Ohio State Urged to Make Run at ‘Disruptive’ 6-Foot-6 Player

After the Ohio State Buckeyes’ spring game in April, head coach Ryan Day made it clear the defense had work to do. Calling their performance “vanilla,” Day signaled the Buckeyes might turn to the transfer portal for reinforcements, especially after losing star edge rusher Jack Sawyer to the NFL. With gaps to fill and depth concerns, Ohio State is targeting proven talent to elevate a unit that struggled to pressure opponents during the spring scrimmage. Beau Atkinson presents as a potential fix to their problems, per Tom Luginbill of ESPN. Measuring 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Atkinson entered the transfer portal earlier this week after leading North Carolina in sacks during the 2024 season.

“With the departures of Jack Sawyer and others, the Buckeyes need some immediate plug-and-play edge rushers,” Luginbill wrote in a report he published on April 17. “Atkinson would fill both value and need. When you look at Atkinson’s high school tape, you see many similarities in terms of physical measurables (6-foot-6, 265 pounds) and production to Sawyer. Atkinson has length and is extremely disruptive in one-on-one situations.”

“In a true 3-4 at North Carolina, Atkinson might not have been in the best situation, but if utilized on the edge, Atkinson can be a handful and he plays with a relentless motor. Teams want to load up on defensive linemen, and there are few in this portal cycle with Atkinson’s size and production.” He added.

Atkinson led the North Carolina Tar Heels with 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in the 2024 season, recording 24 solo tackles.