Ohio State cornerback JK Johnson entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, The Dispatch has confirmed.

Johnson started five games for the Buckeyes this past season, filling in over a midseason stretch when Cameron Brown was sidelined by a knee injury.

It was his largest role with the program since enrolling in 2021 as a top-50 overall prospect from St. Louis. A shoulder injury limited him to only one game in his first season, prompting him to redshirt.

Appearing in 13 games last fall, Johnson finished with 20 tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 12 receptions and three touchdowns while being targeted 20 times in pass coverage.

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Without much returning depth at cornerback, Johnson had figured to compete with Jordan Hancock for a starting spot opposite Denzel Burke, who has started for the past two seasons. Brown, who was one of the six scholarship corners on the roster, is expected to depart as a senior.

The Buckeyes have two cornerbacks enrolling as a freshmen later this year between Calvin Simpson-Hunt and Jermaine Mathews, four-star recruits who signed with them last month during the early signing period. Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner would would also be returners at the position.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State cornerback JK Johnson enters transfer portal