How are former Ohio State transfers performing this season?

COLUMBUS — Ohio State, like many top college football programs, has lost a number of players to the transfer portal over the past several years.

Some were contributors, others backups, and another group didn’t play much during their time with the Buckeyes — last year or at any other point.

What have those Buckeyes transfers been up to this season? Lettermen Row is breaks all down.

The midseason stat recap for Ohio State transfers on offense

QB Devin Brown, Cal: Brown is the backup quarterback in Berkeley to former five-star prospect Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Still Brown has completed 4 of 7 pass attempts this season for one touchdown and one interception.

QB Air Noland, South Carolina: Noland is third-string quarterback for the Gamecocks. He has only appeared in one game this season and played just six snaps.

RB Chip Trayanum, Toledo: Trayanum, the former Buckeyes hero from the 2023 final-second winner over Notre Dame, is the featured back for the Rockets. He had rush for 601 yards and seven touchdowns on 103 attempts this season. He leads the MAC in rushing touchdowns.

RB Evan Pryor, Cincinnati: Pryor has been splitting carries with Tawee Walker this fall for the Bearcats but he still has been productive. Through seven games, Pryor has rushed for 412 yards and two touchdowns on 53 attempts. He is averaging 7.8 yards per attempt which leads the Big 12.

RB Dallan Hayden, Colorado: Hayden has struggled to establish himself in Boulder. He has 23 carries for 129 rushing yards throughs five games. He has yet to find the end zone this season.

WR Noah Rogers, NC State: The Wolfpack have struggled this season and it has affected Rogers numbers. He has just 15 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown through seven games. Rogers is currently fourth on NC State in receiving yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns.

WR Jayden Ballard, Wisconsin: Wisconsin has been one of the worst teams in the Power Four this season but Ballard is on pace to have a career year in his lone season with the Badgers. The former Buckeye has seven receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns. He needs just one more reception and 5 more receiving yards to tie previous career highs in Columbus. Ballard did not record a catch against Ohio State, however.

WR Kyion Grayes, Cal: Grayes has appeared in five games for Golden Bears this season but has yet to record a catch.

WR Kaleb Brown, UAB: Brown has been a solid pass catcher for the Blazers this season. He has nine receptions for 153 yards and one touchdown in seven games.

WR Kojo Antwi, Colorado State: After three years at Ohio State, Antwi transferred to Colorado State in the offseason but has still struggled to see the field. He has just two receptions for 5 yards this season. The Rams fired head coach Jay Norvell over the weekend, so maybe Antwi’s involvement in their offense will change.

TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati: Royer had some first-round NFL Draft buzz coming into the year after a breakout season last for the Bearcats in 2024. He has 21 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns through seven games this season. Royer is currently second on the team in receptions and fourth in receiving yards.

OT Zen Michalski, Indiana: He was listed as the starting right tackle for Indiana coming into the season but wasn’t able to hold on to his spot. Still, Michalski has appeared in all but one game for the Hoosiers this season. His primary role has been as an additional offensive lineman on run downs.

OT George Fitzpatrick, Kansas State: Fitzpatrick was slated to be a starting offensive tackle for the Wildcats this season but he suffered a health scare in offseason workouts and is out indefinitely.

OT Miles Walker, Boise State: Walker is a backup offensive tackle at Boise State this season. He has yet to appear in a game for the Broncos.

The midseason stat recap for transfers on defense

DL Darrion Henry-Young, Coastal Carolina: Now on his third stop, Henry-Young is a rotational defensive lineman for the Chanticleers. He has seven total tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss this season.

DT Hero Kanu, Texas: Kanu was a surprise exit from the national title team back in January. He transferred to Texas in the offseason and his first game with the Longhorns was against his former team in week one. Kanu had two total tackles against the Buckeyes. Overall, the Ohio State transfer has 19 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack this season.

EDGE Mitchell Melton, Virginia: Melton spent five years at Ohio State, and he chose to transfer to Virginia in his final season of college football. He has been a reserved defensive end for the 6-1 Cavaliers. Melton has racked 29 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this year.

LB Nigel Glover, Northwestern: Glover is a reserve linebacker for the Wildcats. He has appeared in one game and has one assisted tackle.

LB Jayden Bonsu, Pitt: Bonsu moved from safety to linebacker this offseason. He hasn’t appeared in a game for the Panthers this season as he adjusts to a new position.

LB Gabe Powers, Kansas State: Powers has appeared in all seven games as backup linebacker for Kansas State this season. He has 15 total tackles, seven solo tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss this season.

LB Reid Carrico, West Virginia: After emerging for the Mountaineers a year ago, Carrico has stepped into a starting linebacker role under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez this season. Carrico has 32 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through seven games.

DB Ryan Turner, Purdue: Turner has appeared in five games for the Boilermakers this season. He has eight total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Turner will face the Buckeyes on Nov. 8 in West Lafayette.

DB Jantzen Dunn, Kentucky: He’s been a rotational defensive back for the Wildcats this season. Dunn has six total tackles.

DB Andre Turrentine, Tennessee: Everyone remembers what Turrentine said about Ohio State ahead of the Volunteers blowout loss in the College Football Playoff first-round game last year. Well, he has remained in the starting lineup for Tennessee this season. Turrentine has 39 total tackles and one interception through seven games.

DB Cameron Martinez, Boston College: Now in his final year of college football, Cameron Martinez has nine total tackles this season as a starter in the secondary for Boston College.

DB Kye Stokes, Cincinnati: Stokes has been a depth safety this fall for the Bearcats this fall. Through seven games, he has two total tackles.

DB Jyaire Brown, UCF: He has played in three games this fall as rotational or depth piece in the secondary for the Knights.

DB JK Johnson, Oklahoma State: Johnson, a one-time Ohio State starting cornerback for five games during the 2022 season, has been a backup cornerback for the Cowboys this fall after transferring from LSU in the offseason. Oklahoma State fired long-time head coach Mike Gundy earlier this season but that hasn’t affected Johnson’s playing time.

DB Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Baylor: He’s been a backup defensive back for the Bears this season. Simpson-Hunt appeared in Baylor’s first two games this season but has not seen the field since.