Jets sign 1015-yard RB who first played linebacker at Ohio State

Jets sign 1015-yard RB who first played linebacker at Ohio State originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Jets have signed a new running back, Chip Trayanum.

The RB who put up 1,015 yards in 2025 at the University of Toledo is an undrafted free agent for the Jets, but that's far from his whole story.

Trayanum transferred three times and used to be a linebacker before finally making it to Toledo, playing well and earning this NFL opportunity.

Chip -- first name DeaMonte -- was originally a standout two-way player at Archbishop Hoban, a powerhouse in Akron, Ohio.

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He was a four-star recruit with the choice of what to do in college, and he decided on linebacker, which he played at Arizona State.

After two seasons, he transferred back to Ohio State and initially stuck at LB.

Late that season, the Buckeyes' RB depth chart was depleted by injury, and Trayanum moved to that side of the ball. He had 83 rushing yards against Michigan.

He stayed in that role the next year, then transferred to Kentucky and got just 19 carries in 2024.

That brought him to Toledo in 2025, where he was the best version of himself.

Trayanum, 24, traveled a long, winding college journey. As an undrafted player, there are no guarantees he ever makes an impact on the Jets.

But he has proven his athletic level and his determination by not giving up along the way.