Former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter is set to transfer to the Ohio State Buckeyes. One of the top-ranked safeties in the transfer portal, Carter gives the Buckeyes a potential impact-maker at a position of need.
Ja’Had Carter Transfers to Ohio State
With Ronnie Hickman entering the 2023 NFL Draft, the potential for Lathan Ransom to follow suit, and Tanner McCalister exhausting his collegiate eligibility, Ohio State has swooped for a star safety in the transfer portal, landing the commitment of Syracuse standout Carter.
Carter entered the transfer portal in mid-December and immediately became one of the hottest properties on the college football open market. Since arriving at Syracuse in 2020, the ball-hawking safety has earned a series of honors, including Freshman All-American honors from that initial campaign for the Orange.
MORE: NCAA Transfer Portal Tracker
Showcasing his talents as a playmaker in the secondary, the 6’2″, 200-pound safety snagged two interceptions in his debut season for Syracuse. Despite battling injury in 2021, Carter still racked up 35 tackles and a pass breakup in eight starts during his second season with Syracuse, demonstrating his tackling ability as an enforcer at the safety position.
However, it was his third and final season with Syracuse that opened the eyes of the football world to Carter, particularly a career day against Clemson where he showcased his catch point prowess with a jaw-dropping interception and flashed his athletic capability with a 90-yard scoop and score from a red zone fumble.
For his efforts in 2022, Carter earned Second-Team All-ACC status from us at College Football Network.
Having missed out on elite 2023 recruiting class safety Caleb Downs — the number two overall player in the CFN Fusion Recruiting Rankings — Ohio State lands a Day 1 starter for Jim Knowles’ defense.
The Buckeyes landed the former Syracuse standout despite reported interest from Texas, Florida State, and Oklahoma State.
Carter Quick Facts
- Class: Junior
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 198
- Hometown: Richmond, VA
- Career total tackles: 138
- Career interceptions: 5
- Career pass breakups: 12
- Career tackles for loss: 3.5
