Ryan Day gushes over impact transfer addition, ‘He wants to prove himself’ after accepting challenge of playing at Ohio State
One year after landing Caleb Downs and Quinshon Judkins as premier transfer portal additions, the Ohio State Buckeyes again got the top available talent this offseason. Losing Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau left the Buckeyes’ pass-rush lacking an impact starter, but North Carolina’s Beau Atkinson was ready for a change. Despite having the chance to […]
One year after landing Caleb Downs and Quinshon Judkins as premier transfer portal additions, the Ohio State Buckeyes again got the top available talent this offseason. Losing Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau left the Buckeyes’ pass-rush lacking an impact starter, but North Carolina’s Beau Atkinson was ready for a change.
Despite having the chance to learn from and play for Bill Belichick, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound edge defender wanted to push himself harder. Playing for the defending national champion in the Big Ten is the biggest opportunity possible. The junior is coming off a season with 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day made the easy decision to bring Atkinson on board despite Atkinson surely demanding a solid NIL deal. With the Buckeyes not recruiting along the defensive line especially well in recent years, taking on a surefire star was a good alternative.
So far, so good, per Day.
“Coming into Ohio State, he wants to prove himself,” Day said. “His teammates have really rallied around him.”
Despite playing as a standup linebacker for much of 2024, Atkinson projects well as a Sawyer replacement. Like his predecessor, Atkinson is an especially good and aware run defender who fills his gaps effectively and keeps his eyes up. He’s a solid pass-rusher, but fans shouldn’t expect a Chase Young-like year.
Totaling 26 QB pressures, 26 run stops, and seven missed tackles, stability and reliability are huge positives the Buckeyes can expect from their newest addition. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has been hesitant to use a deep rotation in recent years, so Atkinson should be in line for a lot of playing time and the chance for a double-digit sack season.
