Good news for Ohio State Buckeyes:he is back

admin | December 16, 2023 | Ohio State Buckeyes | No Comments

Ohio State Buckeyes Players Back Kyle McCord’s Decision to Transfer
Many players support Kyle McCord’s decision to leave Columbus and use the transfer portal before the Cotton Bowl.

The decision by Kyle McCord to leave Ohio State took more people by surprise than just national sports pundits.

Offensive lineman Josh Fryer stated he found out about the change on social media. Offensive lineman Donovan Jackson followed suit.

However, neither party is dissatisfied with McCord’s choice to leave the team before Ohio State’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic matchup with Missouri State. It was never in McCord’s cards to stay in Columbus, and athletes have to think about their long-term goals.

“He just took the best course of action for himself,” Jackson told the media. “You know, he’s my brother, man. Everywhere he goes, he has my admiration. No matter where he chooses to go, man, I’ll support him.

McCord, who led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record while throwing for over 3,100 yards, will weigh his options. If head coach Ryan Day offers him a spot on the roster, he can choose to return to the team, or he can choose to become a key player for another team that wants to play in the upcoming postseason expansion of college football.

Only a few players knew that McCord had decided to leave the team following the team’s 30-24 loss to No. 1 Michigan in Ann Arbor last month. With two costly interceptions, one of which came on the final drive that saw the Wolverines win by six points, McCord’s losing streak against them was extended to three games.

The way he was treated following those games made me feel awful for him, defensive lineman Jack Sawyer said. And it wasn’t fair, in my opinion. I am aware that the quarterback at Ohio State is expected to win games. Furthermore, I don’t believe that our loss in Ann Arbor was at all his fault.

“Kyle has my undying love, and I hope the best for him. Furthermore, I felt that the way he concluded his career here was regrettable.

Receiver Emeka Egbuka didn’t hold back when talking about the criticism McCord has received this season. Despite this, the junior led the Buckeyes to victories over Notre Dame and Penn State in the top 10 while throwing 24 touchdowns against just six interceptions.

Kyle McCord: Ohio State quarterback enters transfer portal after the Buckeyes miss the College Football Playoff | CNN

“People are free to criticize Kyle all they want; we had a fantastic season and went 11-1,” Egbuka stated. Sadly, we were defeated by the team from up north. However, it’s difficult to discount the things he accomplished. You can’t just have a Biletnikoff winner with a bad quarterback, as we did.”

Sawyer said that with CJ Stroud and Justin Fields’ lengthy careers, all eyes are on the quarterback in Columbus. The Buckeyes made it to the College Football Playoffs in 2022, and Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist, almost pulled off an unexpected victory over Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

In the COVID-19 season of 2020, Fields—a fellow Heisman finalist and first-round selection—led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship and an appearance in the national championship game against Alabama.

“You’re expected to throw for 4,000 yards, 50 touchdowns. It’s a lot of pressure, especially when you’re a first-time starter, and you’re playing on a bad wheel all year, and you’re battling through it, you’re handling stuff like a professional like he did all season,” said Sawyer. “You know, it’s just hard to see. I feel bad for him as a friend, as a teammate.”

Questions surrounding the Buckeyes’ quarterback room heading into a new era of the Big Ten. The conference expands to 18 teams with the arrival of the four Pac-12 schools, but will the quarterback room in Columbus add a proven name to compete for the starting job?

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Devin Brown, who competed with McCord for the starting job through fall camp, will now get first-team reps heading into Cotton Bowl practice. Freshman Lincoln Kienholz could also see action at AT&T Stadium to give Day an idea of what’s to come in 2024.

Egbuka, who will play and could return for another season, said McCord will be missed, as will the other 13 players who have entered the portal since the regular-season finale. Focus, however, needs to be on securing a win over a Tigers’ roster that vastly exceeded expectations in Columbia this fall.

“It’s always the next man forward mentality,” Egbuka said. “And as far as who’s going to be at the quarterback position, obviously the wide receivers don’t really have too much say, that’s going to be the coaching staff that does that. But whoever’s back there, we know that they have the ability to get the job done.”