The 15th season of Ohio State Club Football is set to get underway this weekend against a relatively unknown program in Cincinnati United Postgraduate Prep.
Previously known as Dohn Prep Post Grad, the program was rebranded by head coach Jared Ward after the postgraduate program at Dohn Prep was shuttered due to a lack of funding.
The Buckeyes enter the 2024 season coming off of a second straight loss in the NCFA National Championship Game. However, reigning champions Central Georgia Tech moved from the NCFA to NJCAA in the offseason, resulting in Ohio State receiving nine of 12 first-place votes in the preseason NCFA polls.
Ohio State enters its sixth year under head coach James Grega, Jr., looking to get back to the NCFA National Championship Game for the fifth straight season. The Buckeyes will look different this year, having lost key contributors on both sides of the football.
Reigning NCFA Offensive MVP Spencer Moore, who led the league in all major passing categories last season, is now in the German Football League. Furthermore, the Buckeyes graduated or lost their top four pass catchers from a season ago, leaving incumbent quarterback Niko Pappas with a fresh group of receivers with plenty to prove.
A former All-District quarterback at Avon High School, Pappas spent his first two years after high school as a quarterback at Baldwin Wallace. After a year away from football, Pappas is set to be the leader of a Buckeye offense that returns just two starting linemen and no starting receivers. However, Ohio State returns star running back JR Burton as well as veteran captain Johnathan Thiele to help pace the rushing attack. Also adding to a loaded backfield is Ohio Wesleyan transfer Ethan Young and sophomore Lucas Fenstermaker. Young is also expected to help out at linebacker defensively while Fenstermaker brings a dynamic skillset to The Ohio State return game.
Leading the receivers is Ohio State running back turned receiver Jalen Haley. The Buckeyes’ leading rusher in 2021 as a freshman, Haley is second all-time in OSU history in rushing yards with 1,476, but made the switch to wide receiver last year. Limited by injuries a year ago, Haley returns healthy to lead a young unit with a number of new faces. Jake Werling, Charles Civiletto, Keegan Lynch and veteran Sam Garber round out a unit with high potential.
Ohio State’s offensive line is led by three-year starter Zach Davis, who has moved from his traditional guard spot, to tackle for the 2024 season. Joining him is returner Cam Fries, who was named a First-Team All-American a season ago. Fries has bumped down to guard to make way for freshman center Jake Velazquez, who has impressed coaches with his knowledge for the game and toughness. Jaret Dyer, a transfer from Capital University who started two games at guard for Ohio State last year, is expected to start for the Buckeyes as is Daniel Sankiewicz who has made the switch to offensive line this year after spending the last two seasons as a defensive end.
Defensively, the Buckeyes return the majority of their front seven from 2023. Robert Morris transfer Matthew Humphreys returns for his second season with the Buckeyes on the defensive line. Humphreys tied for the team lead in sacks last season and finished as a Second Team All-American despite missing more than two games. Third-year player Trey Jones returns at defensive end with nine career sacks, which leads the team. New recruits Jaylon Pechuli, Elijah Askew, Elijah Lowden help bolster one of the top position units from a season ago.
The Ohio State linebackers all return as Jackson Rittman, Tyler Beckman and Christian Allen man the middle of the Buckeye defense. All three are captains and former All-Americans and are expected to pace OSU defensively. Allen is currently on pace to finish the season as Ohio State’s all-time leading tackler as he sits just 23 tackles away from tying his current defensive coordinator, Dylan Barron, in total career stops.
In the secondary, Ohio State returns just one starter from a year ago, in graduate Marcellus McLellan. An Honorable Mention All-American last year, McLellan brings tenacity and athleticism to a defensive backend that has to replace Zach Hayes and Glorien Gough, who both walked on to Ohio State’s varsity program in the offseason. Sophomore Joshua Clemons and freshman JP Naylor are early candidates to fill those shoes, as are senior Ryan Globokar, Civiletto, and sophomores Reagan Little and London Parker.
Little is known about Ohio State’s opponent, Cincinnati United. Coach Jared Ward’s team figures to feature a number of players from last year’s Dohn Prep squad that defeated NCFA opponent Wright State, 14-13. It will be the first game in the history of Cincinnati United.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lincoln Tower Park NW. Admission is free. Friends and family of both teams are encouraged to attend pre and postgame tailgates at The O on Lane Patio and Pub for a great game day atmosphere.
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