Admittedly, the beginning stages of the transfer portal window looked pretty bleak for the Buckeyes. Seeing Ohio State lose depth piece after depth piece early on, other notable programs were quickly making
moves while it felt like time was standing still in Columbus.
That feeling has certainly shifted in the last few days, because the coaching staff is on a heater adding talent to their 2026 roster. Coming one after another this week, Thursday proved to be another busy day for Ohio State as they saw multiple commitments from guys that should bring an instant impact to the team.
Plenty of good news worth covering, here’s a quick rundown on the latest commitments and further reason to trust that this program and staff always has a plan.
Cam Calhoun – CB
A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Calhoun’s college career has led him from Michigan to Utah to Alabama and now back home to Ohio State. The 6-foot, 180 pound athlete has plenty of intangibles any coaching staff would want. Entering the transfer portal after his season at Alabama, Ohio State is thrilled to bring him back to his home state.
Committing on Thursday, the No. 337 player overall and 26th best cornerback per the 247Sports transfer rankings immediately brings a skillset and depth the Buckeyes desperately needed. Ohio State’s addition of Calhoun brings not only ability, but proven experience too.
Seeing the approach of other schools such as Indiana, veteran presences are a major key to reaching a team’s full potential. The Buckeyes are getting both older and more experienced with commitments like Calhoun.
Ja’Kobi Jackson – RB
A 5-foot-11, 215 pound running back, Ohio State landed the commitment of former Florida Gator, Ja’Kobi Jackson, adding more proven depth to the roster and running back position room. Losing guys like James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon to the transfer portal as well as C.J. Donaldson to graduation, the simple math said Carlos Locklyn needed to add at least one more player to further boost the depth of the room, and now he has his guy.
Bo Jackson and Isaiah West still major parts of the room, Ohio State’s goal is to play a 16-game season, and they’ll need more than just two backs to shoulder the load of the running game. Adding Jackson to the fold gives needed depth as mentioned, but once again it’s the experience factor that is most exciting.
Playing in high-profile games, Jackson is used to seeing some of the best defenses in the country, and his experience should only help Ohio State’s offensive attack next fall.
Dominick Kelly – CB
One more for good measure, Ohio State landed their third commitment on Thursday by way of Georgia defensive back transfer, Dominick Kelly. A 6-foot-1, 190 pound athlete, Kelly’s addition to Ohio State’s roster is another fantastic addition for Tim Walton who had double bouts of good news yesterday.
A proven player that offers a high ceiling and multiple years of eligibility still to be used, the Buckeyes are replacing their losses with some very capable pieces that can get the job done on the field. The No. 177 player overall and tenth best cornerback per the 247Sports transfer rankings, the roster got better thanks to Kelly’s pledge.
Bryce West and Aaron Scott the two notable players to enter the portal, seeing Kelly make his way to Columbus takes the sting of those losses away pretty quickly. Now you’d have to think the defensive staff is set with their cornerback room from here on.
‘I’m back!’
The deadline to declare for the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, Ohio State landed new commitments on Thursday, but also essentially landed familiar commitments when their own current players decided to stay for another season in Columbus. Difference makers and key starters choosing to come back is always a major win for any program, and the Buckeyes have seen that be the case each day this week.
Arguably the biggest news yesterday, Ohio State is getting one more season out of edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson. Already a guy the team counted on in 2025, Jackson’s importance is increasing quickly for the 2026 season and getting him back for one more shot is all you can ask for.
A defensive line unit without him would have hurt this team big time, and fortunately for Larry Johnson he doesn’t have to worry about that moving forward.
Jermaine Matthews Jr. another player to give Ohio State one more season, Thursday he too gave the good news that he was returning to the Buckeyes in 2026 to bolster the back end of the defense. A starter in 2025, getting a player back with his experience makes this secondary that much more dangerous. If the potential for him to move to nickel comes to fruition, it only allows Devin Sanchez and the new additions of Kelly and Calhoun to see the field too.
Losing Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinosun to the NFL is never easy to replace, but the thought of having to replace Jermaine as well would have made the offseason that much tougher. Fortunately, the staff brings him back and has not only his experience, but his knowledge of this scheme which should be helpful when getting new players caught up.
