Ohio State kicker Jake Seibert enters transfer portal
COLUMBUS — Ohio State kicker Jake Seibert is in the NCAA transfer portal just two days after the Buckeyes spring game, Lettermen Row has learned.
Seibert has multiple years of eligibility left following his three-year career at Ohio State.
A member of the 2020 recruiting class, Seibert has seen limited action as a backup kicker in each of his three seasons with the Buckeyes. He made 16 extra points and one field goal in his time at Ohio State, all of them coming during his freshman season. Seibert kicked a field goal for the Buckeyes in their national title game loss to Alabama in the COVID-19 shortened season.
Seibert was the No. 2 overall kicker in the class of 2020, according to On3. He was the No. 1,295 overall prospect and the No. 54 player in the state of Ohio. From La Salle High School, he chose the Buckeyes over numerous big-name programs around the country.
After Seibert’s freshman season, he lost the starting kicker battle to Noah Ruggles in 2021. Ruggles was the starting kicker for Ohio State in each of the last two seasons before ending his career.
Seibert was in the Ohio State kicker battle this spring, but he was not among the two kickers to attempt a field goal in the spring game on Saturday, an indication that he fell down the depth chart. Jayden Fielding and Parker Lewis each kicked one field goal. Fielding missed his attempt, while Lewis made a 40-yarder.
After three seasons with Ohio State, Jake Seibert is headed elsewhere. He is in the transfer portal.
Ohio State has wide open kicker competition
One of the most underrated position battles on the field for Ohio State comes at a critical position: kicker. The Buckeyes are trying to replace Noah Ruggles, who hit 82 percent of his field goals during his college career. Now the battle to become the next kicker is in full swing, and it was evident on Saturday why that competition isn’t settled yet. Lettermen Row was hearing that Jayden Fielding has been impressive during spring practice, but a missed 40-yard field goal in the Horseshoe wasn’t indicative of that. Parker Lewis, who transferred from USC prior to last season, connected on a 38-yard attempt for the first offensive points of the afternoon.
Those two kickers provide the Buckeyes with options, which will be nice to have as the competition heats up this summer. Ohio State needs to fill that spot with a kicker it can depend on in big moments. The battle to become that player is still wide open.
