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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football program landed 11 student-athletes on Phil Steele's 2025 Preseason Mid-American Conference Team.
Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro and senior cornerback Tank Pearson both earned Preseason First Team accolades, while redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura, redshirt sophomore tight end Mason Williams, graduate student Shedrick Rhodes Jr. and redshirt sophomore DJ Walker made the Preseason Second Team. Junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks, redshirt senior offensive lineman Davion Weatherspoon and graduate student wide receiver Eamonn Dennis were named to the Preseason Third Team; redshirt senior linebacker Cameron Hollobaugh and senior safety Adonis Williams Jr. rounded out the Bobcats on Fourth Team.
Navarro (Tempe, Ariz) made 13 starts during the 2024 campaign, tallying 2,423 passing yards on 295 passes with 195 completions. Also a force to be reckoned with on the ground, he rushed for 1,054 yards on 160 attempts with 18 touchdowns, becoming the second quarterback in program history to log over 1,000 yards on the ground in a single season as well as the first quarterback to record over 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. A four-time 2024 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30, Nov. 15, Dec. 2), Navarro also earned Davey O'Brien Great 8 recognition twice (Dec. 2 and Jan. 22), All-MAC Second Team Offense accolades and was named both the MAC Championship Offensive Player of the Game and 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl MVP.
Pearson (Oxford, Miss) started in 13 games for the Bobcats, finishing the season with 51 tackles, highlighted by 33 solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. He recorded a season-high eight tackles during the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl against Jacksonville State. Pearson recorded a team-best four interceptions, two of which he snagged against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13), and was also credited with six pass breakups. Often seen on kickoffs, Pearson recorded 196 yards, averaging 19.6 yards per return.
Bangura (Bowie, Md.) returned to Athens after donning a Minnesota jersey for the 2024 season. Bangura was an integral member of Ohio's offense from 2021-23, leading the rushers during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Notably, he logged 1,078 yards on 222 carries in 2022, earning MAC Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-MAC accolades as well as a CFN All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention nod.
Williams (Mogadore, Ohio) garnered two touchdowns and 211 yards on 19 receptions during the 2024 season. He averaged 11.1 yards per carry and 15.1 yards per game in the 14 games he played in. Williams also collected one rushing touchdown on his lone carry of the season for a total of seven yards.
Rhodes Jr. (McDonough, Ga.) was an integral member of Ohio's offensive line from 2020-23, returning to Athens after appearing in two games for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the 2024 season. Rhodes has seen action in 38 games across four seasons for the Bobcats, including the program's first consecutive back-to-back 10-win seasons (2022-23). Notably, the 2022 offensive line helped set the program record for total offensive yards in a game against Fordham (Sept. 24, 2022, 692 yds).
Walker (Aliquippa, Pa.) was a staple in the 2024 defense, starting in all 14 games. He amassed 53 total tackles, including 34 solo stops and seven tackles for loss. Walker logged the second-most pass breakups (7) and recorded his first collegiate interception against Akron (Sept. 28, 2024). Following the regular season, Walker was named All-MAC Second Team.
Hendricks (St. Louis, Mo.) appeared in all 14 games in 2024, starting 13 times. Averaging 11.8 yards per catch and 33.6 yards per game, Hendricks caught 40 passes on 471 yards. Notably, he recorded his first collegiate touchdown against South Alabama (Sept. 7, 2024). Hendricks logged a season-high seven receptions on 61 yards during the 2024 MAC Championship against Miami (Ohio).
Weatherspoon (Harper Woods, Mich.) has appeared in 25 games at Ohio, starting in all 14 of the 2024 campaign. The offensive line played a crucial role in Ohio first 11-win season in program history, helping the offense average 29.29 points per game and 406.1 yards per game. Weatherspoon made his first collegiate post-season appearances in 2024, helping the offense score 68 points in two games—the 2024 MAC Championship and the 20-24 StaffDNA Cure Bowl.
Dennis (Worcester, Mass.) made an impact during his first season with Ohio, appearing in 11 games and starting in two. He returned 10 kickoffs for 254 yards, highlighted by a 96-yard kickoff return that culminated in his first touchdown as a Bobcat against Kent State (Nov. 6, 2024). Dennis's performance against the Golden Flashes earned him MAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week recognition.
Hollobaugh (Warren, Ohio) is entering his first season with the Bobcats, coming to Athens by way of Walsh University. In 2023, Hollobaugh was named the G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year, also earning spots on First-Team All-Conference and D2CCA All-Super Region First Team.
Williams Jr. (South Euclid, Ohio) captained the 2024 squad. Across eight starts in nine appearances, he logged 33 total tackles, 19 of which were solo stops. Williams Jr. closed the regular season by recording a season-high five tackles against Ball State (Nov. 29, 2024), helping the Bobcats clinch their 42-21 victory over the Cardinals to secure a spot in the 2024 MAC Championship.
2025 Ohio football season tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at ohiobobcats.com or by calling a ticket office representative at 740-593-1300. A limited number of Peoples Bank Tower Club and Phillips Club tickets are available for purchase over the phone. Click this link for more information about prices and seat location.
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