Ryan Day’s loss is proving a boon for head coaches elsewhere. Close to twenty Ohio State Players have hit the portal, and it’s not slowing anytime soon. The offense is especially hit hard with the loss of at least three wide receivers. With that, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman was quick to make a move for one of Ohio State’s prized exits to the portal.

On January 4, sophomore WR Mylan Graham announced his decision to enter the portal. Not even two days had gone by before Marcus Freeman started recruiting him to South Bend. According to reports, the Irish head coach spoke with him on a phone call on Tuesday night.

The former five-star prospect had come to Columbus on a high note. However, his limited playing time led him to seek opportunities elsewhere. He concluded the 2025 season with a mere six receptions and 93 yards. Although Carnell Tate’s departure from the NFL had projected him into a bigger role, he still chose to move on from Columbus.

His departure made for an emotional farewell. This farewell was particularly poignant for star receiver Jeremiah Smith. The duo had developed a great bond over the years and supported each other throughout their journey. After Graham made his news public, a heartbroken Smith replied with a broken heart emoji. “Nooo 5💔.” Fellow WR Carnell Tate expressed his feelings with, “Damn 5💔.”

Before packing his bags for Columbus, Mylan had touched the 2,000-yard milestone, snagging 21 touchdowns over 24 games. However, his tenure at Ohio State failed to take off. As a freshman, he appeared in four games (redshirt): Western Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee, and Oregon. More to the woe, a packed WR room featuring Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith pushed him to the back of the depth chart again.

His 2025 season was far from a productive season (for Mylan), and the disappointment was quite evident.

“I feel like I’m right there,” Graham said in a conversation with Eleven Warriors ahead of the Cotton Bowl. “Obviously, with what I’m sitting behind, it’s kind of hard for me just watching those two guys do what they do, but I feel like I’m right there.”

It was evident that Graham would face elite competition in the WR room come next season as well. On that note, Graham’s departure may have also been about Brian Hartline’s departure to the South Florida Bulls.

A stacked WR room forces Mylan Graham towards the portal

After waiting out two years as a backup, Graham kept waiting for his shot. Tate is leaving for the draft, paving the way for younger players to take on new opportunities. For a while, it seemed so. Besides, Carnell Tate, Quincy Porter, and Bryson Rodgers have also parted ways with the program.

However, Brandon Inniss and Chris Henry Jr. present formidable competition. Not just that, Ryan Day is fully dialed in to replenish its lost talent. According to reports, he is targeting Texas Tech’s DeAndre Moore and Georgia Tech’s Isiah Canion.

Mylan Graham’s tenure at Ohio State did not pan out as expected. Among the many reasons he picked the Buckeyes was to train under the watchful eyes of celebrated OC Brian Hartline.

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“The track record for Hartline speaks for itself; it was kind of a no-brainer,” he had stated.

During his recruitment journey, he turned down SEC trenches at Alabama and Tennessee to develop under Coach Hartline. It is possible that Hartline’s departure might have prompted his decision to transfer as well.