Redshirt Freshman Safety Jayden Bonsu Entering Transfer Portal

Ohio State redshirt freshman safety Jayden Bonsu is entering the transfer portal.

Bonsu made the announcement via social media.

Bonsu (6-2 207) did not appear in a game during his two-year Buckeye career.

Ohio State signed Jayden Bonsu out of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey where he was one of the top safeties in the 2023 recruiting class. The Buckeyes received his commitment in August of 2022, but then they had to hold off a late charge from Miami down the stretch.

Bonsu was rated the No. 24 safety in the nation and the No. 4 player in the state of New Jersey. He also held offers from Alabama, Clemson, USC, Michigan, Penn State, and others. As a senior at St. Peter’s, he produced 70 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and an interception.

As a true freshman last year, Bonsu did not enroll early for the Buckeyes, which means he didn’t show up until June and missed out on winter workouts and spring practice. With the late start and relative depth at the safety position for Ohio State, Bonsu redshirted and did not see any on-field action for the Buckeyes in 2023.

The redshirt wasn’t entirely unexpected, especially at a place like Ohio State.

“His strengths are his size, his physicality, and ability to run. I think he’s more fluid than people give him credit for. I think his skill set is pretty deep, pretty deep. He can do a lot,” St. Peter’s Prep head coach Rich Hansen III told Buckeye Huddle back in May.

“His challenges, I think making the transition always is gonna be how do those things scale when everybody around you is fast and strong and big and physical also. And then just picking up a college playbook. Having high expectations is one thing, and then I think the challenge is always going to be how are you able to transition into a college playbook and the preparation that that takes week in and week out, even for high IQ Player. I’ve seen it time and time again where sometimes guys just need a little bit longer because it is so different than the high school level.”

Bonsu was passed in the safety depth chart by true freshmen Jaylen McClain and Leroy Roker. He will have three years of eligibility remaining