Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s roster transition toward the 2026 season officially began this week as former five-star cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz both announced their departures through the NCAA transfer portal, signaling the natural evolution of the Buckeyes’ depth chart entering a pivotal offseason.
Scott, the No. 36 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, leaves Columbus after two seasons with the program. This past fall, he was listed as Ohio State’s No. 4 cornerback and primarily contributed on special teams, where his speed and effort quickly caught the attention of head coach Ryan Day. In late September, Day publicly praised Scott for being the first player down the field on 13 consecutive kickoffs, projecting that his role in the defense would continue to expand. While Scott ultimately logged only 106 defensive snaps in backup duty during the season, he remained a developmental piece in a secondary that was already planning ahead.
Scott had been viewed as a potential contender for a starting job in 2026, particularly with starting cornerback Davison Igbinosun and nickelback Lorenzo Styles Jr. exhausting their eligibility and Jermaine Mathews Jr. still weighing an NFL decision. However, Ohio State’s elite recruiting pipeline remains stocked, highlighted by five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez emerging as a frontrunner to claim one of those open roles. The Buckeyes are also aggressively addressing the position through the portal, hosting Auburn transfer Kayin Lee for a visit and earning early traction with Maryland transfer La’Khi Rowland. Scott becomes the second defensive back to enter the portal this cycle, joining Bryce West.
On the offensive side, Lincoln Kienholz finalized his transfer to Louisville two days after entering the portal, ending his three-year tenure in Columbus. Kienholz departs as Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback behind Julian Sayin and carries two remaining years of eligibility. With Sayin firmly established as the Buckeyes’ starter for at least one more season, Kienholz sought the opportunity to compete for a starting role in 2026, a goal that now appears well within reach at Louisville.
Kienholz is expected to be the Cardinals’ likely starting quarterback in 2026 following the departure of Miller Moss and the portal entry of backup Deuce Adams. During the 2025 season, Kienholz made the most of his limited opportunities, completing 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown while adding 66 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. Before the Cotton Bowl, Kienholz openly discussed his future with Ryan Day and quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler, emphasizing that reaching the NFL requires meaningful playing time. He also credited his development at Ohio State with preparing him for success at his next stop, noting the accelerated pace, decision-making and overall demands of playing quarterback at the sport’s highest collegiate level.
As the Buckeyes navigate another dynamic offseason, fans looking to stay fully informed on every roster change can rely on The OHIO Podcast Transfer Portal Tracker, which provides real-time updates on all player departures, additions, visits, commitments and emerging targets. With constant movement reshaping rosters across the country, the Tracker ensures Buckeye Nation never misses a development as Ohio State builds its 2026 roster through both high school recruiting and the transfer portal.
