Ohio State Football | Grad transfer bolsters offensive line
Ohio State got a major addition to its offensive line for 2019 on Monday when Rutgers’ Jonah Jackson announced he would become a Buckeye as a graduate transfer.
On Twitter, Jackson posted a photo of himself in a No. 73 Ohio State uniform with the word “COMMITTED.”
Jackson was named honorable mention all-Big Ten team last year by both the league’s coaches and media. The 6-foot-4, 297-pounder is the second-best available guard in the 247sports.com transfer portal rankings.
Jackson can also play center but is likely to be slotted as a left guard for the Buckeyes, who lose four starting offensive linemen from last year’s team. Left tackle Thayer Munford is the only returning starter, and the junior is not a lock to start next year. Senior Josh Alabi will battle for the job at left tackle with Munford or right tackle with former five-star Nicholas Petit-Frere, a redshirt freshman.
Left guard Malcolm Pridgeon and right guard Demetrius Knox were seniors last year. When Knox was injured late in the year, Wyatt Davis replaced him, and the sophomore is considered a budding star.
Sophomore Josh Myers has the upper hand at center entering spring practice, which begins next week.
Also expected to be in the mix is senior Branden Bowen, who started at right guard in 2017 until he fractured his left tibia and fibula against Maryland. Bowen had setbacks in his return and wasn’t able to play last season. He said late in the year that his leg had finally healed completely.
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