Coming off of its third NCFA National Championship title in five years, the Ohio State Club Football team saw a whopping 17 players named to NCFA All-American teams on Monday with seven appearing on the first team and 10 on the second team. Seventeen All-Americans on the first and second teams ties the program record, which was set in 2021.
In addition, senior defensive end Matthew Humphreys won the NCFA’s Defensive Most Valuable Player award, the first Buckeye in league history to take home the honor. Meanwhile, offensive line coach Zac Saleski was named the NCFA’s Assistant Coach of the Year, marking the second straight year an OSU assistant has taken home the honor, following defensive coordinator Dylan Barron who won it in 2023. Four out of five starting offensive linemen for Ohio State were named to NCFA All-American lists, with three landing on the first team.
Despite being injured for the last three games of the season and playing limited snaps, Humphreys put together a phenomenal season. In just more than seven games, Humphreys collected 34 total tackles and 10.0 sacks, which was good for second in the NCFA. He also forced a fumble in the national championship game, and recorded a scoop-and-score touchdown against UW-Milwaukee. His 10.0 sacks on the year were good for second-most in team history in a single season and his 4.5 sack performance against Wright State was the second-most in a single-game in team history.
This season marked a historic run of All-Americans as Jackson Rittman, David Rive and Jalen Haley joined Chase Gasser (2017-19) as the only three-time First Team All-Americans in team history.
First Team
Zach Davis: Senior, Offensive Tackle
Ohio State’s team president and unquestioned leader, Davis put together his best season in 2024, moving from guard to tackle for his senior campaign. Davis started eight of nine games, missing only the UW-Milwaukee game due to a minor injury. He posted an impressive 43 pancakes and paved the way for an offense that saw four separate players rush for over 200 yards and average more than 35 points per game.
In his three-year career, Davis played in three national title games, won three conference championships and went out on top with a national championship win over Clayton State. In his career, he blocked for four of the top five leading rushers in program history and Ohio State posted a 26-4 record in his three seasons.
Jackson Rittman: Senior, Offensive Guard
Rittman was a first team honoree in 2021 and 2022 at guard before playing primarily defense and tight end in 2023. Rittman made the selfless move back to guard in 2024 and helped pave the way for Ohio State to get back to the top of the NCFA.
Rittman joins Rive, Haley and defensive lineman Chase Gasser (2017-19) as the only Buckeyes to be named to the NCFA First Team All-American list three times. In addition to his services on the offensive line, Rittman was a two-way player for the majority of his career. As a linebacker and defensive lineman, Rittman posted career stats of 100 total tackles, 5.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and a scoop-and-score in the 2022 NCFA National Championship Game. In 2023 as a tight end, he caught a pair of passes for 10 yards and a touchdown.
Cameron Fries: Junior, Center
Arguably the most durable player in the last two seasons for Ohio State, Cam Fries has not missed a start in two seasons for the Buckeyes, starting all 18 career games on the offensive line for OSU, 17 of which have come at center. Cam is expected to be a leader on next year’s team for the Buckeyes, which graduates three-of-five starting linemen following the 2024 campaign.
Matthew Humphreys: Senior, Defensive End
The first NCFA Defensive Player of the Year in program history, Humphreys put together a stellar campaign despite injuring his leg in the regular season finale against Wittenberg. He led the Great Lakes Conference in sacks with 10.0, which was also good for second in the NCFA. He posted 34 total tackles with 14.5 of them going for loss. His best game came against Wright State, in which he posted seven total tackles and 4.5 sacks, the second most in single game history for Ohio State. Humphreys builds on his first season as a Buckeye in 2023, in which he was named a Second Team All-American.
Ryan Keenan: Freshman, Linebacker
The only freshman on the first team list for Ohio State, Keenan exploded onto the scene in his rookie year with the Buckeyes. Keenan posted a team-high 63 total tackles, good for fourth-most in a single season in program history. Despite not being a regular starter, Keenan dominated when he was on the field and put together his best performances when the lights shone the brightest.
In the NCFA Semifinals against Coppin State, he posted 11 total tackles and two fumble recoveries. In the national title game, he collected seven solo stops, a sack and a fumble recovery in the 20-13 win over Clayton State. Keenan figures to be a staple on the Ohio State defense for years to come.
David Rive: Senior, Kicker
David Rive joins Rittman, Haley and Gasser as the only three-time First Team All-Americans in program history. Rive, who was a first team selection in 2021 and 2022, was a second team all-American last year, before returning to the first team list in 2024.
Rive connected on 3-of-7 field goal attempts this season and hit an NCFA-best 40-yarder against Ohio Wesleyan University. He led the league in extra points, connecting on 41-of-42 attempts in 2024. He is the Ohio State program leader in nearly major placekicking category and goes out as one of just 13 players in team history with two championship rings.
Jalen Haley: Senior, Kick Returner
A First Team All-American as a running back in 2021 and 2022, Haley moved to wide receiver in 2023 before suffering an injury midway through last season that kept him out for most of the season. This year, Haley made his biggest impact on special teams as he became the only player in the NCFA to return two kicks for touchdowns. He returned the opening kick against Toledo 82 yards for a score and returned the opening kick against Coppin State 85 yards for a touchdown. He averaged 36.08 yards per return.
Second Team
Niko Pappas: Junior, Quarterback
The Baldwin Wallace transfer signal caller was well on his way to an NCFA Offensive MVP season before an injury cut his season short in the first quarter of a 17-14 win over Ohio Wesleyan. Pappas, who also played just one half of football against Ohio Northern due to a weather-shortened contest, completed 49-of-83 passes for 778 yards and 11 touchdowns to zero interceptions prior to his injury.
Despite not playing in Ohio State’s last three games, Pappas still led the Buckeyes in rushing, carrying 38 times for 392 yards and five touchdowns. He was the only Buckeye to record a 100-yard rushing yard performance this season, when he rushed 11 times for 121 yards and a score against Toledo. Outside of the Ohio Northern and Ohio Wesleyan games, Pappas recorded multiple touchdowns in each game he played.
Johnathan Thiele: Senior, Running Back
A senior leader, captain and former president, Thiele put together his most complete season as a Buckeye in 2024. After battling injuries throughout his first three seasons, Thiele was able to stay healthy his senior year and led a stable of stellar backs for Ohio State. Despite splitting carries with three other Buckeye backs, Thiele still finished the season sixth in the NCFA in rushing, rushing 63 times for 363 yards and five scores. He also caught four passes for 17 yards and returned three kicks for 38 yards.
This season, Thiele became just the fourth Buckeye in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career rushing yard mark. He currently sits at third all-time in team history in rushing yards with 1,163.
Aidan Donovan: Sophomore, Tight End
The MVP of the national title game, Donovan completed his first year of organized football in his life, and did it at an extremely high level. The sophomore from New Jersey hauled in 17 passes for 268 yards and a pair of touchdown catches on the season, while also rushing nine times for 15 yards and four touchdowns, three of which came in the national title game.
Donovan joins Haley as one of just two Buckeyes to catch a pass in every game this season. Donovan also contributed on defense in 2024, posting 12 total tackles and a sack as a reserve defensive lineman for the Buckeyes.
Jalen Haley: Senior, Wide Receiver
In addition to being named a First Team All-American kick returner, Haley also had a stellar year as a receiver for the Buckeyes. The senior from Zanesville hauled in a team-best 29 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns on the year and rushed four times for 12 yards.
Haley leaves Columbus as one of the more decorated players in team history. He sits second in team history in rushing yards, despite having not played running back the last two seasons. He also sits at third in team history in receptions with 47.
JP Naylor: Freshman, Wide Receiver
Joining Keenan as the only freshmen Buckeyes to make the All-American lists, Naylor established himself as a force for Ohio State this year. Naylor led Ohio State in touchdown receptions, hauling in five for the Buckeyes in his rookie campaign. Overall, he hauled in 18 passes for 232 yards. His best performances came against Wright State and Coppin State respectfully. Against Wright State, he pulled in three passes for 62 yards and a pair of scores while hauling in four receptions for 54 yards and a score against Coppin State in the semifinals.
Daniel Sankiewicz: Junior, Offensive Tackle
Sankiewicz made the move from defensive end to offensive tackle in 2024 and had his best season yet as a Buckeye. Sankiewicz helped Ohio State’s offense to a national title and started all nine games for the Buckeyes at left tackle. He was routinely lined up against opponents best edge rushers, including Clayton State’s Ken’Won Felton, who led the NCFA in sacks this season.
Sankiewicz, along with Fries, figure to be the anchors for the Ohio State offensive line in 2025 as the Buckeyes will begin their first title defense in three years.
Trey Jones: Junior, Defensive End
One of the most prolific edge rushers in program history, Jones’ performance in the postseason led to his spot on an All-American team. Jones posted 9.0 sacks on the season, 6.5 of which came in the last two games of the year. He recorded five total tackles and 3.5 sacks in the national title game, the best performance of his career.
Through three seasons, Jones has amassed 18 career sacks, placing him third on the program’s all-time list. His nine sacks in 2024 is tied for fourth most in a single-season.
Ryan Globokar: Senior, Linebacker
In his lone season with the Buckeyes, the senior was arguably Ohio State’s most consistent performer on defense throughout the season. Playing a hybrid linebacker/safety position, Globokar posted 56 total tackles, good for second-most on the team. He also collected 2.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and three interceptions, the latter of which led the team.
His best game came against Toledo, when he posted a season-high 13 total tackles. He collected Ohio State’s lone interception of the national championship game and added four tackles in the title game win.
JP Naylor: Freshman, Cornerback/Long Snapper
Naylor’s second and third mention on this list, the Milford, OH native rarely came off the field in 2024. A starter on offense and defense this season, Naylor tallied 21 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups, the latter of which led the team.
Naylor also started as Ohio State’s long snapper for seven of the Buckeyes’ nine games in 2024. He also filled in during the national championship game as a long snapper when an injury to Daniel Zirkle forced Naylor into that spot late in the game.
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