Most intriguing transfer portal options at running back for Ohio State

We dive into the five most interesting options for Ohio State at running back in the transfer portal. #GoBucks

We already broke down our expectations for how Ohio State handles the transfer portal regarding the quarterback position. Now I want to dive into the running back position.

So far there has been very little news or noise surrounding portal activity for the backfield, but much of that is due to the focus on TreVeyon Henderson and whether he is staying in Columbus.

Even if Henderson decides to stay, which is highly unlikely, the once full stable of horses is depleted with the departure of Chip Trayanum and Evan Pryor to the portal and Miyan Williams to the NFL. Only Henderson and Dallan Hayden remain viable options for the starting role next season.

It would not be surprising to see the Buckeyes make a move to add another back to the roster with a bit more experience than a possible incoming true freshman. The following are not the top backs in the portal, but the top five guys I believe would be an excellent fit.

Penn State offers All-American returner in transfer portal

Penn State offers Indiana return man Jaylin Lucas in the transfer portal

Once again, James Franklin and the new offensive coordinator, Andy Kotelnicki, have hit the transfer portal hard in search of much-needed difference-makers at the receiver position. After offering one of the top Big Ten receivers in the transfer portal the other day, Donaven McCulley, Penn State, has offered McCulley’s Indiana teammate.

On Wednesday morning, All-American return man Jaylin Lucas announced on social media that he received an offer from the Nittany Lions. Lucas also announced that he received an offer from Arizona State as well.

After only entering the portal early this morning, Lucas should see more offers come his way, considering his versatility and special teams ability. Lucas was 14th in the country in combined kick return yardage and has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in his two seasons with the Hoosiers, including one against Purdue this season. He could be a possible replacement for redshirt senior return man [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag].

At only 5’9, Lucas is by no means an outside deep-threat wide receiver, but he has played slot receiver and running back throughout his college career. He totaled 67 rushes for 275 yards and two touchdowns while hauling in 34 receptions for 247 yards and two scores. He is the very definition of a versatile playmaker who can create a big gain at any point due to his elusiveness.

Lucas represents what new offensive Andy Kotelnicki wants to do with Penn State’s offense, which is to put players in space to make plays. Not only would he be an outlet for Drew Allar, but he would be a nice complement to the more physical backs Penn State currently has on its roster.

Indiana is seeing plenty of players entering the portal after firing head coach Tom Allen and hiring Curt Cignetti away from James Madison.

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Indiana return specialist, Louisiana native enters transfer portal

The Tigers could look to beef up their special teams with Jaylin Lucas, an All-American returner in 2022.

LSU has made an effort to bring in transfer talent with ties to the state, so it’s worth noting when a Louisiana native enters the transfer portal. Indiana running back and return specialist [autotag]Jaylin Lucas[/autotag] became the latest on Wednesday.

The sophomore playmaker hails from Houma and played his high school ball at Edna Karr before signing with the Hoosiers. He’s seen moderate production on the ground in two seasons, totaling 546 yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries.

He also had 50 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Lucas really shined in the return game, though.

He was named an All-American returner in 2022 after totaling 591 return yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman, and he had similar production this season with 572 yards and another return touchdown.

LSU turned to a transfer in [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] as its return specialist this season, but with some losses in the running back room and Lucas’ skills on special teams, he could be a player to watch for the Tigers.

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Rutgers football vs. Indiana: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

Rutgers football will take on Indiana on Saturday afternoon, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck!

Rutgers football will take on Indiana on Saturday afternoon, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds, and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at Bet MGM.

Entering this matchup, Rutgers is coming off their best win of the season. After falling behind early against Michigan State last week, the Scarlet Knights scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. The comeback moved them one win closer to becoming bowl-eligible and matching their highest win total in ten years.

For Indiana, last week did not go as planned. The Hoosiers took on one of the best teams in the county in Michigan and only put seven points on the board. Against Rutgers, Indiana will be looking to get back on track and secure their first conference win of the season.

This game should provide plenty of exciting moments in an important conference game.

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Top three kick returners in the Big Ten for 2023

No Buckeyes on this list, but the competition is elite #GoBucks #B1G

The Big Ten has some intriguing athletes and predicting who the top kick returners will be is a bit of a challenging task because many teams don’t want consistent offensive or defensive starters to line up back there. The Big Ten simply lacks prominent stars at kick returner this year.

The top choice we have on this list is pretty evident given the accolades earned last season, but the other two choices are electric athletes who could see less time on special teams and are a bit more of a role of the dice here. Enough discussing it, let’s dive into the top three kick returners in the Big Ten for the 2023 season.

2023 Buckeyes Wire Preseason All-Big Ten team: Specialists

There are some intriguing specialists in the Big Ten and one special Buckeye returner. #GoBucks #B1G

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Big Ten is loaded with top-notch talent and predicting who will end up on the All-Big Ten has proven challenging. Not only was it hard to choose one player over another, but it was also hard to admit that some of Ohio State’s most prominent rivals have some serious dogs on their squad.

This list will dive into the specialists — and as expected — the Big Ten has some dominant specialists that make it very hard to narrow it down to just one at each position. This list may appear biased considering the amount of Buckeyes who made the list, but it would be hard for the most objective fan to deny the insane talent that was chosen.

In the age of the transfer portal, it is possible for a complete dark horse to rise as a frontrunner, but we will do our best to provide the most educated guess based on previous performances and situations.