Former Ohio State Buckeye Transfer Expresses Regret Over Leaving Program
The increased accessibility of the transfer portal has largely benefited college football players. In the past, transferring schools often meant sitting out a season or losing a year of eligibility. At the same time, coaches could switch programs freely and continue earning massive salaries, while student-athletes remained unpaid.
With the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and more flexible transfer rules, the landscape has changed. Players now have greater freedom to choose where they play and can also earn some well-deserved income.
However, having the ability to make frequent and unrestricted decisions isn’t always ideal—especially for young athletes. While college football players may seem like larger-than-life figures on screen, many are still teenagers or young adults navigating big choices.
Sometimes, those choices don’t pan out. That seems to be the case for former Ohio State defensive end Omari Abor. A highly regarded 4-star recruit from Duncanville, Texas, Abor committed to Ohio State out of high school. He didn’t see the field during his freshman year and appeared in just five games as a sophomore.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Abor transferred to SMU, drawn by a better NIL deal. Unfortunately, he played in only two games for the Mustangs and recorded just two tackles. Meanwhile, Ohio State went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship—an achievement Abor likely witnessed from his living room.
So, does he regret leaving Columbus to pursue NIL money? Based on his recent posts on TikTok, it certainly appears that he does.
