The Ohio State Club Football program enters its 17th season with plenty of new, young faces as it prepared for its fourth ever NCFA National Title defense.
The Buckeyes return just two starters to a defense that is now led by new defensive coordinator Brendan McNeill, who takes over for longtime coordinator and alumnus, Dylan Barron.
Offensively, Ohio State returns almost all of its receiving production and much of its rushing production as well. After two years, two championships and an NCFA MVP, Niko Pappas gives way to Corbyn Aleshire at quarterback. Aleshire is preparing for his first season as the Buckeyes’ starting signal caller after spending his freshman year as Pappas’ backup. Aleshire appeared in eight games last season, completing 10-of-24 passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns to three interceptions and rushed for 34 yards on eight carries. Rounding out the quarterback room is freshman Jack Lou from Rhode Island, who has made significant strides in fall camp.
Aleshire will have no lack of weapons surrounding him on offense. All-Americans DeSean Bonte and Ricardo Washington return for their graduate senior seasons, while tight ends Aidan Donovan and Tommy Delaney give the Buckeyes added receiving and blocking skillsets. All told, Bonte, Washington, Donovan and Delaney combined for 65% of Ohio State’s receptions in 2025, 75% of their receiving yards and nearly 80% of their touchdown receptions. All four are back for an offense that also returns its top two running backs from a season ago.
Lake Erie College transfer Milan Jackson joins Ohio Wesleyan transfer Ethan Young in the Buckeye backfield for the second straight season. Jackson and Young combined for 535 rushing yards on 118 carries for seven total rushing touchdowns in 2025. Ohio State also added Bluffton transfer Issac Bodkins to the mix and all three will give the Buckeyes a formidable rushing attack.
The biggest question marks for Ohio State on offense come up front as the Buckeyes return just one starter on the offensive line from last year’s championship team. Junior Liam Logan leads a group made up of three freshmen – Conor Clevenger, Wes Chizmar, Joey Madsen – and sophomore Nathan Chavarria-Byrne that hope to continue the tradition of stellar offensive line play. Kameron Hyer, who joined the program in the spring, is also competing for reps along the offensive line.
On defense, Coach McNeill takes over a defense that returns just two starters from 2025. Defensive linemen Elijah Lowden and Matt Humphries are all that remain from last year’s championship squad outside of Bonte, who also filled at in corner throughout last season. Humphries, who was the 2024 NCFA Defensive MVP, enters his last year of eligibility after playing in just two games in 2025 due to injury. In just over three seasons with Ohio State, he has compiled 69 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown. Lowden, who enters his third season with Ohio State, has compiled 63 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a touchdown throughout his college career.
Hilliard native Nick Brown is expected to play an integral role on the defense as an incoming junior transfer defensive lineman. Brown excelled throughout the winter and spring and brings a stellar pass rush to the Buckeye defense. Colin Youdath, NateShawn Hoskins, Matt Naumann and Trent Madison are also pushing for significant roles along the defensive line.
Ohio State has to replace the entire back end of its defense in 2026 after losing all three linebackers from 2025 to graduation, injury and transfer, respectively. Freshmen Evan Riggs, Dane Barcalow and Noah Marshall have impressed in camp as has sophomore newcomer Vince San Filippo. Returning players Anthony Irwin, Brayden Beckman and Carlos Purnell are also expected to play a significant role in the linebacker rotation as the Buckeyes must replace their all-time leading tackler (Christian Allen), their second all-time leading tackler (Tyler Beckman) and last season’s leading tackler (Tyler Siegel).
Outside of Bonte, the entire secondary for Ohio State will be first-year starters. Luckily for the Buckeyes, they do not lack leadership as the lone member of the 2023 recruiting class – Reagan Little – brings experience and a veteran presence to the unit. In three seasons, Little has accumulated 38 total tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions, one forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns. He serves as a team president and is expected to play a significant part in the Ohio State secondary.
Sophomore Stosh Niezgoda figures to factor in at safety after a rookie campaign in which he contributed 20 total tackles. Niezgoda also grabbed a pair of interceptions last season, although both were called back due to penalty. Newcomers Vann Riordan, Anthony Tulli, Olabode Bagwell, Chase Stevenson, Oleksandr Kulyk, AJ Thacker and Jorge Oquendo are all vying for roles in the secondary as well.
Finally, Ohio State has an ongoing battle at kicker as the season inches closer. Raj Venkatesh spent last season as a practice squad kicker for the Buckeyes, but following the departure of Jacob Cramer, is battling for the starting job alongside Luca Licata and Michael Harper.
Damian Hanf, who spent the 2024 season on the Ohio State practice squad, earned the starting punters job in 2025 and figures to retain that role in 2026. Last season, he was called on to punt just nine times across nine games, averaging 37.89 yards per punt, three of which pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line.
The Buckeyes are set to unveil their new look roster for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 20 on the road against Michigan State’s Club Football program. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Ithaca (MI) High School.
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