Former Syracuse Safety Ja’Had Carter Transferring To Ohio State

A three-year starter for the Orange, Carter will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Buckeyes.

Former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter announced on Tuesday evening he is transferring to Ohio State, where he’ll have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

pic.twitter.com/Pzblzb9P73

— Ja’Had Carter (@JayAlmighty6) January 3, 2023

A former three-star prospect from Richmond, Va., Carter recorded 138 tackles, 12 pass break ups, five interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble as a three-year starter for the Orange.

The 6-foot-2 and 198-pounder was a freshman All-American in 2020 and was widely regarded as the top-rated safety in the transfer portal after announcing his decision to leave Syracuse on Dec. 15.

Carter becomes the third player to join the Buckeyes through the transfer portal since the end of the regular season, joining Arizona State long snapper John Ferlmann and Kent State kicker Casey Magyar.

He will almost certainly step into a starting role upon his arrival in Columbus, with fifth-year senior Tanner McCalister exhausting his eligibility and redshirt junior Ronnie Hickman entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Junior Lathan Ransom, who was the third starter in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ three-safety scheme, also has a decision to make about his NFL future in the coming weeks, with the deadline to declare being Jan. 16.

The same goes for fifth-year senior Josh Proctor, who could return for his extra year of eligibility, go pro or enter the portal in search of playing time elsewhere after seeing his role diminish late last season.

Depending on what happens with Ransom and Proctor, that would leave redshirt sophomore Cameron Martinez and Kourt Williams and freshmen Kye Stokes and Sonny Styles competing for the two spots beside Carter.

Ohio State also signed three safeties as part of their class of 2023 last month in four-stars Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu and Cedrick Hawkins, though they shouldn’t be expected to contribute for a few seasons.

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