Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer can’t understand Kyle McCord’s decision to enter the NCAA football transfer portal.
McCord has put together an excellent 2023 season, with 3,170 passing yards and 24 touchdowns against only six interceptions. The No. 7 ranked Buckeyes will conclude their 2023 season against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29.
Speaking to Tim May of On3.com, Meyer expressed confusion over McCord’s decision to leave one of the nation’s marquee football programs:
“That made no sense. I’m still trying to comprehend it. I tried to take a position of Kyle or even Ohio State, and it just doesn’t compute.”
“He had a good year. I mean they beat Notre Dame as a first-time starter, three new offensive linemen. You know, he’s on the 37-yard line. He threw two interceptions in the Wolverine game that weren’t his fault…
I’m trying to make it compute, because I want to be empathetic and I want to say, ‘OK, I understand.’ There’s no place better for Kyle than Ohio State. That place does not exist, unless he’s being guaranteed a starting spot. But once again, I don’t agree with that’s the best place. I think iron sharpens iron, steel sharpens steel. The best thing that anybody can ever do is go and compete your tail off, get better and maximize who you are as a player.”
McCord’s decision to leave Ohio State is certainly one of the more surprising developments of the 2023-24 NCAA transfer portal. The Buckeyes certainly haven’t had a problem in grooming big-named future NFL quarterbacks, including Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears and C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans.
But at the end of the day, McCord is simply doing what he thinks is best for him. And a player of his caliber will only transfer to a school that he feels will best utilize his talents. Only time will tell if his decision pans out.
