AU Football Announces 2021 Signing Class

 

TIME	NAME	POS.	HT.	WT.	HOMETOWN	PREVIOUS SCHOOL(S)	TWITTER POST
7:31	Josh Weasel	LB	6-1	225	Blissfield, Mich.	Blissfield	LINK
7:32	Nathan Spatny	LB	6-0	220	Medina, Ohio	Medina	LINK
7:33	Gavin Adams	WR	5-8	160	Urbana, Ohio	Graham	LINK
7:34	Nick Walker	OT	6-6	290	Perrysburg, Ohio	Rossford	LINK
7:36	Isaiah Bolon	DB	5-11	185	Wickliffe, Ohio	Wickliffe	LINK
7:37	Treshaun Murrell	WR	5-9	140	Toledo, Ohio	Bowsher	LINK
7:38	Dradyn Ray	OT	6-3	255	Newport, Mich.	Jefferson-Monroe	LINK
7:40	Will Balgo	DE	6-4	245	St. Clairsville, Ohio	St. Clairsville	LINK
7:41	Isaiah Clark	S	6-0	198	Massillon, Ohio	Massillon Washington	LINK
7:43	Caleb Heitzenrater	DL	6-4	260	Ellwood City, Pa.	Lincoln	LINK
7:43	Samuel Carver	OL	6-5	260	Worthington, Ohio	Thomas Worthington	LINK
7:44	Dreden Owens	RB	5-8	200	Uniontown, Ohio	Uniontown	LINK
7:45	Justin Rimer	OL	6-2	280	New Philadelphia, Ohio	New Philadelphia	LINK
7:46	Khaleb Comer	RB	6-0	180	London, Ohio	London	LINK
7:51	Tanner Williams	S	5-5	140	Grand Haven, Mich.	Grand Haven	LINK
7:52	Dominic Schadl	RB	5-8	175	McDonald, Ohio	McDonald	LINK
7:54	Conner Hray	TE/WR	6-3	240	Doylestown, Ohio	Norton	LINK
7:54	Colin Strong	DT	6-3	260	North Olmsted, Ohio	North Olmsted	LINK
7:55	Dae'Sean Evans	WR	5-11	180	Cleveland, Ohio	Glenville	LINK
8:00	Nick Dopkosky	WR	5-9	165	Kent, Ohio	Field	LINK
8:03	Conner Heyser	WR	6-0	175	Springboro, Ohio	Springboro	LINK
8:04	Austin Leibensperger	OG/DE	6-1	240	Bethlehem, Pa.	Liberty	LINK
8:20	Cayman Williams	LB	6-0	225	Canton, Ohio	Perry	LINK
8:21	Riley Fritts	LB	6-0	190	St. Paris, Ohio	Graham	LINK
8:22	Elijah Rockhold	TE/OT/DE	6-4	215	Wilmington, Ohio	Wilmington	LINK
8:23	Griffin Shaver	WR	6-1	170	Ontario, Ohio	Ontario	LINK
8:25	Cameron Blair	QB	6-2	205	Magnolia, Ohio	Sandy Valley	LINK
8:26	Brock Henne	TE	6-5	205	North Canton, Ohio	North Canton Hoover	LINK
8:28	Camden Walter	OL	6-3	290	Shelby, Ohio	Shelby	LINK
8:28	Ethan Freed	C/G	6-2	330	Troy, Ohio	Troy	LINK
8:34	Bobby Young	S	6-1	190	Hamilton, Ohio	Stephen T. Badin	LINK
8:36	Antonio Rhodes	K	6-1	155	Wooster, Ohio	Triway	LINK
8:40	Eric Babinchak	RB	5-9	180	Warren, Ohio	Warren Howland	LINK
8:43	Zack Davis	RB	5-11	205	Ravenna, Ohio	Field	LINK
8:43	Joe Beck	K/P	5-8	154	New Madison, Ohio	Arcanum	LINK
8:44	Hunter Colao	OL	6-0	275	Mentor, Ohio	Mentor	LINK
8:44	Darien Williams	DB	6-0	165	Massillon, Ohio	Massillon Washington	LINK
8:44	Dru Johnson	ATH	6-0	177	Van Wert, Ohio	Van Wert	LINK
8:46	Caden Morris	DB	6-3	175	Marion, Ohio	Marion Harding	LINK
8:46	Tallyn Peterson	CB	6-1	180	Springfield, Ohio	Greenon	LINK
8:47	Eli Tilley	DE	6-3	203	Portsmouth, Ohio	Portsmouth West	LINK
8:48	Jack Hartmann	WR	6-1	200	Liberty Township, Ohio	Lakota East	LINK
8:48	Logan Hehman	DB	6-0	175	Cincinnati, Ohio	Oak Hills	LINK
8:50	Alexander Harkness	LB	6-1	182	Lexington, Ohio	Lexington	LINK
8:52	Landon Smith	DL	6-3	250	Powell, Ohio	Olentangy Liberty	LINK
8:53	Dalton White	DT	6-2	275	London, Ohio	London	LINK
8:57	Ryan Kern	RB	6-0	210	Marysville, Ohio	Marysville	LINK
8:57	Jacob McCabe	OL	6-4	295	Olmsted Falls, Ohio	Olmsted Falls	LINK
8:59	Billy Simpson	S	6-3	175	Avon Lake, Ohio	Avon Lake	LINK
9:03	Ameer Cunningham	LB	6-1	210	Creston, Ohio	Norwayne	LINK
9:05	Kristian Gehrisch	DL	6-3	280	Ashland, Ohio	Ashland	LINK
9:07	Max Owsley	OL	6-1	282	Liberty Township, Ohio	Lakota West	LINK
9:29	Tyler Davis	WR	6-2	212	Wooster, Ohio	Triway	LINK
9:49	Ethan Enders	OL	6-4	314	Marion, Ohio	Marion Pleasant	LINK
12:09	Ryan Hallau	TE	6-4	225	Cincinnati, Ohio	Roger Bacon	LINK
3:00	Ricky Alli	LB	5-8	190	Blacklick, Ohio	Gahanna Lincoln	LINK
4:25	Justin Rader	WR/DB	6-0	150	Galena, Ohio	Olentangy Berlin	LINK

 
GAVIN ADAMS, WR, GRAHAM - As a senior, recorded 265 yards, one forced fumble, one interception, two touchdowns, 56 tackles and a sack-and-a-half...Member of Central Buckeye Conference-winning team in 2020...Was a second-team CBC choice as a senior...Earned two football varsity letters and one track and field varsity letter.

RICKY ALLI, LB, GAHANNA LINCOLN - Recorded 39 tackles in five games as a senior, 50 tackles in 10 games as a junior...Earned two varsity football letters and three varsity wrestling letters.

ERIC BABINCHAK, RB, WARREN HOWLAND - Had 1,775 rushing yards, set school record for most rushing yards in a game (414)...Earned second-team All-Ohio, first-team all-conference and first-team All-Northeast Ohio honors...Earned four varsity letters in football, and two in track and field.

WILL BALGO, DE, ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Led team in tackles as a junior and senior...Part of undefeated regular-season team, Ohio Valley Athletic Conference title squad, a regional finalist and Buckeye 8 league champ...Earned honorable mention All-Ohio, first-team All-OVAC and first-team All-Eastern District honors...Has varsity letters in football (three), basketball (three) and baseball (four).

JOE BECK, K/P, ARCANUM - Scored 58 points as a senior...Career-long field goal of 41 yards...Named honorable mention All-Ohio, first-team All-Southwest District, and first-team All-Cross County Conference as a senior...Was first-team All-CCC as a junior...A three-time varsity letter winner in football, two-time varsity letter winner in track and field.

CAMERON BLAIR, QB, SANDY VALLEY - Prep statistics include 9,181 yards and 116 touchdowns passing, and 1,600 yards and 27 touchdowns rushing...Set Stark County career records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and touchdowns accounted for...Two-time Inter-Valley Conference champion...Named All-Ohio four times, Division 5 Player of the Year, three-time first-team Eastern District, four-time first-team All-IVC, two-time IVC Player of the Year and Stark County Player of the Year...Earned varsity letters in football (four), wrestling (three), baseball (three) and basketball (one).

ISAIAH BOLON, DB, WICKLIFFE - Named All-Ohio and first-team all-district...A three-time varsity letter winner in football, basketball and track and field.

SAMUEL CARVER, OL, THOMAS WORTHINGTON - Prep honors include second-team All-Ohio Capital Conference...Earned two varsity football letters.

ISAIAH CLARK, S, MASSILLON WASHINGTON - Prep statistics include 85 tackles, five interceptions, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles...Member of back-to-back state runner-up teams...Two-year football letter winner.

HUNTER COLAO, OL, MENTOR - Three-year starter who made two Final Four appearances...Won three Greater Cleveland Conference championships and two regional titles...Named two-time All-Ohio, two-time All-GCC, two-time all-district and two-time News Herald All-Star...Earned three varsity letters each in football and wrestling...Grandfather, Mark Camp, played football at then-Ashland College.

KHALEB COMER, RB, LONDON - Prep statistics include 527 yards and 11 yards per carry as a junior, and 327 yards and seven yards per tote as a senior...Part of a state playoff team all four years, and a potent offense which scored 1,000 points in a three-season span...Earned two varsity letters in football and one in track and field.

AMEER CUNNINGHAM, LB, NORWAYNE - Was first-team All-Ohio and all-district...Earned four varsity letters each in football and basketball.

TYLER DAVIS, WR, TRIWAY - Has most career receiving yards in Wayne County history...Named All-Ohio three times, and first-team all-district and All-Principals Athletic Conference...Four-year varsity letter winner in both football and track and field.

ZACK DAVIS, RB, FIELD - Distinction as fifth player in program history to be named All-Ohio...Also first-team all-district, and first- and second-team All-Metro Athletic Conference...Earned three varsity football letters, and two varsity basketball letters.

NICK DOPKOSKY, WR, FIELD - Included in prep stats are four rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns, more than 12 yards per catch, and more than 300 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards...Was All-Metro Athletic Conference as a senior...Earned four varsity letters each in football and track and field.

ETHAN ENDERS, OL, MARION PLEASANT - Earned first-team All-Ohio, first-team All-Central District and first-team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference as senior and junior...Three-time varsity football letter winner.

DAE'SEAN EVANS, WR, GLENVILLE - Member of a Senate League-winning team...Averaged 43.6 yards per carry...Earned varsity letters in track and field and football.

ETHAN FREED, C/G, TROY - Part of a postseason team as junior and sophomore...Was second-team All-Miami Valley League as senior, honorable mention ALl-MVL as junior...Earned three varsity letters in football, one in wrestling and three in track and field.

RILEY FRITTS, LB, GRAHAM - Was team's leading tackler (63) with one interception...Named second-team all-district and first-team All-Central Buckeye Conference...Team made third round of the playoffs and won a CBC championship...Earned varsity letters in football (three) and track and field (four).

KRISTIAN GEHRISCH, DL, ASHLAND - Right up the road from campus, had 117 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in prep career...Reached state Sweet 16 as senior...In 2020, named honorable mention All-Ohio, and first-team all-district and All-Ohio Cardinal Conference...Earned varsity letters in football and baseball.

RYAN HALLAU, TE, ROGER BACON - Caught 26 passes for 283 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior...Team reached state Final Four and won the Miami Valley Conference as a senior, won MVC as a junior...Earned second-team All-Ohio, first-team all-region and first-team All-MVC as a senior, second-team All-MVC as a junior...Is a combined 10-time varsity letter winner.

ALEXANDER HARKNESS, LB, LEXINGTON - Had 110 tackles as senior, to go with three sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, three blocked kicks and a 90-yard blocked field goal return...Named second-team All-Northwest District and first-team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference...Earned three football varsity letters and one in track and field...Joins brother, Anthony, on Eagle football team...Nephew of Ashland University Hall of Famer Chris Harkness.

JACK HARTMANN, WR, LAKOTA EAST - Was second in the Greater Miami Conference in receiving touchdowns as a senior...Had 13 catches for 267 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020...Named second-team All-GMC...Was two-time varsity football letter winner, won one in baseball.

LOGAN HEHMAN, DB, OAK HILLS - As senior, led Greater Miami Conference in both receptions and kickoff-return yards, and was second in receiving yards...Earned four GMC Athlete of the Week honors...Two-time varsity letter winner in both football and baseball.

CALEB HEITZENRATER, DL, LINCOLN (PA.) - Earned one varsity letter in football.

BROCK HENNE, TE, NORTH CANTON HOOVER - Prep statistics include 67 catches for 1,385 yards and 20 touchdowns...Won a 2018 Federal League championship...Earned second-team All-Ohio, two first-team All-Federal League and first-team All-Inland District honors...A three-time varsity letter winner in both football and basketball, and one-time winner in track and field.

CONNER HEYSER, WR, SPRINGBORO - Caught 28 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns in seven games as a senior, and 16 passes for 171 yards and two scores as a junior...Was All-Greater Western Ohio Conference special mention...Earned two varsity football letters.

CONNER HRAY, TE/WR, NORTON - Led team in catches and receiving yards last three seasons, and was second in touchdowns...Earned four varsity letters each in football and track and field, and two in basketball.

DRU JOHNSON, ATH, VAN WERT - Prep statistics include 107 catches, school-record 1,971 receiving yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions...Member of Division IV state title team and regional champions as senior...Named first-team All-Ohio, first-team All-Northwest Ohio District, and first-team All-Western Buckeye League...Earned three varsity letters in football.

RYAN KERN, RB, MARYSVILLE - In eight games, had 1,105 rushing yards, 7.4 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns...Named third-team All-Ohio, first-team All-Central District and first-team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference...Was three-time football varsity letter winner and two-time varsity track and field letter winner.

AUSTIN LEIBENSPERGER, OG/DE, LIBERTY (PA.) - Four-time Offensive Lineman of the Week as a junior...Earned two varsity football letters.

JACOB MCCABE, OL, OLMSTED FALLS - Member of three straight postseason teams...Named second-team and honorable mention All-Ohio, second-team all-district and first-team All-Southwest Conference...Three-time varsity letter winner between football and lacrosse.

CADEN MORRIS, DB, MARION HARDING - Named second-team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference...Varsity letter winner in football (three), basketball (two) and track and field (two).

TRESHAUN MURRELL, WR, BOWSHER - Prep honors include honorable mention All-Ohio, first-team All-Northwest District and first-team All-Toledo City League...Earned three football varsity letters and two track and field varsity letters.

DREDEN OWENS, RB, UNIONTOWN - Had 1,031 yards and 13 touchdowns in six games...Named honorable mention All-Northeast Ohio Inland district and All-Federal League...Earned varsity letters in football (three) and lacrosse (one).

MAX OWSLEY, OL, LAKOTA WEST - Part of undefeated and Greater Miami Conference-winning team as senior...Earned one varsity football letter.

TALLYN PETERSON, CB, GREENON - Had 110 tackles and four interceptions in prep career...Part of first postseason appearance in program history as a senior, and two Ohio Heritage Conference-South championships...Earned eight total letters in football and track and field.

JUSTIN RADER, WR/DB, OLENTANGY BERLIN - Prep statistics include 68 catches, 1,018 yards and eight touchdowns on offense, and 81 tackles, 10 interceptions and two touchdowns on defense...Named All-Ohio, all-district and all-county...Earned three varsity letters in football, and two in wrestling.

DRADYN RAY, OT, JEFFERSON-MONROE (MICH.) - A state qualifier and three-time district champion in wrestling...Earned four wrestling, three golf and two football varsity letters.

ANTONIO RHODES, K, TRIWAY - As a senior, was 21-of-21 on extra points...Made school-record-long 41-yard field goal...Was varsity letter winner in both soccer (two) and football (three).

JUSTIN RIMER, OL, NEW PHILADELPHIA - Part of a 2020 East Central Ohio League-winning team and a 2020 Sweet 16 squad...Named first-team All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, two-time All-Eastern District and two-time All-Ohio honorable mention...A three-year football varsity letter winner.

ELIJAH ROCKHOLD, TE/OT/DE, WILMINGTON - Named second-team All-Southwest Ohio district and first-team All-Southern Buckeye Athletic/Academic Conference...Earned three varsity football letters.

DOMINIC SCHADL, RB, MCDONALD - Senior year saw 1,812 rushing yards, 2,196 all-purpose yards and 26 total touchdowns...As a junior, had 1,751 rushing yards, 2,352 all-purpose yards and 33 total tackles...Made three postseason appearances, and part of two Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference-winning teams...As a senior, was first-team All-Ohio, Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year, and first-team All-MVAC...Earned varsity letters all four years in football and track and field, and one in basketball.

GRIFFIN SHAVER, WR, ONTARIO - As a senior, was second-team All-Northwest Ohio district and first-team All-Mansfield News Journal...Caught conference-leading 39 passes, had more than 600 all-purpose yards, 15.3 yards per catch and eight touchdowns...Earned varsity letters in football (one), basketball (four) and baseball (two)...Mother, Jennifer (Kaple) played basketball at then-Ashland College.

BILLY SIMPSON, S, AVON LAKE - Member of regional finals teams as junior and senior, and regional semifinalist and Southwestern Conference title team as sophomore...Earned third-team All-Ohio, first-team All-Morning Journal and first-team all-district as senior, honorable mention all-district as junior...Earned three varsity football letters.

LANDON SMITH, DL, OLENTANGY LIBERTY - Earned honorable mention all-district and first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference honors...A nine-time varsity letter winner between hockey (four), baseball (three) and football (two).

NATHAN SPATNY, LB, MEDINA - Prep statistics include more than 250 tackles and 15 forced fumbles...Member of team which made first district final appearance in program history...Named Greater Cleveland Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, Northeast Inland District Defensive Player of the Year and first-team Division I All-Ohio...Earned three varsity letters...Son of Ashland University Hall of Famer Jerry Spatny.

COLLIN STRONG, DT, NORTH OLMSTED - Career prep statistics include 215 tackles, 41 tackles for loss and 18 sacks...Was first-team All-Ohio, three-time all-district, and three-time All-Southwestern Conference...Earned four varsity football letters.

ELI TILLEY, DE, PORTSMOUTH WEST - Prep statistics include 77 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety...Earned Southern Ohio Conference Defensive Player of the Year, third-team All-Ohio, first-team all-district and first-team All-SOC honors...A seven-time varsity letter winner between football and track and field.

NICK WALKER, OT, ROSSFORD - Named second-team all-district and first-team All-Northern Buckeye Conference...Earned three varsity letters each in football and basketball.

CAMDEN WALTER, OL, SHELBY - Member of a two-time state Final Four team...Named first-team All-Ohio, Division IV Northwest District Lineman of the Year, first-team All-Northwest District, and first-team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

JOSH WEASEL, LB, BLISSFIELD (MICH.) - Was his team's Defensive Most Valuable Player as a senior...Member of conference-championship team in 2020, district-title squad in 2018...Earned All-Lenawee County Athletic Association first-team, all-county and first-team all-region honors...Earned varsity letters in football (two), baseball (one) and track and field (one).

DALTON WHITE, DT, LONDON - Had four tackles for loss in a game as a senior, and five sacks as a junior...Played in the postseason all four prep seasons...Was third-team All-Ohio, first-team all-district and first-team All-Central Buckeye Conference as a senior, and second-team All-CBC as a junior...Earned three varsity football letters and two varsity baseball letters.

CAYMAN WILLIAMS, LB, PERRY - Named first-team All-Ohio, first-team all-district, and two-time All-Federal League...Won an FL title...Earned five varsity letters combined between football and track and field.

DARIEN WILLIAMS, DB, MASSILLON WASHINGTON - Part of four regional championships and three state-finalist teams...Earned varsity letters in football (three), basketball (four) and track and field (two)...Will join brother, Deon (Lake Erie), in Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

TANNER WILLIAMS, S, GRAND HAVEN (MICH.) - Led team in total tackles as a senior (58) in a seven-game season...Was conference honorable mention and All-Muskegon Area Division 1-4 first team...Earned two varsity letters each in football and baseball, and one in track and field.

BOBBY YOUNG, S, STEPHEN T. BADIN - Prep career statistics include 103 tackles, seven interceptions and two picks for touchdowns...Went to the postseason three times, and won two Greater Catholic League championships...Named third-team All-Ohio, first-team All-Cincinnati Enquirer, two-time All-GCL, and first-team All-Southwest District...Earned varsity letters in football (three) and basketball (two).