Every FBS program can have 85 players on scholarship, the vast majority of whom think they’re good enough to be playing. With barely half of those guys even cracking the two-deep in any given year, frustration and a handful of transfers every year from every school is pretty much inevitable.
Other guys may leave for academic or personality-based reasons, or because a favorite coach left the program.
Ohio State has been no exception in recent years, with a number of players leaving for greener – or at least different – pastures.
Some have thrived in their new homes, while others have basically fallen off the map. If you missed it yesterday, we ran through the players from the offense including Joe Burrow, Antonio Williams, and Trevon Grimes.
Now, here’s an alphabetical look at how some former Buckeyes on the defensive side of the ball are faring in colors other than scarlet and gray.
Tre Avery
This name probably doesn’t look familiar. He went by Kareem Felder when he signed with the Buckeyes in 2016, but changed to his mom’s last name soon after.
Avery never actually showed up at Ohio State. He enrolled at Toledo in the fall of 2016 as an academic non-qualifier, then transferred again to Rutgers in 2017 to reunite with former OSU defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
He played in only two games with the Scarlet Knights this fall, recording two tackles.
Rodjay Burns
His Buckeye career started out with a bang – specifically, a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2016 season-opener against Bowling Green.
But Burns only played in one other game that season, and then transferred to Louisville.
He sat out the 2017 season, and then recorded 37 tackles and an interception for the Cardinals as a redshirt sophomore in 2018.
Wayne Davis
The former OSU safety announced he would transfer shortly after the end of 2018 spring practice. The Virginia native ended up going back home to play for FCS power James Madison.
Davis moved to linebacker and turned in a solid season for the Dukes, racking up 45 total tackles, 4.5 for loss, a sack, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.
JMU finished the year 9-4, losing to Colgate in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Eric Glover-Williams
Glover-Williams came to Ohio State with a boatload of talent, but never seemed to find his home as a Buckeye. He bounced from the defensive back unit to wide receiver, and eventually left the team at the start of the 2017 season under somewhat vague circumstances.
He spent 2018 playing for Slippery Rock in Division 2, but continued to bounce back and forth between sides of the ball. He started the year as a wide receiver before switching to defensive back midseason.
Glover-Williams was second-team all-conference, and was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Defensive Player Of The Week after recording a pick-six against conference rival California (Pa.).
Joshua Norwood
Norwood played sparingly for the Buckeyes in 2016, and then transferred to a JUCO in Mississippi for a year before moving on to West Virginia.
He played in 12 games with the Mountaineers this fall, starting 10 at cornerback. He recorded 64 tackles, four for loss, and two forced fumbles. He was named honorable mention all-Big 12 for his efforts.
Norwood still has one more season of eligibility left at WVU.
Dylan Thompson
Thompson was a reserve defensive lineman with the Buckeyes, recording only three career tackles in Columbus. He earned his degree and then went to Virginia as a grad transfer in the spring of 2018.
He played in seven games with the Cavaliers this fall, earning his first career start and recording a career-high six tackles against Georgia Tech.
Thompson, whose build made him a “first guy off the bus” figure for the Buckeyes, is now working toward a career as a strength coach.
Nice stories Tom. With 85 on the roster some guys aren’t going to make the 2 deep and transferring gives them a shot to play somewhere. Very interesting to see where they landed and what sort of success they gained.
Spence and Cash are a couple names that come to mind who transferred and enjoyed success.