The Ohio State football team has used the transfer portal arguably better than anyone in the country. They have filled holes appropriately with guys who have made a big impact right away. It goes all the way back to when they grabbed Justin Fields to start for them at quarterback for two straight years.
Since then, Ryan Day has done a great job of identifying players and using them to help the team fill in recruiting gaps. Last season, they had multiple transfer players be key members of the national championship team. Quinshon Judkins was the best second-string running back in the country. There's no better safety in the country than Caleb Downs, either.
Seth McLaughlin won the Rimington Award for being the best center in the country, and he tore his Achilles. Davison Igbinosun gave them a starting cornerback who is very physical. I could go on and on. So, who will be the transfer players who make a big impact in 2025?
Who will be the big impact transfer players for the Ohio State football team in 2025?
In the offseason, the Buckeyes were able to grab more players from the transfer portal who can help them in 2025. Perhaps none of them will help Ohio State more than CJ Donaldson Jr. He will come in and be the starting running back next season after playing at West Virginia for two years.
Donaldson Jr. has been able to have 11 rushing touchdowns in each of the last two years. The Buckeyes need him so they have an established presence in that running back room. He isn't the only transfer player who will make a big impact for the Buckeyes, though.
Both offensive linemen that the Buckeyes brought in will likely start next season. Phillip Daniels and Ethan Onianwa are going to start at right and left tackle, respectively. Both of them are going to anchor the Ohio State offensive line in 2025.
Those three guys are the players who are going to make the biggest impact for Ohio State next season from the transfer portal. They might grab some guys from the Spring portal as well.