Ohio State center Victor Cutler Jr. hits transfer portal
COLUMBUS — Ohio State backup center Victor Cutler Jr. has entered the transfer portal after just one year with the program.
Cutler scattered 21 offensive snaps across four games in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus, serving as the second option to redshirt freshman Carson Hinzman.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman transferred to Ohio State from Louisiana-Monroe last winter. At ULM, Cutler started 21 games and appeared in 29 contests over the last three seasons. In that span, he got the nod at center, right tackle and left tackle — during the 2021 season alone, Cutler started four games at center, two at right tackle and one at left tackle.
In 2022, Cutler started 12 games at left tackle and, notably, combined for just one pressure and sack allowed in a total of 56 pass blocking snaps against Texas and Alabama, per PFF.
When he hit the portal the first week of January, he got a call from Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye, who inquired about Cutler possibly playing center for the Buckeyes. Cutler took Frye up on his offer and entered the competition to replace two-year starting Luke Wypler, who departed for the NFL early and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of this year’s draft.
But, when spring rolled around, Cutler had a difficult time putting his best foot forward at Ohio State. Meanwhile, Hinzman got in the driver’s seat and took first-team reps in the Spring Game.
“When I came here, I had a lot of external distractions messing with me, some personal stuff that was going on,” Cutler said. “But I removed all that. When I was just focused truly on football and everything, it just became so much better.
“I was ready to get back in those pads. ‘Cause I just felt like I didn’t show my best in spring. I wanted another opportunity because I knew that wasn’t me out there. I know the type of person I was, and I know I didn’t play like that. I just knew I had to step up.”
A strong training camp from Cutler earned praise from head coach Ryan Day, who noted that the competition between Hinzman and Cutler was heating up.
Ultimately, though, Hinzman won out and started all 12 regular season games for a new-look Buckeyes offensive line that replaced a total of three starters from the 2022 squad.
And when there was an ever-so brief deviation from the starting five up front in the second half against Michigan State in Week 11, right guard Matthew Jones slid over to play center, and Cutler was still on the sideline with Hinzman subbed out.
Now, Cutler is back in the transfer portal searching for another spot to finish out his college career.
