Now, more so than ever, Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day and the program dipped into the transfer portal. The Buckeyes lost quite a few players to the portal as well, but the portal taketh and it also giveth this year to the tune of 17 total players backing the U-Haul up to the banks of the Olentangy.
But not all transfers are created equal, and ‘The Athletic’s’ Sam Khan Jr. ranked the top 100 players (subscription may be required) coming out of the transfer portal, and as you would expect, Ohio State has some — four in fact — that made the cut. It’s a little different year than what we’ve seen from the program before, and OSU will be counting on some of these players to add experience and talent to a roster that had a lot of turnover.
So, which four new Buckeyes made the list of top 100 transfers? Here are the four that The Athletic singled out, going from the lowest on the list to the top-ranked.
No. 86 – Christian Alliegro, Linebacker (from Wisconsin)
What Khan Says
“Alliegro is an experienced, productive, versatile linebacker. He can cover, he can run and hit, and he showed a knack for getting into the backfield last season, with solid production despite being limited to 10 games. He quickly diagnoses plays and has the strength to beat blockers when attacking the line of scrimmage. The Buckeyes needed reinforcements at linebacker after losing two first-rounders, and Alliegro acclimated quickly this spring and stands to play a lot of snaps this fall.”
What We Say
Alliegro is in the mold of the type of players the Ohio State coaching staff is starting to go after. The Buckeyes are now leaning towards veteran, known production vs. potential, and that’s exactly what you have in the former Wisconsin linebacker. He’s smart, seasoned, tough, and is most likely going to grab a starting spot and play a lot of snaps alongside Payton Pierce. It should be a pretty dynamic and tough duo.
No. 69 – Terry Moore, Safety (from Duke)
What Khan Says
“Moore was a second-team All-ACC pick in 2024 but suffered a torn ACL in the Gator Bowl at the end of that season and subsequently missed the 2025 season. In 2024, he stuffed the stat sheet with 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack. The good news for the Buckeyes: Moore was practicing without restrictions this spring.”
What We Say
Another one of those known production, veteran guys, Moore will compete for and most likely get into a significant rotation at the safety position. Because of his known skills and production, if he’s healthy, Moore has a very good shot at a starting spot in the secondary. He won’t make too many mistakes and will help the defense plug the holes left by so many NFL departures on defense.
No. 60 – James Smith, Defensive Tackle (from Alabama)
What Khan Says
“Smith packs a punch. He has the strength to hold the point of attack in the running game and moves well enough at his size (6-2, 314) to be a factor as a rusher. He’s versatile enough to line up at different spots along the D-line and remain impactful.”
What We Say
Smith has loads of talent as a former top-five defensive line recruit when he came out of high school in 2023. He was productive at Alabama but might not have reached his full potential. He’ll be a pretty big part of the rotation on the defensive line for Larry Johnson; it just remains to be seen if he’ll take an even bigger step in Columbus and be a major disruptor.
No. 24 – Earl Little Jr., Safety (from Florida State)
What Khan Says
“Little, a second-team All-ACC pick, led the Seminoles in tackles (76) and interceptions (four) and added two forced fumbles. He’s aggressive and physical in run support but comfortable in coverage and displays good ball skills. His combination of instincts and physical traits should make him a natural fit for Matt Patricia’s defense.”
What We Say
Little might be the defender that ends up being the glue in 2026. He’s been getting a lot of compliments from the coaching staff and players for what he’s done so far since arriving on campus, and with him having to do his best to replace Caleb Downs, his ability to make plays is going to be key. He’s got experience, is a hard hitter, and is going to be a big, big part of the defense.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: The Athletic lists four Ohio State football transfers in top 100
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
