A former Ohio State player is poised to become a starter for a College Football Playoff contender, highlighting the Buckeyes’ continued talent development and strong program pipeline.

In today’s ever-changing college football landscape—where the transfer portal spins daily and players chase opportunity across the country—the ability of a program to develop NFL-ready talent remains a hallmark of long-term success. And nowhere is that more evident than in Columbus, where a former Ohio State Buckeye is now poised to start for a top-tier College Football Playoff contender this fall.

The player? Redshirt junior cornerback Ryan Turner.

The program? The Florida State Seminoles.

After transferring from Ohio State to Florida State in January, Turner has rapidly climbed the Seminoles’ depth chart throughout spring ball and summer workouts. Now, just weeks before fall camp opens in Tallahassee, multiple FSU sources confirm that Turner is not only in line to start, but is also expected to play a central role in a defense with championship aspirations. That development is not just a win for Florida State—it’s a testament to the deep well of talent cultivated in Columbus and the durability of Ohio State’s player development pipeline

Turner arrived at Ohio State as a consensus four-star recruit in the 2022 class, out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida—a pipeline school for Power 5 talent. A physical, fluid defensive back with elite change-of-direction skills and a high football IQ, Turner chose the Buckeyes over offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. At the time, Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs described Turner as “a technician with big-game traits.”

But Turner’s path in Columbus wasn’t linear. During his two seasons with the Buckeyes, he played in a handful of games but found himself buried behind future first-round talents like Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and Davison Igbinosun. The competition in that cornerback room was relentless, and with the 2024 season looming and NFL aspirations still in focus, Turner made the decision to enter the portal in December.

FSU head coach Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator Adam Fuller pounced.

“We knew what kind of kid Ryan was, and we knew what kind of technician he’d been trained to be at Ohio State,” said an FSU assistant. “When a player comes out of that program, especially at DB, you know he’s been coached the right way. And we saw a chance to get someone who could step in right away.

The Seminoles are no longer a rebuilding project. After a breakout 2023 campaign that saw them go 13–1 and narrowly miss a playoff berth due to quarterback injuries, Florida State enters 2025 as a top-five team in most preseason projections. With quarterback Brock Glenn returning from injury and a stacked defensive line led by Patrick Payton and Darrell Jackson, the Noles expect to make serious noise in the expanded 12-team playoff format.

But one of the quieter concerns entering spring was cornerback depth.

FSU lost both of its starting corners from 2024—Renardo Green and Fentrell Cypress—to the NFL. The coaching staff had high hopes for younger players like Azareye’h Thomas and Earl Little Jr., but they needed another veteran presence. Turner provided that immediately. By mid-spring, he was taking first-team reps. By summer, coaches were praising his command of the defense and his influence on the locker room.

“He came in hungry, humble, and ready to work,” said head coach Mike Norvell. “And he’s been everything we hoped he would be.”

Turner’s style—a mix of press-man confidence and zone fluidity—has drawn comparisons to other Ohio State-trained corners like Jeff Okudah and Marshon Lattimore. While he may not have had the chance to shine in Columbus, his instincts, technique, and film study habits were all forged under the high-pressure spotlight of Big Ten football. Now, with a fresh start and a clear opportunity, he’s flourishing

Turner’s success story is not isolated. While fans naturally focus on stars who thrive inside the ‘Shoe—like Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson, or J.T. Tuimoloau—Ohio State’s influence across the college football landscape is massive. Dozens of former Buckeyes are now starting at Power 5 programs nationwide, elevating the reputation of the program’s culture and proving that the Buckeyes don’t just stack talent—they mold it.

“Ohio State is one of those programs where the guy who’s third on the depth chart could be a star just about anywhere else,” said a Power Five recruiting coordinator. “When those kids leave, they’re already physically and mentally prepared. That’s what makes them so valuable in the portal.”

Turner’s emergence at Florida State underscores a key truth: elite programs like Ohio State don’t just develop NFL stars—they develop college football starters at scale.

That depth is the product of a rigorous recruiting and developmental process. At Ohio State, practices are often more competitive than the games themselves. Players are coached by future NFL coordinators, battle five-star teammates daily, and are held to professional standards in nutrition, film study, and recovery. Even players who don’t start—like Turner—walk away with elite habits and championship DNA.

Turner himself acknowledged that in a recent interview with Warchant.

“Everything I know about preparation, film, and how to carry myself—I learned that at Ohio State,” he said. “It was hard leaving, because I still love that place. But this was the right time, and I’m bringing all that with me to Florida State.”

Turner’s rise is a win-win.

For Florida State, it plugs a major hole in their secondary with a battle-tested player who brings both SEC-style pedigree and Big Ten polish. For Ohio State, it reaffirms the credibility of its player development system and coaching culture. Even the players who don’t see the field at Ohio State are proving to be plug-and-play starters elsewhere.

For recruiting purposes, that’s gold.

High school athletes and their families are paying close attention to how programs treat players who transfer—and whether those players succeed. Turner’s story is a recruiting asset not just for Ohio State, but for programs that want to showcase they don’t just recruit—they refine.

Ohio State’s current staff, now led by Ryan Day and bolstered by rising assistants like Tim Walton and Carlos Locklyn, understands this dynamic. In fact, there’s quiet confidence in the building that stories like Turner’s are part of the program’s long-term value.

“No one wants to see a good player leave,” said a source inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. “But we also take pride when they go somewhere else and ball out. That’s part of our legacy, too.”

Now on the cusp of his first full season as a collegiate starter, Turner’s focus is clear.

He’s not caught up in comparisons or trying to prove anyone wrong. Instead, he’s laser-focused on proving Florida State right.

“I’m grateful for the road I’ve taken,” he said. “It wasn’t always easy. There were times when I wondered if my moment would come. But now that it’s here, I’m going to make it count.”

FSU’s coaches are counting on that, too. With the Seminoles eyeing an ACC title and their first playoff appearance under Norvell, Turner’s contributions in the secondary will be pivotal. His ability to lock down receivers in one-on-one situations frees up the defensive front to attack. His communication skills stabilize the back end of a unit filled with new faces. And his experience in big games—iron sharpened by years of practices against NFL-bound Buckeye receivers—gives him an edge few others can claim.

Don’t be surprised if Ryan Turner becomes a breakout star in 2025.

And don’t be surprised if, come December, as Florida State prepares for a playoff push, one of their emotional leaders is a player forged in scarlet and gray.

Ryan Turner’s journey—from four-star Ohio State recruit to starting corner for a top-five FSU team—is the latest proof that the Buckeye program remains one of the sport’s ultimate proving grounds. Whether players make their name in Columbus or find their voice elsewhere, their foundation remains rooted in one of the most demanding and developmental environments in college football.

Turner’s story is far from finished.

But wherever it goes from here, one thing is certain: it began on the practice fields of Columbus, lined with talent, discipline, and dreams—one rep at a time.