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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football team was represented by 10 student-athletes on the 2023 Phil Steele Postseason Mid-American All-Conference Teams.
Graduate student linebackers
Bryce Houston and
Keye Thompson both earned First Team Defense accolades, while redshirt senior defensive tackle
Rayyan Buell made Third Team Defense. Graduate student defensive end
Vonnie Watkins and redshirt sophomore defensive end
Bradley Weaver both represented the Bobcats on Fourth Team Defense.
Graduate student quarterback
Kurtis Rourke and graduate student wide receiver
Sam Wiglusz represented the team on Second Team Offense while junior wide receiver
Miles Cross earned Third Team Offense accolades. Both redshirt sophomore running back
Sieh Bangura and graduate student offensive lineman
Parker Titsworth made Fourth Team Offense.
Bangura (Bowie, Md.) led the team on the ground, recording 811 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 178 carries. The redshirt sophomore also scored one receiving touchdown, finishing the season with 18 receptions and 159 receiving yards. Bangura earned MAC East Offensive Player of the Week accolades twice this season.
Buell (Hornell, N.Y.) finished the regular season with 30 tackles, highlighted by 4.5 sacks. He also finished second on the team in tackles for loss (12.5) and recorded three quarterback hurries. Buell is fifth in tackles for loss in the MAC. Buell earned All-MAC Third Team Defense at the conclusion of the regular season.
Cross (Bowie, Md.) led the team in receiving touchdowns (5), recording 617 yards on 47 receptions. The wide receiver earned MAC East Offensive Player of the Week accolades once (Oct. 9) after his performance during the Bobcats' homecoming game against Kent State (Oct. 7).
Houston (Lewis Center, Ohio) led the defense in total tackles (127) and is currently ranked 16
th among all NCAA FBS athletes. On the season, he's recorded a team-best solo tackles (59), assisted tackles (65), tackles for loss (12.5) and interceptions (3). In the MAC, Houston is fourth in total tackles and sixth in tackles for loss. The linebacker earned MAC East Defensive of the Week accolades twice this season and was also named All-MAC First Team Defense.
Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) became the second leading passer in program history this season, finishing the regular season with 7,650 career passing yards. On the season, the graduate student recorded 2,207 yards in the air, putting him second in the MAC, going 195-for-307 with 11 touchdowns. Rourke is also a threat on the ground, amassing 219 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries. After his performance against Akron (Nov. 24), Rourke earned MAC East Offensive Player of the Week accolades and was also named All-MAC Second Team Offense.
Titsworth (Wexford, Pa.) and the offensive line helped the offense average 24.31 points and 348 yards per game. The offense scored 34 touchdowns on 2,647 passing yards and 1,877 rushing yards.
Thompson (Barberton, Ohio) finished the regular season with 94 total tackles, highlighted by 42 solo stops. He also recorded 10 tackles for loss, one interception and led the team in fumble recoveries (3). Thompson scored his first career touchdown against Bowling Green (Sept. 23) after a 71-yard fumble recovery. In the MAC, Thompson is 8
th in total tackles. This performance earned him the first of two MAC East Defensive Player of the Week awards this season and was also named to the All-MAC First Team Defense squad.
Watkins (Lusby, Md.) recorded 33 tackles, including 15 solo stops, eight tackles for loss and three sacks. The defensive end leads the team in quarterback hurries (11) and forced fumbles (2). Watkins was named to the All-MAC Third Team Defense squad.
Weaver (Hilliard, Ohio) finished the season with 34 tackles, including 17 solo stops, while recorded a team-leading 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. He also finished second on the team in quarterback hurries (7).
Wiglusz (Brecksville, Ohio) is second on the team in receiving yards (596), putting him among the top five receivers in the conference. On the season, he's scored three touchdowns on 51 receptions. Against Iowa State (Sept. 16), Wiglusz's third quarter touchdown gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead, propelling them to a 10-7 victory over their Big 12 opponent. Wiglusz was named All-MAC First Team Offense at the conclusion of the regular season.
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