Ohio State lands transfer tight end, set to host big time defensive end

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Ohio State’s 2025-26 season has come to a close after an unfortunate short-lived run in the College Football Playoffs. The Buckeyes couldn’t get things going offensively, and lost to Miami following a round one bye.

With the early end to the season, Ohio State’s offseason has an early beginning. This extra time could be crucial for Ryan Day and the coaching staff, as last year the program’s offseason started late after the Buckeyes won it all.

While the success of last season was something left to be desired for this year’s crop of Buckeyes, the head start on the offseason could benefit the Buckeyes in ways it wasn’t able to last year. With the official opening of the transfer portal last week, the coming weeks could be just as crucial as a couple weeks ago when the early signing period kicked off securing talent in the traditional recruiting sense.

Ohio State did not see much success in the transfer portal last year. The Buckeyes were able to bring in multiple names, including the likes of Max Klare. However, while Klare had an instant impact on Ohio State’s roster this season, many of the other names Ohio State brought in did not.

The short start is not an excuse for this lack of success, but it certainly was a factor.

Day and the staff are hoping for a much quicker start this year, and the extra time could help them do just that. The transfer portal is changing what feels like every minute as kids continue to enter the portal and commit to other teams. Ohio State is involved on many recruits, and below is an update on just some of the names the Buckeyes are talking to in the portal right now:

Mason Williams (TE)

For the second year in a row, Ohio State is bringing in a tight end through the transfer portal as former Ohio tight end Mason Williams committed to Ohio State over the weekend.

Williams is viewed as a three-star transfer prospect by 247Sports, and should see the field next season for the Buckeyes. Williams is not like Klare, but is more built in the mold of Will Kacmarek, who graduated this year and is out of eligibility.

Ohio State lost Julani Thurman to the transfer portal recently, and the aforementioned Klare could declare for the NFL Draft, so landing Williams is a major depth piece for Ohio State’s roster.

Williams was the No. 77 tight end and the No. 1,804 overall prospect nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite when he originally committed to Ohio. After announcing he was going to enter the transfer portal last week, he visited with the Buckeyes over the weekend, ultimately resulting in a commitment.

Chaz Coleman (EDGE)

Easily the biggest name Ohio State is involved with in the transfer portal is former Penn State edge Chaz Coleman. The elite prospect is the top-ranked transfer portal target according to most recruiting databases.

Ohio State instantly made contact with Coleman after he announced last week he would be entering the transfer portal, and the Buckeyes seemed to be the early favorites. However, since then things have changed, mainly the money.

NIL is a large part of what makes up the transfer portal, and it is one of the new factors of college football that makes roster management even more difficult for coaches. LSU and Tennessee have picked up plenty of steam in his transfer recruitment, and he visited with LSU on Monday.

Coleman reportedly plans to visit with Ohio State today, giving the Buckeyes a chance to sway him to Columbus. It will not be easy, nor cheap, to land Coleman, but he is the type of player you break the bank for to add to your team, especially considering he has three years of eligibility remaining.

Brandon Davis-Swain (DL)

Ohio State is set to be playing host to a handful of transfer prospects this week, including former Colorado defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain. The former Buffalo is scheduled to visit with Ohio State next weekend on Jan. 12, and is also showing interest in Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State and Miami.

Davis-Swain is a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings and he is the No. 25 DL prospect.

DeAndre Moore Jr. (WR)

Ohio State is always looking to have the best wide receiver corps in the country, and it likely will have close to the best again next year based on who is already on its roster.

However, the Buckeyes lost both Mylan Graham and Bryson Rodgers to the transfer portal following the end of Ohio State’s playoff run. Both Graham and Rodgers contributed at points this season. Both were looking to contribute more next year, but will now look to do so elsewhere.

Enter DeAndre Moore Jr., who is one of the top wide receivers in the transfer portal. The former Texas wide receiver wrapped up a visit with Ohio State on Monday, and we will likely hear more soon on how it went.

It is safe to assume it went well, but Ohio State is not alone in his pursuit. Moore Jr. will also visit with Kentucky, Louisville and Colorado. He is the No. 23 WR transfer prospect according to 247Sports and is the No. 10 overall prospect.

Tre’ Brown (WR)

Another wide receiver transfer prospect Ohio State was targeting is former Old Dominion WR Tre’ Brown. Brown was scheduled to visit with Ohio State in the coming days, but he visited with LSU first, and following the visit he committed to the Tigers.

It is safe to say he will no longer be visiting Ohio State. Brown was the No. 23 WR according to 247Sports and the No. 96 overall.

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