It’s anticipated that Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden will soon enter the transfer portal.
A member of Ohio State’s well-stocked running back unit is poised to enter the transfer portal.
Sources inform 247Sports that Buckeyes redshirt sophomore running back Dallan Hayden has informed the Ohio State staff of his intention to enter the transfer portal once the spring transfer window commences on April 16.
Hayden, a former four-star recruit and the son of former Tennessee and NFL running back Aaron Hayden, demonstrated his potential by rushing for 553 yards and recording three 100-yard rushing games during his freshman season at Ohio State in 2022. Last season, he contributed 110 rushing yards across three games for the Buckeyes.
Reflecting on his progress, Hayden expressed confidence in his improvements, stating to Ohio State reporters this week, “I know what I had to work on, and I focused on that the whole offseason. And I feel like I’m doing better with those areas. So I’m very comfortable.”
Hayden showcased a career-best performance with 146 rushing yards and three touchdowns during Ohio State’s 43-30 victory over Maryland in 2022.
In the 2022 recruiting class, Hayden was ranked by 247 as the 19th-best running back and the 226th-best overall recruit in the nation.
While the Buckeyes experienced departures from contributors Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum, star running back TreVeyon Henderson opted to return for another season instead of entering the professional ranks. Additionally, Ohio State bolstered its running back corps by adding former Ole Miss standout Quinshon Judkins as a transfer.
Heading into the 2024 season, the Buckeyes are considered one of the early favorites for the national championship. They are scheduled to kick off the season against Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall before launching into Big Ten play against Michigan State, Iowa, and Oregon.
