Boom! Ohio State has landed a player out of the transfer portal that could fill the void that will be left by the departure of Caleb Downs. Former Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. has committed to play football for the Buckeyes.
Little was a four-star prospect in 2022. He was ranked as the No. 12 defensive back and a top 100 player in the country according to 247Sports. He originally committed to Nick Saban and Alabama; however, after Saban retired in early 2024, Little jumped into the portal and landed at Florida State.
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As a first-year starter in Tallahassee, Little led FSU with 76 tackles and four interceptions. He was named a second-team All-ACC honoree as a free safety for the ‘Noles. The FSU safety originally declared for the NFL draft in December, before putting those dreams on hold and committing to the Buckeyes.
It has been somewhat worrisome that Ohio State has had such a mass exodus of players hitting the transfer portal, but it is starting to become apparent what Ryan Day is choosing to do with the NIL money available to the program. The Buckeyes are going back to what won them a national championship just a year before… paying for production over potential. Unfortunately, everyone wants a pay raise, even those who have yet to contribute. Ohio State basically said, “Wait your turn,” and many of those players chose to look elsewhere, hitting the portal seeking someone who would pay for unproven potential.
The same is happening with the players OSU is seeking in the portal. Look no further than the case of Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman. Most experts thought it was a forgone conclusion that Coleman, an Ohio native, was bound to end up in Columbus. But Ohio State was not willing to take the risk of overpaying for potential and instead let another program, in this case Tennessee, take the risk. Unless it’s a can’t-miss prospect, it seems that Ryan Day is shifting his philosophy to focus on guys with a few years of experience and identifiable production.
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It is frustrating for fans to watch players leave. It feels a little like the sky is falling, but it seems like the Buckeyes have a plan in place, with a prime example being the commitment of a player like Earl Little Jr. Sometimes it’s hard for fans to see the bigger picture, but let’s wait until the dust settles before allowing panic to set in.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State lands second team All-ACC safety from Florida State
