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Ohio State transfer linebacker Mitchell Melton expects to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•01/05/25
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(Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

Ohio State transfer linebacker Mitchell Melton is expected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned on Sunday. He is a former four-star prospect with three sacks in his career.

He played his fifth season with the program this year. Melton has played both linebacker and defensive end, but settled in at defensive end, a position that he played all of 2023 for the Buckeyes. After missing both the 2021 and 2022 seasons because of injury, Melton had his best season as a Buckeye in 2023. He played in 12 of 13 games, tallying 119 plays on both defense and special teams. The defensive end finished with three solo tackles, with one of those being his first sack.

In high school, he played for Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland). As a senior, he helped his team win the WCAC Championship with a 16-14 victory over St. John’s. He finished his senior season with 97 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, one interception, four forced fumbles, eight pass breakups, and a team-record 20 sacks. Melton was named the WCAC Defensive Player of the Year and first team defense at linebacker. He tallied eight tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in a WCAC semifinal win over Gonzaga and two more sacks in the championship game.

Melton was named All-Met in 2019 for first team defense by the Washington Post. Ohio State thrashed the Oregon Ducks in their quarterfinal matchup in the 2024-2025 College Football Playoffs. The Buckeyes will face off against the Texas Longhorns on January 10th, 2025. Kick for that one is set for 7:30 PM EST and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was spectacular in their game against Oregon, hauling in seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He’s been one of the best players in college football for much of the year and following the game, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning even tabbed Smith as “NFL ready,” right now. He’s not alone in that assessment.