Ohio State Buckeyes add Buffalo Bulls punter Tony Venneri

The Ohio State Buckeyes only have one scholarship punter on the roster, but there will be competition this offseason.

On Saturday, transfer punter Tony Venneri – who most recently played for the Buffalo Bulls – announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.

Venneri finished 30th in the FBS in average with 43.96 yards per kick. That’s a Buffalo school record and one spot better than last year’s Ohio State punter, Jesse Mirco, who averaged 43.67 yards per punt. Mirco has since transferred to Vanderbilt.

Venneri, 6-0 and 225 pounds, has two seasons of eligibility remaining for the Buckeyes and will compete with two Australians for the starting job.

Redshirt freshman Joe McGuire and newcomer Nick McLarty will both be from Australia and will compete with Venneri for the punting job. Although McLarty is the only stock punter on the roster, neither he nor McGuire have ever appeared in a college game, giving Venneri the experience advantage.

Venneri earned Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America in 2022 and hopes to continue his college career in Columbus.

The Buckeyes enter a season with high expectations. A revamped quarterback roster that includes Kansas State transfer Will Howard and a defense that one analyst calls ‘historic’ could put Ohio State in prime position for another playoff appearance of college football.