Buckeyes reserve tight end Sam Hart enters transfer portal
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is losing a member of its talented tight end room: Sam Hart is entering the transfer portal.
The former three-star prospect will have three years of eligibility remaining wherever he chooses to continue his college football career.
Hart chose the Buckeyes as part of the loaded 2021 class. He picked Ohio State over more than 20 schools he was offered a scholarship to attend, including LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas, USC, Oregon, Penn State, Colorado and Nebraska. The Colorado native was ranked as the No. 446 overall player in his class, checking in as the No. 19 tight end and No. 3 player in his state.
After beginning his Ohio State career with a redshirt season, Hart struggled to work his way up the Buckeyes depth chart at tight end. He was stuck behind senior captain Cade Stover, as well as fourth-year players Gee Scott Jr. and Joe Royer for the last two seasons.
Add in the emergence of freshman Jelani Thurman early in his time with the Buckeyes and the continued assumed return next season of Bennett Christian, and Hart was lost in the depth chart for a position that is oozing with talent.
Sam Hart won’t be a part of that room anymore. He has entered the transfer portal after three years with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State still has talented tight end room
Ohio State still has a good, solid tight end room despite the recent departure of Sam Hart and star tight end Cade Stover heading to the NFL Draft after a second straight great season.
Buckeyes tight end coach Keenan Bailey talked last offseason about his room and the competition within the room from all the members of the roster.
“I think they came to Ohio State knowing that everyone is a competitor,” Bailey said. “Everyone came here to be a first-rounder. I don’t think there’s any waiting for your time. I don’t ever want to coach somebody who is patient. I hope they’re all hungry to get on the field right now. … When you’re surrounded by elite people every day, it’s pretty hard to not be hungry.”
Gee Scott Jr. and Ohio transfer Will Kacmarek will need to lead the room next season. But Jelani Thurman was impressive in practice during his first year and will head into the offseason with high expectations for Year Two, beginning this spring.
The Buckeyes also have incoming freshmen tight ends Max LeBlanc and Damarion Witten.
