13 Teams/13 Days: Ohio Bobcats Football Preview
Ohio Football Fans! Your voice needs to be heard and we would like to hear your thoughts on the upcoming season for your Ohio Bobcats. How will the Bobcats finish this season? Will your team go to a bowl game? Who will be your team's MVP? What game on the schedule are you most looking forward to? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter! Support your school and the conference by following us on either or both!
2009 Ohio Bobcats Preview
After playing one of the toughest schedules in recent memory, and suffering through key injuries to several starters, the Ohio football squad will be looking for a new beginning in 2009 in many respects.
There were positives to take from the 2008 season. Among them was Ohio's toe-toe-toe showdown with third-ranked Ohio State where it actually held a 14-12 lead entering the fourth quarter in Columbus. As a team, Ohio set school records in passing yards (2,795), passing yards per game (232.9) and touchdowns passes (21).
Gone are senior tight ends Andrew Mooney (two-time All-MAC) and David Carter, along with three of its top six offensive linemen in Mike Eynon, Josh Leuck (All-MAC) and Tommy Stuck as all were lost to graduation. However, the Bobcats return their top two quarterbacks and virtually everyone in the backfield and receiving corps.
Senior quarterback Boo Jackson set numerous school records last season with 2,355 yards passing and 19 touchdown passes. He took over during Ohio's second game of the season after starting quarterback Theo Scott was lost for the duration of the campaign with a broken collarbone.
Senior running back Chris Garrett led the Bobcats with 529 yards rushing and five touchdowns, while redshirt sophomore Donte Harden amassed 454 yards rushing in just six games before he too was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Ohio also returns senior receiver Taylor Price and junior LaVon Brazill, who combined for 85 catches, 1,078 yards and five touchdowns a season ago.
Ohio was especially dangerous in the return game, with Brazill netting 16.5 yards per punt return and Garrett and senior L.J. Flintall denting the national leaders with 26.9 and 28.3-yard averages in the kick return department. In all, Ohio returned four kicks for touchdowns a season ago.
Ohio will also look to replace its placekicker from a season ago, as senior Barrett Way led the Bobcats in scoring with 71 points (13-19 FG, 32-35 XP). Redshirt freshman Matt Weller should be the top contender to fill Way's role. Ohio's punter, redshirt junior Matt Schulte, averaged 38.2 yards per punt last season on 44 kicks. He downed 15 of those inside the 20-yard line.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio is fortunate in that it returns its top three tacklers from a season ago in junior linebacker Noah Keller (All-MAC), senior linebacker Lee Renfro and senior free safety Steven Jackson (All-MAC). However, the Bobcats will have to fill some key positions this year as All-MAC defensive tackle Jameson Hartke, linebackers Michael Brown and Chris Hall, cornerback Mark Parson and strong safety Michael Mitchell were all lost to graduation. The Bobcats do, however, return junior Ernie Hodge on the defensive line, in addition to ends Kris Luchsinger and Conor Reilly.
At the linebacker spot, fifth-year senior Errik Ejike should have a chance to fill one of the outside positions and the same can be said for redshirt sophomore Jay Edwards. 
In the secondary, despite the losses of Parson and Mitchell, the Bobcats are not without depth. Senior cornerback Thad Turner became a starter last season and finished 2008 with a team-high six pass breakups. Redshirt senior Idris Lawrence and redshirt junior Julian Posey have also started games during their respective careers, while Posey will look to return from a leg injury that ended his 2008 season. Sophomore safety Travis Carrie also saw significant time at the safety position, as did senior Patrick Tafua.
Ohio will face a challenging non-conference slate in 2009 which will feature a home opener against UConn and a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee to face the Volunteers and their new head coach Lane Kiffin. Sandwiched in and around those games are a home date with Cal Poly and a road game against North Texas.
Preview Courtesy of Ohio Sports Information
Check out all of our 13 Teams/13 Previews HereAkron ZipsBowling Green FalconsBuffalo BullsKent State Golden FlashesMiami RedHawks
