After a 10-3 season that saw them finish second in the East Division and eventually become champions, the Ohio Bobcats have re-energized and are returning in 2024 to get back into the MAC championship game after 2022. Let’s take a look at the top 10 players who will help the Bobcats compete for the MAC title this season.
Ohio Bobcats Top 10 Returnees in 2024
Analyzing each school’s returning players is a difficult task in the age of transfer portals, so in addition to last year’s players, we included transfer portal athletes who were listed on each team’s roster page for opening camp this fall.
10) Austin Brawley, defensive back
Austin Brawley was the Bobcats’ best player in 2023 with two interceptions and four deflections. His 39 tackles and one fumble recovery were a boost to the strong Bobcat defense, and at 6’0″ and 180 pounds, he’s a tough guy at safety.
He’s a true junior who appeared in 13 games in 2022 and started nine games in 2023. Brawley should take a big step forward and develop into a playmaker on defense, and his ball sense should lead to more turnovers in 2024.
9) Christophe Atkinson, offensive line
Christophe Atkinson is part of a strong returning unit for the Bobcats, and his presence on defense will be crucial in helping them repeat their offensive success from 2023. At 6’4″ and 290 pounds, he has good size and the experience needed to continue Ohio’s success defending the quarterback.
Atkinson started 12 games in 2023 and his offensive unit scored 24 points and averaged 348 yards per game, good for fourth place in the MAC.
8) Jeremiah Wood, Security
Jeremiah Wood started five games for Ohio and had a solid impact with 26 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. He also recorded an interception against Georgia Southern. With Wood entering his final year in Athens, Ohio, his improvement in 2023-2024 should be significant.
Wood has great size for a safety, measuring 6’1″ and weighing 215 pounds, and has been with the program since 2018. Although his career has had ups and downs, falling out early and then missing all of 2022, Wood is ready to finish his career on a strong note.
7) Jacob Dennison, offensive line
Jacob Dennison is a relative newcomer to the offensive line as a starter, but he has a lot of experience with the Bobcats. At 6’5″ and 290 pounds, he’s a great fit.
He’s also been with the program for a few years after transferring from Jacksonville State, so his leadership and experience will be a big factor in helping him become a cornerstone after a start in 2023.
6) Adonis Williams Jr., FLEX
Adonis Williams Jr. started 11 games for Ohio in 2023 and recorded 39 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. In addition to his stops, Williams also made three pass breakups and one interception.
He’s a big, versatile defender who stands 6’2″ and weighs 215 pounds, giving him a great frame to match his speed on defense. Williams may be best all over the field, but if he can find a rhythm to continue making good plays, watch out. He could be in for a big season.
5) Parker Titsworth, offensive line
The college football internet’s favorite meme player is also a talented center who has started every game for Ohio over the past two seasons. His offensive units averaged 24.3 and 31.8 points, respectively, during those seasons, and his unit was one of the best in the MAC last year when it came to protecting the quarterback.
READ MORE: MAC Strength of Schedule
The 6’1″, 295-pound senior is a threat up front, he gets under the opposing players’ hands and does a fantastic job of keeping the offensive line in line. His presence will be an important part of a group that brings a lot of experience.
4) Parker Navarro, quarterback
Parker & Parker may be the best duo outside of a law firm in Ohio this year, as Parker Navarro will line up behind Titsworth as the signal caller for the Bobcats this season. Navarro begins the season as a senior with six appearances and one start in 2023.
Navarro has waited a while for his turn to take the reins after transferring from UCF to Ohio in 2021. At 6-foot-1, he’s pretty quick and can move the ball on the ground when his number is called. He’s also thrown three touchdowns and only one interception. If he can use his legs to complement his arm talent, we could see a return to big numbers for the Bobcat offense.
3) Bradley Weaver, EDGE
At 6’4″ and 260 pounds, Bradley Weaver has the perfect build for playing on the wing, which was one of the reasons he started 12 games for Ohio last season and recorded 34 total tackles in addition to his six sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
Weaver should be on the radar for every offense in the MAC after his strong performance last season. He’s a strong and durable prospect and should be poised for a breakout year as a redshirt junior. His steady improvement will be huge for a defense that has done well against the quarterback in 2023.
2) Coleman Owen, wide receiver
Coleman Owen, a Northern Arizona graduate, has a year to make an impact in Athens, but chances are he will do just that. He’s a tough, fast wide receiver with great vision who also has explosive potential in the return game.
His career numbers speak for themselves: 18 total touchdowns, including 17 receiving touchdowns on 177 catches for 2,272 yards. He brings immediate productivity to an Ohio roster that will be happy to have his talents available to mix with some already promising players.
1) Rickey Hunt, running back
Rickey Hunt was a redshirt in 2023 and only played in three games, but that was enough to find out how good he can really be. His 134 rushing yards were fifth-best on the team, and his 5.83 yards per rush average would have been better than that of departed starter Sieh Bangura, who transferred to Minnesota.
Hunt is a strong runner; he scored four touchdowns on the ground and should have an experienced offensive line in front of him that will be helpful if teams decide to stack the box on early downs. With so many new players, the Bobcats will depend on him early and will do so often.
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