Ohio has lost a number of key players heading into the 2023 season. On offense, Ohio is carried by an offensive line that consists of a mix of returning players and new faces.
Names like Parker Titsworth and Christophe Atkinson are players who could take on leadership roles in an inexperienced offense, while new players like Tigana Cisse join the team looking to make an immediate impact in her first year in Ohio.
Who is gone?
Ohio didn’t lose many offensive linemen in the offseason, but it did lose a lot of experience. Ohio lost three of its five starting offensive linemen from the 2023 season to graduation or the transfer portal.
Those three departures included six-year Ohio veteran Kurt Danneker, five-year veteran Jay Amburgey and standout Shedrick Rhodes Jr., who each started more than 10 games for Ohio the last two years. Those three players will be difficult to replace as leaders in the locker room, but Ohio is bringing in a ton of young talent that will surely set the program up for success on the offensive line in the future.
Who is back
Although Ohio lost three of its most influential players on the offensive line, three more players will return with enough experience to lead the unit. Both Titsworth and Atkinson were starters last season, while Jacob Dennison played in all 13 games as a backup.
Titsworth will certainly be a key leader for the entire offensive unit and brings more experience than almost any other expected starter. Jacob Dennison, on the other hand, is a potential starter who could make a big jump compared to his role last year.
Other key returnees include Kam Wright, Joseph Habinowski and Davion Weatherspoon, each of whom played extensively over the past two seasons. With three starters leaving, each of these players will have a chance to play a larger role in the 2024 season.
Who is new
Ohio will add 10 new players to the offensive line this fall, five of whom will come through the transfer portal. Two of Ohio’s most notable transfers are Tigana Cisse from the University of Idaho and Carson Heidecker from Division II Notre Dame College.
The Bobcats are also bringing five new freshmen to the team to provide additional depth on the offensive line and give the Bobcats youth in the trenches.
Players in focus
Ohio has brought in a number of Division II players to join the offensive line; Tigana Cisse is the only one to come from Division I. Cisse comes from Idaho State University, where he was a starter his freshman and sophomore years. Cisse comes to Ohio as a junior and is a promising prospect with a chance to land one of the five starting positions on the offensive line.
