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Buckeyes defensive end Mitchell Melton entering transfer portal

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•01/05/25•

SpencerHolbrook

Melton
Ohio State has things to fix on defense despite the dominant start. (© Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State defensive end Mitchell Melton has been with the Buckeyes for five years. His sixth year will come at a new stop for one final season.

Melton, a Maryland native, will enter the NCAA transfer portal, his agency told On3’s Pete Nakos. Melton will have one year of eligibility remaining wherever he lands.

A former four-star recruit from the class of 2020, Melton has fought to be healthy during his Buckeyes career. He tore his ACL during the 2022 spring game and returned for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. This year, Melton had six solo tackles and two sacks for the Buckeyes defense.

But he was never able to become a major factor other than just a part of the rotation. He played in 13 games for the Buckeyes this year, including being on the field for 20 snaps in the College Football Playoff first-round blowout win over Tennessee.

Melton played nine snaps for the Buckeyes in their win over Oregon at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday evening.

But next season, he’ll log snaps elsewhere. Melton plans to enter the transfer portal after five years at Ohio State.

Ohio State tight end Patrick Gurd enters transfer portal

Ohio State walk-on tight end/fullback Patrick Gurd has entered the transfer portal, Lettermen Row has learned.

Gurd will have a year of eligibility at his next stop.

Gurd carved out a role with the Buckeyes offense, serving as the team’s fullback at times in heavy packages while serving as an extra tight end, as well.

Ohio State added former Purdue tight end Max Klare to its tight end room last month, giving them an elite weapon at the position for next season.

But now another tight end is out the door. Patrick Gurd has entered the transfer portal.

Buckeyes offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick will enter transfer portal

Ohio State offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick has entered the transfer portal. He will have two seasons of eligibility wherever he ends up playing next.

The 6-foot-5.25 and 275-pound Fitzpatrick redshirted as a true freshman during the 2022 season. He appeared in four games as redshirt freshman in 2023. He took snaps against Western Kentucky, Michigan State and Minnesota. Fitzpatrick saw action in 13 games as a reserve this season, including the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Oregon.

Fitzpatrick was the No. 228 overall prospect and No. 13 offensive tackle in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He was the No. 282 overall prospect and No. 22 offensive tackle in the 2022 On300 coming out of Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek.

Fitzpatrick is one of four offensive linemen that Ohio State signed in the 2022 class. The others were Tegra Tshabola, Carson Hinzman and Avery Henry. Tshabola has started all 14 games for the Buckeyes this season at guard.

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