Marcus Hooker will not close out his college career in a scarlet and gray uniform.
Ahead of his fifth season of college football, the three-star recruit and brother of former Buckeye All-American safety, Malik Hooker, has entered the transfer portal, a program spokesperson confirmed to Eleven Warriors Tuesday.
The veteran defensive back played just 39 snaps on defense this past season following an offseason suspension for an OVI charge in March of 2021 to which he eventually pleaded guilty. Hooker did not appear at all in the final four games of the 2021 season, and was sidelined with injury during the 2022 spring game.
In 2020, Hooker began the season as the Buckeyes' starting free safety, logging 288 snaps through the first five games of the season, but an injury and inconsistent play led to him not playing any defensive snaps during Ohio State's postseason run to the national championship game.
Hooker finishes his Ohio State career with 33 total tackles and one interception, which he recorded in the second half of the Buckeyes' 2020 road win over Penn State.
Following Hooker's transfer, Ohio State now has 84 players on scholarship.
