Ohio State veteran D-Lineman Jaden McKenzie enters transfer portal
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State fifth-year defensive lineman Jaden McKenzie entered the transfer portal Saturday morning, less than 12 hours after the Buckeyes’ 14-3 defeat to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.
McKenzie played a career-high 77 defensive snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, including 10 or more in five different games.
He tallied 10 total tackles. That featured four solo tackles. Perhaps his most notable stop was his half tackle for loss that helped turn Indiana over on downs in the fourth quarter of the season opener.
McKenzie was once again a rotational defensive linemen for the Buckeyes, but he failed to reach the 100-snap mark on defense for the fifth season in a row.
McKenzie was a three-star prospect. He ranked No. 854 nationally, No. 86 at the defensive tackle position and No. 37 overall in the state of North Carolina in the 2019 recruiting cycle.
Although he’s originally from New Orleans, McKenzie moved to North Carolina after Hurricane Katrina. He went on to win three consecutive 4A state championships at Wake Forest High School, recording 71 tackles and 10.5 sacks his senior season.
Over the final three years of high school career, he mounted 28.5 sacks. He didn’t enjoy that kind of production at Ohio State, though.
In fact, before this season, he had played in only 11 games for the Buckeyes in the previous four years: five games in 2022, three in 2021, one in 2020 and two in 2019.
He nabbed his first TFL last season against Toledo.
Now, he’s in the portal looking for a school where he can finish out his college career.
Transfer tracker: Breaking down Buckeyes moves, philosophy in transfer portal
Having trouble keeping track of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal departures?
Lettermen Row has you covered.
The Buckeyes have seen 14 of their scholarship players hit the portal — including starting quarterback Kyle McCord, starting wide receiver Julian Fleming and key running back Chip Trayanum — and there could be more on the way soon.
Follow along here to stay up to date.
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