Buckeyes wide receiver Caleb Burton enters transfer portal

COLUMBUS — Ohio State wide receiver Caleb Burton is leaving the Buckeyes program after two spring practice periods and a full season.

The first-year wide receiver signed last December and enrolled at Ohio State early to get a head start on his college career. But after just a little more than one year with the Buckeyes, Burton has entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal, Lettermen Row has learned.

A former four-star recruit from Del Valle, Texas, Caleb Burton was the No. 160 overall player in the 2022 class. He was ranked as the 28th-best receiver prospect and the No. 26 player in the state of Texas.

Burton spent most of the year battling through injuries. He ends his short Buckeyes career without appearing in a game.

With three of the top four Buckeyes wide receivers on the depth chart out this spring due to offseason procedures and rehab, Burton was among the second-year wide receivers who had a chance to gain ground in the pursuit of playing time. He was, however, injured early in spring practice and missed a little bit of time before making his way back onto the field for spring drills.

He did not have a catch in the spring game on Saturday, while others from his class, as well as freshmen, found success in the spring game.

Ohio State knew all spring that the second-year receivers, including Burton, would be in for a big competition with the three freshman receivers who showed up for spring practice.

“The truth is they’re going to get really pushed by this freshman group,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said early in March. “You know, the three guys that came in have [already] made an impact. We’ve been very impressed with them — and then Brandon [Inniss] coming in the summer.”

The Buckeyes depth chart at wide receiver is still loaded, even after the departure of Burton. Ohio State will return its top three receivers from this season and added another impressive recruiting haul in the 2023 class, along with the other three Ohio State receivers Brian Hartline recruited in the 2022 cycle.

Burton made headlines when he committed to Ohio State just days after his close friend and former Buckeyes quarterback Quinn Ewers chose the to come to Columbus instead of Texas.

Ewers and Burton planned to play together at Ohio State — until Ewers decided to leave the Buckeyes program for the Longhorns.

Burton has now left Ohio State, as well. He has entered the transfer portal, and he’ll have four years of eligibility wherever he chooses to continue his college career.