Moherman Is Leaving Ohio State

Quarterback Austin Moherman, given his release from Ohio State on Monday, said Tuesday he is planning to transfer to a Division I-AA school so he can be eligible to play next season.

“I don’t want to have to sit out a year,” Moherman said. “I’ll start going through the recruiting process again. I’m going to do some research and see which schools are looking for a quarterback.”

Moherman, who played at Capistrano Valley High, said he has set no timetable for making a decision.

“But I want to be enrolled at the new school next spring, so I can be there for spring practice,” he said. “I’ll have two years of eligibility left.”

If he goes to another Division I-A school, he would have to sit out a season under NCAA rules and would have only one year of eligibility.

Moherman started in Ohio State’s season-opening loss to Miami, and was ineffective in the following game against UCLA. He was pulled in favor of the more-mobile Bellisari, who directed a 42-20 come-from-behind victory.

Bellisari started Ohio State’s final 10 games despite his propensity for turnovers and the offense’s inability to move the ball.

Moherman barely left the sidelines after losing the starting job and was frustrated.

“If you work as hard as he worked, you should play,” Buckeye Coach John Cooper said. “He’d be a good player somewhere.”

The Buckeyes finished 6-6, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in 11 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.