Some junior college transfers tend to come with baggage, be it academics or discipline issues, while others, like Ohio State four-star cornerback signee Kendall Sheffield, go that route in search of more playing time.
The Missouri City, Texas, native signed with Alabama as a highly sought-after five-star prospect in 2015, but was redshirted during the Crimson Tide's national championship run.
Instead of transferring to another Football Bowl Subdivision school and being sidelined for a year, Sheffield enrolled at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, where he recorded 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles for the Buccaneers.
The recruiting process was quick for Sheffield, who will reportedly arrive at Ohio State on Sunday. He visited Columbus in November and then picked the Buckeyes over offers from Texas, Texas A&M and USC a few weeks later.
It's not the typical path for someone to end up at Ohio State, as Sheffield becomes only the third junior college prospect to sign with the Buckeyes since head coach Urban Meyer arrived, joining wide receiver Corey Smith in 2013 and offensive tackle Malcolm Pridgeon in 2016. But with the departures of starting cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore to the National Football League, he certainly has a chance to make an immediate impact in Columbus.
| YEAR | NAME | POSITION | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | KENDALL SHEFFIELD | CB | BLINN COLLEGE (BRENHAM, TEXAS) |
| 2016 | MALCOLM PRIDGEON | OT | NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE (GARDEN CITY, NY) |
| 2013 | COREY SMITH | WR | EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SCOOBA, MS) |
| 2006 | LARRY GRANT | LB | CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO (CA) |
| 2001 | CHRIS VANCE | WR | FORT SCOTT (KS) COMMUNITY COLLEGE |
| 2000 | JACK TUCKER | LB | CERRITOS JUNIOR COLLEGE (NORWALK, CA) |
| 1998 | JAMES COTTON | DE | CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO (CA) |
| 1998 | PAUL BREED | DT | CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO (CA) |
| 1997 | ASHANTI WEBB | CB | EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SCOOBA, MS) |
So how did the two most recent junior college transfers fare in their time at Ohio State?
Smith was the program's first junior college transfer since Jim Tressel signed linebacker Larry Grant away from City College of San Francisco in 2006.
He was considered a three-star prospect from East Mississippi Community College — of Netflix's Last Chance U fame — but battled various injuries and never saw consistent playing time four seasons with the Buckeyes.
Smith finished his career with 31 receptions for 351 yards, though his 2014 campaign (20 catches for 255 yards) showed greater potential.
The 6-foot-8, 324-pound Pridgeon, meanwhile, ended up in Columbus by way of Nassau Community College in New York, and was expected to compete for a starting tackle position last season.
He unfortunately suffered a knee injury in fall camp and missed the entire year, though he said he was close to 80 percent healthy during Fiesta Bowl practices.
With starting tackles Jamarco Jones and Isaiah Prince returning next season, there's been talk of Pridgeon moving inside in 2017. But since Prince struggled mightily last year, there are those who'd rather see him in the lineup at right tackle.
Seeing as he still has two years of eligibility remaining, the jury is still out on Pridgeon. If he's unable to unseat Prince or slide over to start at guard this season, it looks like he'll have to settle for a backup role.
Either way, it will be interesting to see how Pridgeon and Sheffield pan out, though expectations are far greater for the latter. If everything goes according to plan, he could declare for the NFL Draft after only one season and pave the way for more one-and-done talent.
