Former Ohio State football player now in the SEC has suffered a tough setback at his new school

The transfer portal has former Buckeyes at every corner of the college football world it seems. An ex-Ohio State wideout now with Alabama has been hit with an unfortunate setback.

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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Apr 15, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Noah Rogers (80) evades Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Diante Griffin (43) during the fourth quarter of the Ohio State Buckeyes spring game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday morning. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch Football Ceb Osufb Spring Game Ohio State At Ohio State

With it being spring football around the country for the college level, it’s the first look at how transfers are fitting in at their new spots. Ohio State football was very active in the portal by adding several potential difference makers. 

Ohio State added a pair of former Alabama players with DT James Smith and EDGE Qua Russaw. The Buckeyes have been no strangers to adding former Alabama players, think of Julian Sayin, Caleb Downs, and Seth McLaughlin. 

There is one former Buckeye now with Alabama as well, and the latest around the former Ohio State wideout is not good. 

Tough injury update for ex-Buckeye now playing at Alabama 

Former four-star recruit WR Noah Rogers played his freshman season in Columbus in 2023 before transferring to NC State. The former Buckeye is now a redshirt junior at Alabama following two years with the Wolfpack. Alabama’s spring game was this past weekend and Rogers was carted off the field due to a knee injury. 

“Unfortunately he suffered an injury that’s gonna take a little while to recover,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said on Monday. “It will bleed into the season here a little bit — I’m not gonna give a timeline exactly. He won’t be ready to go right when the season starts. We expect it to be a situation where he will be back during the season.”

A tough development for Rogers, who now won’t be ready for the start of the season at Alabama, and it’s believed he’ll return during the season at some point. Rogers was pushing to be the No. 2 wideout at best to Alabama’s Ryan Williams. It’s more likely Rogers was trending to be the No. 3 in the room. 

Rogers only played in two games as a freshman in 2023 for the Buckeyes before transferring out. The 6-foot-2 wideout broke out somewhat in 2024 with 478 receiving yards at NC State and followed it up with 441 receiving yards last season. 

The good news is that Rogers will be able to return during the season at some point, the bad news is that he won’t have summer or fall workouts to prepare for the season. Others will be working and there’s no guarantee Rogers will be in the same spot on the depth chart when he returns. 

A tough break for the former Buckeye now down in Birmingham. 

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