Ohio State Buckeyes running back Dallan Hayden has made the decision to enter the transfer portal, as revealed in a social media post on Monday night where he expressed gratitude towards the Buckeyes coaches and staff.
“Wearing Scarlet & Gray has been one of the great honors of my life,” Hayden wrote. “The decision to enter the transfer portal was not easy.”
During his freshman year, Hayden showcased his talent by accumulating 553 yards and five touchdowns on 110 carries.
One of his standout performances included a remarkable 146-yard, three-touchdown display in a victory over Maryland. Additionally, he contributed 43 yards in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff semifinal encounter against Georgia.
However, in his second season, Hayden opted to redshirt. Despite limited opportunities, he managed to make an impact, amassing 110 rushing yards and a touchdown in three games, notably in wins against Purdue and Minnesota.
Explaining his redshirt decision, Hayden described it as a “mutual agreement” and expressed confidence in earning significant playing time in the upcoming season.
“Obviously, I wanted be on the field, because freshman year I played and then got redshirted. So it was tough. But everything happens for a reason.”
Nevertheless, with the Buckeyes boasting a stacked depth chart, Hayden’s prospects for significant playing time appeared challenging. TreVeyon Henderson, coming off an impressive 2023 season with 11 touchdowns, remains a key figure, while the addition of Quinshon Judkins further strengthened the team’s running back options.
With Hayden’s departure, the Ohio State Buckeyes’ running back corps now relies on true freshmen James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon, who are the only other scholarship running backs on the roster. Despite the changes, head coach Ryan Day still commands a formidable backfield duo heading into the 2024 season.
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