Buckeyes linebacker Gabe Powers announces intentions to enter transfer portal

COLUMBUS — The first mover of the Ohio State offseason is third-year linebacker Gabe Powers. The Buckeyes reserve linebacker announced his intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens next week, making that announcement on Monday night.

The Buckeyes regular season ended Saturday at home in the loss to Michigan.

Powers will have two years of eligibility wherever he chooses to go.

“I want to thank all of Buckeye nation for the support I have received through my 3 years here at Ohio State,” Powers said in a statement on social media. “It has been a blessing being apart of buckeye nation. After much prayer and talking to my family, I have decided it’s in my best interest to enter the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility left. God bless all of you and go bucks. Proverbs 19:21”

Powers had an interception return for a touchdown in the Buckeyes season-opening win over Akron on Aug. 31. He was buried on the depth chart behind veterans this season, but he was slated to compete for playing time in his fourth year next offseason.

Former Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg said this about Powers last offseason:

“Gabe is an awesome player, too,” former Buckeyes star linebacker Tommy Eichenberg said. “I mean, he’s a great, great football player. Him and Cody and Arvell [Reese] and obviously C.J., too. Those are all like really, really good football players. [Powers] knew the defense just as well as I did, as well as Coach Knowles did, too.

“You could have thrown him out here in the middle of the season, and you wouldn’t have noticed a difference between anyone else on the field.”

Powers was the No. 59 overall player in the class of 2022, making him a four-star recruit. The Marysville, Ohio, native was the No. 5 linebacker and the No. 4 player in the state of Ohio.