‘Tis The Season To Receive Transfer Portal Additions For The Buckeyes

As I wrote last week regarding The College Football Playoff, on-campus playoff games were a long awaited gift to college football fans, as evidenced by the television viewing figures. As this is a holiday week, it would have been fitting to include the caustic commentary by various SEC personalities in The Airing Of Grievances on Festivus (Yes, the Minnich family celebrates that holiday on December 23rd.), but I felt The Buckeye Weekly podcast on December 22nd with Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman did that far better than I could have written, so I have decided to focus upon the recent transfer portal additions this week by the Buckeyes as a sort of holiday gift.

While I do not believe Ohio State is finished with additions in the transfer portal, I do believe these five players all help to fill crucial areas of need, and it will be interesting to hear how they acclimate to their new coaches and teammates for the 2025 season.

2 Offensive Linemen: Phillip Daniels and Ethan Onianwa

Daniels signed with Ohio State and was on the sidelines in street clothes for the home playoff game versus Tennessee on December 21st. Onianwa signed with Ohio State before Christmas. The news of Ohio State landing two offensive tackles, especially with offensive line depth and experience such a looming issue heading into the 2025 season, brought big smiles to the faces of Ohio State fans.

RB C.J. Donaldson

Running back was not nearly as pressing a need or concern for Ohio State, but it would be fair to say that the lack of experience in the room for 2025 was concerning. Donaldson is listed at 6’2″, 238 pounds, and scored 11 touchdowns this past season for West Virginia. Having a powerful back with a nose for the end zone is never a bad thing.

DE Logan George

Similar to the running back position, Ohio State has talented players returning in 2025, but a team can never have too many pass rushers. George is coming from Idaho State, and should fit nicely into the defensive end competition.

TE Max Klare

Like the extra gift you were not expecting, Klare comes back home to Ohio to play for the Buckeyes after starting his career at Purdue. Chip Kelly has shown a willingness to use multiple tight ends in his offense this season, and Klare is just another piece to an already formidable tight end room.

Again, I do not anticipate Ohio State being done with transfer portal additions, as the window will remain open for teams still in The College Football Playoff, plus there is a spring transfer portal window. It was just nice to see and read about the five new additions to the Buckeyes just as Santa was loading up his sleigh.