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Athlon Sports
Ohio Football: 2024 Bobcats Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
19 days ago
Ohio had six All-MAC selections last season. None of them remain on the roster. The schedule-makers didn’t cut the Bobcats any breaks, either. Ohio has difficult non-conference games (Kentucky, Syracuse and South Alabama) and MAC road games at Miami, Toledo and Central Michigan. It’ll be his best coaching job if Tim Albin leads the Bobcats to their third consecutive 10-win season.
The Kurtis Rourke era is over at Ohio. The three-year starting quarterback and former MAC Offensive Player of the Year transferred to Indiana following the 2023 season, taking 34 career starts, more than 7,500 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes to Bloomington. And leading rusher Sieh Bangura (811 yards, seven TDs) transferred to Minnesota.
The Bobcats also have to replace their seven leading pass-catchers. And don’t forget an offensive line that’s refurbishing the left side.
UCF transfer Parker Navarro, a dual-threat QB, is the style head coach Tim Albin prefers. But will be throwing to an inexperienced group. Chase Hendricks (11 catches, 108 yards) is the leading returning wide receiver. No one else has more than three career catches as a Bobcat, though Coleman Owen is an impact transfer from FCS Northern Arizona. Returning players had a grand total of three touchdown receptions last season.
At running back, the Bobcats have redshirt freshman Rickey Hunt Jr., who scored five touchdowns in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Ohio head coach Tim Albin has won 10 games in back-to-back seasons, including a pair of bowl wins.
David Yeazell&solUSA TODAY Sports
Previewing Ohio’s Defense for 2024
Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky fled for Memphis during spring practice after guiding the nation’s fourth-ranked defense last season. And the transfer portal decimated the Bobcats’ defense.
Ohio already had to replace its top three tacklers, and then All-MAC defensive tackle Rayyan Buell (12.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks) and end Bradley Weaver (13 TFLs, six sacks) entered the portal the week after spring practice. Bralen Henderson, FCS North Dakota transfer Ben McNaboe and Cincinnati transfer CJ Doggette must shoulder the load.
The linebacker corps is green, but Shay Taylor had a breakout showing in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, with six tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
Defensive backs Tank Pearson, Austin Brawley and Adonis Williams Jr. help comprise a secondary that keyed a top-15 pass defense ranking in the nation in 2023.
Starting cornerback Tank Pearson is also a dangerous punt returner for the Ohio Bobcats.
Matt Lunsford&solUSA TODAY Sports
Previewing Ohio’s Specialists for 2024
Twelve of Jack Wilson’s 29 punts ended up inside the 20, and eight were 50-plus yards. Alex Kasee is back to handle kickoff duties. The Bobcats ranked in the top 35 in covering kicks, only allowing 17.7 yards per return. Kicker Jacob Lewis transferred in from Minnesota.
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