Ohio State football program loses CB to the transfer portal

The transfer portal in college football is now open. Players from all across the country are flocking to the portal in search of a different opportunity and more playing time. Ohio State football players were expected to be in that group as well. Several Buckeyes were expected to enter the portal following the Spring Game.

So far, only one Buckeye has entered the transfer portal. It was expected that at least one quarterback was going to be in there. Instead, the only player so far in the portal is a defensive back who wanted to get some more playing time and was a former four-star recruit.

Ohio State football player Cedrick Hawkins enters the portal

Cedrick Hawkins has decided to enter the portal. The cornerback from Florida was a four-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. As a freshman, Hawkins didn’t see any playing time. He was expected to fight for playing time in a couple of years once the current crop of corners was gone. Hawkins wanted to get playing time sooner than that.

As far as losses go, this isn’t a big one for the Buckeyes. Hawkins wasn’t going to jump Jermaine Mathews for playing time. He showed last season and in the Spring Game on Saturday that he is a stud. Ohio State also has one of the best crop of secondary players in the country coming in the 2025 recruiting class.

The incoming class was probably one of the biggest factors for him leaving. Hawkins saw a bunch of younger and perhaps more talented players coming behind him and didn’t like what he saw. There’s no shame in leaving Ohio State for somewhere to get more playing time. He hasn’t established himself enough with the Buckeyes.

The Ohio State football team is bracing for more transfers. Expect them to happen in the next few days.