The transfer portal window is open, and Ohio State will, like every other college football team, gain and lose players as a result.
Already, quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and defensive end C.J. Hicks have voiced their intention to play elsewhere next season. The player movement almost certainly won’t stop there.
With the NCAA’s adoption of a single transfer portal window, most of the offseason activity is confined to a period in January. The portal opened for two weeks on Jan. 2, allowing players across Division I to put their names in the online database and be in contact with other schools.
To help you keep tabs on any movement involving the Buckeyes, including roster pickups, The Dispatch is monitoring all of the comings and goings below.
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS ENTERING THE PORTAL (17)
QB Lincoln Kienholz
Kienholz confirmed his intentions to enter the portal on Jan. 1, a day before the offseason window opened for a period of two weeks, and committed to Louisville days later.
He had been the backup quarterback behind redshirt freshman Julian Sayin after losing out in an offseason competition that lasted for months. Kienholz threw for 139 yards and a touchdown and ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns in seven games in 2025.
It was the second straight offseason that the Buckeyes saw their experienced backup quarterback depart as Devin Brown transferred to California last winter.
QB Mason Maggs
A walk-on from Dublin who spent four seasons with the Buckeyes, Maggs announced plans to enter the portal following the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Dec. 31.
He’s the son of the late Bob Maggs, a former All-Big Ten offensive lineman for the Buckeyes who died unexpectedly in October.
RB Sam Dixon
Dixon confirmed plans to reenter the portal for a second straight offseason.
After he withdrew from the portal and remained with the Buckeyes last year, he appeared in one game, rushing for 9 yards on three carries late in a rout of Grambling State in September.
RB James Peoples
Peoples announced on Jan. 2 that he would enter the portal for his final two years of eligibility.
He had started two games in September and looked in line to be the Buckeyes’ primary back before falling behind in the rotation. He finished with 344 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the No. 3 back.
WR Mylan Graham
Graham plans to enter the portal after two seasons with the Buckeyes, he told On3 on Jan. 4.
A former five-star recruit who was the nation’s No. 33 overall prospect out of high school in 2024, he redshirted as a freshman and caught six passes for 93 yards as a backup this past season.
WR Bryson Rodgers
Rodgers marked the first loss for the Buckeyes after he announced his intent to enter the portal on Dec. 18 and did not remain with the Buckeyes for the College Football Playoff.
He caught 11 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown over his three years as a backup slot receiver.
WR Damarion Witten
Witten announced plans to enter the portal on Jan. 1 after two seasons with the Buckeyes.
A former tight end at Glenville High School in Cleveland, he moved to wide receiver at Ohio State and appeared in only one game.
TE Jelani Thurman
Thurman announced his intent to enter the portal in the immediate aftermath of the Buckeyes’ loss to Miami in the quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve.
He caught 13 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns in his three seasons at Ohio State.
OL Devontae Armstrong
Armstrong announced on Jan. 2 he was transferring after he did not appear in a game in two years with the Buckeyes.
His twin brother, Deontae, is also a backup offensive lineman with the Buckeyes.
OL Tegra Tshabola
It was reported on Jan. 4 that Tshabola plans to enter the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility.
Tshabola made 28 starters at right guard over the past two seasons, but fell into a rotation with as Joshua Padilla and Gabe VanSickle late in 2025. An unspecified injury held him out of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Miami.
DE Logan George
George was a notable pickup out of the portal last winter after he had been a disruptive pass rusher at Idaho State in 2024.
But he was unavailable for most of the year and only appeared in three games with the Buckeyes before deciding to reenter the portal, according to a post he shared on X on Jan. 1.
DE C.J. Hicks
Hicks confirmed he was entering the portal for his final year of eligibility on Jan. 1.
A former top-ranked linebacker in the class of 2022, he moved to defensive end this past offseason as the Buckeyes sought to use him as a pass rusher, but ultimately appeared in only four games during the regular season, allowing him to qualify for a redshirt.
DE Dominic Kirks
Kirks announced plans to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 1 after two seasons with the Buckeyes. A native of Cleveland, he made two tackles in six games.
CB Aaron Scott Jr.
Scott is entering the portal after two seasons, leaving the Buckeyes without one of their top players from the 2024 recruiting class.
A former five-star recruit from Springfield, he appeared in 15 games over two seasons with the Buckeyes and had eight tackles and two pass breakups.
CB Bryce West
West announced plans to leave the Buckeyes after two seasons on Jan. 1, a hit to their depth at nickel back.
A former top-75 recruit from Cleveland, he was the backup behind Lorenzo Styles Jr. and appeared in all but one game as a redshirt freshman. West had 10 tackles and a forced fumble in 2025.
K Jackson Courville
Courville announced plans to reenter the portal on Jan. 2 after he spent a season with the Buckeyes following a transfer from Ball State.
He appeared in two games while backing up Jayden Fielding and made all four extra point attempts.
P Nick McLarty
McLarty announced on Jan. 2 he was transferring after two years with the Buckeyes.
He punted three times as the backup to Joe McGuire, a fellow Australian native who edged him out for the starting job in 2024.
PLAYERS IN THE PORTAL HEADED TO OHIO STATE (2)
TE Mason Williams
Williams became the Buckeyes’ first portal pickup when he announced his commitment on Jan. 4, giving them a big-bodied tight end for next season.
He helps to replace Will Kacmarek, who also transferred from Ohio to Ohio State two years ago and made an impact as a blocker.
Williams was a third-team All-MAC selection in 2025. Over three seasons with the Bobcats, he caught 48 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns and built a reputation as a strong blocker as well. He has two years of eligibility left.
LS Dalton Riggs
The Buckeyes received a commitment from Riggs on Jan. 4, leaving them with a potential replacement for John Ferlmann.
Ferlmann, who has been the starting long snapper for the Buckeyes since 2023, is out of eligibility. Riggs snapped in all 12 games for UCF this past season.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at [email protected] and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.
