In less than two weeks, the Ohio State Club Football team will open camp for its 13th season and its second national title defense. When the Buckeyes begin fall practice on Aug. 23, they will bring with them multiple familiar faces.
Ohio State is set to return 12 starters from its 2021 national championship team, in addition to its top kicker and punter. In all, the Buckeyes return seven starters on the offensive side of the ball and five on defense.
“I cannot begin to describe my excitement for this season,” said Head Coach James Grega, Jr. “Our players have worked extremely hard this offseason. We know what the expectations are for this team, and we have a great group of leaders who do a great job of holding themselves and others accountable.”
Two-way superstar Casey Scroggins and 2019 NCFA Offensive MVP quarterback Kellyn Gerenstein headline arguably the most decorated senior class in NCFA history. Scroggins led the NCFA in receiving yards (931) last season while also tying for the league lead with interceptions (6). Gerenstein leads all active NCFA players with 4,979 career offensive yards and has tallied 70 total touchdowns in 21 career games. In addition to the 2019 Offensive MVP honor, he also collected the 2021 NCFA National Championship Game MVP award after tallying five touchdowns in a 42-27 win over George Mason.
The talent for Ohio State’s offense does not stop there however, as the Buckeyes return four out of five starters along Coach Matt Thiede‘s offensive line. Anchoring the middle is center Sam Backenstoe, a former Army cadet. Senior Jordan Griffith-Simmon and junior Sam Dominguez bookend the Ohio State line as tackles and two-way player Jackson Rittman also returns. Griffith-Simmon is a two-time First Team All-American and the veteran of the group, while Backenstoe and Rittman also earned First Team honors in 2021. Dominguez also started all nine games at right tackle as a sophomore and received Academic All-America honors.
Running behind the veteran offensive line are Ohio State’s top-three leading rushers from 2021. Jalen Haley led the NCFA in rushing last season, compiling 841 yards in just nine games, setting a team record for rushing yards in a season, becoming the first OSU running back to earn First Team All-American honors. The Buckeyes all-time leading passer is also OSU’s all-time leading rusher, as Gerenstein surpassed the 1,000 career rushing yard mark after finishing with 651 yards on the ground last year. Not to be outdone, Johnathan Thiele led the team in yards per carry last season, averaging 7.61 yards. He finished his first season with 312 yards on 41 carries and two scores, despite missing three games with an injury.
While Ohio State graduated plenty of production on defense, the Buckeyes return their leading tackler from 2021, linebacker Colby Stahl. A Second Team All-American last season, Stahl collected 69 total tackles, which ranks second in team history for tackles in a season. Scroggins returns to Ohio State’s secondary, as do corners Jeremiah Croom and David Cooper. Although not a regular starter, Spencer Newkirk is back after coming on late last season as a corner, and could also factor in as a wide receiver.
Kicker David Rive returns for his second season, one year after a First Team All-American campaign that saw him break the team record for extra points in a season (31) and knock in four field goals. His 34-yard field goal against George Mason in the regular season was among the highlights of 2021, as it proved to be a game-winner in a close 29-28 contest. Cooper, who returns at corner for Ohio State is also back as the Buckeye punter, where he was named a First Team All-American in 2021.
Overall, Ohio State is set to bring back roughly 20 players from its 2021 season. Veterans Spencer Moore, Ze Palmore, and Xavier Thayer bring talent and depth on both sides of the ball. However, an influx of new talent also figures to bring added energy to the roster.
A recruiting class that features both freshmen and upper classmen is set to bolster Ohio State’s roster. Jon Shih, a local product from Dublin Jerome has impressed during summer workouts and is expected to factor into the Buckeyes’ plans at wide receiver and defensive back. Zach Davis has impressed everyone with his abilities in the weight room this offseason and is a lead candidate to fill in the vacancy left by Dierre Blash along the offensive line, as is newcomer Noah McQuade. Wide receiver Abdou Keita put together a phenomenal spring, and will compete for one of Ohio State’s open WR positions.
Lance Wickham, James Smith and Joseph Umba are among the upper classmen that enter as first-year players with opportunities to immediately make an impact, especially on the defensive side.
“We spent a lot of time recruiting this offseason and believe we are bringing in perhaps one of the most diverse and talented classes we ever have,” Grega said. “I am very excited to see what some of our first-year players can do as members of our program.”
Not to be overlooked is Ohio State’s class of incoming freshmen. Defensive linemen Alex Mlakar, Daniel Sankiewicz and Trey Jones will immediately compete for starting jobs, as will defensive backs Giancarlo Carone and Christian Allen.
On the coaching side, two coaches will begin their first seasons with Ohio State. Defensive Coordinator Devin Stover comes to the Buckeyes after a stint with Ohio Wesleyan University, while Owen Sabo is starting his coaching career as a student assistant. Grega and Thiede enter their 10th years with the team as either players or coaches, while Geoff Green and Raheem Massenberg are both in their second season as assistants.
The Buckeyes are set to kick off their 2022 campaign on Sunday, Sept. 18 against Toledo at the Glass Bowl. Start time is 7 p.m.
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