Ohio State has landed an Oklahoma State transfer safety out of the portal.
Tanner McCalister, who started every game for the Cowboy defense in 2021 before entering the transfer portal on Dec. 22, is following new Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to the Buckeye program, he announced Wednesday on social media. McCalister will have one year of eligibility with the Buckeyes.
Already Written! Excited to begin this new journey with @OhioStateFB lets go ! #Committed pic.twitter.com/D3Xr3DSskM
— Tanner 2 McCalister (@McCalister_Dos2) January 5, 2022
McCalister was credited with 42 total tackles this season, six pass breakups and an interception. In four years with the Cowboys, McCalister totaled 123 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups and one interception.
The McCalister File
- Year: Senior
- Size: 5-11, 195
- Pos: S
- School: Oklahoma State (2018-21), Rockwall-Heath (TX) HS
- Transfer Rating: ★★★★
- Transfer Rank: #4 CB
- Stats at Oklahoma State: 123 total tackles, 4.5 TFL, 12 PBU, 1 INT
McCalister was a three-star prospect out of Rockwall, Texas, in the class of 2018, and will likely play a similar role to the cover safety position in the 2021 defense, where second-year defensive backs Lathan Ransom and Cameron Martinez both saw snaps this past season along with departing fifth-year senior Marcus Williamson, who started most of the year at the position.
Ransom suffered a leg fracture during a kickoff in the Rose Bowl which will keep him out for the entirety of spring practice, and Martinez played both cover safety and free safety at times in the Buckeye secondary this past season.
With Ransom coming off of injury and Martinez still developing, McCalister could start right away for Knowles’ defense next fall, giving the Buckeyes an experienced defensive back who already has four years of familiarity with Ohio State’s new defensive coordinator.
McCalister becomes the second player to join Ohio State’s 2022 roster via the transfer portal, along with former Arizona State running back DeaMonte Trayanum, who will play linebacker for the Buckeyes.
