Eric Boggs
Ja’Had Carter is back in the transfer portal after one year as a Buckeye.
The former Syracuse-turned-Ohio State safety entered the transfer portal on Sunday after playing only sparingly in his lone season as a Buckeye. A three-year starter at Syracuse, Carter transferred to Ohio State last January with expectations of starting for the Buckeyes and becoming a 2024 NFL draft prospect. He didn’t end up winning a starting job, though, as Josh Proctor had a resurgent season at free safety while Jordan Hancock and Sonny Styles split playing time at nickel.
Despite being ranked as the top safety in the transfer portal when he committed to Ohio State, Carter played only 122 defensive snaps in 2023, recording just five tackles.
With this January’s transfer addition of former Alabama safety Caleb Downs to be the new starting free safety, Carter’s path to a bigger role this season if he stayed at Ohio State didn’t look promising. With Lathan Ransom back as the starting strong safety and Hancock back as the starting nickelback, Carter was destined to be a backup once again.
As such, Carter will look to take his final year of collegiate eligibility elsewhere for the chance to play a bigger role.
His departure leaves the Buckeyes with six scholarship safeties on their 2024 roster: Downs, Ransom, Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu, Jaylen McClain and Leroy Roker.
Additionally, Carter becomes the third Buckeye to enter the transfer portal this spring, following the conclusion of the spring game, joining Dallan Hayden, who went to Colorado, and Cedrick Hawkins, who went to UCF.
