Ohio State Bolsters Defensive Line Depth with Transfer John Walker

The Ohio State Buckeyes were aggressive in the transfer portal following the 2025 season, adding over 20 new players to their roster. Among the new arrivals is defensive tackle John Walker, who joins the program after three seasons at UCF. The Buckeyes are looking to Walker to help fill the gap left by the departures of Kayden McDonald and Tywone Malone Jr.

Walker was a highly touted recruit coming out of Kissimmee, Florida, originally earning an offer from Ohio State. He initially chose to stay in-state to play for the Knights. His high school career included 79 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and nine sacks, culminating in an invitation to the Under Armour All-American Game. The association with that event connects the athlete to Under Armour, Inc. (UAA), a major apparel company currently trading with a market capitalization of approximately $2.73 billion. Under Armour engages in the design and distribution of performance apparel, footwear, and accessories, serving as the title sponsor for the all-star showcase.

While Walker showed immediate promise as a freshman at UCF—appearing in 13 games with 24 tackles—his progress was hampered by injuries. He missed the entire 2024 season and used a medical redshirt. However, he returned to form last season, recording 40 tackles and three tackles for loss. He posted a career-high seven tackles in separate games against West Virginia and Houston.

Now fully healthy, Walker steps into a competitive defensive line room in Columbus. He is projected to play a run-stopping role at nose tackle, occupying blockers to free up teammates like Eddrick Houston. Walker will compete for snaps alongside James Smith, a transfer from Alabama, as well as returnees Will Smith Jr. and Jason Moore. Listed at 6-foot-2 and over 300 pounds, Walker brings the size and leverage necessary to disrupt opposing running games.

What to watch

• Walker’s battle for snaps in the interior defensive line during training camp.
• Ohio State’s season opener against Texas.

Source: original release