Ohio State’s safety room has a new face drawing preseason attention, and Terry Moore is already getting tagged as one of the most important portal additions heading toward 2026.
Ari Wasserman included Moore on his list of the Most Impactful Transfers before the 2026 season, a nod that fits the Buckeyes’ push to reload after the 2025 season and get back into the national title mix. Ryan Day didn’t sit still after losing several key defensive players to the NFL Draft. He worked the transfer portal across the defense, looking for help at every level to patch the holes.
Moore is one of the quieter additions, but his track record at Duke shows why he matters. After switching to safety, he made an immediate impact in 2023, finishing with 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and two quarterback pressures. He also stayed useful on special teams, returning 10 kickoffs for an average of 23 yards per return.
His final season at Duke in 2024 was even better. Moore started all 13 games and piled up 71 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 1.0 sack. By the time that year was over, he had clearly become one of the most productive players on the field.
Then came the setback. Moore tore his ACL in the 2024 Gator Bowl, which wiped out his entire 2025 season and opened the door for a transfer move.
The preseason recognition is nice, but the assignment is bigger. Ohio State has to replace Caleb Downs, and whether that job falls to Moore or Little Jr, somebody has to step into it.
In Other News...
Ohio State Is Suddenly Building Something Big In The 2028 Class
Ohio States 2028 recruiting board is starting to take on a familiar shape, and it begins with wide receiver Jett Harrison already in the fold. The Buckeyes have not stopped there, either, as they continue to work on other highly regarded pass-catchers, including Carson LaCombe, who earned an offer after his visit to campus.
The bigger picture is just as intriguing because the staff is also pressing ahead on quarterback Christopher Vargas, another top 2028 name who has already been to Columbus. With Harrison committed and more elite skill talent still on the radar, Ohio State is laying early groundwork for a class that could become something substantial if the momentum keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has One Lingering Problem That Could Derail 2026
Ohio States special teams has been a lingering concern for a while now, and the numbers have not exactly offered much comfort. Even during the Buckeyes national championship run in 2024, the unit ranked around 82nd in efficiency, then slipped again in 2025, leaving a part of the roster that should provide hidden value instead feeling like a weekly source of unease.
The problems have shown up in the most avoidable ways, from missed field goals to shaky punt-return work and too many self-inflicted errors. With a demanding 2026 schedule looming, Ohio State does not need special teams to be flashy, just steady, clean and dependable enough to stop handing away field position and momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A New QB Pipeline Question
Ohio States quarterback room has hardly ever been the issue under Ryan Day, but the recruiting pipeline is suddenly worth watching again. Brady Edmunds remains committed to the Buckeyes 2027 class for now, yet there is real movement around his future, and that has put a little extra pressure on Ohio State to keep the position stocked the way it usually does.
Day is already working on the next wave, and Christopher Vargas has emerged as the name to know in the 2028 class. The five-star has visited Columbus multiple times and seems to have a strong feel for the program, which is why Ohio State is in a promising spot, even if nothing is locked in yet. For a staff that likes to stay ahead of the curve at quarterback, this is one of those recruitments that could shape the depth chart well beyond the current era. [Read more 🡒]