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Breaking: Ohio State’s 2025 Class Faces Uncertainty After Running Back Announcement
When the spring transfer portal window opens on Tuesday, Ohio State is reportedly going to lose a running back. While the impact on the team may not be noticed until 2024, things are now uncertain for the team’s future seasons.
It makes sense why third-year Dallan Hayden might access the gateway in the near future: He is clearly third on the depth chart after Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and his position coach recently left.
Furthermore, Henderson and Judkins should still be capable of ranking among the top tandems in the sport by 2024. But that’s where the confusion arises. At the conclusion of the season, Henderson will depart Columbus to join the NFL. That is assured.
Judkins can also enter the 2025 NFL Draft. He has previously had two seasons in which he finished with 1,000 or more yards in the SEC. As of April, that is most definitely a possibility.
Thus, the only two guys who can be counted on to be on the running back depth chart come springtime are rookie Sam Williams-Dixon and James Peoples. Williams-Dixon came in as an athlete who will start at running back before figuring out where he fits best on the team.
That creates a huge hole at the top of the roster, which means that other than emphasizing the value of selecting two running backs, it doesn’t imply anything for the 2025 class. If Judkins comes back to join Peoples, Williams-Dixon, and two running backs in the 2025 class, the Buckeyes should have a strong backfield once more.
They will have (assuming two incoming freshmen again) four running backs on the roster guaranteed if Judkins leaves for the NFL. Each of the four will be a rookie or sophomore.
Thus, as much as the Hayden exit affects the future, it doesn’t appear to have much of an effect on any class of recruits. The Ohio State transfer site is where the Buckeyes will probably have to add unless they want to make up for it by selecting three freshmen backs in addition to the two from 2024, which doesn’t seem likely.
Even though it might not be for the 2024 campaign, the portal will almost certainly need to be expanded if Judkins decides to join the NFL. However, don’t anticipate many changes with regard to the recruiting class.
