Quinshon Judkins, Caleb Downs, and Will Howard show why teams will copy Ohio State's transfer portal strategy
The Ohio State Buckeyes went to the transfer portal to get as much impact talent as possible, and they showed out as a collective group in their showdown against Penn State. The Buckeyes prevailed, 20-13, in Week 10, relying on three stars who were at or near the top of the names who changed jerseys […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes went to the transfer portal to get as much impact talent as possible, and they showed out as a collective group in their showdown against Penn State. The Buckeyes prevailed, 20-13, in Week 10, relying on three stars who were at or near the top of the names who changed jerseys this offseason.
Star running back Quinshon Judkins, quarterback Will Howard, and safety Caleb Downs each played a massive part in the Buckeyes' win. The Buckeyes have one of the bigger NIL budgets in the nation, and thus far, they have been justified in chasing short-term upgrades as they pursue a national title. Not every team in the nation can say the same.
With teams figuring out how to be competitive in an NIL world that sees athletes moving schools more often than ever, the Buckeyes have been one of the better programs in the nation at making competitive offers to playmakers. But it's not just about the final dollar number.
The Buckeyes drew in 5-star caliber stars like Judkins and Downs because of the program's stability, spotlight, and helping their future with the NFL. Howard in particular had more to gain than those two, since he was a projected Day 3 pick in the 2024 class coming from Kansas State.
In return, the Buckeyes beat Penn State largely thanks to their individual efforts.
Howard was far from perfect, throwing an early pick-six and fumbling a ball as he crossed the goal line. Those two mistakes cost Ohio State 14 points, but Howard's response is what separates him from 2023 starter Kyle McCord. Howard was resilient, completing 16-of-24 attempts for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
Most importantly, Howard added 24 rushing yards and converted two key third downs on read options. The mobility from the quarterback position has relieved the pressure off Ryan Day, Chip Kelly, and the offense from having to be perfect with passing concepts and blocking.
Howard's impact on the run game isn't massive but it did feed into the success Judkins enjoyed. Now past a hand injury that required surgery, Judkins ran powerfully behind the Buckeyes' revamped line, and it defined an offense that has not successfully been able to grind out drives and bleed the clock.
The critical final drive saw Judkins tally up several impact runs, and he finished with 95 yards on 14 carries. He also delivered a punishing block on a key third down, putting his nose into a defender's chest for the betterment of the team. That's the buy-in and heart that has been missing from this roster for several years.
Think about the last time you could count on Ohio State to rip off an 11-play, 58-yard drive and bleed 5:13 of clock to end the game. It's been awhile, and the Buckeyes delivered in Happy Valley despite the makeshift line and Penn State fighting for their Playoff lives with three timeouts available.
Downs' contributions were also massive. Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is arguably the best in the country, and the Nittany Lions couldn't consistently find him.
He managed to run for 47 yards on three carries and another 47 receiving yards on four catches. While he had a 33-yard run and 31-yard catch, Downs was not responsible for him on those plays. Otherwise, Warren was invisible.
Again, taking out a team's best weapon has been a weak point for this team over the last few years. By having an All-American defensive player in Downs, the Buckeyes did as well as anyone could've hoped to slow Warren.
That's what championship mettle looks like.
