Ohio State’s freshman running back, Sam Williams-Dixon, will not be continuing with the team as he enters the transfer portal after just one season with the Buckeyes. Williams-Dixon made this decision following Ohio State’s impressive 41-21 win against the Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.
The running back informed the Ohio State coaching staff on Sunday that he would be leaving the team and entering the transfer portal, choosing not to stay with the team for the remainder of the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes, who are ranked No. 8, are set to face the Texas Longhorns, who are seeded No. 5, in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic scheduled for January 10.
At 5-foot-11 and weighing 203 pounds, Williams-Dixon was a highly sought-after recruit who had committed to Ohio State in April 2023. He officially enrolled in February 2024 and had a relatively modest freshman season, recording seven carries for 53 yards.
Despite the limited playing time, his future seemed promising, with the potential to move up in the team’s depth chart. This opportunity arose with key running backs such as TreVeyon Henderson set to enter the NFL draft, and Quinshon Judkins is likely to declare for it in the upcoming offseason.
Williams-Dixon had chosen to commit to Ohio State over 14 other scholarship offers from major programs. Despite being ranked No. 661 in the 247Sports Composite rankings, his status as a local talent from Columbus, Ohio, positioned him to compete for significant playing time with the departure of higher-profile players from the backfield. However, with his departure, Ohio State will need to look elsewhere to fill the void left by his exit.
In light of Williams-Dixon’s transfer, Ohio State will turn to James Peoples, a rising star in the program, and CJ Donaldson, who is an incoming transfer from West Virginia. Additionally, the Buckeyes have three running backs joining the team from the 2025 recruiting class: Anthony Rogers, Bo Jackson, and Isaiah West. The team’s backfield will continue to evolve, but the loss of Williams-Dixon is still significant, as it represents another shift in the program’s future.
Williams-Dixon’s exit marks Ohio State’s 12th departure through the transfer portal in recent months. The Buckeyes now rank 22nd in On3Sports’ transfer portal team rankings, an indication that the program has experienced a fair amount of turnover, even as they maintain high expectations heading into their upcoming Cotton Bowl game.
The transfer portal has become a common route for players seeking more opportunities, and Williams-Dixon’s decision is part of a broader trend in college football. While Ohio State will continue its preparations for the Cotton Bowl, the team will likely reflect on how to adjust to these changes and continue to build for the future. Whether Williams-Dixon will find success with a new program remains to be seen, but his move marks the end of his brief time with the Buckeyes.
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