Ohio State primed to steal explosive running back from Big Ten rival via transfer portal
The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to make several splashes in the transfer portal as they build their 2025 roster. With TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins entering the final games of their Buckeyes career, Ryan Day's offense could use a veteran presence or two. According to sources, former USC running back Quinten Joyner is at […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to make several splashes in the transfer portal as they build their 2025 roster. With TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins entering the final games of their Buckeyes career, Ryan Day's offense could use a veteran presence or two. According to sources, former USC running back Quinten Joyner is at the top of Ohio State's transfer portal sights.
The fourth-ranked running back out of Texas in the 2023 class proved powerful and explosive for the Trojans in a backup role this fall. Joyner visited the campus on Friday, and my sources backed that Ohio State wants to add him to a deep rotation of young backs. It's likely Joyner would assume Judkins' power role, while sophomore James Peoples battles the three incoming freshmen entering the program from the 2025 class.
Joyner carried the ball 64 times for 465 yards and three scores in 2024. He ranked as the Big Ten's second-best back of all carriers with at least 50 carries. Saying he was better than Kaleb Johnson, Henderson, Judkins, or Nicholas Singleton would be foolish, but it's clear Joyner is ready for a bigger role.
The Buckeyes are offering Joyner a bigger platform for a better program on top of an "impressive" NIL offer for someone not yet a proven star. The signs are there Joyner will get there, though.
He ranked second in the conference by creating 4.5 yards after contact per carry. USC ran a balanced run offense, going almost 50-50 with zone and gap schemes. 14 of Joyner's 64 runs went for first downs.
Ohio State played Peoples 85 snaps this fall as he gave Henderson and Judkins an occasional break. Despite looking good, there is some concern about whether he'll be more than a secondary option in a strong backfield. Joyner would be a more natural fit than forcing a freshman into the lead role.
4-stars Bo Jackson and Anthony Rogers are terrific talents, and honestly, I think 3-star Isaiah West has the goods to help the offense as well. Jackson, at 205 pounds, has the profile of a lead workhorse, but is that too much to ask right away?
Ohio State thinks so. Joyner, at 5-foot-11, 216 pounds, would come to campus as a third-year sophomore with three years of eligibility left, including 2025.
