In the spring portal window, Eddie George transfers to Ohio State, giving Bowling Green another former Buckeye.

The spring transfer portal window continues to shake up college football rosters across the nation, and this week brought a headline few could have predicted: Eddie George is headed to Ohio State. No, not that Eddie George—the Heisman-winning legend who defined power running for the Buckeyes in the 1990s—but a rising redshirt sophomore defensive back who has quietly carved out a reputation at Bowling Green.

The younger George, who shares the iconic name and a chip on his shoulder, entered the portal early in the spring window. Within days, the Buckeyes came calling. And now, Bowling Green finds itself bidding farewell to yet another former Ohio State player—this time, one who is retracing his steps back to Columbus.

When Eddie George committed to Bowling Green out of high school, fans immediately raised their eyebrows. Was this a joke? A publicity stunt? Neither. This Eddie George was a 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback from Cincinnati with serious upside. A former four-star recruit who originally signed with Ohio State as part of the 2023 class, he redshirted his freshman season before entering the transfer portal and landing at Bowling Green ahead of the 2024 season.

There, he found his footing. Starting nine games and rotating in another three, George finished his redshirt freshman year with 41 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 9 pass breakups. He brought swagger, length, and sound technique to a secondary that sorely needed playmakers. In the MAC, he looked like a Power Five player—and that’s exactly what he once was.

Ryan Day and new co-defensive coordinator Matt Barnes weren’t expected to be aggressive in the spring portal window, especially with a room full of blue-chip defensive backs. But George offers a unique combination of qualities that were too enticing to ignore: Power Five pedigree, Group of Five experience, positional versatility, and a chip on his shoulder.

“He checks every box,” one Ohio State staffer told 247Sports. “He’s been in our building before, he understands the culture, and he’s hungry.”

George is expected to compete for snaps immediately at nickel or boundary corner. With Denzel Burke likely headed to the NFL after this season and depth concerns creeping in during spring practice due to minor injuries, adding a player like George was both opportunistic and strategic.

“He’s coming home,” Day said in a short statement. “This is a young man who left to grow—and he’s done that. We’re excited to welcome him back.”

George isn’t the first player with Ohio State ties to impact Bowling Green’s football program. Over the past few years, BGSU has quietly become something of a haven for former Buckeyes looking to reboot their careers. From wide receiver Bryson Rodgers to linebacker Gabe Powers, Bowling Green has found a niche in offering meaningful roles to Ohio State transfers who were buried on the depth chart.

The trend was viewed as mutually beneficial—players earned reps and visibility, while Bowling Green gained seasoned talent. But George’s reverse migration marks a potential shift: it’s one thing to accept hand-me-downs; it’s another to develop them so well they get reclaimed.

“We hate to lose a player like Eddie,” said BGSU head coach Scot Loeffler. “He was a leader in our locker room and a fierce competitor. But we also know what it means for our program’s reputation when one of ours gets pulled back up to the big stage.”

It’s a mixed bag for the Falcons. While they lose a key defensive contributor, they gain legitimacy as a program that develops Power Five-caliber talent—even if it comes at the cost of continuity.

Eddie George’s high school career at Cincinnati Winton Woods was marked by versatility and explosion. He played both ways, showcasing his instincts as a cornerback and his toughness as a wide receiver. He committed to Ohio State with fanfare, turning down offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State.

But like many blue-chip freshmen, George quickly learned how steep the climb could be in a program with elite depth. Despite impressing during summer workouts, he found himself buried on the depth chart and played only sparingly in garbage time. When he entered the transfer portal in January 2024, some in Columbus were disappointed but not surprised.

“Eddie needed to play,” said one former Ohio State staffer. “He didn’t do anything wrong—he just got caught in a numbers game.”

At Bowling Green, George proved he was more than a practice standout. His game film spoke for itself: sticky man coverage, natural ball skills, and a willingness to support the run. Scouts took notice, and by the end of the 2024 season, George was already fielding questions from Power Five programs. When he re-entered the portal this spring, the response was immediate—and familiar.

“He didn’t burn any bridges,” said Day. “That made this decision a lot easier.”

There’s also an emotional layer to George’s return. Though unrelated to the Heisman Trophy winner, Eddie George II grew up idolizing his namesake. Wearing No. 27 in high school, he often joked with reporters that he was “just trying not to ruin the name.” That pressure, combined with the lofty expectations placed on Ohio State recruits, created a situation that was never going to be easy to navigate.

But now, as a more mature and battle-tested player, George has a second chance—not just to honor the name, but to make it his own.

“This time around, I know who I am,” George said in a statement on social media. “It’s not about the name. It’s about the work. I’m coming back not as a recruit—but as a competitor.”

The older Eddie George even chimed in on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Wishing nothing but the best for this young man. Proud of how he’s grinding his own path. #GoBucks.”

The Buckeyes are expected to contend for a College Football Playoff spot in 2025, and every move made this offseason has been with that goal in mind. While the offense headlines with quarterback Devin Brown and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the defense must answer questions—especially in the secondary.

George won’t be handed a starting role, but he will be in the mix. With his length and experience, he offers Ohio State something many of its current corners lack: live-game reps. His presence will push veterans and challenge underclassmen, adding an element of urgency to fall camp.

He also represents something more abstract: the evolving nature of player development in the portal era. That a player can leave, grow elsewhere, and return speaks to the modern college football landscape—one where relationships, reputation, and resilience matter more than ever.

For the Falcons, losing George is a blow—but not a fatal one. Loeffler has embraced the transfer portal as a two-way street. He’s likely to scour the portal in search of a defensive back with upside, perhaps even landing another former Power Five talent looking to reboot.

In fact, Bowling Green may emerge as a more appealing destination because of George’s story. If you can come to BGSU, ball out, and earn your way back to the Big Ten, then the program becomes a credible springboard.

Recruiting pitches often rely on hope and projection. Now, Loeffler can point to proof.

“Eddie showed what’s possible here,” he said. “And we’ll keep building on that.”

Eddie George’s journey back to Ohio State won’t define his career—but it may elevate it. In a college football era defined by movement, opportunity, and second chances, George is a reminder that talent has a way of resurfacing.

He carries a famous name, yes—but now he carries something even more valuable: experience, humility, and hunger.

For Ohio State, it’s a reunion worth celebrating. For Bowling Green, it’s a sign of validation. And for the young man in question, it’s simply the next chapter in a story still being written.

“I’ve taken the long road,” George wrote. “But I never lost sight of the goal. I’m ready.”