Ohio State Football Spring Transfer Tracker 2025: Full Portal Recap and Roster Outlook

As the college football world settles into the second window of the transfer portal, few programs are navigating this chaotic landscape as actively and strategically as Ohio State. Coming off a season that ended in heartbreak with a playoff loss to Oregon and watching rival Michigan hoist a national title, the Buckeyes have entered 2025 with one mission: reclaim national dominance.

To do that, Ryan Day’s staff has been relentless in leveraging the transfer portal. And unlike previous years, they’ve had help—Chip Kelly’s arrival as offensive coordinator has re-energized the program’s pitch to players around the country. With fresh offensive schemes, NIL power, and a top-tier development track record, Ohio State remains a top destination in the portal era.

Recent Portal Exits: Buckeyes Who Are Out

The spring portal window (April 16–30) opened with a few key exits for the Buckeyes.

Reis Stocksdale (WR)

A walk-on fan favorite, Stocksdale entered the portal with little on-field production due to injuries, including a torn ACL in 2023. His departure doesn’t shake the receiver room much, but it marks the end of a hardworking and respected locker room voice.

Anthony Venneri (P)

Venneri transferred in from Buffalo last summer but never cracked the punting rotation. With Joe McGuire entrenched as the starter, Venneri opted to look elsewhere for playing time and has two years of eligibility left.

While these names don’t headline the portal exodus, they reflect the churn happening at every level of the roster—players not in line for significant roles are looking to move on.

Winter Portal Departures: Bigger Names Leave

Ohio State’s winter losses were more substantial and revealed areas the staff is still looking to address:

• Devin Brown (QB) – Transferred to Cal after falling behind Will Howard and Julian Sayin in the quarterback race.
• Air Noland (QB) – A surprise early exit, the 2024 freshman bolted for South Carolina, reportedly over NIL differences and depth chart concerns.
• Kojo Antwi (WR) – Left for Colorado State; buried on the depth chart in one of the deepest receiver rooms in college football.
• Hero Kanu (DL) – Talented defensive lineman who showed flashes but transferred to Texas, citing playing time.
• Jayden Bonsu (DB) – Promising defensive back who transferred to Pitt, perhaps squeezed out by incoming freshmen and portal additions.
• Zen Michalski (OT) – Veteran offensive tackle who transferred to Indiana; expected to start in the Big Ten elsewhere.
• Gabe Powers (LB) – Left for Kansas State, looking for a larger role in a linebacker corps that added transfer help.
• Mitchell Melton (EDGE) – Transferred to Virginia after years of limited playing time due to injury setbacks.

These exits were not catastrophic but did create depth concerns in certain spots—especially defensive tackle, offensive line, and linebacker.

New Faces in Columbus: Who Ohio State Gained

Ryan Day and his staff have addressed some of the losses with several quality additions from the portal:

CJ Donaldson (RB – West Virginia)

A huge pickup. Donaldson rushed for 798 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 and brings power and versatility to a backfield that needed more experience behind TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden. His pass-catching ability fits well in Chip Kelly’s system.

Phillip Daniels (OT – Minnesota)

Ohio State needed offensive tackle depth, and Daniels provides just that. He started 10 games for the Gophers last season and could compete to start or be a key rotation piece.

Ethan Onianwa (OT – Rice)

A developmental tackle with solid upside. While he might not start in 2025, he adds much-needed depth and could be a long-term contributor.

Logan George (EDGE – Idaho State)

An FCS standout with 9 sacks in 2024, George is a pass-rush specialist who could rotate in behind Jack Sawyer and Caden Curry. He gives Larry Johnson a fresh body with upside.

Max Klare (TE – Purdue)

With Cade Stover off to the NFL, Klare joins a tight end room in flux. He’s a good blocker and an underrated receiving threat, catching 22 balls for Purdue last season.

Ty Howard (LB – Duquesne)

An FCS All-American linebacker who made over 100 tackles last year. He’ll battle for time behind C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles.

Still Needed: Portal Targets for the Spring Window

Ohio State isn’t done. Sources close to the program say the Buckeyes are targeting defensive tackles and safeties in the current spring window.

Defensive Tackle

After the loss of Kanu and limited development of former blue-chip prospects, Ohio State lacks proven depth behind projected starters Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston. The staff is aggressively pursuing plug-and-play interior defenders—possibly from the SEC.

Names to watch:

• Tyler Baron (Tennessee transfer) – Still in the portal after a strange recruitment.
• Kris Jenkins Jr. (Michigan) – Rumors swirling he may look to enter late due to Michigan coaching turnover.

Safety

With Lathan Ransom gone and Bonsu transferring, depth is an issue. Ohio State loves versatile DBs, and portal targets here will likely be hybrid types who can play the slot or cover tight ends.

How Coaching Changes Are Shaping the Portal Strategy

Chip Kelly’s arrival has had an immediate effect—not just in scheme, but in attracting transfers.

• Several offensive linemen cited Kelly’s reputation as a major factor.
• CJ Donaldson was reportedly drawn to the idea of being featured in a creative offense with NFL-level preparation.
• Recruits and transfers alike believe Ohio State’s offense is about to get “scary again,” as one source put it.

Defensively, there’s also a notable shift. Jim Knowles, often criticized for over-complicating things in big games, is simplifying his scheme slightly in 2025 to allow his athletic linebackers and edge rushers more freedom. That message is resonating with portal targets.

2025 Quarterback Room: Will the Portal Still Be a Factor?

With Will Howard, Julian Sayin, and Lincoln Kienholz, the Buckeyes seem set under center. But don’t rule out a late portal move.

• If Sayin struggles in the spring game or decides he wants to start immediately, things could shift.
• If a surprising elite QB enters the portal (like how Caleb Williams did in 2022), Ohio State will at least inquire.

Still, as it stands, Howard is the likely starter, with Sayin being the heir apparent. Kienholz could be a portal candidate if he feels stuck.

Roster Outlook: Where the Buckeyes Stand Today

Position-by-position, here’s how the portal has shaped Ohio State’s depth:

Position	Portal Loss	Portal Gain	Need More Help?
Quarterback	Brown, Noland	None	No
Running Back	None	CJ Donaldson	No
Wide Receiver	Antwi, Stocksdale	None	No
Tight End	Stover (NFL), Royer	Max Klare	Possibly
Offensive Line	Michalski	Daniels, Onianwa	Maybe
Defensive Line	Kanu	George	Yes (DT)
Linebacker	Powers, Melton	Howard	Maybe
Secondary	Bonsu	Possibly targeting additions	Yes
Special Teams	Venneri	None	No

Portal Winners or Losers?

Ohio State enters mid-April as one of the winners of the 2025 portal cycle. They’ve filled key roles, retained top talent (so far), and positioned themselves for a strong summer.

But the job isn’t done. To truly compete with Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, and Texas in what may be the most stacked CFP field yet (now with 12 teams), the Buckeyes still need trench help and to stay healthy.

Building a National Title Contender

With spring practice nearly wrapped and the portal still open, Ohio State’s 2025 roster is beginning to take shape. The foundation is strong:

• A deep and versatile quarterback room
• An offensive line being rebuilt with veterans
• A defense stacked with blue-chip talent and experienced leaders
• A coaching staff energized by Kelly and refocused by recent disappointment

If Ryan Day can land one or two more portal pieces—especially at defensive tackle—this team will enter the fall not just as Big Ten favorites, but serious national title contenders.

And in the modern college football landscape, where roster management is a 12-month job, that’s about as good as it gets.