Ohio State Buckeyes Safety Ja'Had Carter Finds New Home in ACC

Former Ohio State safety transfer Ja'Had Carter has found his next college destination

Matt Galatzan | May 13, 2024

Nov 11, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Ja'Had Carter (14) during the second / Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost a talented defensive back last month when reserve safety Ja'had Carter entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Now, he has found a new home, heading back to the ACC after committing to the N.C. State Wolfpack on Monday.

Carter started his career at Syracuse, playing three seasons with the Orange. From 2020-2022 he tallied 136 total tackles with 97 solo and 3.5 for loss, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble over 31 games. He was considered the top safety in the portal when he committed to Ohio State, but played just 122 total snaps on defense.

He was also named honorable mention All-ACC in his final season with the Orange.

Nov 11, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Ja'Had Carter (14) during the second / Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

But in one season in Columbus, Carter was used sparingly with the Buckeyes, playing in just eight games and recording just five total tackles. Carter lost the starting job for the Buckeyes to Josh Proctor, who had an outstanding season while Jordan Hancock and Sonny Styles split time at nickel.

Carter's days were numbered when Alabama transfer Caleb Downs committed to the Buckeyes in January. And with Lathan Ransom returning as starting safety, Carter would have played backup once again, instead opting to enter the portal and earn more playing time.

The Richmond, Virginia, native has one year of eligibility with the Wolfpack, where he hopes to make enough of an impact to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.

And thanks to a combination of injuries, losses to the portal heading into the spring transfer windown, Carter should have a chance to do just that.

Published May 13, 2024

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com