By Tony Thomas
After three consecutive losses to that team up north, Head Coach Ryan Day has pulled out all the stops to right the ship, including luring Chip Kelly away from his head coaching gig at UCLA to be the Buckeyes offensive coordinator.
In addition, Day went into the transfer portal and landed some quality talent on both sides of the ball. As we get closer to spring practice, here are three portal players that will make Ohio State even better in 2024.
S Caleb Downs
Previous School: Alabama Crimson Tide
6’0″, 190 lbs.
Caleb Downs was just a freshman in 2023 and led the mighty Crimson Tide in tackles with 107. In addition, Downs intercepted two passes, batted away four passes, forced a fumble, and made 3.5 tackles for loss.
Caleb Downs led the SEC with 70 solo tackles as a true freshman. His 107 tackles were 40 more than anybody else on the Alabama team. Here are most of his run support clips from Texas, LSU, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M. pic.twitter.com/SK9gLJ1Yes
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) February 10, 2024
Three times last season, Downs made double digit tackles. In the Mississippi State game, Downs made 13 tackles and picked off a pass. The honors and awards for Downs were many in 2023, including:
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· 2nd Team AP All-American
· 1st Team All-American, by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)
· National Freshman of the Year
· SEC Freshman of the Year
· 1st Team All-SEC
Downs is a playmaker and joins Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom, and other returning talent in an Ohio State secondary that ranked #1 in the country in passing defense last season, and will easily be the top DB unit in the country in 2024.
RB Quinshon Judkins
Previous School: Ole Miss Rebels
5’11”, 210 lbs.
As a 2X All-SEC performer, Quinshon Judkins comes to the Buckeyes with 2,723 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in just two seasons with the Ole Miss Rebels.
In 2023, Judkins rushed for over 100 yards six times last season, including three games in a row. Judkins scored three rushing TDs in a 38-35 win over Texas A&M.
my lawd 😱 @qaj4_ https://t.co/eqR9DS1zMv
— Quincy McGee (@qjm_55) January 1, 2024
Judkins was the first SEC player since the great Herschel Walker to score 15 or more rushing touchdowns in each of his first two seasons, and scored multiple rushing TDs in four games last season.
In 2024, Judkins will be teamed up with returning starter RB TreVeyon Henderson to form one of the best running back duos in college football.
QB Will Howard
Previous School: Kansas State Wildcats
6’5”, 242 lbs.
Will Howard comes to Columbus wanting a shot at a national championship, and will easily be the most experienced guy in the Buckeyes quarterback room. For the Wildcats in 2023, Howard threw for 2,643 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 INTs. In addition, he rushed for 351 yards and nine TDs.
Howard threw three or more touchdown passes in a game five times last season, and accounted for five total touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Troy.
Just a kid from Downingtown, PA.@whoward_ pic.twitter.com/y5Sc4SVcOQ
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) November 12, 2023
For his college career, Howard has 5,781 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and 25 INTs. In addition, Howard has 921 rushing yards and 19 TDs to his credit.
With the inexperienced Devin Brown as competition on the depth chart, along with incoming true freshman Air Noland, look for Howard to be the starter in the season opener vs Akron on August 31st.
