With redshirt freshman quarterback Matthew Baldwin’s inclusion in the NCAA’s transfer portal, Ohio State is now down to just two scholarship quarterbacks.
Head coach Ryan Day will be searching that same portal looking for a graduate transfer to join sophomore Justin Fields and graduate senior Chris Chugunov in OSU’s quarterback room. As a graduate transfer, an incoming player would be eligible to play this season.
There are several names in the transfer portal that Ohio State will comb through — and more will continue to join them after the current semester is over and graduations take place.
It will be a very select few quarterbacks who are going to be willing to come to Ohio State knowing that they aren’t being recruited to start. They could, however, be just one play away from being handed the keys.
Let’s take a look at some of the names in the portal, thanks to 247Sports’ handy tracker. Keep in mind, however, that more names will be added nearly every day over the next month or so, including some who would be much more logical fits for what Ohio State is looking for.
Ross Bowers — California
Bowers started for Cal in 2017, throwing for 3,039 yards and 18 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. His father has announced that Bowers would be transferring to Northern Illinois, but he does not yet appear in their student directory and the summer semester doesn’t begin until June 17. Maybe the Buckeyes make a play here for the native Washingtonian. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Matt Fink — USC
Fink will graduate in June, but could remain at USC. There is a wide-open QB battle, so he’s interested in looking around. He’s an unlikely target. He played in four games last year, completing 7-of-9 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Connor Neville — Washington State
Neville is a former 4-star prospect from Beaverton, Oregon. He is a redshirt sophomore, but tweeted that Washington State would sign a “run off waiver,” making him eligible immediately. Neville was somewhere around fifth or sixth on the depth chart at Wazzu this spring. He is an unlikely target as well.
Tommy Stevens — Penn State
Stevens was a utility quarterback last season for the Nittany Lions. Go ahead and mark this under unlikely as well, since Stevens entered the transfer portal because he wants to start. The situation at Penn State ended poorly, and it sounds like there was more going on there than we know. Still, it may be something to watch.
McLane Carter — Texas Tech
Carter began last season as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback, but he ended up injuring an ankle, which was an issue all season long. According to 247Sports.com, he is eligible immediately. Carter completed 28-of-51 passes last season for 318 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in five games. He’s a Texan, so Ohio State may not be interested in dipping into that well again.
Alex Malzone — Miami University
Malzone was a former 4-star prospect who began his career at Michigan. He was reportedly the first quarterback selected during Michigan’s spring game draft in 2015. He transferred to Miami (OH), and has since entered the transfer portal. Malzone was 0-for-4 passing last year in three games.
Alex Hornibrook — Wisconsin
You know Hornibrook. He was a three-year starter at Wisconsin with meandering success. Hornibrook committed to Florida State back in March, but won’t graduate from Wisconsin until next month. Perhaps Ohio State gets involved here?
IF they saw the Spring game, they should think they have a shot at the starting job.
Nope. Didn’t matter what Fields did, he’s all but been annointed if Baldwin saw the writing on the wall, so should we.