Former GA Wisconsin player transferring to OSU

This seems like one of the best post-signing-day additions to a recruiting class I have seen in years, of course not counting the many walk-ons who turned golden-orange – J. Smith, Hass, Remmers, et. al.

The great thing is this kid should be Exhibit A for the proponents of the Graduate Transfer – graduated early with a 4.6 GPA from high school in Tampa Bay, so that means many of his credits were likely college level. Here is what I can piece together from all the articles since then:

• Enrolled at Wisconsin in January 2014 – semester system so got a ½ year of credits. Played as true frosh mostly on special teams.
• Announces transfer from Wisconsin March 19, 2015, right after start of spring practice.
• Appears to have completed 2nd semester classes in Madison in May 2015, when official announcement comes from USF about incoming transfer to his home-town school. Depending on whether he was on campus during summer of 2014, he may have almost 2 full years of academic credits in Madison.
• 2015 football season sits out required year for transfer to South Florida. Tally another year academically, so 3 total years beyond credits from high school.
• 2016 – Eligible and played in 11 games, probably with special teams. Appears to have been stuck behind 2 incumbent juniors on the DB depth chart, Tajee Fullwood and Devin Abraham, so may not have been likely to see more time in 2017.
• South Florida’s semester ends with commencement on May 5 & 6, when Austin has announced he will graduate – tallying 7 full semesters plus summers and high school credits for a bachelor’s degree.
• Eligible immediately at OSU for 2 seasons, and could be on campus in the middle of spring term. With his demonstrated ability to play immediately in D1, and apparent size, speed and described physicality, this has to be better than a JC transfer in the DB.
• Sidenote – South Florida doesn’t seem to care about a player’s major, which I cannot find listed in an obvious location. So I’m just going to assume our new transfer will be working on that PhD at OSU.

Transfer from Madison March 2015
Officially added to USF Bulls Roster
OSU incoming transfer with 2 years ELIGIBLE IMMEDIATELY

Good for him... school seems to be the most important aspect to this kid. However, I'd hope our DB situation is a bit stronger than USF's, and he did not see the field there except ST.

On top of that we're very deep in the DB department with supposedly good recruits. So, if a kid contacts you and wants to ply his wares I totally understand. But, if our staff "recruited" him I just don't get it?!

Any kid that wants to play for OS, runs a 4.45 40, has a 40 inch vert, and graduated college in 3 years, is a welcome addition IMO. Just what he adds to special teams is a nice add.

What graduate program is he going into?

ease up on Ryan.  He is a good guy who just wasnt' built for RB.  With his body type he should have been moved to TE. I always said he ran high. But it wasn't really his fault. 

You really can't teach many kids a completely new position in college and expect much... or two positions in some cases. There are nuances that just require 1000s of reps. Some have done it at a very high level, but not many.

I always hated to see the "athlete" label on a recruit. For one, aren't they all supposed to be? And, two it gives the impression they may have played multiple positions, but excelled at none.