Money guy, OSU safety Tanner McCalister takes stock of his talents

When defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Oklahoma State to take the same role at Ohio State, safety Tanner McCallister followed him from OSU to OSU in January.

A graduate transfer, McCallister recorded 123 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and had 12 passes defended in 41 games over four years with the Cowboys. He joined the program in 2018 as a three-star prospect, according to the ratings of Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports. ESPN regarded him as a four-star prospect.

The Heath, Texas native is also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree with a degree in finance.

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He'll have one year of eligibility to play for the Buckeyes.

Meet Ohio State safety Tanner McCalister

So what's your favorite thing about football season that's not football?

I'd probably say traveling. Getting to travel to different places is always fun. Being with the team, going to different hotels, getting on the plane and things like that, it's always a fun experience. Before we've obviously got to lock in and handle business, it's cool just being at the hotel, traveling on the planes, having fun with the guys.

Do you have a favorite place you've traveled to? Doesn't have to be a football trip.

California, LA. My dad is from Los Angeles, so I had the pleasure of going out there a lot, and I basically almost got to live the life as if I lived down there. And I kind of enjoy it. So every time I go get to visit my dad, I think LA is a fun spot to be.

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Your dad is a Cali guy. You grew up in Texas. You went to Oklahoma State. What do you think of the Midwest?

It's kind of similar. The weather is the biggest difference. I will say that. ... It snows a little bit in Oklahoma, but not much. I came down here, and it was like two weeks of snow. I remember one night, coming out I couldn't even move my car to go get some food. I had to call one of my teammates who had a big truck to come pick me up. So that's been my biggest adjustment. But as far as living in Columbus? I love Columbus. It kind of reminds me of being in the Dallas area. It's more urban. You can see people walking on the street, things like that. So I do definitely enjoy Columbus.

With the cold weather, is your blood thicker now?

I think it is to be honest because ... in Texas, it's 60 degrees, we're like, 'Man, it's chilly outside.' But now when I'm back home, and it's around 60 degrees, my parents say, 'It's gonna be cool outside,' and I'm like, 'It's hot out here today.' And they were telling me it may be because you've been down in Columbus for a while now. So I think I've definitely, I guess, adapted to the weather. But I mean, cold is still cold, so I definitely had to pick up two or three coats when I got down here. I'm looking forward to seeing how to weather is during the season, though, and playing in it. That's gonna be different.

You've graduated with a degree in finance. Is that still what you're studying?

Yep. So I graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in finance. ... To be honest, I am studying football this year because I've already graduated. So I am taking finance classes, but I'm kind of taking anything I'm interested in – real estate, things like that. I'm interested in those things. So I've been taking classes that pertain to my interests.

Your defensive coordinator lived on a pittance to avoid having to work in finance. Surely, he's said, "What are you doing?"

See, coach Knowles knows that I'm a money guy. So I may not necessarily have a career in the finance industry. But he knows I'm good with my money. He knows I'll take care of my money. I'm responsible. So I think he understands why I majored in it. And he also knows that I want to play football. So, you know, he probably just assumes that I'm doing something that I'm kind of interested in, but maybe not have a career. But, yeah, because Knowles for him to be as smart as he is, I don't know why he wouldn't, you know, want to be in the corporate world. But I guess having a stellar defense is what he wants to do. So that's good.

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If you can take a class on any topic – you're not getting graded, it's just something you're passionate about learning – what would it be?

I'd probably say real estate, to be honest. I'm really interested in real estate, owning rental properties, things like that, flipping houses.

But to be clear, that's investing in houses, not like digging a water line?

No, no. None of that. I don't want to be a contractor or a real estate agent, none of that. I just want to put my money into real estate and let it do what it's gonna do.

Are you handy?

I'm handy enough. So I definitely will not be digging under any toilets or anything like that. But if a light bulb needs to get fixed, screw it back in, I can do that.

So the answer to how many Ohio State players it would take to screw in a light bulb is one, huh?

Right, exactly. It should be one, but maybe two, depending on who it is. If Teradja (Mitchell) is doing it, there may be another guy.

If you land a huge NIL deal or sign a big NFL contract, what are you going to buy?

A house. Yeah, I'm buying a house, but it's not gonna be for me. It's going to be for my real estate investment portfolio. I'm gonna buy a rental property, put a tenant in there and have them pay me while I'm sleeping. So that's probably what I'd do.

Your first house, your house not your first rental property, where do you want to build it?

If I had to pick right now, I'd go back home to Dallas. If I had to choose somewhere else, I want to be somewhere where it's hot all the time. I like Arizona. Arizona is a nice spot, or Los Angeles, California. (pauses, laughs) Not Los Angeles. But California, somewhere outside of Los Angeles.

So your blood may have thickened, but not that much?

I definitely could see me living in Columbus, but I don't want to worry about putting the chains on my tires when I leave the house.

Favorite movie?

I don't want to be cliche and say, "Remember the Titans."

It's all right to be cliche. I love that movie.

I'm going to say "Roll Bounce." I don't know if you know that one. It stars Bow Wow. You have to look that one up.

I will definitely look that up.

For sure.

You know Larry Johnson played for Herman Boone? From "Remember the Titans."

Oh. Seriously?

Like the real-life guy.

I did not know that. Dang. Don't get mad, Coach J, if you hear this, but he old. That's crazy.

What's a cause you are passionate about?

I probably just say people who are raised in poverty, because those are things that they can't control. You know, sometimes families are less fortunate, and that's OK. But the children who are raised in a less fortunate family, I want them to know that anything they want to do, they can still achieve it. ... That's probably where I want to donate money and start programs for schools or even sports leagues for those kids that don't have money. They can just play when they want to play, and I provide equipment, things like that. I would definitely like to try to do something like that in those communities.

What do you want Buckeyes fans to know about you?

I'm an energetic guy. I'm very friendly. Tanner McCalister is very friendly. But number 15 – that's what I'll be wearing – so number 15, may not be as friendly on the field. But I enjoy people. I enjoy building relationships. I mean, this team, I've been here since January, and I've got guys I can call brothers on this team. I just want you to know I'm ready to represent Buckeye nation, and I'm excited for this season and I'm blessed to be here.

And who's the better money guy, you or TreVeyon Henderson?

Oh, that's a good question. Me and Trey talk all the time about finances and stuff. I'd probably say I'm the better money guy, but Trey is more, I guess, risky. He's somebody I'm really close to. We've kind of got the same mindset as far as finances. So we throw ideas back and forth to each other. He's flipping a property right now, so I've been there with him a few times. That's good for him. So I'd probably say me, and he might say him, but I say me.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meet Ohio State football safety Tanner McCalister