Eric Boggs
After three seasons with the Buckeyes, former Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown is set to transfer to California, where he is expected to compete for the starting quarterback position with the Golden Bears. This move comes following the departure of Cal’s 2024 starting quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who transferred to Indiana, and the loss of backups Chandler Rogers and CJ Harris to the transfer portal. Brown will also face competition from highly touted freshman Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, who briefly enrolled at Oregon before transferring to Cal.
During his time at Ohio State, Brown served as the Buckeyes’ backup quarterback for the last two seasons, first behind Kyle McCord in 2023 and then behind Will Howard in 2024. Despite his contributions to the team, the depth chart at Ohio State remained stacked, with redshirt freshman Julian Sayin emerging as the frontrunner to start in 2025. Additionally, Ohio State’s quarterback room features redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz and five-star freshman Tavien St. Clair, creating an uphill battle for Brown to secure a starting role had he remained in Columbus.
Brown entered the transfer portal in December but chose to stay with the Buckeyes throughout their national championship run, which culminated in a victory over Notre Dame. Reflecting on his decision to transfer, Brown shared that he carefully considered his options alongside his family and coaches before deciding to seek a new opportunity elsewhere. At the same time, he honored his commitment to Ohio State, finishing the season with the team. “I made a promise to this team and these coaches after the Cotton Bowl last year that I was going to help them win these games and finish out the season the right way,” Brown explained during Rose Bowl media day.
A native of Gilbert, Arizona, Brown made limited appearances during his time at Ohio State, throwing for 331 yards and three touchdowns in relief roles over the past two seasons. Despite the limited playing time, Brown demonstrated resilience and dedication, traits that will serve him well as he begins this new chapter at Cal. With two years of eligibility remaining, Brown will look to make a significant impact in Berkeley while building on the foundation he helped lay as part of Ohio State’s championship-winning program.
