Where Buckeyes exiting transfers signed this offseason

COLUMBUS — Ohio State added some major pieces through the transfer portal this offseason. The Buckeyes also, though, lost 16 players to the transfer portal across the two windows — but no scholarship players left during the spring window.

Lettermen Row is breaking down where each of the 16 Buckeyes transfers landed once they entered the transfer portal this offseason. We’re also looking at when, or if, Ohio State could square off against its former players now on other rosters. Let’s break it down.

Who Ohio State will face

DT Hero Kanu at Texas: Kanu was slated for a big role on the Ohio State defense after contributing last season. Instead, he entered the transfer portal after the national title win and now will return to the Horseshoe for the season opener — wearing burnt orange and white. He’ll see the Buckeyes on Aug. 30.

WR Jayden Ballard at Wisconsin: The tricky Oct. 18 trip to Wisconsin — a week after Ohio State has a road trip at Illinois — has a big layer of intrigue. Jayden Ballard left the Buckeyes wide receiver room after four years and headed to the Badgers offense, which needs to improve this fall. The speedy Ohio native will be a big part of the conversation heading into that matchup in Madison.

LS Morrow Evans at UCLA: Evans spent a year at Ohio State but was buried on the special teams depth chart, so he’ll be on the UCLA team that is heading to Columbus to face the Buckeyes on Nov. 15.

Who Buckeyes could see

OL George Fitzpatrick and LB Gabe Powers at Kansas State: Both Fitzpatrick and Powers were buried on the depth chart for their respective positions at Ohio State, so they head to Big 12 favorite Kansas State. Who knows, the Buckeyes could see these two in the College Football Playoff if the Wildcats have the kind of season they expect to have.

CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt at Baylor: The Bears are a sleeper pick in the Big 12. Simpson-Hunt transferred closer to home in Texas, and he has a shot to elevate this Baylor defense into a contender for a CFP spot.

OT Miles Walker at Boise State: The Broncos were the Group of Five CFP participant last season, and Walker will help retool the Boise State offensive line. If Boise State is a CFP participant again this season and Ohio State returns to the 12-team field, the matchup is a possibility.

OT Zen Michalski at Indiana: The Hoosiers needed offensive line help, so Michalski will fill a big need for the Big Ten’s surprise from last year. Indiana isn’t on the Ohio State schedule this fall, but another surprising season could see the Hoosiers make the Big Ten title game or go back to the CFP — both potential matchup spots for the Buckeyes.

QB Air Noland at South Carolina: South Carolina expects to be a trendy CFP pick this fall, and Noland will be a backup quarterback for the Gamecocks.

Elsewhere around the country

QB Devin Brown at Cal: Brown is locked in a battle to become the starting quarterback for the Cal Bears in the ACC, but Cal isn’t expected to compete for the league title — meaning Ohio State won’t be seeing its former backup quarterback on the field this fall.

RB TC Caffey at Youngstown State: Caffey never fully recovered from a knee injury suffered ahead of the 2023 season. Now he has a chance to prove himself at the FCS level.

WR Reis Stocksdale at Bowling Green: Stocksdale has one more year of college football, so he is joining Eddie George’s team in the MAC.

P Anthony Venneri at Central Florida: Venneri spent one season at Ohio State. Now he transfers down south after coming to the Buckeyes from Buffalo last offseason.

DE Mitchell Melton at Virginia: Melton was always a locker room favorite and showed flashes, but he couldn’t stay as healthy as he wanted, so he’ll hope to have a breakout final season at Virginia.

WR Kojo Antwi at Colorado State: Ohio State liked Antwi a lot, but he was down the depth chart and will have a chance to shine for the Rams.

DB Jayden Bonsu at Pittsburgh: Pitt isn’t expected to be a threat in the ACC.