Ohio State Adds Minnesota Transfer Phillip Daniels to Bolster Offensive Line in 2025

In a major move to complete its offensive line for the 2025 season, Ohio State added a commitment from University of Minnesota offensive tackle Phillip Daniels. The Cincinnati, Ohio native opted to return home to the Buckeyes through his transfer decision, marking a true homecoming for the big lineman who was once an unheralded local talent in the state during his high school recruitment days.

Background and Performance at Minnesota:

Phillip Daniels had committed to the University of Pittsburgh but later flipped his commitment to Minnesota. He redshirted the 2023 season at Minnesota. In 2024, he started the last four games of the year at right tackle after earning his way onto the field. All in all, Daniels had 300 snaps throughout the year, showing his potential and giving him a reputation as a high-ceiling player. He added a 62.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, with similar pass and run blocking grades, which really helps point out how versatile and effective he was on the field. This leaves him with three years of eligibility, making him a hot prospect for Ohio State.

Transfer Decision and Impact:

Much of Daniels’ decision to transfer back to his home state had to do with a desire to play for Ohio State, the team he grew up a fan of. After hitting the transfer portal, Daniels took a quick visit to Columbus, and that was all it took for him to pull the trigger on the Buckeyes without taking any other visits. He committed on December 18, 2024, and becomes the first transfer portal commitment for Ohio State this winter.

The Ohio State staff has placed an emphasis on the offensive line, and the Buckeyes will seek to add depth to the position group after a season in which they chased additional depth and experience. That, of course, makes the timing of Daniels’ arrival particularly well-timed with the Buckeyes set to try to retool their offensive line for their upcoming playoff opener and beyond. That would suggest he was signed to add strength to what should be one of the stronger offensive lines in 2025 with his experience and local tie-in.

Bigger Picture:

The move for Daniels comes during a wild time in college football, as the transfer portal opens to allow players like Daniels to seek new opportunities. Minnesota, while losing a promising young talent, has also been active in the portal, securing commitments like defensive tackle Rushawn Lawrence from Stony Brook, which suggests the dynamic shift in roster building across college programs.

The move has sparked discussions on social media and among fans, with sentiments from excitement for Ohio State’s fans to a sense of loss for Minnesota supporters. The story of Daniels’ transfer also delves into the more significant theme of player movements in college football, which widely includes geographical ties and personal ambition.

Conclusion:

Phillip Daniels’ transfer to Ohio State from Minnesota for the 2025 season is also a story of a returning home player but also typical of the changing landscape of collegiate football, where players can try to use the transfer portal for career-path and personal-professional aspirations alignments. For Ohio State, Daniels represents more than just depth; he represents potential future leadership across the offensive line. The way he has gone from redshirt freshman to a major transfer addition underlines the fluidity and opportunities of today’s college football recruiting and development.