Eric Boggs
Ohio State has some more roster movement this offseason, with defensive tackle Hero Kanu and tight end Patrick Gurd opting to transfer for the 2025 college football season. Kanu, who spent three seasons in Columbus, announced Wednesday that he will be heading to Texas, while Gurd is set to join Cincinnati.
Kanu arrived at Ohio State in 2022 as a highly touted prospect, ranked No. 129 overall and the No. 19 defensive lineman in his class according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Originally from Geltendorf, Germany, he made the move to the United States for his senior year of high school, playing at Santa Margarita Catholic in California. However, his time in Columbus saw limited action, as he struggled to carve out a significant role on the defensive line. In 2024, he was part of the defensive tackle rotation but logged just 123 snaps, placing him behind Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, Kayden McDonald, and Eddrick Houston. He finished the season with four tackles (one solo, three combined) and wrapped up his Buckeye career with 14 total tackles and one sack.
With Williams and Hamilton off to the NFL and Kanu departing for Texas, Ohio State finds itself a bit thinner along the defensive interior heading into 2025. McDonald and Houston appear to be the leading candidates to step into starting roles at nose guard and 3-tech, while Jason Moore and Tywone Malone will push for playing time as well. Beyond them, the Buckeyes will be relying on continued development from Will Smith Jr. and Eric Mensah, along with the influx of freshman talent in Jarquez Carter, Trajen Odom, and Maxwell Roy.
Meanwhile, Gurd has decided to finish his college career at Cincinnati, where he will have the chance to contribute more prominently. A former walk-on, he spent five seasons in Columbus, playing primarily on special teams while seeing occasional action on offense as a tight end and blocking fullback. Over the past two seasons, he played 88 offensive snaps and recorded two receptions for 15 yards. Now, he joins a growing list of former Buckeyes on the Bearcats’ roster, including tight end Joe Royer, running back Evan Pryor, and safety Kye Stokes. Royer, who transferred to Cincinnati last offseason, had a productive 2024 campaign, hauling in 50 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns. Gurd will look to complement Royer and carve out a larger role in his final season.
As the Buckeyes prepare for the 2025 season, these departures create opportunities for younger players to step up and fill key roles. While Kanu and Gurd move on to new programs, Ohio State remains focused on reloading and maintaining its dominance in the Big Ten.
