Six Ohio State transfers who made an impact elsewhere in 2022

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is selective in the transfer portal. So much so that the Buckeyes have plucked only eight players from the portal since it opened a few years ago.

While Ohio State has hit a few home runs in the portal, namely quarterback Justin Fields and running back Trey Sermon, it has typically relied on its robust recruiting pipeline that has produced a top-five recruiting class each of the last three years.

On the flip side, however, in that span, several Buckeyes players — most notably, quarterback Joe Burrow — have left for other opportunities.

Another Ohio State quarterback, the highly-touted Quinn Ewers, turned to the portal this past offseason, and he was one of six now-former Buckeyes to make a significant impact during the 2022 season.

With the transfer portal window set to officially open on Dec. 5, Lettermen Row looks back at those six players who departed Columbus in 2021 and started new chapters elsewhere.

QB Quinn Ewers (Texas)

Ewers was On3’s No. 2 overall prospect in the 2021 cycle. One of the highest-rated recruits in Ohio State history, Ewers was also one of just seven players in that class who was rated a five star by all four major recruiting services. To say there were high expectations for the Southlake Carroll product when he arrived in Columbus would be an understatement, and those expectations followed him to Austin when he transferred to Texas.

Whereas he would have sat behind Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud this season, Ewers got a chance to start for the Longhorns. He played in nine games, posting a 6-3 record in those outings. He suffered a left clavicle sprain in the first quarter of Texas’ 20-19 loss to then-No. 1 Alabama and missed three games before returning for the Red River Rivalry game and throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-0 shutout of Oklahoma. Ewers rounded out the regular season with a 14:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio but just a 56.6% completion rate.

S Bryson Shaw (USC)

Bryson Shaw, a former three star from The Bullis School in Eldersburg, Maryland, piled up 63 total tackles, five pass break-ups, one interception and 0.5 TFLs in his three seasons at Ohio State. He played his most prominent role last year when he registered the third-most defensive snaps (667) of any Buckeyes player in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus. Shaw tallied 59 total tackles — also third most on the team — and led Ohio State in PFF tackling grade (84.7). He allowed five receptions on 11 targets for 109 yards, per PFF, and logged three PBUs, plus an interception at Michigan that helped prevent the Wolverines from going up two scores in the first quarter.

Shaw is tied for sixth among all USC defenders in total tackles (40) this season. Although he does have another interception, his PFF grades have dropped across the board. That said, he’s played 327 snaps for the Trojans. It’s worth noting that, in transferring to USC, Shaw reunited with Trojans DC/safeties coach Alex Grinch, who was his lead recruiter at Ohio State in the 2019 cycle.

CB Ryan Watts (Texas)

Ryan Watts has enjoyed a breakout season in Austin. Like Ewers, Watts took his talents to Texas, where he’s played the third-most defensive snaps (728) of any Longhorns player this season. Watts is sixth on the team in total tackles (51) and tied for fourth in passes defended (three). He also has an interception to his name. While Watts has conceded a 60% reception percentage (28 catches allowed on 46 targets), he’s been great at denying yards after the catch. The redshirt sophomore has given up just 72 YAC this season, per PFF. That’s because he’s taken his tackling up a notch, knocking his missed tackle percentage down from 33.3% last year at Ohio State to 9.8% in 2022 with the Longhorns in 2022.

LB Craig Young (Kansas)

Similar to Watts, linebacker Craig Young left for the Big 12 for a chance at more playing time, and he’s made the most of it at Kansas, where he helped the Jayhawks reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2008. Young is second on the team in sacks (4.5), and he’s third in total tackles (58). Additionally, he’s tied for fourth with three passes defended, and he’s recorded a forced fumble and interception this season. The redshirt junior has lined up for 458 snaps in the slot and 241 snaps in the box for the Jayhawks in 2022. He’s showcased versatility, and that’s come to life in the pass rush, where he’s registered a 87.1 PFF grade.

WR Sam Wiglusz (Ohio)

Sam Wiglusz was a walk-on wide receiver at Ohio State. He spent three seasons in Columbus but didn’t see the field much. He had one grab for 11 yards against Rutgers in 2019, and then he snagged two passes in a blowout win over Michigan State last year. Wiglusz — a Brecksville, Ohio, native — made the move to Athens this past offseason, and he’s lit it up for the Bobcats, who are playing in the MAC Championship against Toledo this weekend. Wiglusz is tied for first in the conference with 11 receiving touchdowns. He’s third in the MAC in receptions (67), and he’s got 820 receiving yards on the year.

LB Dallas Gant (Toledo)

Wiglusz will meet his former Buckeyes teammate Dallas Gant in the MAC Championship. Like Wiglusz, Gant was a first-team All-MAC selection this season. Gant, a former consensus four-star linebacker, leads the Rockets with 103 tackles this season. That mark is tied for sixth in the league. Gant also has five passes defended and two fumbles forced. Before transferring to Toledo, Gant had scattered 54 total tackles over four seasons in a Buckeyes uniform, playing his most defensive snaps in 2019 (120), per PFF. He blew that number out of the water this year, logging 800 defensive snaps, second on the team. Gant got a chance to play his old team in September and notched five total tackles, albeit in a decisive loss.