Eric Boggs
Ohio State experienced a meaningful shift Sunday as four individual player stories — two departures and two additions — helped define important pieces of the program’s immediate future.
Wide receiver Mylan Graham, one of the highest-rated recruits in the 2024 class, entered the transfer portal with three seasons of eligibility remaining. Graham arrived in Columbus as the No. 33 overall prospect and the No. 7 wide receiver nationally and spent his first year developing while redshirting behind a veteran group that included then-freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. His breakout moment came during the 2025 spring game, when he recorded four receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown, igniting excitement for his redshirt freshman season. That momentum, however, never fully carried into the fall. Graham finished the 2025 campaign with six catches for 93 yards.
Prior to the Cotton Bowl, Graham acknowledged he was still working toward becoming more consistent and playing with greater physicality, believing he was close to taking the next step. Instead of returning to compete for an expanded role in 2026 with Carnell Tate likely headed to the NFL, Graham chose to continue his career elsewhere. His decision reduces Ohio State’s immediate wide receiver depth behind returning starters Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, with Quincy Porter and five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. now positioned as the primary in-house candidates for Tate’s vacated role. Several Buckeye receivers, including Smith, Tate and Inniss, expressed their disappointment over Graham’s departure on social media.
The offensive line also saw a notable change as right guard Tegra Tshabola entered the portal with one year of eligibility remaining. A four-star recruit from the 2022 class, Tshabola became Ohio State’s full-time starter in 2024 and started all 16 games during the Buckeyes’ national championship season. He remained the primary starter in 2025 but was rotated more frequently as the year progressed, sharing snaps with Ethan Onianwa early and Joshua Padilla and Gabe VanSickle later in the season. Tshabola’s departure opens a significant competition at right guard, with Padilla and VanSickle among the leading internal options.
On the positive side of the ledger, Ohio State added former Ohio tight end Mason Williams, who committed after visiting campus Saturday. A native of Mogadore, Ohio, Williams brings three seasons of experience in the MAC and a reputation as a physical, reliable blocker. Over his career, he totaled 48 receptions for 565 yards and six touchdowns, but his greatest value came in the run game, where 673 of his 1,133 snaps were spent as a run blocker. At 6-foot-5, 257 pounds, Williams gives the Buckeyes a proven, veteran presence in a tight end room that now includes Bennett Christian, Max LeBlanc, Nate Roberts, Brody Lennon and freshman Nick Lautar, with Max Klare still weighing his NFL future.
Ohio State also secured a veteran replacement for long-time long snapper John Ferlmann with the commitment of Dalton Riggs. Riggs, who spent the 2025 season at UCF after previously snapping at BYU, arrives with one year of eligibility and a spotless performance record. According to his UCF bio, none of his 2025 snaps were charted as inaccurate on field goals or extra points, and his operation speed ranked among the fastest in the Big 12. With both Ferlmann and his backup Collin Johnson out of eligibility, Riggs is expected to take over the starting role, providing immediate stability on special teams.
Together, the stories of Graham, Tshabola, Williams and Riggs reflect the ongoing evolution inside the Ohio State program as the Buckeyes continue building toward the 2026 season.
