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Ohio State’s Matthew Baldwin issues statement after entering transfer portal
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Big news hit Columbus on Thursday night when Ohio State quarterback Matthew Baldwin reportedly entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal, allowing him to explore other opportunities.
Throughout spring, Baldwin was in a competition with newcomer Justin Fields for the starting job at Ohio State and received some fairly high praise from new head coach Ryan Day. However, Baldwin still decided to explore other opportunities, perhaps knowing Fields was the favorite to get the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.
After the news broke, Baldwin issued a statement on his decision.
“I want to start by saying I am grateful for my time in Columbus and the relationships formed here at Ohio State,” Baldwin wrote. “This spring was huge for me to finally get back on the field after my ACL tear. It felt really great being in the mix of things and taking snaps again. Being able to play in front of 75,000 of the greatest fans in the country was beyond exciting. I loved getting to know Justin and competing with him was an incredible experience for me. I was really proud of what I did and am excited about my progress.
“At the same time, spring was a tough time for me personally. My family and I have prayed and talked a lot about where I belong and what is best for me. In the end, we feel like it’d be better for me to step away from Ohio State. I want everyone to know this isn’t done out of anger or frustration, but I’m not just a football player.
“I want to emphasize the love and respect I have for the entire Ohio State coaching staff and my incredible teammates. Especially, I want to thank Coach Day for his guidance over the past year and for the belief he had in me from the start. He is an amazing coach and a great person. He will do incredible things at Ohio State. I also want to thank the strength coaches who work with us every day.”
Baldwin did not mention any potential landing spots as he looks for other opportunities. His departure leaves the Buckeyes with just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.
Baldwin is the second quarterback to leave Columbus this offseason, joining Tate Martell.
The full statement from Baldwin regarding his transfer decision is below:
https://twitter.com/matthewb_12/status/1119036433979912192
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB