Scarlet Sunrise: Former Buckeyes star Shaun Wade inks rookie deal with Ravens

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Former Buckeyes star Shaun Wade inks rookie deal with Ravens

Former Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade is officially a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Just days after being selected by the Ravens in the fifth round of the NFL draft at the beginning of the month, Wade inked his new contract with one of the best teams in the league.

Wade, who underperformed during his final season with the Buckeyes, slipped out of the top rounds and fell into what some are calling a perfect situation for his skillset in Baltimore. He’ll join a physical secondary full of elite talent.

Wade was one of four Ravens picks to ink deals Wednesday, joining Daelin Hayes, Ben Mason and Rashod Bateman.

Shaun Wade wasn’t perfect for Ohio State, but he was one of the best cornerbacks in the country over the last two seasons. Now he gets to prove he can do it at the next level, too.

Buckeyes cornerback Tyreke Johnson enters transfer portal

The Ohio State secondary depth took a hit Wednesday: Tyreke Johnson has entered the transfer portal.

Johnson came to Ohio State as one of the top cornerbacks in the country bursting with potential. But that potential was never fully tapped into or realized. His Ohio State career seems to have come to a close. Ohio State confirmed to Lettermen Row that Johnson entered his name into the transfer portal Wednesday afternoon after three seasons with the Buckeyes.

With the top of the depth chart likely settled with Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown, and the youth movement in the secondary, led by Ryan Watts, Lejond Cavazos and two incoming freshmen, Johnson’s opportunity to break out seemed to be limited — if possible at all.

Now Tyreke Johnson will attempt to find a new home, where he will try tapping into the potential and skill that made him a five-star prospect out of high school. And the Buckeyes depth at cornerback has taken a hit as it enters a crucial spring.

Could Buckeyes still land five-star linebacker from transfer portal?

Ohio State missed out on an elite linebacker in the transfer portal over the weekend when former Tennessee linebacker Henry To’o To’o picked Alabama over the Buckeyes.

But the Buckeyes could still strike gold and land a five-star linebacker from the transfer portal in former USC standout Palaie Gaoteote. Ohio State has shown interest in Gaoteote, and Lettermen Row’s Austin Ward has more on the Buckeyes pursuit of an elite interior linebacker:

The former five-star recruit and USC transfer has been patiently working through the process of finding his next home, and part of that effort included waiting for Henry To’o To’o to make his decision. With that recruitment now over as To’o To’o heads to Alabama, that leaves an open spot that remains appealing to a talented, veteran tackler looking for a chance to contribute for a championship contender.

If To’o To’o had picked the Buckeyes, it’s likely that Gaoteote would already be headed for Texas. But multiple sources have indicated to Lettermen Row that Ohio State has jumped right back into contention for his services this week, continuing a relationship that started shortly after Gaoteote initially entered his name into the portal.

For the full story and details about the Buckeyes pursuit of Palaie Gaoteote, click here.

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