After Ryan Day announced the departure of a top payer and the addition of a poor signing to replace him, the Buckeyes wil suffer a serious blow.

After Ryan Day announced the departure of a top payer and the addition of a poor signing to replace him, the Buckeyes wil suffer a serious blow.

Last week, Brian Hartline spoke triumphantly about the relationships he’s built through traditional high school recruiting, which have kept the room full of elite talent and depth.

“I have nothing against the transfer world; there are many good reasons to do, own, and utilize it,” Hartline declared last week, just before the Cotton Bowl. However, we haven’t yet accomplished that goal in the receiver room. Selecting the ideal young men from high school who match our profile is the aim.

 

Less than a week had passed since Hartline made those remarks when he lost his fourth and fifth receivers to the transfer portal in the previous eight months. On Sunday, both Noah Rogers and Bryson Rodgers declared their intent to look into transfers. They become the fourth group of receivers to leave the program since last April, along with Julian Fleming, Caleb Burton, and Kaleb Brown.

The departures may have no effect on the starting corps or even the two-deep for 2024. Emeka Egbuka talked about coming back for a fourth season. The 2024 signing class will include two five-star prospects, Jeremiah Smith (winter) and Mylan Graham (summer).

But even with Egbuka back, and assuming no other attrition occurs, Ohio State’s current projection for scholarship receivers in 2024 is just eight. In order to account for injuries and other absences, coach Ryan Day has previously stated that the program prefers to have 11 receivers in order to fill out the lineups for three teams during practice.

OSU might need to add at least one more body, even though it would be surprising to see three added by August. That might potentially come from any high school athletes who are still unsigned and available for the February late signing period.

It may also indicate that Hartline needs to use the transfer portal for the first time in order to bolster his group’s depth.

That’s the transfer world as it is. Rogers and Rodgers weren’t the first to recognize a longer trajectory for their development or to reach the field and advance to more favorable playing-time scenarios. Given the additional incentives provided by brand, image, and likeness opportunities, it is likely that this trend will pick up steam before flagging.

Hartline can still be proud that he does not need to add players of starting caliber to the top of his room, in contrast to some other position groups. The No. 1 prospect in the country, regardless of class, is between Egbuka, rising sophomores Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss, and fellow rising fourth-year Jayden Ballard.

Furthermore, players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Egbuka, and Julian Fleming who do persevere despite receiving little playing time in the beginning typically go on to have successful long-term careers. Ballard could be the lone exception, but he made his Cotton Bowl debut and has a chance to start the following year.

“There have been difficult days for every guy you’ve seen enter the NFL; I won’t name names, but there have been tears and crying and feelings like ‘it’s hard’ and ‘I want to go home,'” Hartline remarked. “Coach, am I good enough to play here? “Am I skilled enough to compete at a higher level?” Those are challenging times.

However, the outcome has been really fantastic and fulfilling for both the players and the coach.

There is still no doubt about the health of the Ohio State receiver at the top of the room. But Hartline might have to open the receiver wing of the transfer portal unless more Xavier Johnsons are prepared to step up from their walk-on status, assume rotational roles, and challenge for the two-deep.