Ohio State’s season didn’t begin last weekend, but a few former Buckeyes were already back in action as Week Zero kicked off college football’s final Week Zero weekend ever.
Bucknuts’ transfer tracker is back, too, with a big group of ex-Ohio State players spread across the country. More than 50 former Buckeyes are rostered nationwide, so this weekly rundown will mostly focus on the players making real impacts for their new teams, with broader updates planned a few times during the season.
The biggest performance from the former Buckeye group came from tight end Jelani Thurman, who turned in a career day for North Carolina in its season-opening win over TCU. Thurman had already matched and then blown past his Ohio State receiving production from last season in one game alone, finishing with four catches for 94 yards on eight targets.
That was a game-high for either side. Pro Football Focus listed Thurman as North Carolina’s highest-graded offensive player, giving him a 71.7 overall mark, and he was on the field for 55 offensive snaps.
Former Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown also got his season started on Friday, and he did it as Weber State’s starter. Brown helped the Wildcats edge Northern Colorado 30-29, completing 10 of 20 passes for 179 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added 34 rushing yards on five carries.
There wasn’t much to report for Dallan Hayden and Air Noland, though both were part of Memphis’ season-opening win over UNLV. Hayden, who had a rough year at Colorado last season, touched the ball once for seven yards and played just three snaps despite some preseason first-team work. Noland, who transferred from South Carolina to Memphis last offseason, lost the quarterback battle to Marcus Stokes and did not play.
The Week Zero slate was thin, but it still produced a clear starting point for tracking where former Buckeyes landed and how they’re fitting in. Here’s the full list of Ohio State transfers from the 2026 class and their new schools:
Safety Cody Haddad, Iowa
DL Trajen Odom, Arkansas
DL Joshua Mickens, UConn
Safety Faheem Delane, LSU
DL Eric Mensah, Virginia Tech
WR Bodpegn Miller, Washington
Safety Malik Hartford, UCLA
DL Maxwell Roy, UCLA
DL Jarquez Carter, Miami
Safety Keenan Nelson Jr., Georgia State
OL Jayvon McFadden, Colorado
WR Quincy Porter, Notre Dame
WR Mylan Graham, Notre Dame
TE Jelani Thurman, North Carolina
OL Devontae Armstrong, Miami (OH)
WR Damarion Witten, Miami (OH)
OL Tegra Tshabola, Kentucky
CB Aaron Scott Jr., Oregon
OL Isaiah Kema, Utah
Punter Nick McLarty, Arizona State
WR Dorian Williams, Youngstown State (FCS)
CB Bukari Miles Jr., Incarnate Word (FCS)
Kicker Jackson Courville, Tulane
RB James Peoples, Penn State
DL Ahmed Tounkara, Western Michigan
DL Logan George, Washington
Long snapper Grant Mills, UMass
DL Dominic Kirks, Northwestern
CB Diante Griffin, Ball State
Edge C.J.
Hicks, USF
WR Bryson Rodgers, USF
CB Bryce West, Wisconsin
QB Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville
RB Sam Dixon, South Carolina
And here are the former Ohio State transfers from outside the 2026 class who are still playing:
QB Devin Brown, Weber State (FCS)
DT Hero Kanu, Texas
RB Evan Pryor, Florida
RB Dallan Hayden, Memphis
LB Gabe Powers, Kansas State
WR Noah Rogers, Alabama
DB Ryan Turner, Purdue
WR Kojo Antwi, Colorado State
QB Air Noland, Memphis
OL George Fitzpatrick, Kansas State
DB Calvin Simspon-Hunt, Baylor
Long Snapper Morrow Evans, Rice
LB Jayden Bonsu, Pittsburgh
WR Kyion Grayes, Cal
LB Nigel Glover, Northwestern
CB Jyaire Brown, Southern Miss
DE Omari Abor, Akron
DB Kye Stokes, Utah State
DB JK Johnson, FAU
In Other News...
Ohio State Unveiled A New Horseshoe Look Fans Will Notice Fast
Ohio States familiar home field is getting a noticeable refresh before the 2026 season opener, with Buckeye Stripes now added to the end zones at Ohio Stadium. The update gives the Horseshoe a sharper look while keeping the setting rooted in the programs identity, a cosmetic change that fans should spot immediately once the new season gets underway.
The bigger adjustment, though, is underfoot. The program also installed new turf built to NFL standards, a move that has drawn positive feedback from players and coaches while giving Ohio State more flexibility with branding around the stadium. It is also expected to hold up better for other major events, including concerts, which makes the upgrade feel like more than just a football decision. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Could Make A Rare Freshman Secondary Move Saturday
Ohio States secondary picture has started to shift in a way that usually does not happen this early for a true freshman. Jay Timmons, the five-star recruit and Florida State transfer, has drawn steady praise through spring and fall practices for the way he approaches the position, competes, and shows up around the football. For a program that expects that back end to be a strength, his rapid rise has become one of the more interesting developments of camp.
The buzz around Timmons is not just about talent, either. Coaches and teammates have pointed to his mindset, tenacity, and playmaking ability, and that combination has pushed Ohio State to take a fresh look at how the starting secondary could come together for the season ahead. If the Buckeyes decide to go in that direction, it would be a notable early step for a newcomer who has already made the room rethink what the depth chart might look like. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Offense Leaves Camp With Two Storylines Fans Will Track
Ohio State has wrapped up preseason work for the 2026 season with the opener against Ball State now in view, and the Buckeyes leave camp with a couple of offensive storylines worth monitoring. The most immediate one is up front, where Ian Moore emerged through fall camp as the first-team left tackle after a strong stretch of development and performance.
The other centers on the backfield, where Legend Bey flashed the kind of playmaking that can catch attention in August. His talent was evident during camp, but his role is still something to watch as he continues adjusting to the college game, which means the Buckeyes could spend the early part of the season sorting out how and when to use him. [Read more 🡒]