For the final time in the 2024-25 academic year, Ohio took the field at Peden Stadium. Though games throughout the season have featured historic wins, record-breaking numbers and teeth-clenching moments, Saturday’s Spring Football Game was on the more lighthearted side of things.
In what has become a dying tradition in college football, new Ohio coach Brian Smith decided to use the Spring Game as an opportunity for his athletes to compete and allow fans in the area to come and watch.
Although the scrimmage between Ohio players was at the forefront of the event, Ohio also treated the event as a way to celebrate a historic season in 2024 that included the team's first Mid-American Conference Championship since 1968.
Fans stuffed the lower bowl of Peden Stadium as Ohio took part in a more advanced style of practice. The most action came toward the end of the practice when Ohio ran seven-on-seven with a roster featuring a few of the athletes who could become standouts on next year's team.
“You’re always just trying to get better, develop your depth and establish what your culture is going to be for the next year,” Smith said. “A lot of those things we were able to get done this spring.”
Among the most attention-grabbing plays of the day was Anas Luqman’s interception. Luqman, a transfer defensive lineman out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, made a spectacular read on a speed-option intercepting a Nick Poulos pass before returning it for a touchdown.
Luqman was one of a few transfers and freshmen who stood out during play Saturday. Incoming freshman running back Mike Taylor Jr., who arrived on campus a semester early to join the team for spring practice, was given a couple of handoffs that resulted in positive yardage.
Defensive lineman Walter Bob Jr. was at the center of another exciting play, where he forced and recovered a fumble. Bob, along with Luqman, is playing for the right to start on a defensive line that will look completely different in 2025. With each making an exciting play during the Spring Game, fans have reason to be optimistic for a position group that will enter 2025 with a lot of unknowns.
“We have really good coaches that are great teachers, so I'm very confident in our ability to get guys ready to play fast, which is what we've done these past few years,” Smith said.
It isn’t just the defensive line that will have to answer questions going into 2025; the Ohio linebacker room has also been hit hard. In the spring transfer portal window, Ohio lost starting linebackers Shay Taylor and Kadin Schmitz after already losing Blake Leake to graduation.
Key participants at the linebacker position during spring practice included juniors Michael Molnar and Jack Fries, as well as freshman Charlie Christopher. It's unclear what role Christopher will play, but he seems like a good candidate to be a significant member of the defense.
Among the best on the field for the Ohio defense were defensive backs Michael Mack, Tank Pearson and Jalen Thomeson. Although there are some holes to be filled on the Ohio defense, the defensive backs have proved to be one of the deepest parts of the team.
“I think our guys are getting a good understanding of how to move within our schemes and how hard we want them to play, and that creates some disruption for us,” Smith said.
Similarly to the defensive backs, Ohio proved its depth at the wide receiver position with a handful of guys looking like potential options to catch passes in 2025. Senior Eamonn Dennis displayed his elite speed during practice while players such as Eian Pugh, Chase Hendricks, Rodney Harris and Caleb Gossett further proved what they’re capable of at the receiver position.
Though Ohio was able to put some of its best players on the field in front of a crowd of die-hard Bobcat fans, a few key contributors were noticeably absent from the field of play. Sieh Bangurra, who recently returned to Ohio after a brief stint in the Big 10, was unable to play in the game, which gave backup running backs such as Taylor and Duncan Brune prime opportunities to prove themselves to both coaches and fans.
Perhaps the most exciting returner in all of the MAC, senior quarterback Parker Navarro, was also unable to play, giving both Nick Poulos and Mathew Papas a similar opportunity to impress. Poulos, who was Ohio’s primary backup in 2024 took most of the snaps while Papas was sprinkled in every couple plays.
Following the end of practice, fans were given even more opportunities to interact with players and key figures in the program. Fans were welcomed onto the field for a chance to meet players and take pictures with the two trophies that Ohio won in 2024.
“I think there was an unknown of how many were going to come, because it's Easter weekend,” Smith said. “I think with that being said, I was very pleased with the amount of people that were here. The energy that was here is a reflection of the players in the program. There’s a lot of respect for what our players have done and the energy that they play with.”
The overall Spring Football event came to an end with an egg hunt in Walter Fieldhouse that both children and players participated in.
With the Spring Football Game, Ohio said goodbye to what was an incredible 2024 season and provided a preview of what fans are hoping will be an equally exciting 2025.
