When players sign national letters of intent to play football at Ohio State, it is usually a dream scenario.
Urban Meyer and his coaching staff (mostly) hand pick the talent they want in Columbus each year. In the past five recruiting cycles, Ohio State's class ranked as high as second nationally (2013) to as low as seventh (2015), according to 247Sports.
But not every member of those elite classes finishes his career as a Buckeye. Some transfer to a school closer to home, others deal with off-field issues and need a fresh start, while more leave for a variety of other reasons.
Ohio State announced Saturday Grant Schmidt, a four-star offensive line commit in the 2015 class and the program's first-ever player to sign from the state of South Dakota, will transfer. Incoming defensive back Kareem Felder will also not enroll in Columbus either this summer or fall.
Schmidt is the latest name added to a list of 15 early exits in Meyer's tenure, while Felder could end up being another. Below is a glance back at those that left and what caused their departures.
Class of 2012
Se'Von Pittman: Four-star defensive lineman from Canton McKinley High School
Blurb: Pittman was a late flip in Meyer's first Ohio State recruiting class. He originally committed to Michigan State and Mark Dantonio, but pledged to the Buckeyes in December 2011. Pittman redshirted the 2012 season following a knee injury and left the following spring after a reported off-field issue. Eventually, Pittman landed at Akron with help from Jim Tressel, where he recorded 72 total tackles and 4.0 sacks the past two seasons. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
David Perkins: Four-star linebacker from Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana
Blurb: Perkins is best known at Ohio State for lighting up Brutus Buckeye during the team's student appreciation practice in April 2013. Not even three months later, Perkins left the program in what Meyer called a "mutual" decision. He played sparingly on special teams as a freshman in 2012, but went to Illinois State for the rest of his college career after he was arrested on May 25, 2013 during a visit to Bowling Green. Perkins amassed 154 tackles, 20.5 sacks and an interception in three seasons with the Redbirds. He recently signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks after not hearing his name called in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Joey O'Connor: Four-star guard from Windsor High School in Colorado
Blurb: O'Connor flipped to Ohio State from Penn State in January 2012, but suffered a knee injury and redshirted that fall. He left the program in January 2013 and transferred to Colorado State, roughly 30 minutes from his hometown. He unfortunately had to retire from football in early 2014 due to ongoing knee problems.
Najee Murray: Three-star defensive back from Steubenville High School
Blurb: Murray appeared on special teams in six games and tallied three tackles during his freshman campaign, but suffered a torn ACL in practice before Ohio State hosted Indiana that season. In August 2013, Ohio State granted Murray his release from the program shortly after Meyer suspended him indefinitely for what the coach said was a "training camp issue." Murray transferred to Kent State and actually played in Ohio Stadium once more when the Buckeyes thumped the Golden Flashes 66-0 in 2014. Murray racked up 53 tackles, 12 pass break ups and even blocked a punt last season. He has one year of eligibility left.
Frank Epitropoulos: Three-star wide receiver from Upper Arlington High School
Blurb: Epitropoulos grew up a Buckeye and eventually received an opportunity to wear the scarlet and gray. He logged just one catch for six yards during his career, doing so in Ohio State's 56-0 victory at Purdue in 2013 after redshirting the year before. Epitropoulos eventually quit the team to focus on medical school aspirations. However, he elected to walk on at Michigan State last summer and remains on roster in East Lansing.
Ricquan Southward: Three-star wide receiver from Lakewood, Florida
Blurb: Southward left Ohio State in October 2012 citing personal reasons. He flipped his commitment from Miami (FL) to the Buckeyes the day before Meyer was officially hired as head coach. Southward played in two games last year for Arizona Western Community College, where he caught five passes for 118 yards and one touchdown according to the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference website.
Blake Thomas: Three-star tight end from St. Ignatius High School
Blurb: Thomas had his career cut short in August 2013 after repeated neck injuries that could have escalated to paralysis had he kept playing. Doug Lesmerises of cleveland.com detailed his journey out of football here.
Luke Roberts: Three-star linebacker from Lancaster High School
Blurb: Roberts, a July 2011 pledge to then-head coach Luke Fickell, left Ohio State for Harvard in July 2013 upon being buried on the depth chart following the signing of that year's recruiting class. He told the Columbus Dispatch he had no ill will toward Ohio State — he just didn't feel it was the place for him.
Class of 2013
Mike Mitchell: Five-star linebacker from Prestonwood Christian High School in Texas
Blurb: A highly touted prospect and one of the crown jewels in the now-famous 2013 class, Mitchell brought with him a series of expectations that were partially dashed due to an injury during training camp that fall. His father then fell ill, and Mitchell left Columbus for a school closer to home after he completed his coursework in spring 2014. He eventually enrolled in Texas Tech, but left the school this past winter. Mitchell has three years of eligibility remaining, should he want them.
Jayme Thompson: Three-star safety from Toledo Central Catholic High School
Blurb: Thompson redshirted the 2013 season following a broken ankle he suffered in training camp, then was granted his release from the program the following spring. Thompson checked out Kentucky's spring game shortly after leaving Columbus, but eventually landed at Iowa Western Community College. A year later, he signed with Indiana where he remains on roster.
Tim Gardner: Three-star offensive tackle from Indianapolis
Blurb: Ohio State dismissed Gardner from the program and sent him home in July 2013 after his arrest for police obstruction. He spent the 2013 season at Milford Academy in Berlin, New York, then enrolled at Indiana to play for his hometown Hoosiers. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Class of 2014
Kyle Berger: Four-star linebacker from St. Ignatius
Blurb: Berger's inability to stay healthy ultimately ended his Ohio State football career. A highly touted member of the class, multiple knee surgeries for torn ACLs kept him off the field and led to a medical hardship waiver. Meyer announced the end of his playing career in February. Berger tweeted he plans to use the remainder of his scholarship to pursue medical school.
Marcelys Jones: Three-star offensive lineman from Glenville High School in Cleveland
Blurb: Jones didn't see signficant snaps for Ohio State during his brief time in Columbus — he left the program last summer, a mutual decision between the student-athlete and coaching staff. Shortly thereafter, it was reported the former Under Armour All-American would enroll at Kentucky and play for the Wildcats. Not even two months later, Kentucky head coach Mike Stoops dismissed him for a violation of team rules. It is unclear where — or if — Jones will continue his playing career elsewhere.
Class of 2015
Jamel Dean: Four-star defensive back from Cocoa, Florida
Blurb: Despite enrolling early in Columbus, Ohio State's medical staff did not clear Dean for participation due to issues from past knee injuries. He left the program last April after choosing to not accept a medical hardship waiver and committed to Auburn the next month. Dean sat out the 2015 season in accordance with NCAA rules, but made noise this spring and is in a battle to start for the Tigers. He has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Grant Schmidt: Four-star offensive tackle from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Blurb: As already mentioned above, Schmidt elected to transfer out of Ohio State following spring practice. The school announced the news over the weekend, and early indications are that he will head to Cincinnati. Schmidt took a redshirt in the 2015 season in Columbus after enrolling early.
There are other players not in this list that have left the program before their eligibility expired, either for the NFL or to pursue other opportunities. For example, fourth-year juniors Antonio Underwood and Chris Carter were honored during 2014 Senior Day festivities and exited.
Running back Warren Ball graduated and transferred to Akron, where he'll play out his final year for the Zips in 2016. Armani Reeves had to stop playing due to concussion-related issues, but could head to Boston College as a graduate transfer after remaining involved at Ohio State in 2015.
De'Van Bogard and Kyle Dodson's careers ended due to injuries. Defensive end Jamal Marcus transferred to Akron because of academic issues after he played a big role in the 2014 Orange Bowl. Linebacker Trey Johnson dealt with chronic knee issues that eventually led to the end of his playing career.
Urban Meyer announced in April Donovan Munger would take a medical hardship waiver because of a blood clot issue that has plagued him since high school. And, Kareem Felder will not enroll this summer or fall at Ohio State because of reported academic issues.
Not every situation works out the way it is supposed to for various reasons — even at Ohio State.
