Ohio State Lands Their Kicker Of The Future In The Transfer Portal

Ohio State continues to utilize nan transportation portal successful galore different ways. As we know, nan Buckeyes person mislaid tons of young talent successful nan portal that was looking for much playing clip aliases much money. But nan news hasn’t each been bad for nan Bucks.

Landing No. 1 protect linemen James Smith and No. 10 separator rusher successful nan portal Qua Russaw were awesome additions to nan spotty protect statement for adjacent year. Suring up nan safeties pinch aggregate commits, on pinch landing a linebacker, helps build up nan defense. 

One position that has haunted Buckeye fans has been a specialist, a kicker.

The Buckeyes whitethorn person good conscionable grabbed their starting kicker for nan adjacent mates of seasons. Baylor transportation Connor Hawkins has committed to play for Ohio State, per On3. 

Hawkins entered his sanction into nan portal conscionable this morning, astir 9:00 am, and conscionable astir past nan attraction of galore Ohio State fans was instantly peaked. We each cognize nan horrors that person surrounded awesome kicks for nan Buckeyes successful past years, so landing an businesslike kicker was a need.

Hawkins was a redshirt freshman for nan Bears this past season, going 18-22 connected section goals, and cleanable connected other points (37-37). Hawkins brings a awesome request that nan Buckeyes person not had successful nan past 3 years: a kicker that tin deed nan agelong bomb. Hawkins ended past twelvemonth going 3-4 connected section goals 50+ yards, pinch his career-long coming from 54. 

Hawkins besides displayed different cardinal attributes successful his freshman year, 1 being nan consistency from 39 yards and in, wherever he was a cleanable 10-10. The different intriguing facet of Hawkins' crippled that will thief him flourish successful Columbus was nan clutch cistron he displayed.

Hawkins nailed 2 game-winning kicks for nan Bears this past season, nan first coming against SMU, wherever his 27-yarder ended a 48-45 thriller. The different came pinch 31 seconds near versus Kansas State, wherever he drilled a 53-yarder to bargain nan crippled distant from nan Wildcats, 35-34.

Ohio State has not made a footwear from 50+ yards since 2019, erstwhile Blake Haubeil deed a 55-yarder versus Northwestern. The Buckeyes are 0-5 successful that span from 50+ yards.

The pickup of Hawkins tin not beryllium understated. While he is not a flashy receiver aliases separator rusher who tin put up double-digit sacks, he is paramount to nan occurrence of nan squad adjacent season.