Ohio found success all over the field in 2024, but was led by the defense all season long. Unfortunately, with the loss of former head coach Tim Albin, Ohio lost both starting linebackers, Kadin Schmitz and Shay Taylor, to Charlotte this season.
The Bobcats, under the tutelage of new head coach Brian Smith, were unfazed this offseason and eagerly hit the transfer portal.
Who’s Gone
Ohio went through a huge loss of its linebacking core in the spring. In 2024, Ohio had 11 linebackers on the roster, but only four players would be returning this fall.
The two biggest hits were Schmitz and Taylor, who both started 13 or more games for the Bobcats last season. They tallied 105 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks combined last season. These two controlled the middle of the field, but the Bobcats lost more than just their starters heading into 2025.
The Bobcats also lost their top tackler, Blake Leake, heading into 2025 due to his graduation. This loss would leave yet another hole to fill as Leake started 13 games last season and brought home All-Mid-American Conference Third Team honors for his efforts.
Ohio also lost four players who had three or more seasons of eligibility left in their collegiate careers due to the transfer portal. The loss of players can be crucial to the success of a team due to the lack of bodies, and this can hinder the team's cultural growth moving forward. However, Ohio was not taken aback by these moves and jumped right into the portal themselves.
Who’s Back
The Bobcats struggled to retain linebackers in the spring, but those who stayed will look to step into bigger roles and make an impact this year. Three of the four players who stayed in Athens played two or fewer games last season. These players are redshirt junior Michael Molnar, redshirt freshman Jasen Kelly and redshirt sophomore Lukas Stiles
The only other player that brings some continuity to the field for Ohio’s defense this year is redshirt junior Jack Fries, who played in all 14 games last year and collected 9 tackles throughout the year. Fries will look to see a role of higher volume this year and will make an impact as the veteran leader of this group, now having a few years under his belt.
Who’s New
Ohio got to work on the linebacking core by hiring a new coach. The departure of co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Nate Faanes allowed Ohio to bring in 30-year veteran coach Chris Woods to coach the linebackers in March of this year. Woods looks to hit the ground running with the returners and the new additions brought in this spring.
The Bobcats wanted to bring in some well-experienced players to help bolster this group. They brought in two graduate students, Makel Williams from Fort Hays State and Cameron Hollobaugh from Walsh. These two were brought in to make an impact and bring some tenacity they learned during their careers to Athens and the culture being built by Smith.
Ohio had some luck in the recruitment pool as well. They brought in three freshmen who could make an impact on day one if given the opportunity. First, three-star from Uniontown, Ohio, Charlie Christopher, alongside another three-star prospect from Hyattsville, Maryland, Jermaine Minnis.
The final recruit for Ohio, Brady Wharton, is from right here in Athens. He will be another spark plug for the revamped core Ohio has built moving forward. These three players will have traditional backup roles early in the year but may move their way up through strong play.
Position Outlook
The linebackers at Ohio went through a full rebuild at the end of the season last year. They lost two-thirds of the group, and for some teams, this would be hard to overcome. Nevertheless, the returning members, plus the additions made in the offseason by Ohio, will look to be enough to return to its winning ways this fall.
Ol415422@ohio.edu
