Eric Boggs
As the transfer portal cycle has tested Ohio State’s roster from top to bottom, the Buckeyes have steadily answered each loss with purposeful additions. The latest moves, adding a second SEC cornerback in one day and reinforcing the wide receiver room with proven production, reflect a program determined to restore balance and depth rather than simply chase star power.
Hours after landing former Alabama cornerback Cam Calhoun, Ohio State secured another critical piece in the secondary with the commitment of former Georgia defensive back Dominick Kelly. A four-star recruit in the 2025 class, Kelly arrives in Columbus after one season with the Bulldogs and brings three years of eligibility. While his stat line as a freshman was modest, his efficiency in limited action was encouraging, as he allowed just three receptions on seven targets while playing 61 defensive snaps. For a position group that was suddenly thinned by the departures of Aaron Scott Jr. and Bryce West, Kelly represents both immediate depth and long-term upside.
From an Ohio State fan’s perspective, this is the type of addition that matters in November. Kelly joins a cornerback room that now includes Calhoun, incoming freshmen Jordan Thomas and Jay Timmons, and young holdovers Miles Lockhart and Jordyn Woods. Instead of being forced to rush inexperienced players into the lineup, the Buckeyes now have competition, flexibility and insurance. That depth was missing just days ago, and its restoration changes the outlook of the 2026 secondary.
Ohio State also strengthened its offense by adding former LSU wide receiver Kyle Parker, a familiar face for new receivers coach Cortez Hankton. Parker’s production at LSU — 31 catches for 330 yards and four touchdowns last season — brings proven reliability to a position group that absorbed heavy portal losses. Primarily a slot receiver, Parker adds experience behind Brandon Inniss while also providing the Buckeyes with lineup versatility as roles shake out across the receiver rotation.
Depth has been the theme for Ohio State at wide receiver all offseason, and Parker’s arrival directly addresses it. With multiple contributors leaving the program, the Buckeyes needed someone who has already performed in high-leverage SEC games. Parker fits that profile while still offering two years of eligibility, making him both a short-term solution and a bridge to a talented incoming freshman class headlined by Chris Henry Jr.
Together, these moves continue to define Ohio State’s portal strategy for 2026. The Buckeyes are not merely replacing numbers; they are replacing experience, competence and competition across the roster. For fans watching the program weather significant turnover, these additions signal that Ohio State is regaining control of its roster and ensuring that depth will no longer be a vulnerability as it moves forward.
For anyone wanting to stay on top of every departure and arrival, The OHIO Podcast has a Transfer Portal Tracker so that no one will miss any players leaving or coming to Ohio State via the transfer portal in 2026. Just click on the Tracker above and you will be taken to the portal hub.
