The Ohio State football team has seen its share of transfers as the transfer portal opened this season. The Buckeyes have lost 15 players already and among this group is starting quarterback Kyle McCord and starting wideout Julian Fleming.
Kyle McCord led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record in 2023, throwing for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season as the starter.
Julian Fleming is a senior who will have one year of eligibility left. Fleming saw somewhat of a reduced role in 2023 after many expected him to take a big step after his 2022 campaign. This season, Fleming caught 26 passes for 270 yards.
Both players came into Ohio State football as top recruits and never really panned out, with three seasons of starting experience between the two of them. Fleming was overshadowed by receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., while McCord was beaten out by C.J. Stroud in his time with the Buckeyes.
This year, Ohio State was beaten by bitter rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, for the third straight season. Fans were outraged by McCord’s game-sealing interception on the Buckeyes’ final drive with an opportunity to win the game.
Huskers Looking to Capitalize on Ohio State Football Transfers
Amid Ohio State’s transfer chaos, reports came out of Nebraska’s interest in the quarterback-receiver duo of Kyle McCord and Julian Fleming.
NEWS: Ohio State transfer QB Kyle McCord and WR Julian Fleming are currently visiting Nebraska, @PeteNakos_ confirms🌽
Both former 5-star recruits👀https://t.co/0XfO1Vp6E0 pic.twitter.com/83FY6k4MeC
— On3 (@On3sports) December 10, 2023
Nebraska went just 5-7 in their first season of the Matt Rhule era but have been linked to a number of transfers.
The Huskers have also been linked to Georgia commit, Dylan Raiola. Raiola is the top quarterback recruit in the class of 2024 and has recently garnered a lot of attention from Nebraska. If Matt Rhule can flip Raiola, he would light the recruiting trail on fire and could land a number of transfers because of the signing.
If Nebraska lands five-star Dylan Raiola AND elite Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord at QB, the Big Ten’s officially on watch: https://t.co/YsMq5hn4xy pic.twitter.com/OZX4DVIzq7
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) December 12, 2023
Raiola’s uncle Donovan currently serves as an OL coach for Nebraska.
Kyle McCord has been linked to Nebraska from the jump but the possibility of landing Fleming as well was the real surprise. Both players are visiting Nebraska this week and could commit sooner rather than later.
Landing both Dylan Raiola and Kyle McCord would be electric for Nebraska and would allow Raiola to sit behind McCord for a season to develop. The Huskers will need more weapons but Julian Fleming is a great start for the squad.
Flipping the Georgia commit, Raiola, would allow the Huskers to pick up some weapons that want to play with their elite new quarterback duo.