Written by Duane Long | 29 June 2009

The transfers rules need to change. Right now they are heavily weighted to the colleges. I understand why they are set up that way. It is to keep players from holding college football staffs hostage. Lets take Terrelle Pryor. He could have signed his LOI and walked in here and demand to start or he would transfer out. I understand, and agree with, the desire to keep that from happening. The downside of that is what it does to players who are buried on the depth chart. Players are left with making early, and possibly hasty, decisions about their futures. By their third year a player must be ready to make a decision. It would be nice to have a system in place where an outside entity, someone appointed by the NCAA, could look at a players situation and allow him to transfer without penalty. There is little to gain for the school or the player by keeping a buried player on the depth chart. If he didn't have to sit out a year he might leave. That opens up a scholarship for the school. Most would not complain about that, and at the same time a player has an opportunity to play. Maybe even make himself into an NFL prospect. Maybe a draft situation could be set up. Players who want to leave could be picked up to lets say 10 schools that "drafted" them and a transfer without penalty could happen with one of those schools. The player could pick 10 if there are more than 10. If he wants to go off the list then he has to accept that year off penalty. Making transfers easier is a win-win situation.

With that in mind, here is my annual list of players who would be better off transferring. G-Force pointed out that some are happy where they are. They are looking beyond the football field and after college as the reason to stay. It is why I think Bauserman would choose to stay. It makes sense. It is the only thing that makes sense. We are talking about kids, some with a good deal of talent, who would be better off elsewhere if this was only about football.

Pentello and Oliver. Why would they stick around? They just got passed on the depth chart by 2 younger guys, Johnson and Damicone, and likely 3 with Wood. They are not going to play here. Gant could leave but as a senior he has to drop a level. He might be a 4th year senior though. I keep hearing about injuries with Evege. All I know is it is looking like he is never going to play here. Really liked that kid coming out of high school. Thought he was underrated. Whatever the reason, the fact remains every corner that has come into the program since he has been here has passed him on the depth chart. The same for Connor Smith. He has been rumored to be leaving since last football season. With his Dad being a former Buckeyes and quite successful, it stands to reason he knows more about Buckeye Nation than anyone. Maybe that is why he is sticking around. The same could be said of Grant Schwartz with a former Buckeye for a father. It stands to reason that is why he is sticking around. Slot receivers are in abundance here.  He has at least 2, and maybe 3 if Jordan Hall moves to receiver, fast athletic freshman on his 6. They are not going to be there long. He really should move to safety but if he doesn't he needs to leave. That is a win-win. Someone tell this kid to move back to safety. He would likely be #3 on the depth chart as soon as he moves over. Here is one that might surprise you. Keith Wells. If you ask me to pick a guy off this list most likely to not be back, I would say Wells. I see him going the James Scott route by not being asked back. He might be able to get back to focus somewhere else. Weak side DE is full of competition. As impressed as I was with his senior film, there is talent here and with him not focused, he will not break into the lineup anyway.

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