Ohio was very disciplined in 2024, and running was always tough against its defensive front. This put pressure on the defense to disrupt quarterback play, but to find success it also needed steady coverage on the back end.
Ohio looks to continue to keep up strong coverage that powered the game plan for defensive coordinator John Hauser, and this is aided by having a strong continuity in the no-fly zone, which it luckily does as the season begins.
Who’s gone
The Bobcats lost 4 members of the secondary, including two players who started 13 games for them last year. The biggest loss is Roman Parodie, a fourth-year senior who was a major factor in the historic season put together by the Bobcats last year. They also lost starting safety graduate student Dustin Johnson, who led the secondary in tackles with 77.
Ohio also lost a reliable backup in redshirt senior Miles Fleming. Fleming played in 8 games behind Johnson and Ohio also lost another couple of first-year players who made strong impacts in backup roles.
Who’s back
The Bobcats are lucky to return 10 members of the secondary from last season. That includes three of their starters, graduate student Tank Pearson, senior Adonis Williams and sophomore DJ Walker, who are leading the way in 2025.
Pearson heads into this season as the leader of this defense. In 2024, he tallied four interceptions to lead Ohio, as well as over 50 tackles and six passes broken up as the cornerback one. He looks to keep this up and make an impact as one of Ohio’s defensive leaders alongside Walker.
Walker is playing strong safety primarily this season after playing both cornerback in nickel and safety last season, depending on the formation run by the Bobcats. Walker is set to have a steadier role and continue as a leader for the Bobcats as he will attempt to follow up his All-Mid-American Conference second team season, where he tallied 53 tackles and an interception.
The other starter returning to Ohio in 2025 is Williams, who played in 9 games last season and looks to continue his strong finish to last season. Williams tallied 33 tackles and three pass break ups but looks for those numbers to grow alongside Pearson and Walker in 2025.
The Bobcats also retained two key backups in graduate student Michael Mack II and junior Jalen Thomeson, who both played over 10 games last fall and looks to continue making an impact as a part of Ohio’s secondary as they look for more expansive roles this year.
Who’s new
Ohio may be lucky to have a high level of players with tenure in Athens but that doesn’t mean head coach Brian Smith and company did not feel the need to fill some of the losses with some experienced players from around the country.
The Bobcats brought in six total players, including four from the transfer portal. The biggest addition heading into the season appears to be Rickey Hyatt Jr., from Kentucky and South Alabama, in his final season. Last season, Hyatt Jr. had 29 tackles, including two for a loss.
Ohio also brought in two players who are set to play out their careers here. These players are graduate student Leroy Bowers and redshirt senior Jaymar Mundy. Bowers, making the jump back to the FBS from Southern Jacksonville, and Mundy, coming from Western Kentucky, both look to make a splash in their final season with more playing time.
The Bobcats also went down a similar route as last offseason and took a player from Air Force after finding success with Mack II a season ago. They brought in redshirt freshman Caleb Chamberlin, who is looking for a new start here after not playing in his first year of college football due to redshirt restrictions.
Ohio also wanted to bring in some young legs to learn under the well-experienced back line. Ohio brought in two players to play cornerback for Hauser and help bring the culture forward and into the future with freshmen Bobby Miller from Orlando and Tyson Long from Pickering.
2025 Outlook
Ohio looks to have a strong defensive presence again this season. The returning players in the secondary look to be leaders in Hauser’s defense. That being said, Ohio is looking for some new players to step up and fill the holes left by players who departed and keep the high level of play going in 2025.
