What addition of transfer linebacker Nigel Glover means for Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — Ohio State didn’t offer Nigel Glover a scholarship the first time around in his recruitment.

The Buckeyes weren’t going to miss out on adding his talent the second time around.

Glover picked Ohio State on Tuesday evening, just two weeks after entering the transfer portal. He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining for the Buckeyes after spending just a few months with the Northwestern program.

The Northmont (Dayton, Ohio) standout was the No. 306 overall player in the country, according to On3. He was the No. 31 linebacker and No. 10 player in the state of Ohio in his recruiting class. He was the top-ranked signee of the best recruiting class in Northwestern history. But once Pat Fitzgerald was fired following hazing allegations within the Wildcats program, Glover entered the transfer portal.

“The standard to be the best and the devolvement at Ohio State stand out to me,” Glover told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “As well does opportunity to learn from Coach Knowles, Coach Laurinaitis, and Coach Sam.”

Those are the basics, but what does the addition of Glover mean for the four-star linebacker and the Buckeyes moving forward? Lettermen Row is breaking it all down. Let’s dive in.

Nigel Glover provides another example of Buckeyes aggression in transfer portal

Nigel Glover is the 10th transfer addition for the Buckeyes since the portal opened early in the offseason. Some of the transfer additions are going to provide an immediate boost to the roster, most notably defensive tackle Tywone Malone, offensive tackle Josh Simmons, cornerback Davison Igbinosun and safety Ja’Had Carter. Some of them, such as Glover, may not need to be in the lineup right away to show their importance.

Either way, it’s just another example of the Buckeyes recent aggression in the transfer portal. They took more players from the portal than in any other year since it opened prior to the 2019 season. The shift in philosophy is part of the Buckeyes plan to evolve as college football continues to change every year.

Ryan Day doesn’t want his entire program to hinge on transfer portal additions. But Ohio State has clearly shifted its mindset when it comes to the transfer portal this offseason. Expect the trend to continue in the future for the Buckeyes, as well.

Nigel Glover adds depth now, in future for Ohio State

Nigel Glover is immediately eligible to play for Ohio State despite being a late entrant into the transfer portal due to an NCAA rule allowing players to leave a program after a coaching change.

After taking just one linebacker in the 2021 recruiting class in Reid Carrico and just two — C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers — in 2022, the Buckeyes took just one in the latest recruiting class. Four-star Glenville (Cleveland) linebacker Arvell Reese was the lone signee at the position. But now Glover gives Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis a second at that position in the 2023 recruiting class.

With the addition of Glover and the commitments of two linebackers in the 2024 class, the cupboard in the Buckeyes linebacker room is stocked for the future.

Ohio State took a few different instant-impact transfers from the portal this offseason, choosing to bring in playmakers who could bolster the lineup immediately. Glover isn’t necessarily that, but he also doesn’t need to be. He could find a role after a successful training camp or he could use this first season as a developmental year, setting himself up for the future. Either way, the Buckeyes landed a key piece for the future of the linebacker position.

Buckeyes keep Ohio prospect in Ohio

Once Nigel Glover entered the transfer portal, some of the top programs from around the Midwest came calling. Michigan thought it had aced its official visit from Glover, and On3’s The Wolverine even expected Glover to pick Michigan. Kentucky hosted Glover for a visit, and the Wildcats seemed to think they had some momentum in trying to bring him to Lexington for the rest of his college football career.

But the home-state team had plenty to offer Glover, even after the Buckeyes didn’t offer Glover out of high school. He understands what it means to be from Ohio and play for Ohio State.

He told Lettermen Row as much during his recruitment.

“There was always someone around me, talking to me, and that made me feel like a priority,” Glover told Lettermen Row in March 2022, before he committed to Northwestern. “I really appreciated that. A couple of years ago I’d dream about being recruited by Ohio State and now I’m living it? That’s pretty wild to me. I walked in the door there and was just like ‘wow.’“

Now he isn’t just being recruited by Ohio State. He will begin his Buckeyes career this week at training camp.

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