Ohio State’s latest transfer portal addition has the chance to take a starting job away from a current Buckeye

Adding Courville through the transfer portal gives the Buckeyes a kicker who will compete with Jayden Fielding for the starting job this fall. Courville spent the last two seasons at Ball State, going 26-of-34 on field goals during that span, including 11-of-13 last season. Fielding, by comparison, is 29-of-37 over the past two seasons and went 13-of-17 on field goals in 2024.

Courville was 2-for-2 on field goals from 50 yards or more in 2024, an area where he could bring added value to Ohio State. Fielding has been accurate from inside 50 yards but is 0-for-2 on attempts beyond that distance.

Fielding and Courville will compete for the starting role in the fall. If Courville doesn’t win the job this year, he will remain in contention in 2026, with two years of eligibility left. Courville is a 5-foot-10, 189-pound kicker from Dayton, Ohio.

Competition is healthy, and the kicking game has played a pivotal role in several key moments for Ohio State in recent memory. Bringing in competition to push the position is a smart move. Ohio State did not lose a single scholarship player to the transfer portal this spring.