Ohio State Buckeyes Players Defend Kyle McCord's Transfer Decision
Kyle McCord's decision to transfer from Ohio State didn't only shock fans and national pundits.
Offensive lineman Josh Fryer said he discovered the move via social media. So did fellow offensive lineman Donovan Jackson.
Neither, however, are upset with McCord's choice to leave the program before the No. 7 Buckeyes face No. 9 Missouri in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Players must do what's best for their future, and sticking around in Columbus was not in McCord's cards.
“He just chose what was best for him," Jackson told reporters. "You know, he's my brother, man. I'm proud of wherever he goes. Wherever he chooses, man, I'm supporting him 1,000%.”
McCord, who led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record while throwing for over 3,100 yards, will explore his options. He could return if coach Ryan Day offers him a roster spot, or he could elect to be the building block for another program looking to contend in a new era of college football with playoff expansion.
Several players knew of McCord's intent to leave the program following a 30-24 loss to No. 1 Michigan in Ann Arbor last month. Against the Wolverines, McCord threw two costly interceptions, including one on the final drive that sealed a six-point win for the Wolverines, and extended the losing streak to three games.
"I really felt bad for him, how he was treated after those games,” defensive lineman Jack Sawyer said. “And I don't think it was fair. I understand that at Ohio State, the quarterback’s expected to win games. And I don't think at all it was his fault that we lost that game in Ann Arbor.
"I love Kyle to death, and I wish him nothing but the best. And I just think it was unfortunate the way he ended his career here.”
Receiver Emeka Egbuka didn't mince words when discussing the backlash dished out this season to McCord. The junior still threw 24 touchdowns against six interceptions and led the Buckeyes to top-10 wins over Notre Dame and Penn State.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord (6) drops back to throw during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium.
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
“People can say what they want about Kyle, we went 11-1, we had a great season,” said Egbuka. “Unfortunately we lost to the team up north. But you can't really discredit the things that he did. We had a Biletnikoff winner, you can't just have that with a terrible quarterback."
Sawyer mentioned how all eyes are on the quarterback in Columbus, especially given the tenures of CJ Stroud and Justin Fields. Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist, led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2022 and nearly an upset win over eventual national champion Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
Fields, a fellow Heisman finalist and first-round pick, led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and national championship appearance against Alabama during the COVID-19 season in 2020.
"You're expected to throw for 4,000 yards, 50 touchdowns. It's a lot of pressure, especially when you're a first-time starter, and you're playing on a bad wheel all year, and you're battling through it, you're handling stuff like a professional like he did all season," said Sawyer. "You know, it's just hard to see. I feel bad for him as a friend, as a teammate."
Questions surrounding the Buckeyes' quarterback room heading into a new era of the Big Ten. The conference expands to 18 teams with the arrival of the four Pac-12 schools, but will the quarterback room in Columbus add a proven name to compete for the starting job?
Devin Brown, who competed with McCord for the starting job through fall camp, will now get first-team reps heading into Cotton Bowl practice. Freshman Lincoln Kienholz could also see action at AT&T Stadium to give Day an idea of what's to come in 2024.
Egbuka, who will play and could return for another season, said McCord will be missed, as will the other 13 players who have entered the portal since the regular-season finale. Focus, however, needs to be on securing a win over a Tigers' roster that vastly exceeded expectations in Columbia this fall.
"It's always the next man forward mentality,” Egbuka said. “And as far as who's going to be at the quarterback position, obviously the wide receivers don't really have too much say, that's going to be the coaching staff that does that. But whoever's back there, we know that they have the ability to get the job done.”
