2024 state of the position: BGSU wide receivers and tight ends

This is the second story of a seven-part series breaking down position groups on Bowling Green State University’s roster entering the 2024 season.

BOWLING GREEN — Amidst a slew of new faces that will be lined up out wide and on the edge of the line will be a familiar face for Bowling Green State University’s offense.

Expect to hear his name a lot in the 2024 season.

Harold Fannin, Jr., highlights the group of tight ends and wide receivers for the Falcons. The 6-foot-4 tight end was a go-to target on screens and down the field for BGSU’s quarterbacks as he went on to earn first-team Mid-American Conference honors in 2023.

The Falcons, under sixth-year coach Scot Loeffler, were busy in the transfer portal in the offseason replacing their top three wide receivers from a year ago. Of the 23 wideouts and tight ends on the roster, 11 are either freshmen, redshirt freshmen, or sophomores, and several upperclassmen have only seen limited action in college as well.

Here is a look at the state of BGSU’s wide receivers and tight ends.

2023 in review

Despite missing two games due to injury, Fannin led the Falcons in receiving yards (623) and receiving touchdowns (six) while ranking second in catches (44). Fifth-year senior wide receivers Odieu Hiliare (45 catches, 532 yards, four touchdowns), Austin Osborne (29, 302, zero), and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (20, 220, two) each finished in the top five on the team in receptions and yards. BGSU finished sixth in the MAC in passing yards per game (188.8) and second in total receiving touchdowns with 17.

Position coaches

Passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Erik Campbell has been with BGSU since 2019, and the veteran mentor has had a plethora of success in the coaching ranks. Campbell’s 35 years of experience includes nearly two decades in the Big Ten Conference. He was Michigan’s wide receivers coach from 1995 to 2007, then Iowa’s wide receivers coach from 2008 to 2012. Campbell had a 1,000-yard receiver for an NCAA record eight straight seasons from 1998 to 2005.

Meanwhile, Alex Bayer has been BGSU’s tight ends coach since last year and the Falcons’ special teams coordinator since Jan. 2022. The 2013 BGSU graduate was a two-time all-MAC tight end who had 115 career receptions — a program record for tight ends — for 1,543 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Probable starters

■ Wide receiver: Malcolm Johnson, Jr., R.J. Garcia II, and Finn Hogan.

Johnson and Garcia transferred to BGSU from Auburn and Kansas State, respectively, and got a good start in learning the ins and outs of the program by going through spring practice. Johnson (6-1, 195 pounds), a senior, had 14 catches for 199 yards and one touchdown in 29 games at his previous school, while Garcia (6-0, 175), a junior, had 22 catches for 260 yards and two scores in 29 games, including a touchdown reception in Kansas State’s 2022 Big 12 Championship win over Texas Christian University.

Hogan (6-5 junior) had a career game in BGSU’s win at Georgia Tech last season with six catches for 102 yards and a sensational one-handed touchdown reception, but missed the last three games with an injury. Senior wideout Jaylon Tillman had a touchdown catch last year as well.

Replacing Hiliare — a two-time All-MAC selection in two years with the Falcons — along with Osborne and Ibrahim, will be a big task for BGSU.

■Tight end: Fannin.

There’s no question that Fannin will get his fair share of targets, playing time, and maybe even some snaps out of the backfield after rushing for four touchdowns as a freshman. But the return of another familiar Falcon could also be critical.

Senior Levi Gazarek (6-5, 250) brings leadership and experience after appearing in 39 games with 27 starts the past four years. The North Baltimore native has played in all 38 of BGSU’s games the past three years and has 19 career catches for 135 yards.

Most intriguing newcomers

Along with Johnson and Garcia, recent transfer Rahkeem Smith could turn some heads this season with his speed. The 5-9, 170-pound junior wide receiver was a significant threat in the return game at FCS school Delaware State. In 18 career games, Smith has 34 catches for 560 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he had two kick return touchdowns while averaging 30.1 yards per return, and he brought back his lone punt return for a touchdown as well.

Storyline to watch

Can the wide receivers develop chemistry with quarterbacks Connor Bazelak and Camden Orth, especially since the two signal callers missed all of spring practice while recovering from injuries?

For most of the 2023 season, Bazelak and Orth’s first options were Fannin and former BGSU running back Ta’ron Keith (44 catches), who combined for nearly half of the Falcons’ 213 completions. The summer and fall camp will be critical for the quarterbacks and new wideouts to get on the same page.

What to expect this fall

BGSU hasn’t been afraid to utilize its tight ends during the Loeffler era, and the players at that position have certainly delivered. If Fannin can stay healthy, he could have an even more productive campaign this year.

The new wide receivers should provide big-play potential, as well.