Lejond Cavazos is leaving Ohio State.
The redshirt sophomore defensive back entered the transfer portal on Monday, an Ohio State spokesperson confirmed.
Thank you Buckeye Nation.
— Lejond Cavazos (@lejondaryy) April 5, 2022
Cavazos was not in attendance for Ohio State’s student appreciation day on Saturday, and now, he’s opted to leave the team altogether to continue his college football career elsewhere in search of increased playing time.
A four-star recruit in the class of 2020, Cavazos appeared in 11 games last season as a backup cornerback but appeared unlikely to be any higher than fifth on the cornerback depth chart in 2022 with Denzel Burke and Cameron Brown returning as starters and the emergence of second-year cornerbacks Jordan Hancock and Jakailin Johnson.
Cavazos had also been practicing at the nickel safety position this spring, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said last week, but Tanner McCalister and Cameron Martinez are in line to be the top two players on the depth chart at that position.
That said, Cavazos’ departure leaves the Buckeyes with just six true cornerbacks on scholarship: Burke, Brown, Hancock, Johnson and true freshmen Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner.
Cavazos still has four years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
His departure brings Ohio State down to 89 scholarship players for the 2022 season, four above the 85-man limit.
