Ohio
Assessing Ohio State’s Positions of Need in 2026 Transfer Portal
Ohio State should be exploring its options for potential additions at every position in this year’s transfer portal, but some positions carry more pressing needs than others.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Buckeyes had added three transfers for the 2026 season: former UCF defensive tackle John Walker, former Ohio tight end Mason Williams and former UCF long snapper Dalton Riggs. Some of Ohio State’s biggest holes remain unfilled, however, and there isn’t any position where the Buckeyes couldn’t benefit from adding some more depth.
Ohio State will remain selective in its transfer additions, given that the Buckeyes signed 28 high school prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. Even after losing 17 scholarship players to the portal, the Buckeyes are currently set to add more players than they’ve lost, though several starters from last season still have NFL draft decisions to make while more players could still enter the portal until Jan. 16.
That said, Ohio State still needs to make numerous transfer additions to build a championship-caliber roster for 2026. There are several positions where Ohio State must add talent due to departures from its 2025 roster, and several others where the Buckeyes shouldn’t be afraid to bring in competition for their projected starters. Even at the couple of positions where Ohio State is likely set in terms of who will lead its depth chart next season, the Buckeyes should still be looking at veteran depth options to offset attrition from players who transferred out or exhausted their eligibility.
Based on who we know Ohio State is losing due to expired eligibility or entering the transfer portal, who Ohio State could lose to the NFL draft and where the Buckeyes need better play than what they had this past season, we assess Ohio State’s remaining portal needs from the most glaring holes to where the Buckeyes should be looking for potential upgrades or depth additions.
Pressing Needs
Kicker
Putting this at the top isn’t merely a reaction to Jayden Fielding’s costly misses in Ohio State’s last two games. With Fielding out of eligibility and Jackson Courville entering the transfer portal, Ohio State doesn’t currently have a single kicker on its roster for 2026. Adding a transfer kicker is non-negotiable, and landing one of the top kickers in the portal should be a priority, though no clear target has emerged for the Buckeyes yet.
Cornerback/Nickel
Ohio State already had reason to add a cornerback or nickelback with Davison Igbinosun and Lorenzo Styles Jr. exhausting their eligibility, but Aaron Scott Jr. and Bryce West entering the transfer portal made it the Buckeyes’ biggest non-specialist position of need. Ohio State is now losing four of its top six corners and nickels from 2025, leaving the depth chart thin and unproven behind Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Devin Sanchez.
With only two other returning cornerbacks (Miles Lockhart and Jordyn Woods) from this past season, plus two incoming freshmen (Jay Timmons and Jordan Thomas), the Buckeyes need to add someone who can start alongside Mathews and Sanchez and ideally another starting-caliber cornerback to bolster their depth behind the starters.
Ohio State has hosted two potential candidates to fill those holes in former Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee and former Maryland cornerback La’Khi Roland, both of whom were starters at their previous schools.
Priority Positions
Defensive End
This will become a pressing need if Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leaves for the NFL draft alongside Caden Curry, who’s out of eligibility. Even if Jackson stays for his fifth-year senior season, adding an immediate contributor at defensive end for 2026 should still be a priority. While Zion Grady looks like a future starter and Beau Atkinson gives the Buckeyes veteran depth, Larry Johnson didn’t trust either of them enough to rotate in regularly in big games this past season – and ideally, Ohio State should have multiple rotational defensive ends to keep the starters fresh.
Ohio State could fill this need if it’s able to beat out LSU and Tennessee for coveted Penn State transfer defensive end Chaz Coleman, the Buckeyes’ top target in the transfer portal. Should the Buckeyes land Coleman and retain Jackson, they’d likely be set at defensive end, barring any further attrition; if they miss out on Coleman or lose Jackson, other potential options could include Florida transfer Jayden Woods and Missouri transfer Damon Wilson.
Wide Receiver
Ohio State never added a scholarship transfer at wide receiver during Brian Hartline’s tenure coaching the position, but it needs to this year.
With Carnell Tate expected to enter the NFL draft and top backups Bryson Rodgers and Mylan Graham entering the transfer portal, Ohio State has minimal experience at the position outside of returning starters Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. While Quincy Porter is a candidate to play a bigger role in year two and Chris Henry Jr. should contend for playing time right away as a freshman, the Buckeyes are looking for a veteran who can step in and play the Z position opposite Smith, which Tate occupied for the past two seasons.
Ohio State’s top target to fill that need right now appears to be former Texas wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., who visited OSU over the weekend in between visits to Kentucky, Louisville and Colorado. Moore caught 77 passes for 988 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Upgrade
Offensive Line
Ohio State could get by without adding any transfer offensive linemen. Even with Tegra Tshabola’s departure, the Buckeyes are set to return seven of their top eight offensive linemen from 2025, barring any surprise draft entries or portal exits. They have plenty of promising young talent to fill out their depth chart behind them and are currently slated to have 16 scholarship offensive linemen in 2026.
But considering the offensive line was Ohio State’s biggest weakness that led to its losses in its final two games of the season, the Buckeyes shouldn’t be content to stand pat with what they have. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen said after the Cotton Bowl that he had to “look at everything” to figure out how to get the offensive line’s performance up to standard, and that should include adding talent if the right fit emerges in the portal.
Right guard is the most obvious position where Ohio State could add a plug-and-play starter to replace Tshabola, but adding a tackle to compete with Phillip Daniels on the right side or potentially moving Austin Siereveld back inside could also be in play as the Buckeyes look to build their best five for 2026.
Punter
Joe McGuire got better as the 2025 season progressed after a rough start to the year, but Ohio State still ranked just 79th nationally in average yards per punt. At the very least, the Buckeyes should be looking to add competition for McGuire through the transfer portal, especially considering they need another punter anyway following Nick McLarty’s departure for Arizona State.
Linebacker
While Ohio State has a promising pair of up-and-coming linebackers in Payton Pierce and Riley Pettijohn, who could prove to be an excellent starting tandem if they take over for Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, the Buckeyes don’t have a single linebacker on their 2026 roster – assuming Reese enters the NFL draft as expected – who has started a game at the FBS level. As such, the Buckeyes should be looking for a starting-caliber veteran to add a proven commodity to their linebacker corps next season.
A potential candidate to fill that need could be Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro, a two-year starter for the Badgers, who visited Ohio State on Tuesday, according to Lettermen Row. Another possible candidate is former Pittsburgh linebacker and Columbus native Rasheem Biles, who was expected to visit Ohio State this week, though Biles hadn’t made a confirmed trip to campus as of Tuesday.
Defensive Tackle
Defensive tackle was in the pressing need category until Tuesday morning, when Ohio State landed John Walker. That commitment addressed the Buckeyes’ need for a starting-caliber nose tackle to replace Kayden McDonald if he enters the 2026 NFL draft – but that doesn’t necessarily mean Ohio State should be done pursuing transfer DTs yet.
From a numbers standpoint, Ohio State has what it needs now at defensive tackle. But with Tywone Malone Jr. exhausting his eligibility, Ohio State will have only two returning defensive tackles with significant experience (Eddrick Houston and Will Smith Jr.) if McDonald goes pro. The Buckeyes could be content to stick with what they have if they believe Jason Moore or Jarquez Carter is ready to be a consistent factor in the rotation next season, but adding another experienced, starting-caliber defensive tackle would be a smart move.
Safety
Assuming Caleb Downs enters the NFL draft, Ohio State will have to replace the best safety in college football. The Buckeyes have plenty of depth at safety, and a few potential options to pair with Jaylen McClain in the 2026 starting lineup in Malik Hartford, Leroy Roker III and Faheem Delane, but as with linebacker, they’d be relying on an inexperienced group to fill a major role if they don’t add anyone.
The obvious candidate in the portal to replace Downs would be former Minnesota safety Koi Perich, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team in 2024, second team in 2025) in two seasons with the Gophers. Perich would give the Buckeyes a plug-and-play free safety to replace Downs, and Ohio State was the runner-up in his high school recruitment. But Miami, where he’d reunite with former Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Heatherman, is viewed as the frontrunner to land him.
Duke safety Terry Moore, a second-team All-ACC honoree in 2024 with one remaining season of eligibility who was recruited to Duke by current Ohio State safeties coach Matt Guerrieri, could be another candidate to join the Buckeyes as a potential starting safety for 2026.
Tight End
If Max Klare stays at Ohio State for his fifth-year senior season, the Buckeyes would be set at tight end for 2026 with the addition of Mason Williams. If Klare enters the NFL draft, however, Ohio State would have reason to consider adding a second transfer tight end, particularly one who can be a weapon in the passing game.
Nate Roberts, Williams and Bennett Christian would give Ohio State a solid top trio of tight ends, but the Buckeyes would be relying on a big jump in production from Roberts and/or Williams to replace Klare’s pass-catching at the position.
Depth Wanted
Running Back
Bo Jackson will remain Ohio State’s starting running back in 2026 after topping 1,000 yards in his freshman season, while Isaiah West showed the capability as a freshman to be a quality No. 2 running back. The departures of CJ Donaldson, James Peoples and Sam Dixon, however, leave Ohio State without any other running backs who have played a collegiate snap.
As such, the Buckeyes are in the market for a veteran running back to bolster their depth for 2026. They hosted one potential candidate to fill that role last weekend when Florida seventh-year senior Ja’Kobi Jackson visited Ohio State.
Quarterback
Ohio State has its starting quarterback for 2026 with Julian Sayin returning for at least one more year, and Tavien St. Clair is likely in line to be his top backup. But Ryan Day likes to have four scholarship quarterbacks on his roster, so Ohio State will look to bring in a veteran to provide depth at the position, much like it did with Eli Brickhandler this past season and with Tristan Gebbia, Gunnar Hoak and Chris Chugunov in past years.
One potential candidate to fill that role as Ohio State’s No. 3 or 4 quarterback in 2026 could be former Washington State QB Jaxon Potter, who announced Monday that he had received an offer from the Buckeyes.
The U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 was a monumental, year-long celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Coming in the aftermath of the turbulent 1960s, the political disillusionment of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974, and the capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese and the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the Bicentennial served as a crucial moment of national healing.
The festivities culminated on the Fourth of July 1976, with spectacular events staged across the country. The most enduring legacy of the celebration in Columbus is Bicentennial Park, located in the Downtown riverfront area along the Scioto River.
Dedicated on July 4, 1976, this 4.7-acre green space was built to permanently commemorate the nation’s 200th birthday. The park’s initial centerpiece was a massive fountain system featuring four circular pools that could shoot water 60 feet into the air.
From May 22 to June 2, 1975, Columbus served as the 11th official stop for the American Freedom Train. This massive, steam-powered rolling museum carried more than 500 priceless historical artifacts – including copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution – across all 48 contiguous states.
The train was displayed at the Defense Construction Supply Center [DCSC] in Whitehall and drew massive crowds of local families. Columbus held a special distinction during the tour: it was one of only three cities nationwide where the “Splendid Spirit” car was included with the train.
Warren Motts, the founding director of Motts Military Museum in Groveport, traveled with the train for its entire 25,000-mile journey, capturing the official photos that documented this historic event.
Beyond these massive metropolitan events, the true spirit of the Bicentennial thrived at the grassroots level. The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA) encouraged local communities to form their own committees, leading to thousands of unique municipal projects.
Towns across the nation hosted local parades, commissioned historical murals, dedicated new parks, and sealed time capsules intended for the tricentennial in 2076.
It also triggered a resurgence of interest in local history and genealogy, as everyday citizens sought to trace their own roots back to the nation’s founding eras.
The civic energy and patriotism generated by the 1976 celebrations also helped pave the way for other major local traditions. Just a few years later, in 1981, Columbus launched its annual Red, White & Boom! celebration, which grew into the largest Independence Day fireworks display in the Midwest—a tradition deeply rooted in the community pride revived during the Bicentennial era.
Get involved in America 250 at your library this year! Visit columbulibrary.org for a full list of America 250 events.
Angela O’Neal is Local History & Genealogy Manager with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
NORTHEAST OHIO (WOIO) – Thousands are without power Friday after severe weather sweeps across Northeast Ohio counties, creating weather-related damage.
FirstEnergy reports more than 71,000 in Northeast Ohio are without power Friday night.
More than 22,000 are without power in Cuyahoga County.
The utility company reports that more than 700 are without power in Erie County.
Lake County reports over 1,000 outages, and Portage has over 4,000 outages.
Trumbull County is experiencing over 1,000, and Ashtabula reports over 3,000.
Lorain County is experiencing more than 3,000 reported outages, and Geauga County has more than 7,000.
Medina County reported more than 1,000.
Chardon fire crews field wave of storm calls
The Chardon Fire Department shared the calls it responded to concerning storm damage Friday evening.
Fire crews said they responded to a tree in a house at 127 Burlington Oval.
The department said a tree fell on a gas line, causing a gas leak at 408 Charleston Avenue.
Wires were reported down on South Claridon Road, closing State Route 44 near South Street.
Wires were reported down on a house near Irma and South Hambden.
Fire crews said a tree was reported down on a home at 306 North Hambden.
The department also said alarms went off at UH Geauga Hospital.
Downed wires also closed Auburn and Twing roads.
The department said power was out on the south side of Chardon City.
Another tree was reported to have fallen into a house at 109 Burlington Oval, but no injuries were reported.
Fire crews said an incident involving a tree in a house and electric lines was reported at 11396 Aquilla Road, but no injuries were reported.
Fallen tree takes out power line in Independence
The city of Independence said a downed tree took out a live power line on lower Stone Road.
The city asked the public to avoid the area because of the danger posed by live wires.
The city said FirstEnergy had been notified and both police and firefighters were on scene.
Downed wires prompt closures across Hambden
The Hambden Fire Department said Friday night it was dealing with multiple storm-related incidents.
Crews said Claridon Troy Road was closed between Route 608 and Chardon Windsor Road because of downed poles and wires.
Kenny Drive was closed south of Leaders Mobile Home Park because of downed wires across the road, according to fire crews.
Multiple wires were reported down on Route 6 near Cutts and Grant Street along the north side of the road.
The department said the public should use caution in areas with downed wires and poles and should not attempt to move any of the wires.
Anyone with an electrical emergency or who encounters downed wires is asked to call 9-1-1.
Hambden Fire said people should not call 9-1-1 to report an outage.
The department said FirstEnergy is aware of these issues and is working to fix them.
Check FirstEnergy’s, AEP’s, and Cleveland Public Power’s websites for the latest outage numbers.
These outages come after severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for multiple Northeast Ohio counties this evening and were extended until 10:45 p.m.
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Check back with the 19 News First Alert Weather team for the latest weather forecast.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Friday, July 3
Downtown Columbus: Billed as the Midwest’s largest fireworks show, Red, White & BOOM! takes place along the Scioto Mile. The fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m. More information can be found on the event’s website.
Bexley: Festivities at Capital University begin at 6:00 p.m., with a fireworks display starting at 10:00 p.m.
Buckeye Lake: The Buckeye Lake Area Star Spangled Tradition (BLASST) fireworks display will take place at approximately 10:00 p.m. The primary viewing area is at Fairfield Beach, Lake Shore Drive NE, Thornville.
Canal Winchester: First Friday at Loose Rail Brewing will feature a fireworks show at approximately 9:00 p.m. The brewery will also show Red, White & BOOM! on big screens.
Gahanna: Activities start at 5:00 p.m. at the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course and the fireworks show is at 10:00 p.m.
Newark: Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark campus will host festivities with live music and food trucks at the Martha Grace Reese Amphitheatre, culminating with a fireworks display at dusk (approximately 10:00 p.m.).
Pickerington: The city’s fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m.
Reynoldsburg: Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. at Civic Park, with fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
Chillicothe: Fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:45 PM from the Yoctangee Park Annex.
Circleville: AMVETS Post 2256 will host food trucks, live music, and a fireworks display after dark.
Clintonville: Whetstone Park of Roses hosts a live music event followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
Delaware: Fireworks will launch from the city’s Cherry Street property at 10:00 p.m.
Dublin: Independence Day Celebration activities wrap up with fireworks at 9:50 p.m. at Dublin Coffman High School.
Grove City: Fireworks will launch from Murfin Fields at 9:45 p.m.
Hilliard: Freedom Fest takes place at Roger Reynolds Municipal Park with fireworks starting around 9:45 p.m.
Lancaster: A full day of celebrations culminates with fireworks at dusk at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
Marysville: Fireworks at approximately 9:00 p.m. at the Union County Fairgrounds.
New Albany: The July 4th Festival ends with fireworks at 10:00 p.m. at New Albany High School.
Upper Arlington: The annual Party in the Park begins at 5:00 p.m. at Northam Park, followed by fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Westerville: Evening festivities and food trucks can be found at the Westerville Sports Complex until the fireworks show begins at 10:00 p.m.
Worthington: The city’s celebration concludes with fireworks launched from Thomas Worthington High School at 10:00 p.m.
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