Ohio State will probably lose both Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese this April, but they could fill some of that massive void in the linebacker corps with a big-time player who just hit the college football transfer portal.
The Buckeyes’ defense in 2025 was an absolute beast. Sure, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia played a key role in their impressive performance. However, you still need the talent to employ the strategies, and Patricia had a boatload of it this past season.
Safety Caleb Downs gets a lot of attention, and understandably so. He is one of the best defensive backs that has ever played in the scarlett and grey. Downs is so talented that he might be a top-five pick in this year’s NFL Draft. However, he was surrounded by some elite players as well.
Caden Curry, Sonny Styles, and Arvell Reese were all fantastic this season and among the team leaders in tackles and/or sacks. Styles and Curry are departing seniors, and there is a very real chance that Reese decides to take his talents to the NFL, too, based on how high his projections are. Meaning, the draft will leave some huge holes in Ohio State’s defense in 2026.
Could Ohio State Soon Target Penn State Star?
However, NIL has turned the transfer portal into the NCAA version of free agency, and the Buckeyes will have the opportunity to fill those spots with some impact veterans. And a really good option just became available.
According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell is entering the transfer portal. He is one of the latest Nittany Lions players leaving the program after James Franklin was fired in November.
After transfering from North Carolina last year, Campbell had his best season yet. Posting 103 tackles (64 solo), 9.5 tackles for a loss, and 3.0 sacks. In 2024, he had a career high of 6.5 sacks for the Tar Heels. He could be a perfect replacement for Reese or Styles in the LB room, and Ohio State should be a contender for the Virginia native, as well as Franklin and Virginia Tech.
