Ohio State added nine transfers this offseason.
It was the most the Buckeyes had picked up in an offseason since the introduction of the transfer portal in 2018. None of their previous classes of transfers had more than a small handful.
Here’s a rundown of this year’s new additions for the Buckeyes and their potential impact.
John Ferlmann
Commitment: Dec. 17
Previous school: Arizona State
Position: Long snapper
Ferlmann is in line to replace Bradley Robinson as the starting long snapper, a role Robinson held from 2020 until last October when he suffered a knee injury. Mason Arnold handled the snaps on punts, field goals and extra points with Robinson sidelined, but transferred to Michigan State following the arrival of Ferlmann.
Casey Magyar
Commitment: Dec. 21
Previous school: Kent State
Position: Kicker
A Dublin Coffman grad who spent a season at Kent State in 2021, Magyar sat out last season after entering the portal in the summer. He made one of two extra-point attempts with the Golden Flashes. Magyar provides the Buckeyes with kicking depth behind Jayden Fielding and Parker Lewis who are looking to succeed Noah Ruggles on field goals.
Ja’Had Carter
Commitment: Jan. 3
Previous school: Syracuse
Position: Safety
The addition of Carter, a veteran who started for three seasons in the secondary at Syracuse, leaves the Buckeyes with an attractive candidate to follow Tanner McCalister as their starting nickel safety. Cameron Martinez largely took first-team reps at the spot in spring practice, though the competition will extend into preseason training camp in August. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said Carter is also versatile enough to line up at their other safety positions. He disrupted his share of passes last fall as he picked off three and broke up three more.
Vic Cutler
Commitment: Jan. 18
Previous school: Louisiana Monroe
Position: Center
The Buckeyes liked the versatility of Cutler, who has starting experience at left and right tackle and center, three spots that were vacated along their offensive line. But the staff has seen Cutler, who is a bit smaller at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, as more of an interior lineman and he has competed with Carson Hinzman to replace Luke Wypler as the starting center. Cutler saw mostly second-team reps in spring practice.
More:What led Louisiana Monroe offensive lineman Vic Cutler to transfer to Ohio State
Tristan Gebbia
Commitment: Jan. 18
Previous school: Oregon State
Position: Quarterback
Gebbia’s transfer mirrors the ones of Gunnar Hoak of Kentucky from 2019 and Chris Chugunov of West Virginia from 2018. He’s an upperclassman, one entering his seventh season of eligibility, who provides the Buckeyes with experience to support whichever younger passer emerges as the starter (either Kyle McCord or Devin Brown). Gebbia started five games at Oregon State in 2020 and 2019 and was voted a team captain over three straight seasons.
Davison Igbinosun
Commitment: Jan. 31
Previous school: Mississippi
Position: Cornerback
When Mississippi moved on from Chris Partridge as its defensive coordinator in January, replacing him with Alabama’s Pete Golding, it prompted Igbinosun to enter the portal. A native of New Jersey native, he had been recruited by Partridge, who has deep ties to the state, leaving him to look elsewhere. Igbinosun had long been interested in Ohio State and could be one of the most impactful newcomers. He was named to College Football News’ freshman All-American team last fall and is in the mix to replace Cameron Brown as the starting cornerback opposite Denzel Burke.
More:Cornerback Davison Igbinosun fulfilled childhood dream by transferring to Ohio State
Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Commitment: April 29
Previous school: Notre Dame
Position: Cornerback
The arrival of Styles makes for a homecoming as the Pickerington native joins his younger brother, Sonny, in the secondary. Lorenzo Jr. was a wide receiver for two seasons at Notre Dame before moving to the defensive side of the ball with the Irish late in spring practice. That position switch will continue with the Buckeyes. As he reacclimates to cornerback, he might be a depth piece at first. He and Sonny aren’t the first in the family to line up on defense. Lorenzo Sr. was a linebacker at Ohio State in the 1990s.
Josh Simmons
Commitment: April 30
Previous school: San Diego State
Position: Offensive tackle
The right tackle competition that began in spring practice, pitting Zen Michalski against Tegra Tshabola, will have another in the mix this summer with the arrival of Simmons from San Diego State. Simmons is the most-experienced of the group, having started at right tackle for the Aztecs last fall, while Michalski was the backup left tackle and Tshabola a reserve guard. The Buckeyes missed on some transfer targets at tackle over the winter before landing Simmons in the spring window.
More:New OSU offensive tackle Josh Simmons focused on improvement, not on starting
Tywone Malone
Commitment: May 9
Previous school: Mississippi
Position: Defensive tackle
Malone didn’t factor into the defensive line rotation much in his two seasons at Mississippi. He redshirted in 2021 and saw less than a hundred snaps last season. But he joins the Buckeyes with upside. He was a top-100 prospect coming out of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey, according to the composite rankings from 247Sports, and could grow under the tutelage of longtime defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.
