The 2025 season for Ohio State Club Football will go down as arguably the most dominant in National Club Football Association history.
The Buckeyes completed an undefeated 9-0 season on Dec. 6 with a 28-8 victory over Coppin State in the NCFA National Championship Game and followed it up by bringing home the most individual hardware in one season in league history.
Twenty one Buckeyes earned either First or Second Team NCFA All-American honors while four members of the program took home national awards. Quarterback Niko Pappas, who set the league record for single-season touchdowns accounted for, was named the NCFA’s Offensive Most Valuable Player while Trey Jones, who owns Ohio State’s all-time sack record, was named the league’s Defensive Most Valuable Player. He is the second straight Buckeye to win the award after Matt Humphreys did so in 2024.
In addition, cornerback Tommy Roberts III became the first Buckeye to win the NCFA’s Freshman of the Year Award, after he finished the season with 39 total tackles, an interception and 13 pass breakups, tied for first in the NCFA.
Finally, head coach James Grega, Jr. was named the NCFA’s Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in league history to win the award twice. He first won it in 2019, when he led the Buckeyes to their first undefeated season since joining the NCFA and first national title.
First Team All-Americans
Niko Pappas, Senior – Quarterback
One of the most dominant players to ever play in the NCFA, Pappas never lost a game as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, going 14-0 in two seasons. His 2025 campaign saw him complete 62% of his passes for 1,541 yards and 25 touchdowns while also rushing for 786 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led the NCFA in both categories and set a new league record for single-season touchdowns with 40, surpassing George Mason’s Chase Soper, who posted 39 total touchdowns in 2021.
Aidan Donovan, Junior – Tight End
Despite missing three games with an injury, Donovan picked up where he left off in 2024 and put together another dominant season as both a pass catcher and blocker. He hauled in nine passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in just five games played. The 2024 National Championship Game MVP caught just one pass in the 2025 title game, but it proved crucial as it moved the chains on a critical fourth down early in the contest.
Ricardo Washington, Senior – Wide Receiver
The senior transfer from Ohio Dominican was dominant all season. Washington hauled in 35 passes for 597 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games this season, leading the NCFA in every major receiving category. His best game came when his team needed him the most, catching six passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in the national championship game. He was named the game’s MVP for his performance.
Desean Bonte, Junior – Wide Receiver
A two-way starter for the Buckeyes, Bonte made his biggest impact on offense. Bonte caught 24 passes for 400 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. He was second in the NCFA in receiving yards and touchdowns behind only Washington with his best performance coming in the division championship, when he brought in five passes for 88 yards and a touchdown against Toledo.
Daniel Sankiewicz, Senior – Offensive Tackle
A four-year starter for Ohio State, Sankiewicz made the move to offense in 2024 and is now a two-time All-American after earning Second Team honors last season. Sankiewicz missed just one start in 2025 and did not surrender a sack. He finishes his career a two-time national champion as an offensive lineman, while also posting 35 total career tackles and 3.5 sacks as a defensive lineman.
William Feeley, Senior – Offensive Guard
In just one season with the Buckeyes, Feeley put together one of the best seasons by an offensive lineman in team history. He started all eight games for Ohio State in 2025, playing at both guard and tackle. His versatility and tenacity along the offensive front made him an invaluable member of the team, despite him playing just one season in Columbus.
Cameron Fries, Senior – Center
A pillar of Ohio State’s offensive line for three seasons, Fries left his mark on the program as a three-time First Team All-American. In three seasons, Fries never missed a start, playing all but one game as the Buckeyes’ starting center. He snapped for two NCFA MVPs in Spencer Moore and Pappas, and blocked for three of Ohio State’s top-five all-time leading rushers.
Trey Jones, Senior – Defensive End
Ohio State’s all-time sack leader, Jones finishes his career with 25 sacks, 7.0 of which came in his senior campaign. Jones, who posted 31 total tackles and a pair of forced fumbles in his final season, finishes his career with 106 total tackles and four forced fumbles to go along with his 25 sacks. He joins Matt Humphreys as the only Buckeyes in league history to win the Defensive Most Valuable Player Award.
Christian Allen, Senior – Linebacker
The heartbeat of Ohio State for the last few years, Allen’s presence on the Buckeye defense was felt the moment he stepped back onto the field. Allen leaves Columbus as Ohio State’s all-time tackles leader, as he posted 194 total stops over four seasons with the Buckeyes. In 2025, he tallied 37 total tackles to go along with 2.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Throughout his career, he added 7.0 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries to go along with a handful of blocked punts, including one against Toledo this season.
Tyler Siegel, Freshman – Linebacker
The third straight freshman to lead the team in tackles, Siegel exploded onto the scene as a freshman in 2025. He led the Buckeyes in total tackles with 61, adding a sack and a whopping 19.5 tackles for loss to his rookie campaign. His best performance came in the national title game as he collected 10 total tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Tommy Roberts III, Freshman – Cornerback
The league’s Freshman of the Year award winner, Roberts was a staple of Ohio State’s shutdown secondary. Roberts led the league in pass breakups with 13 and was excellent in run support and on special teams, posting 39 total tackles. His performance in the season opener against George Mason was particularly impressive as he forced and recovered two fumbles while also racking up five tackles against the Patriots in a 40-3 win.
Topaz Linton, Freshman – Safety
One of the hardest hitters in team history, Linton announced his presence early in camp and didn’t let up all year. He tallied 40 total tackles in his freshman campaign and proved he could play near the line of scrimmage or in coverage. He wrangled 3.0 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and an interception in 2025. A military veteran, Linton figures to be a staple of Ohio State’s defense for years to come.
Liam Ahern, Junior – Long Snapper
Despite missing the national title game, Ahern was otherwise reliable as Ohio State’s starting long snapper. The Buckeye special teams battery did not suffer a bad snap all season and Ahern’s performance allowed Ohio State to lead the league in extra points converted.
Second Team All-Americans
Charlie Harlow, Senior – Wide Receiver
A late addition to the 2024 team, Harlow helped the Buckeyes go back-to-back in 2025 as one of the most reliable pass catchers in the league. He was second in the NCFA behind only Washington in receptions with 26 for 285 yards and a pair of scores. His best performance came against Ohio Wesleyan, when he caught a season-best eight passes for 98 yards and a score in a 38-21 win over the Bishops. Outside of Washington’s performance against Coppin State, it was statistically the best single-game performance of the season by an OSU receiver.
Daniel Zirkle, Senior – Offensive Tackle
A 2023 All-American as both an offensive tackle and long snapper, Zirkle returned to the roster full-time in 2025 and reasserted his dominance as an offensive lineman. Zirkle, who also posted 34 total tackles and a sack in his three seasons as a rotational defensive tackle and long snapper, started six games at tackle for Ohio State in 2025 and despite battling injuries became one of the best Buckeye lineman of the last five seasons.
Liam Logan, Sophomore – Offensive Guard
Arguably the most improved player not only at Ohio State but in the NCFA, Logan went from a rarely used backup in 2024 to a full-time starter and Second Team All-American in 2025. Logan did not miss a start in 2025, playing both guard and tackle for the Buckeyes. His commitment to developing his skillset was a big reason why Ohio State was able to win back-to-back national titles.
Elijah Lowden, Sophomore – Defensive End
A day one starter as a freshman, Lowden continued his success as a sophomore in 2025. The New Albany, Ohio native posted 21 total tackles and his 4.5 sacks in seven games was second on the team behind only Jones. He found the end zone on a scoop-and-score in the division championship game against Toledo, with his best game coming against George Mason when he posted seven total tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Tyler Beckman, Junior – Linebacker
A three-year starter and staple of the Buckeye defense, Tyler Beckman came on late in the season to make a significant impact. Seventeen of his 44 total tackles on the season came in Ohio State’s two postseason games. He had eight total tackles and a sack at halftime of the national title game before an injury forced him to miss the second half. Through three seasons, Beckman ranks second behind only Allen as the Buckeyes’ all-time tackles leader, sitting with 161 total stops.
Jackson Gula, Freshman – Safety
A late addition to the roster, Gula joined for Ohio State’s week 4 matchup against Ohio Wesleyan and announced himself as one of the best safeties in the country. In just six games, Gula posted 29 total tackles, eight pass deflections and led the team in interceptions with three. His interception in the fourth quarter of the national championship game against Coppin State put an exclamation point on the Ohio State victory.
Jacob Cramer, Sophomore – Kicker
In his first season with the Buckeyes, Cramer hit 45 extra points, the second most in a single season in program history. He converted both of his field goal attempts, including a 30-yarder against Ohio Wesleyan that put a stamp on the 38-21 victory over the Bishops. His designed onside kick to open the second half against George Mason was a highlight of the season as the Buckeyes recovered and scored on the ensuing possession.
Desean Bonte, Junior – All-Purpose
One of Ohio State’s only two-way starters this season, Bonte proved to be a lockdown corner when called upon in 2025. He posted just seven tackles, but added a crucial interception in a win over Ohio Wesleyan and collected three tackles and 0.5 sacks in the national title game while also pulling in four catches for 57 yards on offense. He also recovered the designed/surprise onside kick in the win over George Mason, excelling in all three phases of the game.
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