Five players have emerged as potential post-spring additions for Ohio State since the transfer portal reopened on Wednesday, and all five of them play in the trenches.
Beefing up the lines has emerged as Ohio State’s clear priority for the offseason’s second transfer window. Defensive line is the top priority, as the Buckeyes are looking to add players who would project to play major roles at both defensive tackle and defensive end, but it’s evident that Ohio State also wants to at least add depth to its offensive line as the Buckeyes are set to host multiple offensive linemen on visits later this week.
Former North Carolina defensive end Beau Atkinson and Syracuse defensive tackle Maraad Watson, two of the best defensive linemen currently in the portal, lead Ohio State’s list of post-spring transfer targets so far as players who project to make a major impact for whichever team they sign for. Ohio State is also expected to host former Georgia Southern defensive tackle Troy Pikes, former Sam Houston State offensive tackle Orion Irving and former West Virginia offensive lineman Justin Terry on visits later this week.
More transfer targets could certainly emerge as this week progresses, as the portal will remain open through Friday (and players only have to enter the portal, not choose a destination, before the portal closes). With five known transfer targets as of Sunday night, however, we take a closer look at each of those players and how they could improve the Buckeyes’ roster if they were to transfer to Ohio State.
Maraad Watson, DT, Syracuse
Who he is: Watson was one of the top freshman defensive tackles in all of college football last season, earning True Freshman All-American honors from 247Sports. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 313 pounds, the Irvington, New Jersey, native graded out as one of the ACC’s top run-stopping defensive tackles last season, earning a 77.4 grade in run defense from Pro Football Focus as he tallied 31 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one pass breakup for Syracuse.
How he’d fit: No player currently in the transfer portal would be a better addition for Ohio State right now than Watson. Another run-stopping defensive tackle is Ohio State’s biggest need by far, and Watson would bring a proven ability to be that at the Power 4 level as well as the potential to be an impact player across multiple seasons for the Buckeyes. Pairing him with Kayden McDonald would give Ohio State the nose tackle tandem it needs to effectively replace the NFL-bound Ty Hamilton.
Competition: Ohio State will have to beat out several other powerhouse programs to land Watson, as Texas, Georgia and Tennessee are also reportedly interested in him.
NEWS: Four schools are heavily in the mix for Syracuse standout transfer DL Maraad Watson, a source tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 19, 2025
Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, & Tennessee are the schools to watch for the Freshman All-American
Totaled 31 Tackles and 1 Sack last seasonhttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/Ev9RNCvQhj
Beau Atkinson, DE, North Carolina
Who he is: Atkinson was also one of the ACC’s top defensive linemen last season, leading North Carolina with 12 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end was graded highly by Pro Football Focus as both a pass rusher (76.2) and run defender (74.3) in 2024. A four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, Atkinson spent three years at North Carolina and has two remaining seasons of collegiate eligibility.
How he’d fit: While Ohio State already has four candidates to play regularly at defensive end this season in Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry, C.J. Hicks and Logan George, none of them have the proven track record of production at the FBS level that Atkinson does. As the Buckeyes replace two stars on the edge in Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, Atkinson would likely be a starting defensive end for Ohio State in 2025, giving the Buckeyes an experienced veteran they know they can rely on as both a pass rusher and run defender while also giving them more than enough depth on the edge.
Competition: Atkinson, who is scheduled to be at Ohio State on Monday, visited Georgia on Friday. The Bulldogs landed a commitment from former Army edge rusher Elo Modozie on Sunday, possibly putting Ohio State in the driver’s seat to land Atkinson if his visit goes well.
Troy Pikes, DT, Georgia Southern
Who he is: A 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle from Atlanta, Pikes recorded 13 tackles with half a tackle for loss and nine total quarterback pressures last season at Georgia Southern, his first year as a regular in the Eagles’ rotation. Pro Football Focus graded Pikes as a top-20 pass-rushing defensive tackle in the FBS with a grade of 78.8 last season, though he received a tackling grade of 25.9. A three-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, Pikes has three more years of eligibility.
How he’d fit: While Watson would be a clear upgrade over Ohio State’s current defensive tackle depth behind McDonald and Eddrick Houston, Pikes is a bit more of a project. He’d be a candidate to be OSU’s second 3-technique DT in 2025 and rotate with Houston, but he needs to develop as a run defender, and it’s uncertain how his pass-rushing success would translate from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten. With no proven backup defensive tackles on Ohio State’s roster, though, the upside Pikes showed last year and his three remaining years of eligibility could make him worth taking a chance on.
Competition: Like Atkinson, Pikes also visited Georgia over the weekend, though Georgia also added a different defensive tackle when it signed former Miami defensive tackle Joshua Horton on Sunday. Pikes told 247Sports that he’s also drawing interest from South Carolina, Maryland and UCF.
Orion Irving, OT, Sam Houston State
Who he is: Irving made the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2023 after starting Sam Houston State’s final five games as a redshirt freshman, making starts at both left and right tackle. He began last season as a backup but finished the year as SHSU’s starting right tackle. Irving played more than 1,000 snaps for the Bearkats over the past two seasons, excelling as a pass blocker as he allowed just three sacks. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Irving has two more years of collegiate eligibility.
How he’d fit: Irving would add another contender to Ohio State’s right tackle competition, which remains in the balance between returning veteran Austin Siereveld, Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels and redshirt freshman Ian Moore coming out of spring. Irving wouldn’t likely be a frontrunner to start in 2025, but he’d give the Buckeyes another option to consider and another tackle with starting experience, offering a big boost to their depth.
Competition: Irving has also announced offers from Houston, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State and Tulsa.
Ohio State Offered! pic.twitter.com/F8mMLf8Hs0
— Orion Irving (@OrionIrving_) April 18, 2025
Justin Terry, OT/G, West Virginia
Who he is: A Central Ohio native who played at Pickerington Central, Terry entered the transfer portal after just one season at West Virginia in which he did not play. A three-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, Terry – whose only Power 4 offer out of high school came from WVU – still has his full four years of collegiate eligibility.
How he’d fit: Ohio State has two fewer scholarship offensive linemen than its target number, so Terry’s local roots and potential to play either tackle or guard would make him a logical addition for depth. He’d be unlikely to see significant playing time in 2025 but would give the Buckeyes another developmental project in the trenches with plenty of size at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.
Competition: Terry has not publicly announced any offers or visits to other schools, so it’s unclear as of now who else could be a suitor for the former Mountaineer.
