Transfer Defensive End Logan George 'The Right Fit' For The Buckeyes

Ohio State generally doesn’t go to the Division I-AA ranks when it comes to the transfer portal, but former Idaho State defensive end Logan George is now the exception to the rule.

The Buckeyes lost three defensive ends from last year’s national championship team, so it’s not a surprise that they were looking to the portal for help up front. The surprise was that the help came from Idaho State.

Still, there is some precedent in that George is not the first Buckeye from Idaho. Heck, he’s not even the first Buckeye from Highland High School in Pocatello. That honor belongs to former OSU defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, who signed with Ohio State in 2018.

That was only one of the reasons Buckeye head coach Ryan Day and defensive line coach Larry Johnson decided to pursue George.

“He comes from the same hometown as Tommy,” Day explained. “We felt like we at least knew some people there to ask questions about his background. And then watched his film and just saw a player who played really hard and really physical and tough. Brought him in, really liked his family and his support system and just what they believe in. And we felt like it was the right fit.”

Being the right fit is key. George (6-4 249) played in a defense that generally featured a three-man front and was asked to do different things than he’s tasked with now in Ohio State’s defense, but fit is about much more than just scheme.

“When you bring somebody in, it has to be the right fit in terms of a player, but also who they are as a person and their character and their beliefs and their values,” Day said. “And they all aligned with Logan during that time. He came in and actually did a nice job in those two weeks when we were preparing to play in those last two games of last year, and he’s taken it from there. Did a nice job in the weight room. He’s a very serious guy. But he’s earned the respect of our team in a short period of time.”

Last year as a redshirt sophomore, George finished with 56 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. This spring has been spent learning from a new position coach and a new defensive coordinator. He’s also working at a different kind of defensive end position than he’s manned in the past.

In a four-man front, George is dealing with more one-on-one blocking in the pass rush, as well as different tasks in defending the run. It’s all a learning process, but he’s made a good impression this spring.

“Well, I think he’s quicker than I thought he was,” Larry Johnson said. “You watch him on videotape. You get him in live, get to see him. He’s got power, he’s got really strong hands to get off blocks and set the edge, so I’m really excited about what we’re going to do with him.”

It was Johnson who got on the phone with George soon after he hit the portal. George was on his way to dinner with his family when he got the call. It ended up being “a pretty good dinner,” according to the fourth-year junior. The Idaho-native signed with the Buckeyes and then got to help them get ready for College Football Playoff games against Texas and Notre Dame.

What did he learn from his first handful of practices on the scout team?

“The biggest thing I took away was seeing how the guys practiced,” George said. “I was able to go on the scout team and see how the offense did things. They’re particularly sharp, so it was an influence on me and how I have to do things when I get here.”

The Buckeyes will wrap up spring practice on Saturday in their annual spring game. Logan George will be getting his first real experience in Ohio Stadium, but he knows that even with so much of these past four months being a new experience, football is still about effort and competition.

“I’m excited to compete,” George said of his experience this spring. “Mostly every day I practice, you get to go against the best guys, and as a byproduct you get better. That’s what I’m most excited about. I think the main thing is just me going as hard as I possibly can. Work ethic, I think that translates anywhere.”