It’s been an eye-opening offseason for Hunter Welcing after he transferred to Ohio State from Northwestern.
Welcing has already been a Big Ten football player for six years, starting his college career all the way back in 2020 at Northwestern. But even a half-dozen years as a Wildcat didn’t fully prepare him for offseason workouts at Ohio State.
“It's been different, for sure. It's definitely a little bit more intense than what I was expecting,” Welcing told Eleven Warriors on Friday at the Special Skills Football Invitational. “But it's been good. I feel like I really gave it my all and it kind of pushed me towards uncomfortability, and then making myself a better player in the process.”
Now that the NCAA has adopted age-based eligibility rules, Welcing will be one of the last seventh-year seniors in college football. And he says he’s noticed the age gap between himself and many of his teammates at Ohio State – the 11th-youngest team in the FBS this year, per RotoWire – much more than he did at Northwestern, where fifth-year seniors are far more common than early NFL draft entrants.
“It's definitely been a culture shock,” Welcing said with a laugh.
When Welcing started his college career in 2020, he never would have imagined he’d still be playing college football and doing so at Ohio State six years later. But Welcing still has dreams of playing in the NFL, and he believes transferring to Ohio State gives him the best chance to make that dream a reality.
“I remember I was like a fourth-year, I think, and I was like, ‘Dude, there's no way I'm doing another year or two of this.’ And then here I am,” Welcing said. “But everything happens for a reason, so I'm excited to use this opportunity and make the best of it.”
Most of Welcing’s career at Northwestern was plagued by injuries, including injuries that sidelined him for the entire 2020 and 2022 seasons, which is why he received a rare seventh year of eligibility from the NCAA. But after catching just one pass in his first five seasons in Evanston, Welcing finally had a breakout year in 2025, catching 28 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing irregularly as a blocker.
That said, Welcing believes he is still capable of more.
“I think more consistency in the passing and running game,” Welcing said when asked what he thinks he can show scouts this year that they haven’t seen previously. “I think I showed a lot of flashes last year, but really putting it on tape of just being a consistent kind of player day in and day out.”
Welcing wants to maximize his potential in his final season of college football, and he transferred to Ohio State – the only school he visited after entering the portal – because he knew Ohio State would push him out of his comfort zone and help him get there.
“Being around this coaching staff, players as well, you're gonna get pushed to your max no matter what,” Welcing said. “I think the pressure of both the coaching staff and playing against the best players around in practice is pushing me towards that goal.
“Reaching my full potential, I think that was kind of the biggest (goal) that I set out three, four years ago when I wanted to play. So I think that's gonna be the same goal now. Just reaching the point where I feel I've maxed out my potential.”
Even though Ohio State lost its top two tight ends from last season, Max Klare and Will Kacmarek, Welcing still faces plenty of competition for playing time as a Buckeye. Nate Roberts enters preseason camp as the Buckeyes’ projected starter at tight end, while Ohio transfer Mason Williams and fifth-year senior Bennett Christian are also candidates to play significant roles.
That said, Welcing has given himself a chance to be a big factor in the tight end room this season with a strong spring, as he had his black stripe removed after just 12 practices and drew praise from Ryan Day and Keenan Bailey this spring for his pass-catching ability and veteran presence.
“Hunter's a guy, he's been in college like since I was in college, right? And he's played in this conference. And you put on his game, especially the one against those guys up north, and he's experienced,” Bailey said this spring, referencing Welcing’s four-catch, 81-yard performance vs. Michigan last season.
Welcing looks to draw from the ups and downs of his first six years of college football to be a valuable veteran presence in Ohio State’s tight end room.
“Definitely pouring into the younger guys and then using my experience to better the team in any way that I can. Being able to insert myself in any scenario that helps the team win,” Welcing said of what he thinks he can bring to the unit. “Definitely, football-wise, being on teams that have both been good, like going to the Big Ten Championship Game (in 2020), and then also teams that have been bad. So kind of pouring into how the team functions, stuff like that, and also what makes a good tight end. Trying to give them tips and tricks to help them climb the ladder and make themselves the best player they can be.”
“Being around this coaching staff, players as well, you're gonna get pushed to your max no matter what.”– Hunter Welcing on playing at Ohio State
Going through the adversity of injuries for much of his career has made Welcing more appreciative of the opportunity he has to play college football, especially now that he has the chance to play one final season at Ohio State.
“I think the adversity piece has made me more grateful for football, because I know what it’s been like without it,” Welcing said. “And then also, I would have never thought that I would have been on Ohio State maybe three or four years ago. So I'm very grateful for what I had to go through to get to this point.”
Now six weeks away from his first game as a Buckeye, Welcing can’t wait to play in Ohio Stadium for the first time when Ohio State opens its season in the Shoe against Ball State on Sept. 5.
“It's gonna be nuts. I'm very excited,” Welcing said. “I don't think I've, at home, played in front of that many fans cheering for you. I've definitely played in them cheering against you, but it'll be fun. I'll be very excited.”
