The Ohio Bobcats football team is an NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision football team, representing the Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio officially began its college football campaign in 1894 as an independent team, and played its first ever game against Marietta, unfortunately losing via shut-out. The first few years of Ohio football can be characterized by constant adjustments (the team had 12 different coaches in its first 12 years, not counting the maiden season when the team was coachless) and inconsistent performances. After spending 16 seasons as an independent squad, Ohio joined the Ohio Athletic Conference from 1910 through 1927 and with the Buckeye Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1925 through 1938. The Bobcats first major title came in 1929, when the team of coach Don Peden won the Buckeye Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship after leading the conference standings (5-0-0). Ohio had two successive title defenses in 1930 and '31 (both undefeated in conference play) to make it a three-peat title reign. Ohio left the BIAA in 1939 after winning six conference championships to become an independent team once more (from 1939 through 1946). In 1947, Ohio became one of the five charter members of the Mid-American Athletic Conference and won their first MAC championship in 1953. The team though would reach its pinnacle in 1960, when the team ended the season without a loss (the team's fifth undefeated season) enroute to a 2nd MAC title and a College Division National title (selected by both the Associated Press and the United Press International). The team played its first Bowl game two years later, on a losing cause against West Texas A&M in the Sun Bowl. Ohio officially became an NCAA Division I-A school in 1983. As of 2006, the Bobcats have won 1 national, 12 conference, and 1 division titles since its inception. The team has also compiled over 400 wins and a winning percentage of just a shade under the .500 mark. Ohio has yet to win a Bowl Game as the Bobcats have so far lost all three attempts (1962, '68, and 2007).
Ohio has a couple of college football rivals, one of them is Miami University. Ohio and Miami engage annually in "The Battle of the Bricks" (Miami currently has the edge, 51-30-2). Ohio's other rival is Marshall, with the Bobcats taking on the Thundering Herd in "The Battle for the Bell." The rivalry though has currently been stagnant with Marshall’s move to Conference USA; however, the series is set to resume in 2010.
Ohio Bobcats 2008 Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Prev. School
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| 2 | Chris Garrett | WR | 5-8 | 178 | JR | Bristow, Va./Stonewall Jackson/Fork Union Military Academy
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| 3 | Billy Gonzales-Santos | CB | 5-11 | 181 | RS FR | Bonney Lake, Wash./Auburn Riverside
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| 3 | Theo Scott | QB | 6-2 | 195 | JR | Long Beach, Calif./LA Southwest College
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| 4 | Idris Lawrence | CB | 5-8 | 175 | JR | Columbus, Ohio/Brookhaven
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| 5 | Brian Sweeney | QB | 6-2 | 201 | RS FR | Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk
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| 6 | Hilton Dawson III | S | 5-11 | 215 | JR | Compton, Ca./El Camino College
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| 7 | LaVon Brazill | WR | 5-11 | 189 | SO | Lantana, Fla./Lake Worth
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| 8 | Chad White | S | 5-11 | 189 | RS FR | Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek
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| 8 | Boo Jackson | QB | 6-0 | 197 | JR | Gardena, Ca./El Camino College
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| 9 | Julian Posey | CB | 5-11 | 188 | SO | Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle
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| 10 | Brandon Jones | QB | 6-2 | 190 | JR | Marietta, Ga./Marietta
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| 10 | Scott Starkey | S | 5-9 | 181 | SO | Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon
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| 11 | Terrence McCrae | WR | 6-4 | 195 | SO | Vanderbilt, Pa./Connellsville
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| 12 | Thad Turner | CB | 6-0 | 169 | JR | Marietta, Ga./Marietta
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| 13 | Gerald Moore | S | 6-1 | 190 | FR | Mitchellville, Md./St. John's College HS
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| 13 | Neil Jereb | S | 5-10 | 187 | SR | Westlake, Ohio/St. Edward
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| 14 | Jay Edwards | LB | 6-0 | 215 | RS FR | Nelsonville, Ohio/Nelsonville-York
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| 15 | Riley Dunlop | WR | 6-2 | 187 | RS FR | Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East
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| 16 | Brendton Williams | WR | | | FR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow University High
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| 16 | Tyler Huffman | WR | 5-11 | 181 | SR | New Lexington, Ohio/New Lexington
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| 17 | Bakari Bussey | WR | 6-2 | 187 | FR | West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West
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| 17 | Kevin Culver | S | 5-9 | 196 | SO | Thornville, Ohio/Sheridan
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| 18 | Travis Carrie | CB | 6-0 | 199 | FR | Antioch, Ca./de la Salle
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| 18 | Josh Febus | QB | 6-2 | 210 | JR | Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman
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| 19 | Miles Schlichter | QB | 6-1 | 213 | SO | Greenfield, Ohio/Miami Trace
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| 19 | Chris Hall | LB | 6-1 | 229 | SR | Louisville, Ky./Ballard
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| 20 | Paul Hershey | WR | 6-3 | 180 | SO | Fremont, Ohio/Toledo
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| 20 | Patrick Tafua | S | 6-0 | 190 | JR | Midway City, Ca./Golden West College
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| 21 | L.J. Flintall | RB | 5-10 | 189 | JR | Burlington, N.C./Hutchinson C.C.
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| 21 | Robbie Spencer | WR | 5-11 | 161 | JR | Marietta, Ohio/Marietta
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| 22 | Shannon Ballard | CB | 5-11 | 191 | SO | Miami, Fla./Miami Norland
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| 23 | Taylor Price | WR | 6-1 | 196 | JR | Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Darby
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| 24 | Mark Parson | CB | 5-10 | 192 | SR | Richmond, Va./Monacan/Fork Union Military Academy
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| 25 | Joel Scipio | RB | 5-10 | 223 | JR | Hilliard, Ohio/Univ. of Indianapolis
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| 26 | Vince Davidson | RB | 5-11 | 194 | SO | Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick
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| 26 | Ian Elmore | S | 6-1 | 193 | SO | Groveport, Ohio/Groveport-Madison
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| 27 | Errik Ejike | LB | 6-1 | 204 | SR | Tyler, Texas/Kilgore College
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| 28 | Donte Harden | RB | 5-11 | 181 | RS FR | Erie, Pa./Strong Vincent
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| 29 | Donovan Fletcher | S | 6-0 | 187 | SO | Youngstown, Ohio/Liberty
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| 30 | Erik Benjamin | S | 5-11 | 195 | SO | Grove City, Ohio/Grove City
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| 30 | Dustin Tatum | CB | 5-11 | 181 | SR | Lafayette, La./St. Thomas More
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| 31 | Paul Belany | K | 5-10 | 176 | SR | Brookfield, Ohio/Bowling Green
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| 31 | Kenny Jackson | CB | 5-9 | 155 | RS FR | Youngstown, Ohio/Liberty
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| 32 | Lee Renfro | LB | 5-10 | 214 | JR | Burnside, Ky./Southwestern
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| 32 | Jesse Reed | RB | | | FR | Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster
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| 33 | Kyle Robbins | LB | 6-2 | 211 | JR | North Canton, Ohio/North Canton
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| 34 | Tyler Futrell | CB | 5-11 | 164 | FR | Altoona, Pa./Altoona
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| 34 | Michael Mitchell | S | 6-1 | 216 | SR | Ft. Thomas, Ky./Highlands
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| 35 | Michael Brown | LB | 6-3 | 229 | SR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder
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| 36 | Stafford Gatling | LB | 6-4 | 225 | SO | Burlington, N.C./Hugh M. Cummings
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| 37 | Barrett Way | K | 5-9 | 178 | SR | Richmond, Va./VMI
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| 38 | Adam Olsheski | TE | 6-2 | 245 | RS JR | Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Darby
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| 39 | Mitch Morsillo | FB | 6-1 | 255 | JR | Moon, Pa./Moon Area
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| 40 | Jayson White | FB | 6-1 | 240 | SR | Erie, Pa./McDowell
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| 41 | Matt Ritter | FB | 6-1 | 230 | SR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Clarion
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| 42 | Steven Jackson | S | 6-2 | 192 | JR | Austin, Texas/Westlake
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| 43 | Matt Schulte | P | 6-0 | 226 | SO | Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain
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| 44 | Chad Clemens | LB | 5-11 | 202 | SO | Dayton, Ohio/Bellbrook
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| 45 | Nathan Caldwell | TE | 6-5 | 256 | SO | Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum
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| 46 | Alphonso Lewis | LB | 6-1 | 197 | FR | Ocala, Fla./Ocala Forest
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| 47 | Noah Keller | LB | 6-1 | 232 | SO | Kearney, Neb./Kearney
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| 48 | Jordan Meyers | LB | 6-0 | 220 | SR | Harrison, Ohio/Harrison
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| 49 | Matt Weller | K | 6-4 | 225 | FR | Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg
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| 50 | Dustin Laudermilch | OL | 6-3 | 307 | RS FR | Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown
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| 51 | Matt Britain | OL | 6-3 | 269 | FR | Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb
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| 51 | Dak Notestine | DE | 6-3 | 253 | SO | Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine
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| 52 | Melvin Payne | LB | 6-2 | 210 | FR | Mobile, Ala./LaFlore Prep Academy
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| 52 | Clevon Kirkland | LB | 6-2 | 253 | SO | Cleveland, Ohio/Ohio Wesleyan
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| 53 | John Flowers | DL | 6-3 | 262 | RS FR | Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster
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| 54 | Kris Luchsinger | DE | 6-4 | 250 | JR | Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson
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| 56 | Brandon Weaver | LB | 6-1 | 202 | FR | Washington, Pa./Trinity
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| 57 | Chris Rodgers | OL | 6-5 | 288 | JR | Phoenix, Ariz./Central
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| 58 | David White | OL | 6-1 | 294 | JR | Chardon, Ohio/Chardon
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| 59 | George Batsakes | OL | 6-6 | 324 | SO | Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills
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| 60 | Cole Bunner | OL | 6-5 | 326 | SO | Omaha, Neb./Mount Michael
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| 61 | Michael Philibin | OL | 6-4 | 305 | JR | Poland, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney
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| 62 | Marcellis Williamson | DT | 6-1 | 330 | SO | Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights
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| 63 | Marcus O'Hara | OL | 6-6 | 322 | RS FR | Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard
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| 64 | Vince Carlotta | OL | 6-4 | 272 | FR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon
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| 66 | Tommy Stuck | OL | 6-2 | 292 | SR | Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster
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| 67 | A.J. Oxley | DL | 6-4 | 298 | SO | Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North
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| 68 | Shawn Fosnaugh | OL | 6-5 | 293 | JR | Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster
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| 69 | Corey Hasting | DL | | | FR | Miamiville, Ohio/Milford
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| 70 | Brett Hines | OL | 6-4 | 304 | SO | Cincinnati, Ohio/Grand Valley State
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| 72 | Andrew Rauen | OL | 6-3 | 299 | SO | Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park
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| 73 | Gary Schussler | OL | 6-3 | 287 | JR | Chardon, Ohio/Chardon
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| 74 | Josh Leuck | OL | 6-4 | 295 | SR | Omaha, Neb./Westside
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| 75 | Keenan Chapman | LB | 6-3 | 241 | SO | Richwood, Ohio/North Union
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| 76 | Mike Eynon | OL | 6-3 | 305 | SR | Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius
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| 77 | Eric Herman | OL | 6-4 | 264 | FR | Oregon, Ohio/Central Catholic
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| 78 | Joe Flading | OL | 6-4 | 258 | RS FR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson
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| 79 | A.J. Strum | OL | 6-5 | 287 | RS FR | Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional
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| 80 | Robert Mercer | WR | 6-5 | 198 | SO | Cleveland, Ohio/Harmony Community School
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| 81 | Andrew Mooney | TE | 6-3 | 236 | SR | Lubbock, Texas/New Mexico State
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| 82 | Serggio Judkins | WR | 6-4 | 198 | FR | Ocala, Fla./Ocala Forest
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| 83 | Zac Clark | TE | 6-3 | 263 | RS FR | Grove City, Ohio/Grove City
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| 84 | David Carter | TE | 6-5 | 257 | SR | Waynesboro, Pa./Vanderbilt
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| 85 | Brandon Peterson | WR | 5-10 | 172 | JR | Gaithersburg, Md./DeMatha
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| 86 | Jahan Olyaie | WR | 6-3 | 218 | RS FR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson
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| 87 | Steven Goulet | WR | 6-2 | 180 | SO | Irmo, S.C./Vanderbilt
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| 88 | Jordan Thompson | TE | 6-4 | 225 | FR | Rockford, Ohio/Parkway
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| 89 | Kody Carr | TE | 6-6 | 197 | SO | Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome
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| 90 | Jameson Hartke | DE | 6-4 | 265 | SR | Centerville, Ohio/Centerville
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| 91 | Corey Moncrief | DL | 6-2 | 306 | JR | Jackson, Miss./Mississippi Delta Community College
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| 92 | Conor Reilly | DE | 6-3 | 232 | JR | Hudson, Ohio/Hudson
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| 93 | Neal Huynh | DL | 6-3 | 230 | FR | Altoona, Pa./Altoona
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| 94 | Tremayne Scott | DL | 6-4 | 227 | FR | Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic
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| 95 | Ernie Hodge | DT | 6-2 | 287 | RS SO | Dublin, Va./Pulaski County/Hargrave Military Academy
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| 96 | Jacob Williamson | DT | 6-4 | 266 | SR | Acworth, Ga./Etowah
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| 97 | Eric Kenkel | DL | 6-3 | 265 | SR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder
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| 98 | Jeff King | DL | 6-1 | 267 | RS FR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming
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| 99 | Curtis Meyers | DE | 6-2 | 247 | SO | Harrison, Ohio/Harrison
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| | Taylor Williams | RB | | | FR | Middletown, Ohio/Lakota East
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