Sports
Tracking Ohio Football transfer portal moves, who will be in Athens in 2025
By: Grant Kiefer
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The landscape of college athletics is everchanging, and Ohio Football has been hit hard by that reality the last two seasons. The Bobcats ranked 133rd out of 134 teams in terms of returning production entering 2024 and will have a similar mass exit again this season. This year has a different caveat: former head coach Tim Albin accepted the head coaching job at Charlotte on Dec. 8. While every player decided to stick around for the team’s StaffDNA Cure Bowl victory, players have started to enter the transfer portal. We’ll track who has entered their name in the portal and where they’re heading.
Some key notes for the transfer portal: While the main NCAA transfer portal closes on Dec. 28, Ohio players will have until Jan. 7 to enter their names during the winter window. This is due to an NCAA-mandated 30-day window being opened after a head coach leaves a school. The spring transfer window opens in late April as well. In addition, if a player enters their name in the portal, there’s always a possibility they could pull their name out of the portal and return. For example, defensive end Bradley Weaver entered the portal following last season but opted to return during the spring of 2024.
Confirmed Players in the Portal
Transferred to: Rutgers
Weaver entering the portal for the second straight season is a dagger to Ohio. As mentioned, Weaver entered the portal last season but eventually returned to Ohio late. This cycle, he was one of the highest coveted defensive players on the market. Weaver tallied 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and 44 total tackles in the 2024 season. Weaver signed with Rutgers on Jan. 8, becoming the second Bobcat this cycle to transfer up to the Power 4 level. Weaver will get the chance to face the Bobcats as a Scarlet Knight in week one next season in Piscataway, New Jersey. He’ll also face former rival Miami (OH) the following week, a team Weaver has made his disdain for known through prior media availabilities with WOUB.
Parker Startz, Freshman, Linebacker
Transferred to: Charlotte
Startz didn’t play during the 2024 season, meaning he’s maintaining all four years of eligibility in the portal. Startz announced on Jan. 4 that he will be following former Ohio co-defensive coordinator Nate Faanes, along with Albin, to Charlotte.
Bryce Butler, Redshirt Junior, Tight End/Fullback
Transferred to: TBA
Butler was used in a Swiss army knife role in Ohio’s run game primarily but did catch a touchdown pass against Kent State on Nov. 6. With a multitude of tight ends on Ohio’s roster, it’s not overly surprising Butler is looking to spend his final year of eligibility elsewhere. Butler has received an offer from Kent State as his only FBS offer.
Stellan Bowman, Freshman, Linebacker
Transferred to: Charlotte
Bowman saw lots of action early in the season with Ohio’s defense being hit hard with injuries to start 2024. Bowman tallied six tackles against Syracuse in week one and had at least one tackle in the season’s first five games. Bowman announced on Jan. 4 that he is also heading to Charlotte with Faanes and Albin, maintaining at least three years of eligibility.
Xander Karagosian, Redshirt Sophomore, Safety
Transferred to: TBA
While Karagosian didn’t see the field much in his three seasons in Ohio, he was well-liked as a local kid from the 740. He attended both Alexander High School and Jackson High School and has two seasons left of eligibility.
Rickey Hunt Jr., Redshirt Freshman, Running Back
Transferred to: Tulsa
Hunt came onto the scene late last season in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Georgia Southern, exploding for four rushing touchdowns en route to an Ohio victory. Hunt started week one at Syracuse, but after Anthony Tyus III ran for over 200 yards and two touchdowns in the game, he became the backup for most of the season. Hunt was expected to be the starter next season, with Tyus and Nolan McCormick graduating, but he will now take on a role in Tulsa’s backfield, where he should be seen as the featured back. Hunt was born in Oklahoma City and will return to his home state in 2025.
Colby Garfield, Graduate, Long Snapper
Transferred to: Charlotte
Garfield entered his name in the portal and quickly committed to Albin at Charlotte. A North Carolina native, Garfield is returning to his old program and home state under some familiar coaching. Garfield started his collegiate career at Charlotte in 2020 before transferring to East Carolina in 2022. 2024 was Garfield’s only season in Athens. Garfield had an infamous fumble recovery in a week two game against South Alabama this season.
CJ Doggette, Redshirt Sophomore, Defensive Tackle
Transferred to: Florida Atlantic
Doggette played a key role on a stellar defensive line in 2024. Doggette transferred to Ohio after spending two seasons at Cincinnati and immediately made an impact. Doggette tallied 32 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks. Doggette was part of an Ohio defense that limited offenses to 91.9 rushing yards per game, which was the least in the MAC. With two years of eligibility left, Doggette will spend the 2025 season in Boca Raton playing for Florida Atlantic.
Austin Brawley, Junior, Safety
Transferred to: New Mexico
Despite limited action this season, Brawley put up some impressive numbers. In just seven games, Brawley earned 38 total tackles and an interception. Brawley started the first five games of the season before missing seven consecutive games due to a personal matter. He returned for the MAC Championship Game and StaffDNA Cure Bowl and contributed on special teams. Brawley will spend his final season in college football playing for New Mexico in the Mountain West.
Jacob Dennison, Redshirt Senior, Offensive Tackle
Transferred to: Wake Forest
A key contributor to Ohio’s incredible offensive line, Dennison has made an impact up front and on the team’s culture during his three seasons in Athens. Dennison spent his first two seasons at Jacksonville State before transferring to Ohio in 2022. Dennison’s final year of eligibility comes from the extra year the NCAA granted all student-athletes competing during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the 2020-2021 athletic season. Dennison missed parts of the 2024 due to injury but returned in time to help the Bobcats win the 2024 MAC Championship and StaffDNA Cure Bowl. Dennison announced on Jan. 6 that he will play his final season at Wake Forest in the ACC, becoming the first player from the 2024 team to transfer to a Power 4 program.
Transferred to: Memphis
Spetic stepped up last season after kicker Nathanial Vakos transferred to Wisconsin following the 2022 season. Spetic took a major leap in his development in 2024, going 13-16 on field goals with a long of 52 yards. Spetic was near-perfect on extra points this season, going 47-48 with the only miss coming against Jacksonville State in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl. Spetic heads to Memphis with two years of eligibility left. At a high-level Group of 5 school like Memphis, Spetic could find himself in many key spots in the national spotlight.
In addition, Ohio is rebuilding its roster through other players who have entered the portal. Here are the Bobcats’ confirmed additions for the 2025 season.
Confirmed Players to Sign with Ohio
Anas Luqman, Redshirt Sophomore, Defensive Lineman
Transferred from: Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Out of every transfer Ohio has signed so far, Luqman has the most recent game experience. Luqman played in all 12 games for the Lions in 2024, which saw him earn 33 total tackles and eight tackles for loss. No doubt, there’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Luqman’s potential to contribute in 2025. Luqman also played with current Bobcats receiver Rodney Harris II at Princeton High School in Cincinnati.
David Dellenbach, Freshman, Kicker
Transferred from: UCLA
The first special teamer signed during the cycle for Ohio, Dellenbach’s upside is something to be excited about. Despite not appearing in a game for the Bruins in 2024, Dellenbach was a highly coveted high school prospect. He kicked in the 2024 Polynesian Bowl and had 55+ yard range in high school. With Gianni Spetic heading to Memphis, Dellenbach should challenge veteran Jacob Lewis for the starting kicker job and is poised to continue Ohio’s recent kicking success behind Spetic and Nathanial Vakos.
Nehemiah Dukes, Redshirt Sophomore, Defensive Lineman
Transferred from: Youngstown State
Ohio’s first FCS transfer of the cycle, Dukes should help with the interior defensive line depth after the departure of CJ Doggette. Dukes appeared in six games during the 2024 season for the Penguins, which saw him tally five tackles and a sack. Dukes should be able to step up and help continue the Bobcats’ run defense success, which ranked fourth in FBS in 2024.
Evan Herrmann, Sophomore, Defensive End
Transferred from: Vanderbilt
Herrmann might be the most interesting transfer the Bobcats have signed so far. The former No. 1 recruit in the state of Wisconsin, Herrmann was one of Vanderbilt’s top recruits in 2023. However, Herrmann didn’t see the field once for the Commodores during his two seasons in Nashville. Listed at 6’6″, Herrmann’s size alone should be intimidating for offensive tackles in the MAC. With no clear replacement for Bradley Weaver’s production on the roster, Herrmann could seize the opportunity quickly for the Bobcats.
Jaymar Mundy, Redshirt Junior, Defensive Back
Transferred from: Western Kentucky
Hailing from Cincinnati, Mundy returns to his home state. However, Mundy has experience playing college football in the state, as he started his career at Miami (OH). He transferred to Hutchinson Community College for two seasons, before moving to Western Kentucky. At 6’0″, Mundy is yet another tall defensive back that can be used on the outside. Mundy only appeared in four games for the Hilltoppers, so it’ll be interesting to see what his involvement will be on the defense.
Rickey Hyatt Jr., Redshirt Junior, Safety
Transferred from: South Alabama
From Westerville, Ohio, Hyatt Jr. returns to his home state after two seasons in South Alabama, along with his first collegiate season in Kentucky. Hyatt Jr. saw Ohio last season on Sept. 7 but didn’t tally any statistics. With Brawley in the portal and presumably not returning, Hyatt Jr. will be a nice addition to the safety platoon that Ohio plans to use in 2025.
Pierre Kemeni Jr., Redshirt Senior, Defensive Back
Transferred from: New Mexico
Kemeni might be a familiar name to Bobcats fans. Kemeni started his collegiate career at Ohio in 2020, before transferring after the 2021 season. He then transferred to Texas State in 2022 where he redshirted, then played at Garden City Community College for the 2023 season. After a solid season at the JUCO level, Kemeni made it back to FBS with New Mexico, where he appeared in just one game. Despite limited action with Texas State and New Mexico, Kemeni played the most football he has at the FBS level for Ohio, tallying 13 total tackles in the 2021 season. Standing at 6’1″, Kemeni will be tied for the tallest cornerback in Ohio’s secondary along with Michael Mack II. He’ll almost certainly be used on the outside against larger receivers.
Transferred from: Minnesota
This is a name all Bobcats fans should be familiar with. Bangura spent his first three collegiate seasons in Athens before transferring to Minnesota before last season. Bangura rushed for 1,982 yards in three seasons as a Bobcat, along with 22 rushing touchdowns. Bangura saw very limited action with the Gophers in 2024 and is poised to take back his role as the premier back in Ohio’s backfield for his final season of eligibility.
This article will be updated as more players announce they’ve entered the transfer portal.