Ohio State defensive end Joshua Mickens is entering the transfer portal after three years as a Buckeye.
Ohio State edge rusher/defensive end Joshua Mickens is entering the transfer portal, his agency @3strandsports tells me and @chris_hummer.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 13, 2026
Was a Class of 2023 top-120 overall recruit. pic.twitter.com/zR1nTqPj62
A four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, Mickens played only sparingly in three seasons at Ohio State, recording six tackles with one sack over the past two years.
Mickens will bring two years of eligibility to his next school.
His departure comes one day after the Buckeyes made their first transfer addition on the edge for 2026 with the commitment of former Alabama edge rusher Qua Russaw. Had Mickens stayed at Ohio State, he likely would have remained outside the two-deep at defensive end, especially if Kenyatta Jackson Jr. stays for his fifth-year senior season.
Mickens is the 29th Buckeye to enter the transfer portal since the end of the season.
| CLASS | POS | NAME | DESTINATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR (RS) | WR | BRYSON RODGERS | USF |
| JR (RS) | TE | JELANI THURMAN | NORTH CAROLINA |
| JR (RS) | QB | LINCOLN KIENHOLZ | LOUISVILLE |
| SO (RS) | NB | BRYCE WEST | WISCONSIN |
| SR (RS) | DE | C.J. HICKS | USF |
| SO (RS) | RB | SAM DIXON | SOUTH CAROLINA |
| SO (RS) | DE | DOMINIC KIRKS | |
| SR | DE | LOGAN GEORGE | WASHINGTON |
| SO (RS) | WR | DAMARION WITTEN | |
| JR | RB | JAMES PEOPLES | PENN STATE |
| JR (RS) | K | JACKSON COURVILLE | TULANE |
| SO (RS) | P | NICK MCLARTY | ARIZONA STATE |
| SO (RS) | OL | DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | |
| FR (RS) | OL | ISAIAH KEMA | UTAH |
| SO (RS) | CB | AARON SCOTT JR. | |
| SO (RS) | WR | MYLAN GRAHAM | |
| SR (RS) | OG | TEGRA TSHABOLA | KENTUCKY |
| SO (RS) | OT | JUSTIN TERRY | |
| SO | WR | QUINCY PORTER | NOTRE DAME |
| FR (RS) | OG | JAYVON MCFADDEN | |
| FR (RS) | DT | MAXWELL ROY | UCLA |
| SR (RS) | S | KEENAN NELSON JR. | |
| SO (RS) | DT | ERIC MENSAH | VIRGINIA TECH |
| SO | DT | JARQUEZ CARTER | MIAMI |
| JR (RS) | S | MALIK HARTFORD | |
| SR (RS) | LB | TY HOWARD | |
| FR (RS) | WR | BODPEGN MILLER | |
| SO | S | FAHEEM DELANE | |
| JR (RS) | DE | JOSHUA MICKENS |
