The spring transfer portal window has officially opened.
For the next 10 days, all players nationwide will have an opportunity to test the waters of what’s essentially college football free agency, with more than 600 players nationwide opting to transfer so far as this writing.
Ohio State is expected to be active in the portal market to a degree, particularly for defensive line help. In particular, adding defensive tackle depth should be high on the Buckeyes’ priority list, with the team needing at least one interior defensive lineman and possibly two.
"I think we've got to take a hard look at it," Ryan Day said of adding defensive linemen from the portal following Ohio State’s spring game on Saturday. "I don't think I have the answer right now. But we've got to look at it. It seemed to me like there was just a lot of knockback on the offensive side of the ball here. But then again, I don't want to make any judgments until I watch the film."
As players around the country have started to enter the portal, we’ve compiled a short list of players it might make sense for the Buckeyes to pursue (so far). We’ve come up with four names and we’ll break down each of them below.
Beau Atkinson, North Carolina
Of all the defensive linemen on this list, Atkinson is the one I feel the most confident in Ohio State actively pursuing at some point, both from a production standpoint and reading in-between the lines.
Not that who follows who on social media necessarily means that anything is imminent or the follow is anything more than just a tool of gauging varying degrees of interest, but sometimes in this modern era of recruiting, it can be an indicator of how intrigued a coaching staff is by a high school recruit. Or in this case, a transfer portal prospect.
Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, assistant defensive line coach Tony Washington Jr., safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn are all following the 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive lineman on Twitter, which is fairly telling. Though if we want to be fair, two of the other three players on this list are all followed by Johnson, and the third (De’Marion Thomas) doesn’t have a public social media account.
Atkinson has had a productive two-year career with the North Carolina Tar Heels, recording 54 tackles, 11 sacks and one forced fumble across two seasons. Last season, he notched 35 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Per Pro Football Focus’ grades, Atkinson recorded an overall grade of 77 in 2024, which is considered above average. He graded 74.3 in run defense and scored 76.2 in pass rushing over 381 defensive snaps a year ago.
Though he’s primarily played on the edge for the Tar Heels, his production is worthy of consideration from Ohio State, but he could also play a few reps inside every game given his size if that’s how Johnson chooses to deploy him.
Atkinson will have two years of eligibility remaining for whichever school he decides to play for.
Late Wednesday evening, On3 reported Atkinson will visit OSU and Georgia in the near future.
NEWS: North Carolina standout transfer EDGE Beau Atkinson will visit Ohio State & Georgia, @on3sports has learned
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 16, 2025
Atkinson, one of the Top Players in the Portal, has totaled 11 Sacks through 2 seasons
Plans to add more visits as his process goes on https://t.co/1Bi914u4Zs pic.twitter.com/e7AN9p0vBJ
Joshua Horton, Miami
At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Horton is a true defensive tackle prospect in every sense of the word.
As he departs Miami, though, Horton is more of a project than a ready-made contributor. Horton played for the Hurricanes for two seasons, only appearing in seven games and recording four total tackles.
But with his size and frame, Horton offers a lot of potential under the right tutelage and could add more depth in the defensive trenches. As a recruit in the 2023 class, Horton was a four-star prospect and was rated the No. 433 player in the country.
Horton will have three years of eligibility remaining.
De’Marion Thomas, Vanderbilt
Staying with players that profile purely as a defensive tackle, former Vanderbilt standout De’Marion Thomas entered the transfer portal following two seasons with the Commodores. Thomas appeared in 23 games across two seasons, playing 10 as a freshman and starting all 13 for Vanderbilt in 2024.
Last season, Thomas racked up 34 tackles and a sack. Per PFF’s grades, Thomas recorded an overall grade of 57.7, which is considered slightly below average. He earned a 58 in run defense and 56.8 in pass rush. If nothing else, Thomas would give Ohio State proven experience at defensive tackle.
Thomas will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
TJ Bush, Liberty
Like Atkinson, Bush has made his living more on the edge than the interior so far in his collegiate career, but the proven production and size will likely appeal to Johnson and company anyway.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Bush played two seasons at Liberty and was one of the Flames’ top defensive players, recording 90 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and nine pass deflections in two seasons. In his freshman year, Bush was a FWAA Freshman All-American and made the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, Bush made 58 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and four pass deflections.
Bush received high marks from PFF last year, recording an overall grade of 78.4, a run defense grade of 75, a pass rush mark of 75.1 and a pass coverage grade of 75.4.
He’ll have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
