Where Buckeyes additions landed in On3 Transfer Portal rankings

COLUMBUS — After the portal debuted in 2018, Ohio State only dipped its foot in the transfer waters. The Buckeyes plucked to-be impact players such, namely Georgia quarterback Justin Fields and Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon, the last four years. Also in that span, the Buckeyes reeled in the likes of North Carolina kicker Noah Ruggles, Arizona State running back Chip Trayanum and Oklahoma State safety Tanner McCalister, all of whom were part of Ohio State’s 2022 story.

But it wasn’t until this offseason that the Buckeyes took a plunge into the portal. Gone are the days when you can solely stick to a bonafide high school recruiting pipeline. Even though Ohio State has had a top-five recruiting class every year Ryan Day has been head coach, a complementary effort in the transfer market has become necessary in an era increasingly dominated by portal moves and NIL.

And so Day and his staff really entered the transfer game, reeling in nine players from the portal this offseason: Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter, Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosun, Oregon State quarterback Tristan Gebbia, Louisiana-Monroe offensive lineman Victor Cutler Jr., Arizona State long snapper John Ferlmann, Kent State kicker Casey Magyar, Ole Miss defensive tackle Twyone Malone, San Diego State offensive lineman Josh Simmons and Notre Dame receiver-turned-corner Lorenzo Styles Jr.

Some ranked higher than others in the On3 Transfer Portal rankings.

As spring turns to summer, Lettermen Row is examining where each of the Buckeyes’ nine portal additions ranked, according to On3.

INSIDE TOP 300

On3 ranks only the top 300 overall players who entered their names into the transfer portal this offseason. Four of Ohio State’s additions made the cut, including all three of the Buckeyes’ defensive back acquisitions. Notably, Ohio State’s four-highest ranked portal additions were on the defensive side of the ball, where second-year coordinator Jim Knowles is hoping for a jump in Year Two.

23. CB Davison Igbinosun (Ole Miss)

Igbinosun is competing for a starting outside corner job at Ohio State after getting the nod for 10 games as a true freshman at Ole Miss. He was the first Buckeyes transfer this offseason to shed his black stripe. He did so in five practices while turning heads with a 6-foot-2, 187-pound frame.

68. S Ja’Had Carter (Syracuse)

Carter joined the Buckeyes after starting three seasons at Syracuse, where he was an All-ACC performer. He offers Ohio State great versatility, as he can play all three safety positions in Knowles’ 4-2-5 scheme. Carter was limited down the stretch of the spring season with a right knee injury, but he should be good to go for fall camp.

122. CB Lorenzo Styles Jr. (Notre Dame)

Styles is the older brother of Ohio State sophomore safety Sonny Styles and the son of former Buckeyes linebacker Lorenzo Styles Sr. He made the switch to cornerback this offseason after playing wide receiver at Notre Dame the last two years. Styles piled up 54 catches for 684 yards and two scores with the Fighting Irish. Now, he’s joining his brother in the Buckeyes’ secondary.

293. DL Tywone Malone (Ole Miss)

As was the case with Styles, Ohio State recruited Malone out of high school but didn’t get his commitment until the second go-around. Malone started his college career playing football and baseball at Ole Miss, where he was part of College World Series title-winning Rebels squad as a true freshman. He’s shifted his full focus to football and is adding much-needed depth to the Buckeyes’ interior D-Line.

OUTSIDE TOP 300

The remaining five Buckeyes additions ranked outside the top 300 of the On3 Transfer Portal rankings, including Ohio State’s pair of offensive line reinforcements. The Buckeyes, who are replacing three now-NFLers up front, turned to the portal in both the winter and spring windows to soften the blow of those departures. Time will tell if either end up earning a starting job.

Note: Because these five Ohio State players aren’t ranked inside the On3 Transfer Portal top 300, we have listed their On3 position ranking among this year’s transfer portal class.

QB Tristan Gebbia (Oregon State)

On3 Transfer Portal QB ranking: 68th

Gebbia came to Ohio State to not only continue his playing career but also to jumpstart his coaching career. He’s in his seventh year of college football — thanks to the COVID-19 waiver, plus a medical redshirt — and the Buckeyes are his third team. Gebbia spent one year with Nebraska and the last five at Oregon State, where he made five starts across 2019 and 2020. Gebbia served as the Buckeyes’ QB2 during the spring game and is a helpful fourth scholarship quarterback for Ohio State.

OT Josh Simmons (San Diego State)

On3 Transfer Portal IOL ranking: 30th

Simmons is ranked as an interior offensive lineman, but he started last season at right tackle as a true freshman for San Diego State. He figures to be part of what could be a three-way competition for Ohio State’s right tackle job, which is probably more up for the taking than any other position on the roster.

C Victor Cutler Jr. (Louisiana-Monroe)

On3 Transfer Portal OT ranking: 59th

Like Simmons, Cutler’s On3 Transfer Portal position ranking doesn’t reflect the position he’ll be playing at Ohio State. Although Cutler started games at Louisiana-Monroe at tackle and center, he spent most of the spring season at center with the second team behind sophomore Carson Hinzman. With fellow Buckeyes center Jakob James returning from injury, Cutler could even move to guard during fall camp.

LS John Ferlmann (Arizona State)

On3 Transfer Portal LS ranking: 9th

Longtime long snapper Bradley Robinson graduated. His midseason, injury-induced replacement, Mason Arnold, transferred to Michigan State. The Buckeyes then found Ferlmann in the portal from Arizona State. Ferlmann has seized most of the first-team reps at the position. He was a five-star prospect at Boulder Creek High School, according to Rubio’s Long Snapping ranking.

K Casey Magyar (Kent State)

On3 Transfer Portal K ranking: T-1st

Don’t read too much into this position ranking because a host of transfer kickers were given the same rating. Magyar is part of a three-player kicking battle this offseason that also features Jayden Fielding and Parker Lewis. Of the three, Magyar was the one who didn’t attempt a field goal during the spring game. He did make his lone extra point attempt in the exhibition, though.