Sunday marked a milestone day for some within the Ohio State football program, with ten Buckeyes earning their degrees or certificates during the Ohio State University spring commencement ceremony held at Ohio Stadium.
Headlining the list of current Buckeyes to earn their degrees is projected starting defensive tackle Ty Hamilton, who graduated with a degree in family resource management. Hamilton is coming off a solid season for Ohio State as mostly a rotational piece on the defensive line, registering 38 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Senior tight end Patrick Gurd, who is looking for a larger role on Ohio State’s offense after showing flashes in 2023, is another notable current Buckeye who received their diploma at Ohio Stadium. He graduated with a degree in health sciences, and plans to become a physician’s assistant with a focus on pediatrics following his football career.
The lone former Buckeye who graduated was wide receiver Xavier Johnson, who earned a master’s degree in translational data analytics after previously earning a bachelor’s degree in consumer and family financial services.
Johnson, who walked onto Ohio State’s roster in 2018 before earning a scholarship in 2021 before becoming an integral part of the Buckeyes’ offense across the last two seasons, was signed on April 27 by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He hopes to make a Bills team that lost their two leading receivers from last season, Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs, and drafted former Florida State wideout Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft.
Also receiving degrees on Sunday were: offensive lineman Quinton Burke (zoology); former Buckeye and current Colorado tight end Sam Hart (logistics management); kicker Parker Lewis (human development and family services); long snapper Max Lomonico (human development and family services); safeties Cameron Martinez (human development and family services) and Andrew Moore (family resource management) and quarterback Chad Ray (health sciences).
These Buckeyes were a part of 203 Ohio State student-athletes to receive their diploma on Sunday and among more than 12,000 total graduates across campus.