Ohio State missed out on a transfer offensive tackle target despite hosting him for an official visit earlier this week.
Former Troy offensive tackle Derrick Graham, who visited the Buckeyes on Wednesday, told 247Sports’ Chris Hummer on Saturday that he has committed to Texas A&M.
Texas A&M has landed a commitment from Troy offensive lineman Derrick Graham, he tells @247SportsPortal.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 6, 2024
Graham started every game for Troy this season at left tackle. He picked the Aggies over Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Missouri. https://t.co/Svf2ZVa6bp pic.twitter.com/2Qonka1irP
Graham visited Texas A&M on Friday and also visited Pittsburgh and Missouri before making his decision.
Troy’s starting left tackle this past season, Graham could have been a contender to start at either left or right tackle for Ohio State in 2024. Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar are both expected back with the Buckeyes after starting all 13 games at left and right tackle in 2023, but Ohio State should reopen the tackle competitions this spring after both tackles battled inconsistent play throughout the year. Fryar could also be a candidate to move inside to right guard with Matt Jones exhausting his eligibility.
Ohio State will now have to determine whether there is another available tackle in the portal worth bringing in or whether it should go into spring practice with the tackles it already has on its roster. Among returning linemen who didn’t start in 2023, rising sophomore Luke Montgomery is the most likely candidate to earn a starting tackle job in 2024 after playing occasional first-team snaps as a sixth offensive lineman in 2023.
Graham is one of three transfer prospects who visited Ohio State this week along with former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard and former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin. Howard committed to Ohio State on Thursday while McLaughlin committed to Ohio State on Saturday. The Buckeyes also landed a transfer commitment from former Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek on Sunday.
