2025 Signing Day Roster
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ATHENS, Ohio— The Ohio football program added 10 student-athletes to the 2025 signing class during the early signing period, as announced by fourth-year head coach Tim Albin.
"I am excited to welcome the first additions to our newest class of athletes to the Bobcat family today. Our coaching staff is dedicated to recruiting young men who mesh with the team and university's culture while filling our roster needs," said Albin. "The signing class of 2025 displays countless brickworthy traits on and off the field."
Defensive end Ike Ackerman (Omaha, Neb.), punter Kolten Bartels (Richmond, Mich.), running back Irving Brown (Teachey, N.C.), linebacker Charlie Christopher (Uniontown, Ohio), cornerback Tyson Long (Pickerington, Ohio), linebacker Jermaine Minnis (Hyattsville, Md.) defensive tackle Ty Neubert (Westerville, Ohio), running back Mike Taylor Jr. (Pickerington, Ohio) defensive end Mickel Williams (Punta Gorda, Fla.) and defensive tackle Brandon Weaver (Hilliard, Ohio) are set to join the Bobcats in 2025.
The 2025 signing class features:
- Two defensive ends
- Two running backs
- Two linebackers
- Two defensive tackles
- One punter
- One cornerback
- Student-athletes from six different states
- Five student-athletes from Ohio
Ike Ackerman
DE | 6'4 | 240 | Omaha, Neb. | Omaha Central
Prior to Ohio: Ackerman, a defensive end, comes to Ohio from Omaha, Neb., where he played football at Omaha Central for head coach Abdul Muhammad…A three-sport athlete in high school, Akerman played football, basketball and track, where he served as a multi-year team captain for both football and basketball…In 2024, Ackerman tallied 70 tackles, 11 sacks, 305 yards and four touchdowns…Led the state of Nebraska in sacks in 2024 and led Omaha Central to the state playoffs…Was state champion in shotput in 2023…competed in club track from fourth to 12th grade where he was a three-time national champion in shotput.
Personal: Ackerman is the son of John and Amanda Ackerman…Amanda was a volleyball student athlete at College of Saint Mary, while his father played football at Doane…Ackerman enjoys playing Xbox, watching the NBA and hanging out with friends…Favorite teams include the Detroit Pistons and Lions, while his favorite athletes include Bones Hyland and Bill Lambeer…Plans to major in Coaching and Sport Management and hopes to go into coaching after graduation.
Kolten Bartels
P | 5-10 | 180 | Richmond, Mich. | Richmond
Prior to Ohio: Indiana Division Five first team all-state … All-Division first team all-state … Conference first team all-league … Macomb County First team all league … Indiana Division Five first team all-region … Set record for Richmond High School punt average … Four-time letterwinner in football, two-time letter winner in basketball, three time letterwinner in baseball.
Personal: Born December 21, 2006 … Son of Keith and Kyle Bartels … Has two sisters, Kosette and Kinsley … Favorite athlete is Bryce Behringer … Favorite football team is the Chicago Bears … Enjoys golf, basketball, boating and swimming … National Honor Society member … Majoring in education
Irving Brown
RB | 5-10 | 193 | Teachey, N.C. | Wallace-Rose Hill
Prior to Ohio: Set high school record with 2,130 all-purpose yards in one season … 2023 first team all-state … 2023 Duplin's Elite Athlete … 2023 NC/SC Shrine Bowl selection … 2021 state runner-up … Four-time letterwinner in football, two-time letterwinner in basketball, three-time letterwinner in track.
Personal: Born November 19, 2006 … Son of Kim and Gary Brown … Father played football at Elizabeth City State, while uncle Ricky Brown played football at Wake Forest … Likes exercising, video games, travel and fine dining … Favorite athletes are Javonte Williams and Jackie Robinson … Favorite teams are Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Mavericks … Majoring in business marketing.
Charlie Christopher
LB | 6-1 | 230 | Uniontown, Ohio | Lake
Prior to Ohio: 2023 and 2024 First-team All-Federal League … Second team All-Ohio … Lake High School all-time leader in tackles (394) and tackles for loss (45) … 2022 Federal League champion … 2024 football captain … Three-year letterwinner in football, one-year letterwinner in basketball
Personal: Born May 18, 2006 … Son of Matt and Lori Christopher … Has one brother, Marcus … Father played football at Ohio State, while grandfather played basketball at Kent State … Likes basketball, fishing, working out … Favorite athletes are Michael Jordan and Mac McClung …. Favorite teams are the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers … Majoring in Finance
Tyson Long
CB | 6'0 | 180 | Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington North
Prior to Ohio: Long, a cornerback, comes to Ohio from Pickerington, Ohio where he played football at Pickerington North under head coach Nate Hillerich…Long is a three-sport athlete where he earned four-time letterwinner in track, a three-time letterwinner in football and a two-time letterwinner in basketball…Long served as a team caption for football in 2024…In 2024, Long was named Second Team OCC and an Elite 8 football selection…Long also set a record in the 4x100 in track.
Personal: Long is the son of Kinisha and Tha Long and has three brothers, Amari and Amir (6) and Kailyn (12) and two sisters, Rihanna (15) and Latavsia (23)…Enjoys cooking and lists his favorite athlete as Travis Hunter…Plans on majoring in Business and hopes to play in the NFL.
Jermaine Minnis
LB | 6-1 | 210 | Hyattsville, Md. | DeMatha Catholic
Prior to Ohio: Four-year letterwinner, starting his high school career at Rock Creek Christian and concluding it at DeMatha Catholic... Captained the 2024 DeMatha Catholic football team... Recorded 124 tackles, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 2024... Credited with 131 tackles, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 2023... Awarded first-team all-league accolades in 2023 and 2024.
Personal: Son of Tremain and Dorethea... Has twin older brothers, Ahmad and Tremaine, and four sisters—Roniece, Brianna, Zaiha and Zaire... Nephew to former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman... Baltimore Ravens fan... Enjoys working out and playing video games in his spare time... Majoring in communications.
Ty Neubert
DL | 6'3 | 265 | Westerville, Ohio | St. Francis DeSales
Prior to Ohio: Neubert, a defensive lineman, comes to the Bobcats from Westerville, Ohio where he played at St. Francis DeSales for head coach Ryan Wiggins…Neubert, a two-sport athlete, was a four-time letterwinner in football and baseball…During his senior year on the field, Neubert recorded a career-high 79 tackles, with 25 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, which was a single-season record at St. Francis DeSales…Neubert is a three-time First Team All-League and a two-time First Team All-District and helped lead St. Francis DeSales to a league championship in 2023…In his last season in the baseball field, Neubert recorded a .305 batting average.
Personal: Neubert is the son of Jessica and Tom Neubert and has one sister, Jessica (22)…Father Tom played baseball at Cortland State (NY) and his uncle, Chris Taylor, was a student-athlete at Ohio…Neubert enjoys hanging out with friends and playing video games…Favorite teams include the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians and his favorite athletes include Aaron Donald and Ray Lewis…Plans to major in Finance in hopes of becoming a financial manager after graduation.
Mike Taylor Jr.
RB | 5'10 | 200 | Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington North
Prior to Ohio: Taylor, Jr., a running back, joins the Ohio football team from Baltimore, Ohio where he played at Pickerington North for head coach Nate Hillerich…Taylor, Jr. is a six-time letterwinner in both football and track and he served as team captain during the 2024 season…In 2024, Taylor, Jr. was named First team All-District…During the 2024 season, Taylor, Jr. set single-game records in rushing yards (289), all-purpose yards (375) and touchdowns (5)
Personal: Taylor, Jr. is the son of Jessica and Thomas Bethan and Michael Taylor and has four siblings, two brothers, Malachai Taylor (17) and Macayne Bethel (12) and two sisters, Taizsha Taylor (21) and Tiona Taylor (19)…Father Michael played football at Toledo…Enjoys playing videos games…Favorite team includes the Dallas Cowboys and favorite athletes are LeBron James and Jon Jones…Plans on majoring in Criminology and playing in the NFL.
Brandon Weaver
DT | 6-3 | 250 | Hilliard, Ohio | Hilliard Darby
Mickel Williams
DE | 6-5 | 265 | Punta Gorda, Fla. | Hutchinson CC | Charlotte HS
Prior to Ohio: Previously played at Hutchinson CC (2023-24)... Appeared in 13 games... Recorded 22 tackles, including eight solo stops and 5.5 tackles for loss...
Personal: Son of Mickel Williams Sr... Older brother, Devontre'a, played football at Marshall... Roots for the Miami Dolphins... Favorite athlete is LeBron James... Intends to pursue a business major.
#OUohyeah
