Ohio State football misses out on top SEC edge rusher for third time

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The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a busy offseason, to say the least. They lost 34 players to the transfer portal but have added 16 as of January 22. Defensively, the losses have been significant, especially with starting talent departing in Caden Curry, Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, Davison Igbinosun, Sonny Styles, and Kayden McDonald. Through the portal, Ohio State has focused heavily on the back end, adding multiple safeties and cornerbacks along with a few defensive linemen and an edge rusher. Even so, the pass rush remains a concern as January comes to a close.

Losing Curry and Reese hurts on its own, but the situation became even more frustrating when Ohio State missed out on one of the top edge rushers in the transfer portal. Former Missouri EDGE Damon Wilson II announced his commitment to Miami, marking the second straight offseason in which the Buckeyes swung and missed on Wilson in the portal. That frustration dates back even further, as Ohio State also finished as the runner-up when recruiting him out of high school.

Wilson was a top-five edge rusher in the 2023 recruiting class, with his recruitment coming down to Ohio State, Alabama, and Georgia. He visited all three programs but ultimately signed with Georgia. He saw limited action as a freshman in 2023, but in 2024, he began to carve out a role for the Bulldogs, finishing the season with 22 total tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Following that season, Wilson entered the transfer portal, and many expected Ohio State to be firmly in the mix.

Instead, Wilson transferred to Missouri, where he put together a breakout year in Columbia. He totaled 23 tackles, added a fumble recovery, and recorded nine sacks, proving he could be a legitimate pass rusher against SEC competition. When Wilson entered the transfer portal again this offseason, it felt like this might finally be the moment Ohio State closed the deal, especially with a clear lack of proven edge rushers on the roster.

While the Buckeyes were heavily involved in his recruitment, Wilson ultimately chose Miami. That makes three separate times Ohio State has failed to land the now No. 8 overall player in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. Whether it was timing, fit, or money, we may never know. What is clear is that adding a player like Wilson to the 2026 defense would have been a major boost, particularly after losing Arvell Reese and Caden Curry to the NFL Draft in April.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football misses out on top SEC edge rusher for third time

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