Ohio State among top winners in the first year of the NCAA transfer portal



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As the transfer portal filled with talented players from across the country this post-season, 247Sports released its first transfer rankings in January.

Two of the top five players chose to move to Ohio State.

Ohio State won the biggest prize in this year's transfer market when former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields, No. 2 rookie of the 2018 promotion, signed up for the Ohio State. January. Then on Monday, the Buckeyes landed former Rutgers offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, ranked fifth by 247Sports in last year's transfer market, when he announced his transfer to Ohio State.

New Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have decided to award two specific transfers over the last two months: a quarterback who could enter and compete immediately for the starting position, and a domestic offensive lineman for graduate transfers that could strengthen the Buckeyes. before in 2019 – and they landed the best player available in both positions.

As transfers become more and more common in college football, the transfer portal facilitates the exploration of transfers compared to previous players and the NCAA being more and more lenient in granting waivers for immediate eligibility, it is too early to say what the net long-term impact will be for Ohio State. The Buckeyes should still have the ability to attract top talent to Columbus, but they must also face the fact that players could now be more likely to leave the Ohio State if they are not satisfied with their playing time.

What we can say now is that the state of Ohio seems to enjoy the first year of the transfer portal as much as almost every other school.

The fields, of course, have the potential to have as big an impact as any transfer in college football this year. The Ohio State starting quarterback will be losing now that he has received his renunciation of NCAA's immediate eligibility and that he has the physical tools to be an elite as a smuggler and runner.

Although he never started a game and spent only one year in Georgia, Fields is one of the favorites for the first bets for the Heisman Trophy. It may be optimistic to expect the Ohio State offensive to resume its attack after Dwayne Haskins' departure, but if Fields succeeds in realizing its potential, the Buckeyes could again count on the one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

The Buckeyes must have an excellent game of quarterbacks they want to be national championship candidates in 2019, as well as a strong offensive line. That's where Jackson comes in. After losing four offensive line players from last season, Ohio State lacked experience to the front, including its three offensive offensive linemen in-between. departure – and that's what Jackson can provide.

Jackson earned the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as Rutgers' starting goaltender last season and started five games for the center-ranked Scarlet Knights in 2017. He was also captain of the Scarlet Knights last season. He should therefore show valuable leadership for veterans. for the Ohio State offensive line in 2019, while offering the ability to start anywhere on the inside line.

Ohio State is certainly not the only team to benefit from a solid transfer. Oklahoma, who has had two consecutive victories at the Heisman Trophy in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray after their transfer to the Sooners from other schools, has landed another quarter that could lead the Sooners to another playoff race this year. in Alabama, Jalen hurts. In the first year of the transfer portal, few teams made more noise than Miami, which has captured four of the top 11 transfer prospects of 247Sports, including former Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell. former five-star rookie Jaelen Phillips (UCLA). and Bubba Bolden (USC).

You will not find many other teams, however, who have landed two transfers with the potential to have as much impact this season as Fields and Jackson for Ohio State. And the Buckeyes have landed these players without suffering a lot of losses. Martell's transfer hurts the Buckeyes' quarterback depth, but his departure was not shocking after Fields was transferred to him. The only other start for the Buckeyes this season is Keandre Jones, who had not started a match for three years at Ohio State and was back on the board of depths of the linebacker.

The state of Ohio, which currently has 87 purses for the 2019 season, should expect to lose a few more players due to transfers by the start of the season. However, these players will likely be players who will be buried on the depth map after spring training and who may never see meaningful play time for the Buckeyes.

Overall, the winnings of the Fields and Jackson Buckeyes should outweigh what they have lost and are going to lose in the transfer market, improving their chances of winning another Big Ten title and win. one place for the college football playoffs.

The state of Ohio still plans to act cautiously in the transfer market, as Day wants the Buckeyes to continue to prioritize the recruitment of high school players, turning to the transfer portal only when They see players who match their culture and tackle specific needs.

"It must be a need, it must be an adjustment," Day said at the National Signature Day earlier this month. "Because we spend a lot of time recruiting these kids since they're freshmen and sophomores, most of them. We bring them into a culture that we really take seriously. So, bringing in someone must be a good solution. "

In Jackson and Fields, the Buckeyes have landed at two players that should be exactly that: perfect adjustments to the needed positions.

The extra transfers combined with efforts by the Ohio State to recruit the high school promotion in 2019, which included defensive linemen Zach Harrison and Jaden McKenzie on the first day of the early signing period and players Offensive Line Enokk Vimahi and Dawand Jones on National Signing Day Day's ability to hit home runs on the recruiting track and prepares the Buckeyes for success in 2019 and beyond.

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