Overview
- Former Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins committed to Ohio State shortly after entering the transfer portal on Jan. 14 and is expected to take over the job immediately.
- Hawkins went 18-for-22 on field goals in 2025 with a career-long 54-yarder and was perfect on 37 extra-point attempts, including multiple makes from 50-plus yards.
- The Buckeyes entered the offseason without an incumbent after Jayden Fielding exhausted eligibility and backup Jackson Courville transferred to Tulane, with recent misses in the Big Ten title game and CFP quarterfinal heightening the need.
- Reports differ on Hawkins’ remaining eligibility, with outlets citing either two or three seasons left.
- Staff evaluated multiple solutions before this move, including a scholarship offer to high school prospect Jacobo Echeverria and monitoring portal target David Olano, who chose Texas A&M, as the Jan. 16 portal deadline approached.