What Kaleb Brown entering transfer portal means for Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — Kaleb Brown was always an intriguing young playmaker on the Ohio State roster because of his speed and potential.

He’ll have to show if off elsewhere. The second-year Buckeyes wide receiver entered the transfer portal Sunday night, just hours before the spring deadline to enter the portal and still be eligible to play in the fall.

Brown arrived at Ohio State last summer as part of a four-man wide receiver haul for Brian Hartline in the recruiting class of 2022. He played very sparingly during his time with the Buckeyes as a true freshman last season as he transitioned from a high school running back to a wide receiver at the college level.

Kaleb Brown was the No. 107 overall player in the country in the class of 2022. He was ranked as the No. 20 wide receiver and No. 3 player in the state of Illinois coming out of high school. Brown chose Ohio State over Michigan and plenty of other suitors.

But the Buckeyes wide receiver depth chart is absolutely packed with elite talents, making it hard for Brown to find a way to playing time.

Still, losing a scholarship wide receiver still means something for the program. So Lettermen Row is breaking down the impact of Kaleb Brown entering the transfer portal after just one season at Ohio State. Let’s dive in.

Ohio State loses punt-return option

Kaleb Brown saw the top of the depth chart and knew it wasn’t going to be easy to earn meaningful playing time at wide receiver. He set his sights elsewhere to find playing time this spring, aiming for the starting punt-return role for Ohio State. He excelled in that role during spring ball, but the Buckeyes have plenty of capable punt-return specialists thanks to their ability to recruit elite athletes speedsters.

Names to watch include Xavier Johnson and Jayden Ballard, who were fielding punts and working on returns in spring ball. Another name that could pop up: Notre Dame transfer Lorenzo Styles Jr., who played wide receiver for the Irish and showed good burst with the ball in his hands. He’ll play cornerback for the Buckeyes, but he could emerge as a punt-return option now that Kaleb Brown is gone.

Buckeyes still loaded at wide receiver

Just as Lettermen Row wrote when Caleb Burton entered the transfer portal last week, this is the result of the Buckeyes approach to recruiting wide receivers. They bring in the best receivers in the country during every recruiting cycle, especially in the 2021 and 2023 classes. Burton was a member of the 2022 class of four wide receivers, and all four of them are fighting for playing time amid a loaded depth chart. Burton was a part of that group struggling to make his way up the pecking order this spring.

Even still, Ohio State has plenty of talent to survive some low-on-the-depth-chart attrition.

Seniors Xavier Johnson and Julian Fleming are joined by third-year stars Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr. and rising junior Jayden Ballard, along with talented freshmen Carnell Tate, Bryson Rodgers, Noah Rogers and Brandon Inniss, who all have a case for early playing time. Ohio State will be just fine at wide receiver, even after the loss of Kaleb Brown and Caleb Burton to the transfer portal.

Kaleb Brown departure adds another sign of strong freshman receiver class for Buckeyes

Ohio State coach Ryan Day could see it coming from his freshmen wide receivers before spring practice even began. The Buckeyes knew they were going to see good things from all three early-enrollee pass-catchers, Carnell Tate, Bryson Rodgers and Noah Rogers, meaning the batch of second-year receivers would need to have a big spring to make a move on the depth chart.

“The truth is they’re going to get really pushed by this freshman group,” Day said before spring practice. “You know, the three guys that came in have [already] made an impact. We’ve been very impressed with them — and then Brandon [Inniss] coming in the summer.”

Day was right. Brown and Kojo Antwi began to show what they could bring to the offense down the road. Burton and Kyion Grayes, meanwhile, missed some practice time with injuries.

All three freshmen flashed, making their case for playing time in Year One at Ohio State. And that’s not even mentioning Brandon Inniss, who is believed by many to be the best of the freshman receivers. He’ll arrive on campus this summer. Watch out. The 2023 wide receiver haul put together by Brian Hartline and the Buckeyes has a chance to be special. Kaleb Brown entered the transfer portal, opening another spot up the depth chart for those freshmen.

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