When the transfer portal opens, the Ohio State football team needs to get this player

When the college football transfer portal opens on December 9th, the Buckeyes can almost literally kick to the curb one of their problems. A quality placekicker has announced he is entering the portal. Ryan Day needs to be first in line to talk to him and have a lucrative NIL package ready to present.

On Monday, Jesus Gomez of Eastern Michigan announced he is leaving that program. In 2024, he hit on 20 of 25 field goal attempts and was 9 of 13 from beyond 40 yards. That includes a 57-yard bomb of a kick against Washington. After Jayden Fielding missed two critical field goals against Michigan, Gomez is someone the Buckeyes need to seriously consider.

Heading into the Michigan game, Fielding had converted 8 of 9 field goal attempts and was 5 of 6 from 40-49 yards. Because these numbers are more than respectable, some might wonder why they would make a change if he had just one bad day. As Bob Dylan once wrote, “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.”

If you recall, earlier in the season Fielding shanked two straight kickoffs out of bounds. What is the common denominator between those kicks and the misses on Saturday? Wind. Fielding seems to struggle with kicking in windy conditions. Whether the issue is mental, changing his technique, or both, he seems to have a real problem when Mother Nature is huffing and puffing.

A big reason why I think Gomez is such an attractive option is because of where he played. Ypsilanti, where Eastern Michigan is located, can be extremely windy. Gomez is very used to kicking in those difficult conditions. When it comes to November football in Ohio and some other places in the Big Ten, weather can be a factor. The Buckeyes need a kicker who can handle these conditions and Gomez just might be that guy.

After passing on two outstanding kickers who were in the portal last year, Ryan Day needs to take a serious look at upgrading this position. There is a reason why the kicking game is the most important phase of football. Day needs to start treating it as such.