Why transfer John Walker picked Ohio State football the second time around

Ohio State missed out on defensive tackle John Walker four years ago.

It was a loss on the recruiting trail owed to proximity. Walker was from a suburb of Orlando, Florida, and prioritized staying close to home.

“I ain't going to lie, I wasn't ready to leave my family,” he said.

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Mason Williams (86) spins around defensive tackle John Walker (55) during Student Appreciation Day spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on April 4, 2026.

Walker ended up at UCF, signing with a school less than an hour’s drive from Kissimmee. The move to Columbus felt too daunting then.

“I knew I probably wasn't going to be right mentally,” Walker said. “It was the first time being away from home.”

But Walker ultimately found his way to Ohio State. After he put his name in the transfer portal in January, he heard from defensive line coach Larry Johnson, the same position coach who had recruited him years earlier.

“He’s still family to me,” Walker said, “even though I didn’t go to him at first.”

The relationship made a difference as Walker signed with the Buckeyes the second time around

“When you build a relation with great players and you get a chance to go back to them, that relationship means something,” Johnson said.

Johnson, who was the first to be in contact with Walker, continued to see his potential. Walker was once a top-100 prospect in high school before experiencing some ups and downs at UCF.

Walker sat out 2024 due to a knee injury, a setback after he had been named a freshman All-American the previous year. He recovered last season and emerged as a starter along the interior of the Knights’ defensive line. He made 40 tackles and three for a loss of yards, using his 6-foot-3, 302-pound frame to help stuff running backs.

“You knew he had the talent when he’s healthy,” Johnson said. “He’s been on point ever since he’s been here.”

There is stiff competition facing Walker at his position group even as the Buckeyes look to replace Kayden McDonald and Tywone Malone Jr. They retained Eddrick Houston, who made four starts last fall, and added James Smith, who was a starting defensive tackle at Alabama. Will Smith Jr. also returned as a key rotational piece who could see more snaps.

But Walker said he has practiced at both tackle spots, providing the Buckeyes with versatility as a possible three-technique or nose tackle. He has felt undeterred by the crowd at the top of the depth chart.

“I’m taking the opportunity by what coach Johnson preached to me every single time,” Walker said. “I'm here to work. I'm here to compete. That's what I'm here to do.”

He left UCF following its bumpy transition to the Big 12. The Knights have gone 15-23 since bolting the American Athletic Conference for the Power Four league.

The three years also provided him a chance to mature. He has turned 22 years old and took a chance to step outside his hometown.

“I’m way older,” Walker said. “My mental is way ahead than coming out of high school with everything. It was just the right timing.”

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him atjkaufman@dispatch.comand follow him on@joeyrkaufman on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: UCF transfer John Walker picked Ohio State football second time around