Ohio State early favorites for former five-star Georgia linebacker set to enter the portal

The Buckeyes have a second chance to land five-star edge rusher Damon Wilson.

It’s Wednesday, Jan. 8 and the Ohio State Buckeyes will be heading to Dallas today ahead of Friday’s Cotton Bowl against the Texas Longhorns. And since we are already a week into the new year, most of the top-line players in the transfer portal have already found a new place to call home. However, on Monday, another big name declared his intention to enter the portal, and it is someone that recruiting-focused Buckeye fans might well remember.

Heading into the December 2022 Early Signing Period, Damon Wilson took an unofficial visit to Columbus the weekend of Ohio State’s second-straight loss to Michigan. That was his final visit, but less than a month later, the No. 17 player in the country had signed with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Fast forward two years, and after playing 417 snaps as a sophomore for UGA this season, Wilson plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens following the national championship game, and Ohio State is reportedly once again back at the top of his list.

As a second-year player, Wilson totaled 22 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback hurries. According to Pro Football Focus, he played his best game of the season against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, finishing with the third-highest defensive grade for any Dawg.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 250 pounds, Wilson fits fairly well into the style of edge rusher in Larry Johnson and Jim Knowles’ system, but he has been inconsistent this season in Athens. He can have impressive standout performances like he did against ND and in UGA’s regular season win over Texas when he had a sack, 2 hurries, and a forced fumble. Or, he can have no discernible impact like he did against Georgia Tech. In that game, Wilson played 42 snaps, had a single tackle, and generated no pressure despite GT quarterback Haynes King throwing the ball 36 times.

Now, with most players entering the portal from major Power 4 schools, obviously, things didn’t go according to plan, but there is reason for Ohio State to be interested in getting Wilson the second time around. With Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau heading for the NFL Draft following OSU’s final game, that means at end, the Buckeyes will have only Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson as upperclassmen.

While both of those guys have popped at times throughout the year, bringing in a guy like Wilson adds depth, high-end athleticism, and experience to the rotation. And since Wilson is a little bit lighter than traditional OSU edge rushers, if Knowles does ever decide to actually employ the Jack, Wilson could be his man.

According to 247Sports’ Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz, “Ohio State is among the early teams to watch with Wilson.” Eleven Warriors also notes that Florida, Florida State, and Missouri could also be in contention.

So, while the Buckeye coaching staff is obviously focused on Friday’s game, they would also really like to pair a semifinal victory with a big-time BOOOOOOOM.