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Scarlet Sunrise: Dallan Hayden transfers to Colorado, Cedrick Hawkins transfers to UCF

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•04/23/24•

andybackstrom

Dallan Hayden and Cedrick Hawkins by Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden (left) at Purdue during the 2023 season, and safety Cedrick Hawkins (right) during the 2024 spring game. (Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Dallan Hayden transfers to Colorado, Cedrick Hawkins transfers to UCF

The spring transfer window has been pretty uneventful for Ohio State. Only two Buckeyes players have entered the portal since it opened again on April 16: running back Dallan Hayden and safety Cedrick Hawkins.

Hayden officially committed to Colorado Monday. Instead of playing the role of RB3 at Ohio State behind the dynamic duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Hayden has a chance to be a featured back with the Buffs in the second year of the Deion Sanders era in Boulder.

During his two seasons at Ohio State, Hayden scratched the surface of his potential. Most notably, the Memphis, Tennessee, native stepped up when called upon. Hayden delivered a season-saving performance on the road as a true freshman versus Maryland, rushing for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the second half of a comeback win. Then, although he redshirted his second season with the Buckeyes, he still recorded another signature outing, this time at Purdue, where he filled in for a trio of sidelined backs — Henderson, Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum — jolted the Ohio State run game and rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries amid a 41-7 win.

Hayden eclipsed the 500-yard rushing mark and started the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia during his first season in scarlet and gray.

Hawkins, meanwhile, didn’t play a single snap his first season with the Buckeyes. The On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 31 safety in the 2023 class, Hawkins shed his black stripe during Cotton Bowl prep last year, but he struggled to break in while other safeties in his class emerged at different points. Malik Hartford turned heads from the jump and even made two starts as a true freshman. Like Hawkins, Jayden Bonsu arrived in the summer last year and didn’t play a snap in 2023, but he rose to the occasion this spring when safeties Lathan Ransom, Ja’Had Carter and Hartford were limited.

Hawkins is headed to UCF, as the Titusville, Florida, native will be back in his home state.

Hayden and Hawkins sum up the minimal portal attrition Ohio State has faced in the last week.

“I feel like we have a team that has come together for a common purpose,” Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said the week of the spring game. “And we talk about ‘why do you play so hard here at Ohio State?’ It’s because of ‘the brotherhood,’ the love of your teammates. I think we have a good group that way.

“I think guys want to be here, they want to be at Ohio State. They understand what it means to be a Buckeye. They see the opportunity this season. So I don’t see a bunch of guys that are just looking to run out the door. I think there’ll be a couple of different situations that maybe it does make sense for guys to maybe look at other places, but we’ll adapt as those happen. But we know we’re gonna have to play with a lot of depth next year.”

Day continued: “When you’re playing 16 or 17 games — more than ever before — guys are going to play football. So you might be a 2 right now or you might be a 3. But you could be in the College Football Playoff fighting for a championship, and [you could] be the guy that we’re counting on. So I just think this is a different and a unique time that we’re stepping into.”

Biggest question for each former Buckeyes star ahead of NFL Draft

The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday in Detroit. Marvin Harrison Jr. will be the first Ohio State player off the board, but he also has a chance to be the first non-quarterback taken in the first round this year.

That much is clear. But who will pick Harrison? Will it be the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4, or will another team trade up to get the Heisman Trophy finalist and Biletnikoff Award winner?

That’s one of several questions Lettermen Row is examining ahead of the draft as we overview each Buckeyes prospect heading into the three-day, seven-round event.

Check it out here.

Ohio State quarterback pledge Tavien St. Clair living out his dream with Elite 11 Finals spot secured

In addition to dreaming of playing at Ohio State, five-star Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback Tavien St. Clair has dreamed of making the Elite 11 Finals.

The On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 class is making his dreams come true. With a strong performance at the Elite 11 Regional in nearby Upper Arlington, St. Clair secured a spot in the event’s finals in Los Angeles this summer.

“Me and my family, we’ve talked about this for a very long time,” St. Clair told Lettermen Row and others following the Elite 11 Regional. “Being able to come out here and do what I set out to do, do the things that I had and striving to be this offseason, it’s something really special.

“It’s going to be a high point in my life for a long time.”

For the full story, go here.

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 132 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 223 days

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