Torrance Gibson's time at Ohio State is officially at an end.
The former top-flight recruit is set to transfer out of the program. He announced the news on his Twitter account Thursday. His full statement:
After careful thought and consideration, I am announcing my decision to transfer from The Ohio State University. I would like to take the time and thank my teammates friends, family, and fellow students for the support throughout my career thus far.
Also, [I'd] like to thank the coaching staff that brought me here and gave me the opportunity to play. This has been a very difficult decision for me and my family, but I wish nothing but the best to my teammates and The Ohio State football program in the future.
Thank you and God bless.
Gibson plans to head to Cincinnati to team up with former linebackers coach and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, who the program hired on Dec. 10 as its head coach. ESPN's Austin Ward first reported the destination of his transfer, that Gibson is currently enrolled at Cincinnati State this semester to get his associate's degree in order to become eligible this fall. Gibson also told Ward he plans to play quarterback for the Bearcats.
"I'm confident about what is happening in the Queen City," Gibson told ESPN. "I'm just ready to roll."
Gibson later confirmed his transfer to Cincinnati, also on Twitter.
"These last few months have been crazy for me and my family, but the craziness is finally over," he wrote. "Time to start my next chapter at the University of Cincinnati! BEARCATS!"
Gibson leaves the Buckeyes without ever having played a down. He redshirted in 2015, switched to wide receiver, then missed the entire 2016 season when the school suspended him in August for Autumn Semester after he violated the student code of conduct. Urban Meyer did not agree with the suspension, and rumors swirled of whether or not Gibson would look to re-enroll in Columbus once spring semester started on Monday. The head coach said a day after Ohio State handed down the suspension that he thought Gibson would return.
“I believe that is the plan [for him to stay]. This all just kind of happened within the last week so we're still dealing with it,” Meyer said on the Big Ten teleconference on Aug. 30. “I have zero indication that he wants to leave.”
But Gibson then signed a Letter of Intent with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Dec. 13. He later refuted the idea that he planned to play for the Bulldogs, still having the option to transfer to a Division I program — junior college letters of intent do not prevent players from doing so. That is now apparently the plan for his football future.
The Bearcats plays Austin Peay at Nipper Stadium in their 2017 season opener on Aug. 31. Ohio State is scheduled to host Cincinnati in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
An Ohio State spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Urban Meyer on Gibson's departure.
