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ATHENS, Ohio— Three Ohio football student-athletes took on the challenge of balancing their engineering education with a Division I FBS football schedule. 

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle RJ Keuchler (Pickerington, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Jordon Jones (Ashland, Ky.) are both currently pursuing bachelor's degrees while graduate student safety Jeremiah Wood (Pickerington, Ohio) earned his mechanical engineering degree in May 2024. All three reflected on their academic experiences at Ohio. 

What made you choose engineering as a major coming into college at OU?

Jones: I chose engineering because in high school all my friends were interested in it and I was great at math. Even though it was a challenge, I felt as if I could do it.

Keuchler: I was pretty strong in math in high school and loved the idea of being able to create things for the future.

Wood: I was always good at math and science, so coming into college I chose to take a few engineering classes to see if this was something that I could do, and I stuck with it after that."

Can you describe a typical day in your life and how you balance your responsibilities between football and studying?

Jones: First, I wake up, check my classes/schedule and any homework that needs to be done. Then I go to mandatory study hours to get most of my work done there before practicing football later in the day.

Keuchler: Like Jordan, I start with practicing good time management and set up my calendar for the day and what I have going on. I try to make sure I know what work I need to get done that day and if I have any quizzes or exams to prepare for.

Wood: Mornings normally start with a lift at 7 a.m., and then I attend class for the day, usually 2-3 classes. Then around 12:30 p.m., I get to the facility and spend time getting ready for meetings and practice. We get out of practice at 6 p.m., and then from there I cook dinner and spend the rest of the evening studying. I try to balance football and school by making sure I set time aside for both and try to stay on top of my work by completing assignments early instead of waiting until the last minute.

Have you found any skills or lessons from playing football that translate into your academic work in engineering?

Jones: I'd say I've learned communication skills. Just making sure you and your teachers are always on the same page the same way I would be with my coaches. Everybody clicking on the same wavelength and having good connections.

Keuchler: I've learned that having connections with other engineering students is important, just like having connections with my teammates. Working together makes everything easier in the long run.

Wood: You learn to work with people of different races, places and backgrounds to achieve a common goal. There's a lot of other lessons I've learned like teamwork, communication, time management, and preparation.

What advice would you give to other students who are considering pursuing both a demanding major and a sport?

Jones: If you want to pursue a difficult major, you have to make sure your heart is really into it and that it's the best decision for you.

Keuchler: You've got to like what you do no matter what. Despite what major you choose, if you don't want to put the hours into studying, you're not going to be successful.

Wood: I would advise them that it's going to be challenging and there will be times when you don't want to go to class or study and would rather be hanging out with your friends. But you have to be okay with sacrificing what you want for what you need to be doing to be successful. I would also advise them to take advantage of the resources that the football team and school offer as these will help a lot in your career.

What have your biggest accomplishments been so far, both on the field and academically?

Jones: I've managed to keep my grades pretty high and put my all into my classes the past semesters. I also have just committed myself to football and academics and made them my priorities, and that alone has been an accomplishment for me.

Keuchler: I've gone through difficult classes but also am accomplishing great things in my differential equations class. I've been able to keep my grades up and work hard at football at the same time.

Wood: My biggest accomplishment football-wise would be being captain and being able to play. A lot of people don't get that opportunity, and I'm blessed to have had the last seven years to be a part of something bigger than me. School-wise, it would be getting my mechanical engineering degree because it was challenging and I had lots of times when I wanted to give up, so that meant a lot to finish and push through.

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