So, if you’ve been scrolling through Buckeye TikTok or hanging out on Ohio State Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the name Caden Davis pop up more for his phone than his pads. It’s a weird situation. Honestly, it’s one of those "only in the NIL era" stories that makes you realize how much college football has actually changed.
We aren't talking about a five-star recruit here. Davis was a walk-on defensive end. But for a while there, he was arguably more famous than some of the starters on the Ohio State depth chart. Why? Because he cracked the code of being a "student-athlete influencer" before he ever actually played a meaningful snap in the Shoe.
The Caden Davis Ohio State Mystery: Why the Dismissal?
Here is the deal. On January 15, 2025—right when the Buckeyes were prepping for a massive National Championship run against Notre Dame—the news dropped that Caden Davis was no longer with the team. It was abrupt. One day he’s posting behind-the-scenes content of the facility, and the next, Ohio State’s sports information director is confirming he’s gone.
Naturally, the internet went into a tailspin. People were asking: did he mess up? Was it the social media?
The timing was definitely sus. Just days before the dismissal, Davis had posted a video that made it look like he was with the team at the Cotton Bowl. Problem was, eagle-eyed fans (and his own teammates) noticed the footage was actually from the previous year’s Cotton Bowl. Offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick even called him out on it, commenting, "You don't play here." Yikes.
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What Davis actually said about leaving
Davis didn't stay silent for long. He eventually posted on Instagram that the decision to leave the "PWO" (Preferred Walk-On) life was due to a mix of "NCAA rule changes" and "personal career reasons."
Basically, he realized that his future probably wasn't on the NFL gridiron. It was on the screen. He had already signed deals with brands like LEGO, Chipotle, and Nike. For a kid from Mason, Ohio, who hadn't seen the field, those are massive wins. If the new NCAA roster caps or scholarship rules were squeezing the walk-on spots, it makes sense why a guy with 300,000 followers would decide to just go be a full-time creator.
Wait, which Caden Davis are we talking about?
Okay, let’s clear this up because Google gets it confused all the time. There are actually two guys with this name in the football world, and if you aren't careful, you’ll think the Ohio State kid is currently kicking 50-yarders in the NFL.
- The Ohio State Caden Davis: A defensive end walk-on from Mason, Ohio. He’s the social media star. He’s 6'4" and roughly 235 pounds. He never played a snap for the Buckeyes.
- The Ole Miss/NFL Caden Davis: This is a kicker. He played for Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss. He actually has an NFL leg and spent time with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills in late 2025.
If you see a headline about Caden Davis Ohio State and it mentions a "57-yard field goal," that’s the wrong guy. Our Caden was a pass rusher—at least on the practice squad.
Life after the Buckeyes: Influencer or Athlete?
A lot of people think that getting "dismissed" or leaving a blue-blood program like Ohio State is the end of the road. For Caden, it was sorta the beginning. He had built this massive brand by showing the "real" side of being a college athlete—the gear hauls, the early mornings, the locker room vibes.
Even after the "fake Cotton Bowl" drama, his following didn't just vanish. People love the drama, sure, but they also like the aesthetic. He’s basically become a case study for what happens when a player's digital presence outgrows their on-field production.
Why fans were so split
It's a generational thing, really. Older fans were annoyed. They saw the "fake" video as a sign that he cared more about clout than the team. They’d say stuff like, "Focus on your footwork, not your filters."
But the younger crowd? They got it. They saw a guy who used a walk-on spot to build a business that will probably pay him way more than a cup of coffee in a pro training camp ever would. It's a calculated move.
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The Reality of being a Walk-On in 2026
The Caden Davis Ohio State saga highlights a bigger issue in college sports right now. With the House v. NCAA settlement and the shift toward tighter roster limits, the "dream" of being a walk-on is getting harder.
Programs are under pressure to prioritize scholarship players. If you’re a walk-on who is taking up space but focusing 80% of your energy on TikTok, coaches like Ryan Day are eventually going to have a "business conversation" with you.
Actionable Takeaways from the Caden Davis Story
If you're following this story because you're an aspiring athlete or just a curious fan, there are a few real-world lessons here:
- Brand vs. Reality: Social media is a highlight reel. Davis proved you can build a massive brand without being a starter, but you have to be careful not to "fake" the participation. Once you lose the locker room's respect, the "athlete" part of your "athlete influencer" brand starts to crumble.
- The New Career Path: For PWOs, the goal doesn't have to be the NFL anymore. Using the platform of a major university like Ohio State to launch a media career is a valid strategy, as long as you're transparent about it.
- Know the Rules: Davis mentioned NCAA changes in his departure. As the landscape shifts toward 105-man roster limits, walk-ons need to have a Plan B. Caden clearly did.
Whether you think he was a "clout chaser" or a genius marketer, you can't deny that Caden Davis managed to make himself a household name in Columbus without ever making a tackle. That’s either the future of sports or a cautionary tale, depending on who you ask.
If you want to keep tabs on where he lands next, he’s still active on social media—just don't expect to see him in a scarlet and gray jersey on Saturdays anymore. He’s moved on to the next chapter, likely with a camera in hand.
To stay updated on actual roster moves, it's usually best to check the official Ohio State Athletics site or the latest transfer portal trackers, as "influencer" news moves a lot faster than official press releases.