The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh away. That has been the story of Ohio State’s offseason so far. The Buckeyes have added some serious talent following their Cotton Bowl Classic loss to Miami, and according to 247Sports, their 2026 transfer class currently ranks eighth nationally with 11 commits. At the same time, they’ve also seen significant departures, with more than 30 players leaving the program. Among the most notable losses are underclassmen wide receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham, both of whom committed to former Ohio State player and grad assistant Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The departures of Porter and Graham surprised many Ohio State fans. Both were highly rated recruits out of high school, and their decisions to leave Columbus raised questions. A combination of factors likely played a role, including former OSU OC and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline’s move to USF and potential disagreements over NIL opportunities. Regardless of the reasons, losing both players on paper significantly impacts Ohio State’s wide receiver depth—a position that has been one of the program’s strongest for the past five years.
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Quincy Porter was a five-star recruit, ranked among the top 31 players and the fourth-best wide receiver in the 2025 class. The 6’4”, 210-pound freshman appeared in just three games in 2025, catching four passes for 59 yards. While not the production Ohio State hoped for this past season, expectations were high that Porter would see a larger role in 2026. Instead, he will now continue his career at Notre Dame.
Mylan Graham, a five-star recruit from the 2024 class, was ranked among the top 60 players nationally and the 12th-best wide receiver in his class. Like Porter, Graham was primarily recruited by Brian Hartline and projected to develop into an NFL-caliber player. However, he also struggled for playing time, appearing in just four games in 2025 and finishing with six catches for 93 yards. With Carnell Tate leaving for the NFL, Graham likely would have stepped into a bigger role in Columbus, but he chose to follow Porter to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule doesn’t appear overly daunting. They return a talented roster, have an ascending quarterback, and now add two former top Ohio State receivers. The Fighting Irish will certainly be a team to watch. Losing one of Porter or Graham would sting, but losing both feels like a gut punch. While neither had yet produced a breakout season, their potential was undeniable, and their departures are a blow to Ryan Day and his staff.
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Ohio State still returns Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss at wide receiver and added a speedster from UTSA through the portal. However, the Buckeyes will need a big contribution from five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. to help offset the losses of Porter and Graham. The offseason may be unpredictable, but Ohio State’s wide receiver room will be one of the key storylines in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football loses two top WRs to Notre Dame in transfer shock
