field. Henry-Young was a raw prospect with high potential coming out of high school.

But the depth chart in front of him included Haskell Garrett, Taron Vincent, Tommy Togiai and others on the inside, and a bevy of talented players at defensive end throughout his Buckeyes career.

Henry-Young is a big, versatile player with a potential to play inside or outside.

“I’m nowhere close,” Henry-Young said prior to his Ohio State career, when he fresh out of high school. “I haven’t touched the surface of what I can be at.”

The former four-star recruit and No. 2 player in the state of Ohio – behind his teammate Johnson – has plenty of potential to be a game-changing defensive lineman. That’s why the Buckeyes fought to get him in the Class of 2020.

But after two years of development in a uphill battle up the depth chart that continues to add elite talent to stack inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Henry-Young will try his hand at a different school — with a chance to make an impact as he enters the transfer portal and exits Ohio State.