Joe Royer has joined the list of Buckeyes in the transfer portal.
The fourth-year tight end entered the transfer portal on Thursday night, becoming the 14th Ohio State player to enter the portal since the end of the regular season.
He joins quarterback Kyle McCord, running backs Chip Trayanum and Evan Pryor, wide receiver Julian Fleming, centers Victor Cutler Jr. and Jakob James, defensive end Omari Abor, linebacker Reid Carrico, cornerbacks Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner, safeties Cameron Martinez and Kye Stokes and kicker Parker Lewis as Buckeyes who have entered the transfer portal, which officially opened for the first transfer window of the offseason on Monday.
Royer entered each of the last couple of seasons with expectations of playing a bigger role in Ohio State’s offense, but that role never materialized as Royer missed time with injuries in both seasons. Royer also spent time away from the team in 2022 due to the death of his mother.
Royer began this season as Ohio State’s third-string tight end behind Cade Stover and Gee Scott Jr. and played 37 snaps in the Buckeyes’ first two games of the year, but he played only seven offensive snaps for the remainder of the season as he was surpassed on the depth chart by walk-on Patrick Gurd.
While Stover is expected to enter the 2024 NFL draft, it was uncertain whether Royer would have played a bigger role next season with Jelani Thurman expected to climb the depth chart in his second season as a Buckeye. Even without Royer and Stover, Ohio State is slated to have six tight ends on scholarship next season while Gurd also has another year of eligibility, though the Buckeyes could still have reason to explore the addition of a transfer tight end with more playing experience, particularly one who can make an immediate impact as a blocker.
Royer has two remaining years of collegiate eligibility.
