Ohio State will have three new kickers on its 2026 roster.
After signing Baylor transfer Connor Hawkins to be its new starting kicker and adding high school kicker Cooper Peterson to its 2026 recruiting class as a preferred walk-on, the Buckeyes added a third kicker to their roster on Tuesday as former Notre Dame kicker Marcello Diomede committed to Ohio State as a walk-on.
Grateful for everyone who has helped me get here! Huge thanks to Coach Discher, Coach Keys, and Coach Day for the opportunity. Go buckeyes! #OH pic.twitter.com/zHzGULr5WC
— Marcello Diomede (@DiomedeMarcello) February 10, 2026
Diomede joins the Buckeyes after three seasons at Notre Dame. Diomede kicked in 10 games over the course of his Notre Dame career. He had 17 kickoffs for 1,088 yards (64-yard average) and 11 touchbacks. He made three of four extra point attempts, but never attempted a field goal for the Fighting Irish.
The Diomede File
- Year: Redshirt Junior
- Size: 6-1/195
- Pos: K
- Previous School: Notre Dame (2023-25)
- 2025 Stats: 2-3 PAT, 16 kickoffs for 1,033 yards (64.6 average), 11 touchbacks
A native of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Diomede is unlikely to challenge Hawkins for Ohio State’s starting job, but gives the Buckeyes additional depth following the departures of both of their 2025 kickers, Jayden Fielding and Jackson Courville.
Diomede brings two years of eligibility to Ohio State.
He’s the fifth new specialist to join Ohio State through the transfer portal this offseason, also joining scholarship long snapper Dalton Riggs (UCF), walk-on punter Brady Young (Houston Christian) and walk-on long snapper Landon Beal (Maine).
