Homecoming Means Something More for German Native Duncan Brune
10/9/2026 1:48:00 PM | Football
FOLLOW OHIO FOOTBALL:Facebook | Twitter | InstagramÂ
ATHENS, Ohio – The path to college football is different for nearly every player who puts on the pads every Saturday. Â
For athletes like junior running back Duncan Brune, the path is arguably the most unique, as Brune, originally from Cologne, Germany, has come from across the pond to play a sport that is foreign to so many in his home country.Â
Brune is a natural athlete and has a family history of excellence in athletics. His mother, Simone, is a four-time German Olympic swimmer, and he has trained with German bobsled team before.Â
His background made the switch to playing the sport easier, but moving to a different continent is a challenge that is incredibly hard for anyone, let alone a freshman entering college. For Brune, the Ohio football program and the community in Athens took him in and made him feel at home. Â
"German culture is a little different (and that's) how I grew up," Brune said. "But I've been saying the boys, and the entire team took great care of me."Â
The city of Athens and the campus of Ohio University helped with the adjustment as well, making the Appalachian town a home away from home for the German. Â
"It's awesome; it's a super safe place, it's nice. I like the nature, the environment; everything is beautiful," Brune said about Athens. "It's like a little bubble. I always say nothing negative happens in Athens. I'm always happy to be here."Â
Since coming to Ohio, Brune and the program have seen nothing but success, with Brune working his way onto the field and seeing action in all 14 games as a true freshman. Â
That season, he rushed for just 84 yards, but he was heavily involved in special teams, returning five kicks as a true freshman. Â
The biggest individual highlight of Brune's freshman year is, without a doubt, his first career touchdown, which came on the road against this week's homecoming opponent: Central Michigan. Â
Brune's number was called as the Ohio offense got near the goal line, and he was able to punch it in for his first career score en route to a road win over the Chippewas. Â
"I remember I was not necessarily nervous, but I was excited because we were so close to the end zone," Brune said on his first touchdown. "I heard the call and thought I'm going to get it. It was just awesome; I remember everyone was so happy for me. It's a moment that sticks forever."Â
In his time with Ohio, Brune and the Bobcats have been flawless at home, winning every game at Peden Stadium in his three years as a Bobcat. Homecomings, in particular, have had wide margins of victory. Notably, Ohio defeated Akron by a score of 30-10 in 2024, and last year the Bobcats beat Northern Illinois 48-21.
In the homecoming game last year, Brune played a huge role, rushing for 126 yards on 16 carries while also scoring two touchdowns. Â
It was his first 100-yard rushing game as a Bobcat, and he broke off his longest career rush, a 66-yard flash for a touchdown. Â
The crowds and atmosphere during homecoming and the home games on Frank Solich Field are a huge contributor to the success of Brune and the Bobcats as a whole. Â
"It's awesome," Brune said about playing at home during homecoming. "Playing at home is always an advantage, and then having the crowd, especially the homecoming crowd, always boosts our confidence even more, so we're just excited for that game."Â
Brune's freshman year was capped with a Mid-American Conference title win over rival Miami (OH) in blowout fashion, winning by a score of 38-3. That win represented the first MAC title for Ohio football since 1968, and this season, Brune and Ohio look to make the next wait for a MAC championship a lot shorter. Â
"We're trying to win out for sure," Brune said. "We're really confident in our ability. We're going to work as hard as we can to get back to the championship. That's the main goal for us."Â
The road to Detroit continues this Saturday as Ohio plays its first home conference game of the season in front of a homecoming crowd against Central Michigan, with the Bobcats looking for their fifth straight homecoming win. Â
"We have an unbelievable crowd at the homecoming games, and the atmosphere just on campus is amazing," Brune said. Â
#OUohyeahÂ
