Ohio State lineman Matthew Burrell to transfer to Sam Houston State

UPDATE: Just minutes after Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow announced his intention to transfer, another former Buckeye updated his transfer plans. Former OSU offensive lineman Matthew Burrell will be continuing his playing career at Sam Houston State, beginning this fall.

The Bearkats are in the FCS’s Southland Conference and lost in the semifinals to eventual champion North Dakota State.

Via a social media post, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Matthew Burrell announced that he would be transferring from Ohio State following the recently wrapped spring practice.

A former four-star recruit out of Woodbridge, Virginia, Burrell had been thought to be in contention to take over one of the vacant spots on the line this season, but as other options emerged, his standing in the rotation declined.

After playing in 13 games during his redshirt freshman campaign in 2016, Burrell saw action in 12 games last season, including the final 10. However, with Thayer Munford working his way into a likely starting position, and redshirt-junior Josh Alabi and true-freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere likely to see time this fall, there just weren’t a lot of options for the 6-foot-3, 306-pounder to crack the starting lineup.

Following the spring game, head coach Urban Meyer said of the battle for offensive line playing time:

Yeah, we’ve done both. Decision hasn’t been made yet. But Isaiah has been playing a lot of left, too. And I think we’re just trying to get that rotation—who’s going to be that third left tackle—obviously we got a good one coming in, too. Josh Alabi; Nicolas Petit (-Frere), a guy that’s been here, watching. A very talented young man. Alabi, has also earned the right to get a little bit. Just trying to figure out what’s best.

In his social media post, Burrell thanked everyone at Ohio State for his opportunities, and said that he was not sure where he would continue his collegiate career. Wherever the lineman ends up, he will have two years of eligibility remaining.

We wish Burrell the best at wherever his journey takes him.