2024 Ohio Bobcats Football Positional Previews: Defense

Ohio v Iowa State — Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images

The ‘Cats feature a returning core of players under a new defensive coordinator.

A big reason for Ohio’s 10 wins last year was a defense that was both stifling and opportunistic. The ‘Cats defense ranked sixth nationally, allowing just 15.8 points per contest on average. Combine that with 23 turnovers gained (20th in the NCAA) and that’s the makings of a formidable defense.

A key group of the players from the 2023 squad return to lead the team under first year defensive coordinator John Hauser, who is in his third year with the Bobcats having served as safeties coach the last two seasons.

Expect Hauser to continue philosophically with the base 4-2-5 defense that he helped develop with departed defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky (Memphis) as the two worked together for six years with the Miami RedHawks before joining Ohio for the last two seasons.

With somewhat of an overview provided, let’s take a more detailed look at the 2024 roster.

Defensive Line

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 10 Ohio at Penn State

Departures:

DT Rodney Mathews (graduation)
DT Rayyan Buell (transfer to Colorado)
DT Kobi Gorman (not on current online roster)
DT Dane Middlebrook (graduation)
DT Tristan Cox (entered transfer portal, no new team listed)
DT Geno Williams (transfer to Otterbein University)
DT Jordon Jones (position change to offensive lineman)
DE Vonnie Watkins (graduation)
DE Shane Bonner (graduation)
DE Kwame Sutton (graduation)
DE Dontay Hunter (transfer to Prairie View A&M)
DE David Patterson (graduation)
DE Ryan Logan (not on current online roster)

Arrivals:

DT CJ Doggette (transfer from Cincinnati)
DT Cam Rice (transfer from West Liberty)
DT Nathan Hale (JUCO transfer from Iowa Western C.C.)
DE Marcel Walker-Burgess (transfer from Nevada)
DE Ben McNaboe (transfer from North Dakota, FCS)
DE Walter Bob (JUCO transfer from Hutchinson C.C.)
DE Sinn Brennen (transfer from San Diego State)
Maverick Ohle (incoming recruit)
Brock Arndt (incoming recruit)
Sam Ehret (incoming recruit)

Returnees:

DE Bradley Weaver
DE Kadin Schmitz
DE Kaci Seegars
DE Jay Crable
DE Owen DiFranco
DE Danny Novickas
DT Bralen Henderson
DT Chris Mayfield
DT RJ Keuchler
DT Joey Woolard
DT Austin Mitchell

The Bobcats begin the 2024 season having to completely replace the defensive line, thanks to the departures of tackles Rayyon Buell and Rodney Mathews and defensive ends Vonnie Watkins and Shane Bonner. All four were either starters or major contributors with experience, and that is always difficult to replace.

Yet, the Bobcats return a group of rising playmakers coupled with a promising infusion of talent from the transfer portal who figure to make a splash in 2024.

The group starts at defensive end with budding star Bradley Weaver. Over the past few seasons, Weaver has matured into one of the MAC’s impact players, finishing 2023 third in the conference in solo tackles-for-loss and eighth with a team-leading six sacks.

A returning player on the rise with a shot at a bigger role figures to be defensive end Kadin Schmitz, who appeared in eleven games last year as a true freshman. Getting playing time as a young player typically bodes well for an expanded future role.

Of the defensive end transfers, Ohio added some experienced players who will get a chance to make an immediate impact. One such player is Marcel Walker-Burgess, a former linebacker who left Nevada with 70 career stops and five sacks. Another player to look for is Ben McNaboe, who finished his North Dakota State career with 31 game appearances with 65 tackles and 8.5 sacks.

At defensive tackle, the task will be to continue to develop new starters and contributors with the departure of impact starters in Buell and captain Mathews.

Redshirt junior Bralen Henderson should be ready to assume a larger role after appearing in 12 games last year with 21 tackles and a sack. Entering his fourth season in the program with 18 game appearances, Henderson should be prepared to play his best football in 2024.

Transfers products Cam Rice and Nathan Hale will have the chance to play major roles this season, bringing major experience and production from their prior homes. For instance, in 10 games with West Liberty last season, Rice destroyed the competition with a mind-boggling 23.5 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks.

Figure CJ Doggette to have an opportunity to shine in 2024. The Pickerington, Ohio product had 14 offers out of high school per 247Sports, including Big Ten’s Michigan State and SEC’s Kentucky. Doggette signed with Cincinnati as a defensive end and has transitioned to tackle after transferring in for the spring for the ‘Cats.

Linebacker

Departures:

Bryce Houston (graduation)
Keye Thompson (transfer to Pitt)
Caden Campolieti (graduation)
Dylan Stevens (graduation)
Andrew Marshall (not on current online roster)
Chase Hall (not on current online roster)
Geo Loya (not on current online roster)

Arrivals:

Blake Leake (transfer from FCS Bucknell)
Reise Collier (transfer from UAB)
Jasen Kelly (incoming recruit)
Stellan Bowman (incoming recruit)
Parker Startz (incoming recruit)
Ryan Matheny (incoming recruit)

Returnees:

Shay Taylor
Michael Molnar
Jack Fries
Brady Sestili
Lukas Stiles

The linebacker group will have some big shoes to fill in the base 4-2-5, with 2023 captains and all-MAC first-team selections Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson both departing the program in the offseason.

However, as featured in our article on immediate impact transfers for 2024, one likely starter at linebacker ready to make an impact is Blake Leake. A former captain at FCS Bucknell, Leake is a well-rounded, experienced, player with over 30 games played with 208 career tackles and eight passes defensed.

Also, Thompson’s understudy Shay Taylor is poised to take the lead role in the middle in 2024 after appearing in all games last year, mostly on special teams. Taylor started the Myrtle Beach Bowl last year, looking every bit a part of the Bobcats’ future after finishing with six stops, a sack, and a fumble recovery.

Look for important special teams contributions from returning players like Michael Molnar, who appeared in 13 games last year.

Defensive Back

Departures:

CB Justin Birchette (graduation)
CB Torrie Cox Jr. (transfer to Illinois)
Mekah Ryder (not on current online roster)
CB Toby Adensaya (not on current online roster)
SAF Walter Reynolds (graduation)
SAF Ben Johnson (entered portal, no new team listed)
SAF Nife Oseni (graduation)
SAF John Motton (transfer to FCS Robert Morris University)
SAF Cam Dorsey (graduation)

Arrivals:

CB Michael Mack (transfer from Wisconsin via Air Force)
DB Jaylen Johnson (transfer from Memphis via Ohio State)
CB LJ Shumpert (JUCO transfer from Northwest Mississippi C.C.)
CB DJ Morton (incoming recruit)
CB Xavier Williams (incoming recruit)
DB Tony Mathis (incoming recruit)
SAF Dustin Johnson (transfer from FCS Northern Colorado)
SAF JT Haskins (incoming recruit)
SAF Carson Canning (incoming recruit)
SAF Andrew Vera (incoming recruit)

Returnees:

SAF Adonis Williams Jr.
SAF Austin Brawley
DB Jeremiah Wood
SAF Miles Fleming
SAF DJ Walker
SAF Bailey Russ
SAF Jalen Thomeson
SAF Xander Karagosian
CB Roman Parodie
CB Tank Pearson
CB Kendall Bannister
CB Creed Hill

The Bobcats begin the 2024 campaign replacing starters Birchette and Cox Jr. at cornerback and will feature some experienced players and transfers vying for starting and contributing minutes.

The most experienced returning player is contributor and spot starter Roman Parodie, who has appeared in 38 contests for the Green and White with 73 stops, 16 passes-defensed, and two interceptions. Parodie has turned in some big plays with the Bobcats over the years, like his 28-yard scoop-and-score in last year’s rout against Bowling Green.

CB Tank Pearson will make his case for a bigger role after appearing in 13 games last year as a reserve, turning in key interceptions in close wins over FAU and Western Michigan.

Transfers will likely make a strong contribution in 2024 as well. One such intriguing prospect is Michael Mack, a two-year starter at Air Force before sitting out last year at Wisconsin as a late transfer. Mack has a reputation as a physical player with a diverse skill set and brings good size to the secondary at six-foot-one, 200 lbs.

The starting safety and nickel positions should be well stocked with proven successes among the experienced returning players and a transfer despite the loss of Walter Reynolds.

Adonis Williams Jr., a versatile player with excellent size at around six-foot-two, 215 lbs., is an all-MAC caliber defender. He’s been a key part of the defense since his true freshman year, contributing early as a starter at nickel while also showing himself capable of handling strong safety responsibilities. Last season’s Myrtle Beach Bowl saw him pick up his first career interception.

Junior Austin Brawley has been a staple of the Bobcats secondary the past two years appearing in 22 games with 59 tackles, starting most of the games last season at strong safety where he earned All-MAC Academic honors.

Graduate student Jeremiah Wood looks poised to make his mark in 2024 after starting three games at strong safety in 2023 in relief of Brawley before transitioning to starting nickel for the bowl game.

The ‘Cats depth at safety is further cushioned with the addition of FCS Northern Colorado graduate transfer Dustin Johnson. An experienced and productive starter at safety, Johnson appeared in 29 games and finished with 137 tackles for the Bears.

We’ll get our first look at the 2024 Bobcats in the season opener on August 31, 2024, at 3:30pm Eastern time, when they travel to Syracuse to take on the Orange.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming game preview and game recap.