In an interview following his signing, he stated that he was having second thoughts for more important reasons, and it took a 9 a.m. chat with OSU head coach Ryan Day to keep him from leaving: the huge group of current OSU players who were transferring out of the program.
“We talked a lot,” Houston told Justin Felder of Fox 5 Atlanta. “The transfer portal and other things were a little shaky.” Ryan Day, on the other hand, knew exactly what it was. He described each player and why they left. After that, it was like, ‘OK,'”
Day also spoke with Houston later in the day.
Houston’s concerns about the number of players OSU has lost to the transfer portal (14) this fall are justified, especially given that a couple of those players, including quarterback Kyle McCord, were starters in 2023. However, Day recognizes that the portal is becoming more of a standard in the sport that programs must deal with when putting out a roster each year.
That understanding is why he had answers for Houston, a crucial player in the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class. Having those answers aided in putting the finishing touches on a significant recruiting.
“Really, really excited about Eddrick,” Day went on to say. “Larry (Johnson) put in a lot of effort on this one.” It comes from an incredible program in Buford. I believe he will have an immediate impact.”
A Christmas gift from QB1
Ohio State will have a quarterback competition for the second straight offseason, but in the meantime, Devin Brown will finish the season as the starter.
Brown is replacing Kyle McCord, who elected to move to Syracuse after an 11-1 season that ended with another loss to Michigan.
The second-year quarterback will be the most experienced player in a room that includes Lincoln Kienholz in Year 2 and five-star true freshman Air Noland.
The Cotton Bowl is Brown’s first extended opportunity to show why the Buckeyes signed him in 2022, while also sparking enthusiasm for the future and setting the tone for the offseason competition. Winning that battle will depend on his performance on the field as much as his leadership in the locker room.
He began, at least publicly, by providing everyone on the roster with JBL Bluetooth speakers as part of a NIL contract he has with the firm.
Since the advent of NIL before of the 2021 season, this act has become increasingly widespread in college sports.Former quarterback C.J. Stroud did something similar before the 2022 season, giving everyone a $500 present.
