Major shakeup alert! Ohio State's defensive line is undergoing a significant transformation, as freshman defensive tackle Trajen Odom has entered the transfer portal. This news marks a concerning trend for the Buckeyes, as it means they've now lost all three of their freshman defensive tackles from last season.
Odom, the last man standing from the 2025 recruiting class, made his move on Tuesday. He only played in three games, totaling a mere 10 snaps during his sole season as a Buckeye, without recording any statistics.
As a three-star recruit, Odom was part of a trio of defensive tackles in Ohio State's 2025 class, alongside Jarquez Carter and Maxwell Roy. Carter has already transferred to Miami, while Roy is heading to UCLA.
And this is the part most people miss... Odom's departure makes him the fourth defensive tackle to enter the transfer portal since the season's end. Eric Mensah, a redshirt sophomore, is transferring to Virginia Tech. However, despite these losses, Ohio State still has nine scholarship defensive tackles on its roster for the 2026 season. They've also added James Smith from Alabama and John Walker from UCF via the transfer portal.
But here's where it gets controversial... Odom is the eighth member of Ohio State's 2025 freshman class to transfer after just one year. This list also includes wide receivers Quincy Porter and Bodpegn Miller, offensive linemen Jayvon McFadden and Isaiah Kema, and safety Faheem Delane.
The Buckeyes have now seen a total of 30 scholarship players leave via the transfer portal since the end of the season.
What do you think about this trend? Is this a sign of the times in college football, or is there more to the story? Share your thoughts in the comments!
