Ohio State is 1-0 in the new expanded College Football Playoff following a more than impressive 42-17 victory over Tennessee. Ohio State will now prepare for its next opponent, Oregon, which it is all-too familiar with as the Ducks beat Ohio State early in the regular season.
The Buckeyes will be taking on Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day, and with the game being just days away, many of the headlines surrounding the Ohio State football team will focus on the game, understandably so. However, Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff are constantly recruiting, and the Buckeyes will also be making recruiting headlines daily.
Monday was no different, as Ohio State received a trio of early presents this holiday season.
The ever-growing transfer portal has become both a blessing and a curse for college football coaches across the nation. For Ohio State on Monday, it was much more the latter as the Buckeyes saw three transfer targets commit to the university.
The first was former West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson. Donaldson is considered the No. 102 transfer portal prospect and No. 6 running back per 247Sports, and will provide Ohio State with much-needed veteran talent at the running back position.
Donaldson played for West Virginia for three seasons, and started the last two. He amassed 2,058 yards and 30 touchdowns on 421 carries, good for an average of 4.9 yards per attempt.
Ohio State will be losing senior back TreVeyon Henderson following the end of the season, and his teammate Quinshon Judkins very well could decide to forego his senior season in favor of the NFL. If this were to occur, the Buckeyes would only return freshmen James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon, and now Donaldson.
Ohio State wasn't done with the BOOMs though, as shortly following Donaldson announcement, former Idaho State defensive edge target Logan George announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.
George visited with Ohio State this past weekend, and the visit apparently went as well as possible. The Buckeyes offered George just last week, and the defensive edge was quick to decide he wanted to come to Columbus. George chose Ohio State over the likes of Boise State, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Virginia and Wisconsin.
This past season, George accounted for 57 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for Idaho State. He will also bring much needed depth to the defensive edge position and could fight for a starting role with the Buckeyes losing Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau to the NFL Draft following the season.
However, quite possibly the biggest addition for Ohio State on Monday was when former Purdue tight end Max Klare announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.
The redshirt sophomore played the last two season for the Boliermakers, and was one of the best tight ends in the Big Ten in the 2024 season, catching 51 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns. As a result of his success, he is considered the No. 30 transfer portal prospect and is the No. 1 tight end per 247Sports.
The Buckeyes were not alone in their pursuit of the prolific pass-catcher, as he also had scholarship offers from the likes of Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan and Louisville. He will also will immediately be able to fight for playing time next season for the Buckeyes who will not be short of talent at the position. Ohio State will be likely be bringing back Bennett Christian and Jelani Thurman, and will see freshmen Max LeBlanc, Nate Roberts and Brody Lennon all also join the team.
Despite the amount of talent returning, anytime you can add the No. 1 player at a position through the transfer portal, you take it, and Ohio State did just that.