Ohio State has made a late offseason move that fits the way modern rosters are built.
The Buckeyes have hired Andy Howell as a college scout, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Howell spent 14 years in the NFL and most recently worked for the Dolphins. Now he’s headed to the college game, where his job will center on helping Ohio State evaluate players with the Transfer Portal in mind.
That makes Howell the 12th full-time addition on the Buckeyes’ staff.
The timing stands out. By late June and early July, most staffs are already set, with practice approaching and the heavy lifting done. Ohio State, though, has chosen to add another piece now, and it’s a clear sign of how seriously the program is treating portal evaluation as part of roster building.
Ryan Day has already made two major coaching decisions this offseason. After Brian Hartline left for the head coaching job at South Florida, Day brought in Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. He also returned Matt Patricia to the defensive coordinator role, a move that paid off last season when the Buckeyes finished with the top defense in the country and led the nation in almost every statistical category.
Howell’s role is different, but it matters. His biggest value is expected to come next offseason, when the portal opens and Ohio State starts sorting through which players deserve real attention. That’s where his NFL background should come into play.
Day has adapted over time, and the source of that evolution is obvious: the NIL era and the Transfer Portal have changed how teams have to operate. Ohio State still wants its roster to be built primarily through high school recruiting, and that has shown up in the staff’s work over the last month. The Buckeyes are expected to have one of the best recruiting classes in the country by the time the 2027 cycle ends.
Still, the portal is becoming a bigger part of the equation, and Ohio State is making sure it has another set of eyes on the market.
In Other News...
Ohio State May Already Have Its Next Quarterback Pipeline Target
Ohio States quarterback room is already looking well stocked for the present, but the Buckeyes are also doing the kind of long-range work that can shape a future depth chart years in advance. One name that fits that profile is Christopher Vargas, a 2028 quarterback prospect who recently made the trip to campus and came away with an offer from Ohio State, a clear sign that the staff likes where this one could go.
Vargas is still early in his high school career, but the Buckeyes have seen enough to stay involved as his profile rises. He has already shown production as a first-year starter at St. Johns Prep School, and his background as a multi-sport athlete only adds to the appeal. The next question for Ohio State is whether the program can keep building on that early connection as the quarterback chase starts to take shape around him. [Read more 🡒]
Jamier Brown Finally Opened Up About His Unusual High School Move
Jamier Browns move from Huber Heights Wayne to Big Walnut has drawn plenty of attention, and the five-star receiver finally shed some light on why he made the switch. The Class of 2027 standout has already been one of the most watched names in Ohio football, and his decision came after he made clear he wanted to be closer to the college he has already committed to in Columbus. It is an unusual step for a high school player, but Brown has never been shy about thinking beyond the usual boundaries of prep football.
Browns profile has grown even bigger because of his outspoken push for legal NIL compensation for Ohio high school athletes, a cause he helped elevate as the OHSAA weighed an emergency referendum. With legislative opposition still lingering for now, the debate around whether middle and high school athletes should be able to earn money remains unsettled, even if early signs point toward support ultimately winning out. For Brown, the transfer and the NIL fight both speak to the same bigger picture: a high school star trying to shape his path before he ever gets to Ohio State. [Read more 🡒]