Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback Matthew Baldwin has placed his name in the NCAA’s Transfer Portal. The-Ozone has confirmed the news with OSU, which was first reported by Lettermen Row.
Baldwin’s name is not yet visible in the portal as the process takes a couple of days, but his intention is to transfer from Ohio State.
Baldwin was part of a quarterback competition this spring with Georgia transfer Justin Fields.
When the media was able to see practice, it was generally Fields with the first team and Baldwin with the second team. Fields got the start in last Saturday’s spring game.
Baldwin, who sat for three years in high school and started as a senior, told The-Ozone this winter that patience was a virtue, but so is playing.
“Well, I am a patient person, so I don’t think I’m tired of [waiting], but I’d much rather be on the field than off,” he said after the Rose Bowl.
At the time Baldwin was excited for his first opportunity to compete for the starting job.
“I’m not afraid of competition,” he said. “I welcome it because the best player is going to play here. There’s no politics. I hope I can be the best player. It’s going to take a lot. My work is cut out for me. Dwayne has set the standard so high. You’ve got to be perfect if you want to have success here at Ohio State.”
Baldwin’s intended departure gives Ohio State just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, and both are transfers. Graduate senior Chris Chugunov transferred in from West Virginia last season, but did so as insurance. Now, he is one play away from being the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback.
Justin Fields has now clearly taken over as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, which eliminates any possible confusion, but also creates plenty of uncertainty.
Expect head coach Ryan Day to hit the graduate transfer market hard again this summer, and it may not be a bad idea to look into signing two quarterbacks in the 2020 recruiting class.