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Brendon White enters transfer portal, likely ending Ohio State career

Austin-Wardby:Austin Ward•12/13/19•

AWardSports

Brendon White by Birm-Lettermen Row

NEW YORK — Just as rapidly as Brendon White shot to Ohio State stardom, his career appears to have fizzled out.

A calendar year that started with the safety earning defensive MVP honors in the Rose Bowl ended with him not on the travel roster for the Buckeyes at the Big Ten title game, and his name officially appeared in the transfer database on Friday afternoon. Players who enter their names can return to their programs, but in the case of White, multiple sources have indicated to Lettermen Row that the junior is seeking a fresh start and will not be back with Ohio State.

The roller-coaster journey on the field for White has been one of the most interesting developments for the Buckeyes this year, particularly given all the offseason hype about his new role in the Bullet position that seemed perfectly designed to take advantage of his size, strength and skills as a former safety. But that transition never seemed to actually click for White, who fell behind Pete Werner on the depth chart heading into the season opener and wasn’t ever able to make up any ground while Ohio State was surging with one of the nation’s best defenses without him.

Brendon White-Ohio State-Buckeyes-Ohio State football

Ohio State junior Brendon White is expected to transfer. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

“I don’t know [his Fiesta Bowl status], we’ll kind of get that figured out this week,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on Sunday. “We’ll sit down, have a conversation, kind of go from there. But I don’t really have an update right now.”

The Buckeyes have one now, and the two parties are heading for a parting of ways.

That outcome would have been hard to imagine after Brendon White jumped into the lineup in the middle of last season and looked like a future star at safety. But after 19 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack this year, it looks as if he’s made his final contributions for the Buckeyes.

“It’s definitely frustrating some times, but at the end of the day, you have to know why you’re here,” White said early in the season. “Whether I need to play or if I’m not playing, I’m still here to help my brothers win games and be there for them. … If I’m worried about not playing, then I’m being selfish and not caring about the team and putting the team first.

“At the end of the day, if I’m playing a lot or if I’m not playing at all, I just want to get the win.”

The Buckeyes got every one of them this year. The next ones in the College Football Playoff will come without Brendon White.

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