15 OSU football players receive degrees at autumn commencement

A total of 15 Buckeye football players were among 56 Ohio State student-athletes who received their degrees Sunday, Dec. 17 during autumn commencement ceremonies at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. 

Gene Smith, The Ohio State University senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director, delivered the commencement address in front of approximately 3,600 new graduates. 

These new Buckeyes join a list of eight players who have previously graduated, giving Ohio State a roster of 20 players who have now graduated.

Cade Stover, a first-team all-Big Ten Conference tight end and the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year in the Big Ten this year, and Emeka Egbuka, who has caught 118 passes for 1,792 and 14 touchdowns in his three seasons, headline the list of latest graduates from the football team. Their degrees are in agricultural systems management and marketing, respectively.

A handful of other starters and key contributors from the 2023 team also graduated. They include starting wide receiver Julian Fleming (human development and family science), starting safety Lathan Ransom (communication), starting linebacker Cody Simon (finance), backup running back Chip Trayanum (family resource management) and P Jesse Mirco (sport industry).

Also graduating: OC Jakob James (sport industry), OL Trey Leroux (finance), DE Mitchell Melton (communication), retired OL Harry Miller, TE Joe Royer, OL Grant Toutant (human development and family science) and OG Enokk Vimahi (human development and family science).

Quinn Pitcock, a four-year letterman along the defensive line and a consensus All-American in 2006, graduated through the school's degree completion program with his degree in family resource management.

December 17, 2023 Graduates – Ohio State Football

• WR Emeka Egbuka – Marketing

• WR Julian Fleming – Human development and family science

• OL Jakob James – Sport Industry

• OL Trey Leroux – Finance

• DE Mitchell Melton – Communication

• OL Harry Miller – Mechanical engineering

• P Jesse Mirco – Sport industry

• *DT Quinn Pitcock – Family resource management

• SAF Lathan Ransom – Communication

• TE Joe Royer – Sport Industry

• LB Cody Simon – Finance

• TE Cade Stover – Agricultural systems management

• OL Grant Toutant – Human development and family science

• RB Chip Trayanum – Family resource management

• OG Enokk Vimahi – Human development and family science 

*Degree Completion Program

Prior Graduates – Ohio State Football

• LB Steele Chambers – Finance

• LB Tommy Eichenberg – Real estate

• WR Xavier Johnson – Consumer and family financial services

• OG Matthew Jones – Human development and family science

• DT Jaden McKenzie – Human development and family science

• SAF Josh Proctor – Human development and family science

• SAF Kourt Williams – Communications.