Ohio State adds one more kicker from the transfer portal

After a disappointing couple of years on special teams, particularly in the kicking game, the Ohio State football team will have a whole new look for the upcoming season. The Buckeyes are losing Jayden Fielding to graduation, and backup kicker Jackson Courville transferred to the Green Wave of Tulane.

With no kickers on scholarship, Ryan Day went to work and was able to pull in one of the top kickers in the transfer portal in Connor Hawkins, from Baylor. The Buckeyes were also able to bring in Cooper Peterson as a preferred walk-on kicker in the 2026 class.

Recently, Ohio State was able to get more reinforcements when it was announced that kicker Marcello Diomede had signed with the Bucks as a walk-on out of the portal. Diomede has spent the past three years at Notre Dame. The Illinois native was never able to carve out significant playing time with the Irish, and so he is not expected to challenge Hawkins for the starting position, but he will provide a bit of insurance on the depth chart.

Grateful for everyone who has helped me get here! Huge thanks to Coach Discher, Coach Keys, and Coach Day for the opportunity. Go buckeyes! #OHpic.twitter.com/zHzGULr5WC— Marcello Diomede (@DiomedeMarcello) February 10, 2026

While at Notre Dame, Diomede had 17 kickoffs for 1,088 yards and 11 touchbacks. He was three of four on extra point attempts, but never attempted a field goal for the Fighting Irish.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football adds place kicker to provide depth