Bryson Shaw is leaving Ohio State.
The redshirt junior safety entered the transfer portal on Monday, an Ohio State spokesperson confirmed.
Shaw started 12 games for the Buckeyes as their top free safety in 2021. He recorded 59 total tackles and had an interception against Michigan.
He was not expected to remain in a starting role in 2022, however, with Josh Proctor returning from a leg injury and Ronnie Hickman, Kourt Williams and Tanner McCalister also in line to play major roles on the back end of Ohio State’s defense.
That said, Shaw’s departure is a hit to Ohio State’s depth and experience in the secondary, as he played the third-most snaps (666) of any Buckeye defender last season. As recently as Saturday, Shaw was taking first-team reps in practice at the bandit position with Proctor and Williams only practicing in a limited capacity.
Ohio State still has 12 scholarship safeties on its 2022 roster: Hickman, Proctor, Williams, McCalister, Cameron Martinez, Lathan Ransom, Marcus Hooker, Jantzen Dunn, Jaylen Johnson, Andre Turrentine, Kye Stokes and Sonny Styles.
Shaw became the second Ohio State defensive back to enter the transfer portal on Monday, joining redshirt sophomore cornerback Lejond Cavazos, who submitted his notification to transfer just hours earlier.
With the departures of Cavazos and Shaw, Ohio State is now down to 88 scholarship players for the 2022 season, three above the 85-man limit.
