Episode Overview

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Episode: Ohio State's 10 Best Transfer Additions, and 3 Biggest Transfer Losses, of the Ryan Day Era
Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis

In this episode, Doug and Bill respond to a listener question by ranking the top 10 transfer additions and the 3 biggest transfer losses for Ohio State football during the Ryan Day era (2019-2026). They reflect on the sometimes-unheralded impact of these transfers—who changed the Buckeyes’ fortunes, who fell short, and who left openings that weren’t easily filled. Drawing on their deep knowledge and signature banter, they provide context, insight, and perspective on how Ohio State has worked the modern transfer portal.

Key Discussion Points

Approach to Rankings

• The hosts clarify they are not counting the most recent 2026 transfer class, focusing instead on historical impact.
• They discuss how the transfer portal has evolved and why some standout players (like Julian Sayin, who only briefly enrolled elsewhere due to a coaching change) don’t fit the spirit of the list.
  • "I sort of like didn't include him in my top 10 for that reason." (Doug, 04:37)
  • "Since you're doing that, I will. I'll take him off my list too." (Bill, 05:19)

Top 10 Transfer Additions of the Ryan Day Era

Below, the rankings from both hosts are interleaved with context and memorable quotes.

10. Lorenzo Styles Jr. (Doug 10, Bill 9)

• Former Notre Dame WR turned Ohio State DB; eventually thrived as a key defensive starter and special teams contributor.
• "By the end of the year it's like, no, Lorenzo Styles is a pretty decent football player. Buckeye should be glad he's here." (Doug, 06:03)

9. Josh Simmons (Bill 10, Doug 7)

• San Diego State OT, moved from right tackle to left tackle at OSU; became a first-round NFL pick despite injuries.
• "Their offensive line situation is a mess. But I think...He would be very high on the list of, like, weirdest Ohio State careers." (Doug, 10:13)

8. Trey Sermon (Doug 9)

• Oklahoma RB, became legendary during 2020 playoff run, particularly against Northwestern and Clemson.
• "He was a maniac against Northwestern and against Clemson..." (Bill, 13:47)
• "He set Ohio State single-game rushing record, looked at the camera with his eyeballs and turned into a meme..." (Doug, 14:07)

7. Seth McLaughlin (Bill 8)

• Alabama transfer, resurrected his career to win the Remington Trophy as best center in college football but injured late.
• "People thought Alabama kicked him to the curb and he was a terrible player...Ohio State brought him in and he resurrected his career until he hurt his Achilles." (Bill, 16:03)

6. Will Kazmierczak (Doug 8, Bill 7)

• MAC tight end; unsung, steady contributor and reliable blocker, now NFL-bound.
• "Will Kazmarik just was decent like in year one and then in year two, was quite a good football player..." (Doug, 19:31)

5. Jonah Jackson (Both had at 6)

• Rutgers guard; immediate All-Big Ten impact, third-round NFL pick, core part of OSU’s elite offensive lines.
• "Really good player, nasty guard...turn[ed] into a great pro." (Bill, 21:40)
• "What just happened? Ohio State went and got Rutgers best player, started him...and he was All-Big Ten and third-round draft pick in the NFL. Wow, that was kind of easy." (Doug, 23:13)

4-5. Quinshon Judkins (Doug 5, Bill 4) and Will Howard (Bill 5, Doug 3)

• Judkins: Ole Miss RB transfer; provided power, complementing TreVeyon Henderson, crucial to red-zone success during national championship run.
  • "I don't think they would have been [national champs] without Quinshon Judkins." (Bill, 25:48)
• Howard: Kansas State QB; steady leader, tough, mature, national championship quarterback.
  • "Will Howard is a glowing example...came in and Buckeyed himself like a maniac and now is an Ohio State legend." (Doug, 37:03)

3. Davison Igbinosun (Doug 4, Bill 3)

• Ole Miss corner; started for three years at OSU, credited with changing the “culture” and elevating standard of cornerback play.
  • "Culture changer in Ohio State's cornerback room that was lost in the wilderness...set the tone for quality play and being an on-field bellwether." (Bill, 41:15)

2. Justin Fields (Both at 2)

• Georgia QB; waiver transfer, Hesiman finalist, Ryan Day’s first signature move as head coach, defined the start of a new era.
  • "Sets the tone for Ryan Day's entire tenure...no hiccups. He's gonna hit the ground running and just be like a top five quarterback in the sport." (Bill, 45:07)

1. Caleb Downs (Both at 1)

• Alabama safety; two-time unanimous All-American, Thorpe and Lott Trophy winner, core of the national championship defense.
  • "Be the best defensive player in college football for two years and win a national championship...Caleb Downs hit it multi time." (Doug, 52:14)
  • "Mount Rushmore guy at his position at Ohio State too." (Bill, 52:24)

The Standard: Why These Five Stand Out (53:36)

• Top 5: Caleb Downs, Justin Fields, Davison Igbinosun, Quinshon Judkins, Will Howard.
• "I don't think anyone's busting through that." (Doug, 53:36)
• Importance of multi-year starters versus one-year stars, and the rare synergy of impact and longevity.

Candidates from the 2026 Incoming Transfer Class?

• Unlikely any will crack the “Mount Rushmore” established by the above group unless they achieve major postseason success or All-American status.

The 3 Biggest Transfer Losses of the Ryan Day Era

Criteria: Not just who was great elsewhere, but whose departure actually cost Ohio State on the field.

Overview

• The loss list is much thinner than the addition list—a sign of OSU’s roster stability and recruiting depth.
• "To crack the top five best is super high. To crack the top three...the bar is like, have a good season." (Bill, 57:36)

Notable Omissions: Jameson Williams

• Both agree: Williams blossomed at Alabama but wasn't needed at OSU given the Smith-Njigba, Olave, Garrett Wilson trio.
  • "It had zero effect on Ohio State that they didn’t have him." (Doug, 56:52)

Top Losses (as ranked and discussed):

3. Jesse Mirco (Bill)

• Punter, transferred to Vanderbilt; OSU lacked his reliability and experience after his departure.

3. Ryan Jacoby (Doug)

• Lineman, transferred to Pitt, became a starter; OSU could have used his veteran presence during 2024 OL injuries.

2. Mitchell Melton (Bill)

• Defensive end, finished at Virginia, was highly productive (53 pressures, 10 TFLs, 5 sacks).
  • "There were guys playing snaps who weren’t as good as him." (Bill, 61:46)

2. Ryan Watts (Doug)

• Cornerback, transferred to Texas, started 2 years, NFL draft pick. Could have been a solution amid OSU’s DB issues.

1. Jameson Williams (Bill)

• The best player, but—again—his role at OSU was blocked by the best trio of receivers in program history.

1. Joe Royer (Doug)

• Tight end, transferred to Cincinnati, became a key pass-catcher and is now NFL-bound. If circumstances were different, he likely would have shined for OSU.
  • "If you could have guaranteed that he was going to be for Ohio State what he was for Cincinnati, he definitely would have been a major part of why I State’s offense." (Bill, 69:03)

Broader Transfer Takeaways

• The best OSU transfers weren’t always “obvious” hits at the time:
  • Styles, McLaughlin, Simmons, Kazmierczak—many were undervalued or “position change” gambles.
• OSU has thus far avoided catastrophic transfer losses outside of pre-portal Joe Burrow.
  • But with the 2026 outgoing class, "it would come as a surprise if it turns out all those guys are bad...maybe one or two stand a chance to live up to expectations." (Bill, 72:15)
• Impactful portal additions are integral to program-building in the Ryan Day era but don’t always have to be All-Americans to matter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the randomness of transfer portal hits:
  • "There's going to be somebody out there that you might be kind of mid on at the moment who has a chance to make an impact." (Doug, 17:57)
• On Will Howard’s place in history:
  • "People love him and he's a legend in Ohio forever." (Bill, 30:57)
• On the 2024 national championship team’s unique makeup:
  • "There were 15 engines to that 2024 national championship...you just needed somebody who didn’t mess it up." (Doug, 32:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:22: Introduction to the ranking exercise
• 04:50: Excluding Julian Sayin from rankings discussion
• 06:03 - 12:49: Styles, Simmons, Trey Sermon, Seth McLaughlin discussion
• 19:31: Will Kazmierczak praise
• 21:40 - 23:13: Jonah Jackson and the evolution of guard play
• 25:03 - 28:49: Quinshon Judkins’ RB impact
• 28:49 - 41:42: Will Howard’s legacy, QB hypotheticals, value of fit
• 41:15 - 44:23: Davison Igbinosun, multi-year impact, positional culture
• 44:23 - 47:12: Justin Fields, what-if scenarios, Day vs. Fields’ influence
• 51:54 - 54:18: Caleb Downs’ accolades and why he’s #1
• 56:52: Defining the transfer loss list and why Williams isn’t near the top
• 58:05 - 69:57: Running through biggest transfer losses, Jacoby, Melton, Royer, etc.
• 70:29 - 72:36: Will outgoing 2026 transfers be the first to truly bite OSU?
• 72:43: Reflecting on other programs’ portal pain vs. OSU’s relative luck

Summary Table: Top 5 Transfers (Consensus)

| Rank | Player | Position | From | To OSU Yrs | Notable Accolades / Impact | |------|--------------------|-----------|-----------|------------|----------------------------------| | 1 | Caleb Downs | Safety | Alabama | 2+ | Two-time Unanimous AA, Nat’l Champ, Thorpe, Lott winners | | 2 | Justin Fields | QB | Georgia | 2 | Heisman Finalist, CFP Runner-up, Ryan Day’s first program QB | | 3 | Davison Igbinosun | Corner | Ole Miss | 3 | Starter/culture changer for elite defenses | | 4 | Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ole Miss | 1 | Key to 2024 national title, power RB | | 5 | Will Howard | QB | K-State | 1 | National champion starter, locker-room leader |

Closing Thoughts

Bill and Doug highlight that the transfer portal era is about value and fit—not just star power or recruiting rankings. Ohio State has managed to recruit, develop, and, crucially, retain talent at an elite level, rarely suffering from devastating transfer portal departures (with Burrow pre-dating Day’s era). Their closing outlook: the top five impact transfers have set a remarkable standard, and the only way to break into that echelon is through exceptional achievement—something only time and championships will reveal.

“But can you find Will Kazmariks and guys like Lorenzo Styles and Jonah Jackson and Seth McLaughlin who are going to help you win? Absolutely. And I think those are the names that people should be thinking about for comparison when you think about these transfers in 2026.” (Doug, 55:26)