Ohio State Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

The Ohio State Buckeyes advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals with a blowout win over the Oregon Ducks last week, but it sounds like the team’s running back depth took a bit of a hit as the Buckeyes move forward.

According to a report from Ohio State recruiting insider Jeremy Birmingham of Rivals, Ohio State freshman running back Sam Williams-Dixon has opted to enter the transfer portal and will not remain with the team throughout their College Football Playoff run.

“Ohio State Freshman RB Sam Williams-Dixon just informed me that he’ll be entering the transfer portal. He let the staff know on Sunday and has all paperwork completed. He will not be staying with the Buckeyes through the end of the playoffs. SWD had 7 carries for 53 yards as a true freshman, including a 31-yard run against Western Michigan in September,” Birmingham said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.

Williams-Dixon signed with Ohio State during the offseason, joining the Buckeyes out of nearby Pickerington North High School. Williams-Dixon was Ohio State’s fourth running back on the depth chart behind co-starters TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as well as fellow freshman James Peoples.

While Williams-Dixon did not play all that much this season, he was expected to see more carries next season with both Henderson and Judkins expected to enter the NFL Draft this offseason.

[Jeremy Birmingham]