The Ohio State football program finds itself in a challenging situation with the transfer portal once again. Once more, they are looking to the portal to bolster their offensive line. Last offseason, they added Seth McLaughlin, and the year before that, Josh Simmons.
So why do the Buckeyes need to keep turning to the portal for offensive linemen? The answer lies in poor recruiting and coaching under Justin Frye. His recruiting misses, coupled with a lack of depth, have left Ohio State with a significant gap on the offensive line.
There is some positive news, however. The Buckeyes appear to be in a strong position to land the top tackle in the transfer portal: Isaiah World. After spending his first three seasons with the Nevada Wolfpack, World is now in the portal.
According to 247Sports’ Bill Kurelic, Ohio State is well-positioned to sign him. With both Simmons and McLaughlin heading to the NFL, the Buckeyes lack strong replacements on their current roster. World is seen as the best option to step in and fill Simmons’ spot at left tackle. However, he would only serve as a temporary fix, as he will be a senior next season, meaning Ohio State would need to find another replacement in the near future. Additionally, the pipeline for offensive line talent doesn’t look particularly strong.
We’ll have to wait and see what World decides. Although the transfer portal just opened on Monday, Ohio State has not secured any commitments yet, though several players have entered the portal. If World chooses Ohio State, he would become the first commitment. The Buckeyes certainly need help on the offensive line, and World could provide some much-needed assistance.
