Sports

Ohio hosted its annual spring game as it prepares for 2023 campaign

By: Maria Monesi
Posted on: Saturday, April 15, 2023

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Ohio wrapped up its spring game on Saturday afternoon as it prepares for the 2023 campaign. 

The Bobcats are coming off of a 2022 season where they finished 10-4, including a trip to the MAC Championship game and a thrilling Arizona Bowl victory.

One of the main questions for this season is the status of quarterback Kurtis Rourke. He continues to recover from his ACL tear that he suffered against Ball State just five months ago. Rourke was out warming up, but he didn’t take snaps during the game. 

The Bobcats return a lot of offensive firepower and no matter who is on the field they have developed trust with one another. 

“We see a lot of potential in everyone here,” senior wide receiver Jacoby Jones said. “I think it’s a good thing to just know that whenever I get tired or something like that, we got the next man up, they can come in and do the same things I can do.”

On the defensive side, a lot of new faces were in action for the Bobcats. After losing three players on the defensive line and two safeties, it will be up to the young players to step up. 

Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky returns for his second season, and he has been key as Ohio looks to build off of the momentum from the close of last season.

“I feel like just getting to know him more as a person and a coach,” graduate student Justin Birchette said. “I feel like it helped us a lot during the spring, and we all started to click more because we spent more time with each other throughout the year. We (saw) what we accomplished last year, and we can take it to another level coming into this year.”

Ohio opens up its new season on Aug. 26 when it faces off in a Week Zero game against San Diego State.