Ohio State Buckeyes transfer receiver Devin McCuin has entered pole position to become the team's starter at the WR-Z position, beating out fellow transfer, ex-LSU Tiger Kyle Parker, and freshmen sensations Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd.
At the Ohio State University's Student Appreciation Day practice, McCuin showed out on routes for planned starting quarterback Julian Sayin and redshirt freshman gunslinger Tavien St. Clair on Saturday afternoon.
Per Eleven Warriors' Andy Anders, "McCuin transferred in after starring for the Roadrunners to see if he could contend with the best of the best in college football. On Saturday, he looked the part. The senior caught a slew of passes from Julian Sayin and St. Clair, showcasing his speed with big runs afterward, particularly on a few mesh routes where he gained separation and turned upfield for chunks. Another deep pass he caught and shook a defender loose in one slick motion, giving his best impression of a joystick. St. Clair found him near the sideline on a well-run out route for another big gain."
"A four-man battle is brewing between McCuin, LSU transfer Kyle Parker, and freshmen Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd to start at the Z receiver position alongside Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. But McCuin showed Saturday why he might have a leg up this spring – and shed his black stripe in the process," Anders punctuated his praise of McCuin with.
Devin McCuin could be a sign of Ohio State's future
McCuin was famously the first receiver Ryan Day and Co. ever brought in from the transfer portal. The position was always handled by guys who entered the system and often thrived right away as freshmen.
Well, with McCuin outplaying the next generation, perhaps more fourth-year transfers could make way to central Ohio in the future. New WR coach Cortez Hankton is experienced with the portal from his time with the LSU Tigers, so that certainly helps.
McCuin is making more history during his short tenure in the Scarlet and Gray. Maybe he'll change it in the coming years as Ohio State continues to figure out what works in College Football's NIL/rev-share era.