Meet the All-Conference offensive tackle from Massillon who Ohio State must target in the transfer portal
The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a major hole or three along the offensive line in 2025. With several players graduating along a unit that struggled with continuity this season, head coach Ryan Day can't leave the group to chance as they break in a new starting quarterback. Adding at least one starting-caliber tackle in […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a major hole or three along the offensive line in 2025. With several players graduating along a unit that struggled with continuity this season, head coach Ryan Day can't leave the group to chance as they break in a new starting quarterback. Adding at least one starting-caliber tackle in the transfer portal is a must.
While there's justifiable optimism around freshman Ian Moore, the Buckeyes have the chance to grab a local kid who started his career at Akron. Liberty All-Conference USA tackle Xavior Gray is expected to enter the transfer portal, and he was the second-best run-blocker in the country.
The mammoth 6-foot-8, 340-pounder is an older player but has played on both the left and right side. His time at right tackle all came at Liberty, where he set the highest blocking grades of his career. Gray allowed just one sack and 27 hurries over the last two years.
While his overall grade from PFF is nothing special, it's more reflective of having slow feet and a quarterback in Kaidon Salter who loves to break the pocket. That led to 15 penalties over the last two years, but those are also somewhat in the hands of Salter, who failed to drop to the proper depth and get rid of the ball in rhythm far too often.
It's easier to envision Ohio State getting more out of Gray with Julian Sayin operating a much more pro-friendly attack with quick drops for the blockers.
Once weighing 502 pounds, Gray has spoken at length about his transformation as a young man who appreciates the culture and brotherhood he found at Liberty. However, now he's looking to make the most of his last year of eligibility. The graduate transfer would be in Year 7 in 2025.
With grown man size, age, and strength, the Buckeyes would be wise to add Gray to the mix as they search for a replacement for Josh Fryar. The toughest part of the pitch to Gray is promising him the starting job, as he could simply stay where he's at if he's not guaranteed to play.
The bulldozing run blocker would need to beat out Moore, Deontae Armstrong, and George Fitzpatrick to start, but at least one of those will be fighting to start at left tackle.
