Leading up to the College Football Playoff, some disappointing news came in for Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes. That news was that wide receiver Bryson Rodgers will be leaving Columbus and he'll be entering the transfer portal once it opens up soon.
Brian Hartline makes another for his head coaching life after Ohio State
Rodgers leaving isn't a major shock, as he was never quite able to live up to the hype suiting up for the reigning national champs. However, he's going to look for more playing time elsewhere and there's already one program that people have their eyes on.
That'd be USF, where Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will be taking over as new head coach once the 2025 campaign ends for the Buckeyes. Could we see the 6-2, 192-pound Rodgers make the move from Ohio to Florida? It's on the table. Here's why.
Ohio State WR Bryson Rodgers potentially transferring to USF should be on the table
For starters, Hartline developed a close relationship with all of his receivers while on campus, of course including Rodgers. Not only that, but the speedster was a touted prospect out of Wiregress High, which is roughly 40 minutes outside of Tampa.
With Rodgers growing up so close to the USF campus, it'd be a homecoming for him if he were to follow Hartline for his next stop. This past season for the Buckeyes, Rodgers posted six receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown for Day and his staff.
He's of course going to look to be a bit more featured at his next program. Coming out of high school, Rodgers was ranked a 4-star prospect and the No. 43 wideout in the country according to 247Sports. He also had 43 offers to his name, but he chose to sign with Ohio State.
Rodgers still has more college eligibility and he's going to want to take advantage of the time he has left before his clock runs out. As for Ohio State, this isn't a big loss at all. Jeremiah Smith will be back for his junior year, while Chris Henry Jr. just signed as the headliner for the 2026 class. The Buckeyes could look to replace Carnell Tate via the portal too.