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Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State lands former Kent State kicker in transfer portal

IMG_7408by: Andy Backstrom12/22/22andybackstrom
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(Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

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Ohio State lands former Kent State kicker in transfer portal

Ohio State has reeled in its second special teams transfer this cycle. Kent State kicker Casey Magyar — a Dublin, Ohio, native — announced on Twitter Wednesday that he’s returning home to play for the Buckeyes. Magyar is transferring as a preferred walk-on.

Magyar didn’t play this season, as he entered the transfer portal in July, but he appeared in two games for the Golden Flashes in 2021. Magyar made one of two extra points while at Kent State and didn’t attempt a field goal, however, he was second-team All-Ohio and first-team All-District for Dublin Coffman High School.

Ohio State added Arizona State long snapper John Ferlmann over the weekend. Ferlmann — a Phoenix, Arizona, native — was a five-star prospect at Boulder Creek High School, according to Rubio’s Long Snapping ranking, which also had him as the No. 7 long snapper in the country before he reached the collegiate ranks.

Dipping into the transfer portal for a kicker is nothing new for the Buckeyes. Look no further than current Ohio State place kicker Noah Ruggles, who started his career at North Carolina. Ruggles, a sixth-year grad transfer, is in his final season with the Buckeyes this year.

Rapid Reaction: Buckeyes sign top-five class, but recruiting woes remain

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day signed the majority of what would be his fourth straight top-five recruiting class. The Buckeyes inked 19 players Wednesday, which marked the start of the Early Signing Period — in other words, the new National Signing Day.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ohio State. De-commitments piled up for the Buckeyes this cycle, and they had to land a quarterback late and didn’t end up with a running back in the class. Plus, they were light on defensive linemen.

“When you look at the quality of the people that we’re bringing in, I think that’s the focus for us right now,” Day said in his NSD press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. “I think that has to be for us right now, maybe not so much on who we don’t get, but who we’re bringing into the program.”

Lettermen Row recruiting analyst Matt Parker and longtime Buckeyes reporter Tim May were in the Woody to break down the Ohio State class and analyze Day’s Wednesday comments about not only the signees but also NIL, the transfer portal and Day’s recruiting philosophy.

So check out the latest Rapid Reaction episode below. It’s a must-watch for Buckeyes fans.

EDGE Joshua Mickens commits and signs, CB Kayin Lee flips to Aurburn

As is often the case in today’s recruiting world, Wednesday’s NSD was up and down for the Buckeyes. They got big news in the morning that EDGE Joshua Mickens had committed and signed with the program. Mickens, a four-star Indianapolis (Ind) Lawrence Central prospect, is the No. 7 rated EDGE and the No. 57 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle, according to On3. He is also listed as the No. 21 EDGE and the No. 130 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus Rankings.

At the time, Mickens’ addition pushed Ohio State’s class to No. 3 in the country, according to On3. The group is now ranked fifth nationally, in large part because commit Kayin Lee flipped and signed with Auburn. Lee, a four-star Ellenwood (Ga) Cedar Grove product, is the No. 30 cornerback and the No. 265 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle, per On3.

Then Ohio State, which was a finalist for the recruitment of five-star defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei — the younger brother of quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei — fell short to Oregon in that department. The Ducks also bested the Buckeyes in the pursuit of Rhode Island transfer offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius Wednesday.

Check out more National Signing Day content…

READ: Expert Q&A: Answering major questions about Buckeyes 2023 class

READ: Three thoughts as Ohio State signs large majority of 2023 recruiting class

READ: Ranking top-five NIL valuations in Buckeyes 2023 class

READ: Nuggets from Ryan Day’s National Signing Day Press Conference

Counting down

Peach Bowl: 9 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 338 days

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