Ohio Northern opens its 2017 football season on the road at Adrian, Michigan, on Saturday in a 6 p.m. non-conference game.
By Tim Glon
Optimism is running high for the Ohio Northern football program entering the 2017 season.
Despite posting just a 5-5 record a year ago, 14th-year head coach Dean Paul is excited about where the Polar Bears are as a program and are encouraged that the gap between expectations and on-field results are not far off.
Paul and his staff welcome back 12 starters and 35 lettermen from last year's squad that posted its 20th upper division finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference in the past 21 seasons in 2016.
"Our goal entering this season is to work on the details and work on our depth," Paul said. "We are probably only 4-5 plays away from being 7-3 or 8-2 last year. If that happens, we are in the discussion for being nationally ranked and possibly a playoff team.
"In our five losses we held fourth quarter leads three times and had 468 yards of offense in another. We played well enough to win two games against outstanding teams that reached the national semifinals. We own our record, but we feel good about where we are. We are not far off from where we can be and expect to be."
The Polar Bears feature seven All-Conference players among their 12 returning starters and two special teams returnees.
ONU welcomes back seven starters on offense, four on defense and an All-Conference kicker from last year's team. No less than five other players return after missing the 2016 season that have starting experience.
ONU received votes in the D3football.com preseason poll.
The Polar Bears have been nationally ranked in 11 of 13 seasons and finished in the "top 40" 8 of 13 years.
The Ohio Northern faithful are encouraged that another season in the national spotlight can happen in 2017.
Here is a breakdown of the 2017 Ohio Northern football team, by position:
Offensive Line
The Polar Bears return four starters on the offensive line from 2016 and six players that have starting experience, led by senior Second Team All-Conference guard Nate Jones.
Senior Carter Kemper and juniors Kyle Gonterman and Wil Rankin also return as starters from a year ago.
Junior Sam Shook started all 12 games at left tackle in 2015 and returns healthy in 2017 and junior Jameson Curry started three games in 2016.
"We have a good group of returning guys up front," Paul said. "We think this area will be one of our strengths. We have five guys back that have started a great deal of games and six guys that have starting experience. We need to develop depth with our younger guys."
Offensive Backfield
Junior Second Team All-OAC award winner Will Freed returns at quarterback as a two-year starter.
Sophomore Christiaan Williams ran for 100 yards in each of his nine games as a freshman and earned First Team All-OAC accolades at running back.
Sophomores Rodney Holmes and David Haseleu also return and expect to provide solid depth alongside Williams.
"We have good talent and depth returning in the backfield," Paul said. "We have All-Conference guys at quarterback and running back and think we can be very good in the offensive backfield."
Receivers / Tight End
Five players with a great deal of experience return at receiver.
Seniors Riley Bransteter and Malachi Nolletti and juniors Brendan Hadley, Chad Rex and Caleb Saalfeld all return after solid 2016 campaigns.
Senior Teryl Mershon , juniors Alex Eblin, Lucas Huber and Shawn Scribner and sophomore Tavarius Simms will all battle for playing time at the TE/H-Back spot.
"We are excited about our receivers," Paul said. "We have guys that are experienced and athletic. All five guys had solid seasons and improved a great deal as the season went on. We expect to have good competition at the TE/H-Back position and we are excited about the guys we have battling there."
Defensive Line
Second Team All-OAC defensive lineman Jason Hundley leads the list of returners on the defensive line.
Junior Kyle Rowe also saw a great deal of playing time last year and is the front runner entering training camp to take the other DE starting spot.
Junior A.J. Simpson and sophomore Dalton Brown return after missing last season due to injury and will battle junior Justin Croswell and several newcomers for the two starting tackle spots.
"We have two very talented players returning at end," Paul said. "We have some big shoes to fill here, however three guys are back at tackle. We also have some newcomers here that we think can challenge for playing time."
Linebacker
Two-time First Team All-OAC and preseason All-America junior Zach Schmerge returns for his senior season at middle linebacker.
Schmerge led the team and the OAC with 103 tackles in 2016.
Seniors Landry Hostetler and Zach Meronoff and sophomore Kyle Rowe are the front runners heading into camp at the two outside positions.
"Zach Schmerge is an has been a very productive player for us and we expect even bigger things from him," Paul said. " Landry and Zach have played a great deal and we are excited to see them take the next step this year. We also have some younger guys that may be ready to challenge here."
Secondary
Graduation hit the ONU secondary hard, but eight lettermen return in what may be the most competitive positions on the squad.
Senior All-OAC corner Christian Randolph returns at one starting corner spot and seniors Cyler Caldwell and Devonne Johnson look to battle for the other starting position.
Six returners will battle for the two starting safety positions in what may turn out to be one of the deepest positions on the team.
"Although we lose three starters, defensive back will be one of our deepest positions entering camp," Paul said. "We have guys returning with quite a bit of experience and an All-Conference corner, so we are excited about this group."
Special Teams
Junior place kicker Joe French was named First Team All-OAC in 2016 and leads the list of special teams returners.
French set the ONU record with 13 field goals last year.
Sophomore Tom Fleser is back to handle kickoff and long field goal duties and junior Sean Devaney will handle the punting duties after the graduation of three-time All-OAC punter Kyle Bergman.
"We have several outstanding kickers on the squad this season," Paul said. "French is an All-OAC kicker and we are looking forward to watching Fleser develop. Devaney has had two outstanding seasons kicking on our JV team waiting his turn on the varsity and we fell very good about him."
