ESPN gives a surprising candidate for Ohio State's top incoming transfer addition
The Ohio State Buckeyes have rebuilt their staff and gotten through the winter transfer portal period, making things a little clearer where the program stands entering the springtime. Soon, spring practices, the quasi-spring game, and the spring transfer window opens. The Buckeyes will have the chance to add another defender to the mix, but what they've […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes have rebuilt their staff and gotten through the winter transfer portal period, making things a little clearer where the program stands entering the springtime. Soon, spring practices, the quasi-spring game, and the spring transfer window opens. The Buckeyes will have the chance to add another defender to the mix, but what they've already brought in is impressive.
ESPN made a list of the top portal additions for each top-25 team, and the Buckeyes had a surprising nomination. Candidates included junior tight end Max Klare, offensive tackles Ethan Onianwa and Phillip Daniels, running back CJ Donaldson Jr., and EDGE rusher Logan George.
They opted for the former tackle, Onianwa. Here is their analysis.
The defending national champs are dealing with some significant offensive changes for 2025 with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, offensive line coach Justin Frye and eight starters moving on to the NFL.
Replacing starting offensive tackles Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar was a serious need for the Buckeyes during the portal window, and they landed two promising prospects in Onianwa and Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels. The experience Onianwa brings to the table, as a three-year starter who has played more than 2,200 career snaps, makes him an essential piece of the puzzle for an Ohio State offensive line that had to overcome injuries and depend on inexperienced depth during their title run.
The 6-foot-6, 345-pounder was a good pick. He saw a huge improvement in play from 2022 and 2023 to 2024 after moving from right tackle to left tackle. He allowed only one sack and eight pressures in 350 pass-blocking snaps and was graded as a decent run blocker by PFF.
It seems more likely than not that Onianwa will win the left tackle job, and fellow incoming tackle Daniels will take the right tackle spot. That would leave Luke Montgomery and Tegra Tshabola as the clubhouse favorites at guard, and then Josh Padilla and Ian Moore would compete at center.
Onianwa's inclusion makes sense and he's a good player. He'll at least be an above-average pass-blocker and decent enough run-blocker to justify taking him over and forcing a redshirt freshman on the field. However, I thought Klare would've been the pick.
Klare is a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He'll assume the slot receiver position most often and should be one of the team's leading target-getters. He's a proven asset and has the potential to win the program's first-ever Mackey Award.
Hopefully, for the Buckeyes, the best-case scenario plays out for both players.