The transfer portal has made it a lot easier for players to find a new program that can give them the playing time they’re seeking. The Ohio State football program utilized it heavily in the offseason. They grabbed Will Howard, Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, and Seth McLaughlin, just to name a few.

Transferring has become extremely normal in college football. Sometimes players get in better situations and sometimes they get in worse ones. For one member of the Ohio State Buckeyes, it might be better for him if he entered the portal at the end of the season.

In fact, I would be surprised if this player didn’t enter the portal when the season ends. That player is linebacker C.J. Hicks. Hicks is a former five-star recruit who hasn’t lived up to his billing. Honestly, it looks like he’s made up his mind to do just that when the season is over.

We told you about what Hicks said prior to the Purdue game. That sounds like a man who is fed up with the program and who already has one eye on the portal. He knows that his time to show NFL teams that he’s good enough to play at the next level is limited.

Whether or not he’s good enough to actually get to the next level is another matter. Based on what I’ve seen from him in the first three years, it doesn’t look like he’s anywhere close to being an NFL-level player. He has some serious work to do if that’s his ultimate goal.

It would not be surprising to see Hicks declare for the portal, regardless of what the result is of this team. Even if they win the national title, Hicks will likely look elsewhere. He has to do what he thinks is best for him. That’s what the portal allows players to do.

Hicks isn’t the only Buckeye who will be on his way out when the season ends. There will be at least a handful of guys who leave. That’s just the nature of college football in this day and age.