Skip to main content
ohio-state logo

Ohio State offers UTEP OT Jeremiah Byers, Tulsa OT Dillon Wade in transfer portal

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•12/15/22•

andybackstrom

On3 image
UTEP right tackle Jeremiah Byers is one of three offensive tackles who has received an offer from Ohio State in the transfer portal this cycle. (John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is making it pretty clear that it wants to dip into the transfer portal for at least one offensive tackle.

The Buckeyes arguably have the best offensive tackle pairing in the country right now in left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and right tackle Dawand Jones. Combined, that All-American duo — each set to have a tree planted in Buckeye Grove — has allowed just one sack and 14 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

But Johnson and Jones are destined for the NFL.

So Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye are being proactive. They have now offered three offensive tackles in the portal this cycle, including UTEP’s Jeremiah Byers and Tulsa’s Dillon Wade.

Byers was an On3 Consensus three-star recruit out of Austin (Texas) Anderson in 2019. He chose UTEP over Stephen F. Austin, Incarnate Word, Howard, Southern University among other schools. Byers wasted little time making an impact in Conference USA as an All-Freshman team selection in 2020. Since, he’s proven to be an anchor for the Miners at right tackle, where he’s allowed a combined five sacks the last two years. Only one of those came in 2022, during which he had his best season.

Byers conceded just eight total pressures while playing a career-high 855 snaps for UTEP, per PFF. He also registered a personal-best PFF run blocking grade of 79.3 this season. In addition to Ohio State’s, The 6-foot-4, 331-pound Byers has portal offers from Florida State, Penn State, Oregon and Oklahoma, among other schools.

Wade was also an On3 Consensus three-star recruit. He played his high school ball at Houston (Texas) Cy Falls and was part of Tulsa’s 2020 class. Wade played 818 snaps at left tackle as a redshirt sophomore this year. He did allow five sacks and 30 pressures, per PFF, however, he strung together back-to-back strong performances toward the end of the regular season with PFF pass blocking grades of 85.0 and 77.7 against Memphis and USF, respectively.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Wade also has offers from Oklahoma, USC, Auburn, TCU and Ole Miss among other schools.

The Buckeyes also offered the top offensive tackle prospect in the portal, Rhode Island’s Ajani Cornelius, Wednesday. Cornelius was unranked out of Harlem (New York) Stepinac in the On3 Consensus. He originally committed to Howard before flipping to and signing with URI, where he started a total of 22 games at right tackle across the 2021 and 2022 seasons after sitting out his first two years on campus. He allowed just one sack and six pressures this season while registering a 91.0 PFF run blocking grade and earning first-team All-CAA honors.

Ohio State has yet to reel in a transfer this cycle, although the Buckeyes have lost three players to the portal. To follow all of the program’s portal activity, check out Lettermen Row’s transfer tracker.

You may also like