Scarlet Sunrise: Former Ohio State wide receiver Caleb Burton transfers to Auburn
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Former Ohio State wide receiver Caleb Burton transfers to Auburn
Former Ohio State wide receiver Caleb Burton is heading to Auburn. Burton — once the No. 160 overall prospect in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — announced his transfer decision Saturday.
He’s the second former Buckeyes wideout to find a new home this week. Classmate Kaleb Brown, who transferred to Iowa, was the first.
That means that half of Ohio State’s four-man wide receiver class in 2022 has left the program. That speaks more to how crowded and talented the Buckeyes’ receiving corps is than to the skill set of either Brown or Burton.
Burton left Ohio State after spending two spring practice periods and a full season in Columbus. Along with Brown, Burton had a chance for more reps this spring, given that three of the Buckeyes’ top-four wideouts were sidelined for the majority of the 15 practices in March and April. Unfortunately for Burton, however, he, himself, missed some time with an injury this spring.
The Del Valle, Texas, native didn’t have a catch in the spring game. Meanwhile true freshmen wide receivers Carnell Tate and Noah Rogers both found the end zone.
Ohio State’s second-year wideouts were pushed by the newcomers all spring, and now two of those second-year wideouts have gone elsewhere.
Since Burton did see game action last year, he still has four years of eligibility remaining.
He joins an Auburn program that’s hoping to bounce back under the leadership of new head coach Hugh Freeze. Last year, the Tigers didn’t have a player hit the 500-yard receiving mark and averaged just 24.8 points per game.
Buckeyes open as favorite to win Big Ten title
The offseason expectations are building for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are the national title favorites, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, which also favors them in every 2023 regular season game.
Six Ohio State players are featured in the opening round of ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay’s first 2024 mock draft. For reference, there have been only two drafts before where a school has had six first rounders.
And, now, the Buckeyes are betting favorites to win the Big Ten title, according to FanDuel. The sportsbook gives Ohio State the shortest odds to take home the conference championship, despite the fact that the Buckeyes have missed out on the Big Ten title game each of the past two seasons.
For more on FanDuel’s preseason Big Ten Championship odds, go here.
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Four things to watch as Ohio State commits prepare for Under Armour camp
The Under Armour camp series at Fortress Obetz is taking place Sunday, and a handful of Ohio State commits will be participating.
That expected list of future Buckeyes includes:
Five-star New Haven (Ind) wide receiver Mylan Graham
Three-star Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic IOL Marc Nave
Four-star Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut linebacker Garrett Stover
Three-star Pickerington (Ohio) North running back Sam Williams-Dixon
Lettermen Row recruiting analyst Matt Parker has four things to watch from the event. Check it out here.
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Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 120 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 204 days
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