Plenty of Area Players in College Football
Volume 1 Issue 5
With college football season right around the corner I sought it fitting to see which area talent has progressed to the FBS level. The FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) is the highest classification of college football. Now, plenty have great area talent and possible pro players are playing at the FCS, D2 and D3 level. However, the FBS level is the only one with real continuity in trying to create a comprehensive list of players.
The defending AAC Champions and CFB playoff Cincinnati Bearcats will be resting their hope on the shoulders of Dylan O’Quinn. The former Lake Flyer started all fourteen games for the Bearcats and was a first-team all-conference selection while helping Cincinnati to an undefeated regular season. O'Quinn looks to be the top pro prospect of all NWO players in college football.
Now what may be news to some is that one of the top players to watch this year will be Gunnar Oakes. The big tight end from Swanton was the captain for Eastern Michigan’s spring game. Oakes is by far the most experienced tight end on the roster after the graduation of two seniors. Don’t be surprised if Oakes ends up first team all-conference.
The Bowling Green State Falcons will be leaning heavily on many NWO players to try and turn the tide for the program. In a loaded running back room it looks like Terion Stewart (Sandusky) is poised to be a year-long starter. Joining him on the offensive side is two sport star Levi Gazarek (North Baltimore) who is looking to take advantage of BGSU’s two TE offense.
Elsewhere in the MAC, Jonzell Norrils seems to be the Akron Zips shining light in what looks to be another daunting year for the program. With a young quarterback and receiving corps, Norrills will be expected to carry the load. You can see him lead the Zips against both Michigan State and Tennessee in early non-conference play.
Below are all the NWO players currently playing FBS college football. All players listed are from active rosters at time of publishing.
Air Force
Sam McNulty (DE) - Sophomore - Sandusky/Perkins
Akron
Jonzell Norrils (RB) - Sophomore - Toledo/Toledo Central Catholic
Bowling Green State
Andrew Bench (TE) - Junior - Elmore/Genoa
Bryce Boyer (TE) - Sophomore - Whitehouse/Anthony Wayne
Dontrez Brown (DL) - Junior - Fremont/Fremont Ross
Cavon Croom (WR) - Senior - Sandusky/Sandusky
Levi Gazerek (TE) - Sophomore - North Baltimore/North Baltimore
Tae’Shaun Johnson (WR) - R-Freshman - Toledo/Toledo Central Catholic
Nic Kilbride (WR) - Sophomore - Perrysburg/Perrysburg
Jaedyn McKinstry (WR) - Sophomore - Fremont/Toledo St. John’s
Trevon Raymore (RB) - Junior - Norwalk/Norwalk
Justin Schiets (LB) - Junior - Woodville/Toledo Central Catholic
Trent Simms (S) - Sophomore - Toledo/Sylvania Northview
Terion Stewart (RB) - Sophomore - Sandusky/Sandusky
Ethan Warner (K) - Freshman - Bowling Green/Bowling Green
PaSean Wimberly (RB) - Junior - Toledo/Whitmer
Cade Zimmerly (C/OG) - Sophomore - Perrysburg/Perrysburg
Cincinnati
Todd Bumphis (CB) - R-Sophomore - Toledo/Toledo St. Francis
Ethan Green (OT) - Freshman - Fremont/Fremont Ross
CJ Johnson (OL) - Senior - Grand Rapids/Liberty Center
Brady Lichtenberg (QB) - Sophomore - Toledo/Toledo St. John’s
Dylan O’Quinn (OL) - R-Senior - Toledo/Lake
Shaun Thomas (RB) - R-Freshman - Lima/Lima Central Catholic
Brady Young (P) - R-Freshman - Perrysburg/Perrysburg
Eastern Michigan
Brian Dooley (OL) - Gradute Student - Bowling Green/Toledo St. John’s
Mikey Haney (DL) - Senior - Maumee/Maumee
Gunnar Oakes (TE) - Graduate Student - Swanton/Swanton
Zach Walling (WR) - Junior - Toledo/Whitmer
Iowa State
Tyler Perkins (P) - Freshman - Norwalk/Norwalk St. Paul
Kent State
Johan Silver (K/P) - Freshman - Fremont/Fremont Ross
Kentucky
Keaton Upshaw (TE) - Senior - Lima/Lima Senior
Louisville
Austin Collins (OL) - R-Freshman - Perrysburg/Perrysburg
Navy
Nolan Barber (NG) - Sophomore - Monclova/Anthony Wayne
Ohio State
Diante Griffen (CB) - Freshman - Lima/Lima Senior
Trey Leroux (OL) - Junior - Norwalk/Norwalk
Toledo
Dalton Andrews (TE) - Sophomore - Pemberville/Eastwood
Adam Beale (WR) - Junior - Holland/Springfield
Mitch Berg (OL) - Senior - Maumee/Toledo St. John’s
Cavon Butler (DT) - Sophomore - Toledo/Whitmer
Thomas Cluckey (K) - Junior - Oregon/Oregon Clay
Carter Fouty (OL) - R-Freshman - Oregon/Toledo Central Catholic
Dallas Gant (LB) - Junior - Toledo/Toledo St. John’s
AJ Gucciardo (QB) - Sophomore - Holland/Springfield
Tyler Long (OL) - Junior - Toledo/Springfield
Luke Pawlak (K) - Sophomore - Sylvania/Sylvania Northview
Josh Recker (LB) - Sophomore - Tiffin/Tiffin Calvert
Jalen Riven (LB) - R-Freshman - Toledo/ Toledo Central Catholic
Garrett Schweibert (OL) - R-Freshman - Hamler/Patrick Henry
Thomas Zsiros (WR) - R-Freshman - Maumee/Toledo St. John’s
High Schools with multiple players
6 - Toledo St. John’s
5 - Toledo Central Catholic
4 - Perrysburg
3 - Fremont Ross, Springfield, Whitmer
2 - Anthony Wayne, Lima Senior, Norwalk, Sandusky, Sylvania Northview
Breakdown by Conference
21 - TRAC
13 - NLL
6 - SBC (5 - Lake) (1 - River)
3 - NBC
2 - NWOAL
1 - BVC, Independent
Leading Updates
Luke Landis (Norwalk) won the the Burning River 100 Miler in a time of 16 hours and 8 minutes.
Jase Bowen (Northwood/Toledo Central Catholic) won player of the month for the Single-A Florida State League.
Art Warren (Napoleon) has started a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
Notable Game Updates
On July 31st Cody Orr (Rossford) had three hits in five plates appearances for the Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers
On July 31st Jase Bowen (Northwood/Toledo Central Catholic) hit two home runs for the Single-A Bradenton Marauders.
On July 31st Natasha Howard (Toledo/Waite) had 23 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth straight double-double.
On July 31st Taylor Leach (Maumee/Anthony Wayne) go her 13th CAP of the season for the Kansas City Current in a draw with the Orlando Pride.
On August 2nd Natasha Howard (Toledo/Waite) had 24 points and 11 rebounds to help lead the Liberty over the Sparks 102-73.
On August 3rd Chris Bassitt (Curtice/Genoa) got the start for the Mets where he threw seven scoreless innings while facing 26 batters.
On August 3rd Connor Curlis (Findlay) pitched two innings and recorded four strikeouts whit only giving up one hit for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.
On August 4th Adam Wolf (Milan/Edison) recorded six strikeouts in four innings for the Double-A Erie SeaWolves.
On August 6th Jase Bowen (Northwood/Toledo Central Catholic) had two hits, two RBIs and a home run for the Single-A Bradenton Marauders.
Interesting Reads
Final farewell: Maumee football prepares for last season in NLL
Former Central Catholic RB Norrils making a name for himself at Akron
Getting his kicks: Ottawa Hills standout Duran working for chance at next level
Wynford's Grant McGuire the #1 returning male athlete in Crawford 100
Crawford 100: Colonel Crawford's Rylee Ritzhaupt the #1 female athlete
New Youtube Video
Just For Fun
Looking at the fastest boys 100m runners in NWO high school history
*No wind-aided or hand times
James Freeman II - Toledo Central Catholic - 10.53 - 2013
Eric Barrison - Willard - 10.55 - 2005
Malcolm Johnson - Sylvania Southview - 10.59 - 2014
Aeric Clay - Toledo Bowsher - 10.61 - 2006
KJ Upshaw - Lima Shawnee - 10.66 - 2022
Noah Cook - Bowling Green - 10.66 - 2016
Chuck Webb - Toledo Macomber - 10.67 - 1987
Dorian Hooker - Toledo Scott - 10.68 - 1992
Erik Kynard Sr. - Toledo Macomber - 10.71 - 1989
Logan Bloir - Edon - 10.73 - 2018
Out of all the athletes in this top ten only three would win a state title (2. Barrison, 7. Webb, 10. Bloir). Number 8. Dorian Hooker would go on to run for the Toledo Rockets where he was the 1997 MAC champion in the 100m and 200m with times of 10.30 and 20.62. Number 3. Malcolm Johnson attended Harvard where he was the indoor 60m Ivy League champion in 2015. Meanwhile Number 7. Chuck Webb would go on to play football for the Tennessee Volunteers before a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers.