by Per Jeff Miller of the BW Communications team
BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University football team under the direction of seventh-year head coach Jim Hilvert returns 53 letterwinners, 15 starters and four All-Ohio Athletic Conference players to continue its quest for an Ohio Athletic Conference title and NCAA Division III playoff appearance.
QUARTERBACKS
Senior Joey Marousek (North Royalton) returns as the starter and the only player on the roster returning that threw a pass in 2022. Marousek completed 97-of-193 passes for 1,303 yards with 11 touchdowns in his first season.
Senior Ben Hughes (Ellwood, Pa./Riverside), junior Nick Calarco (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit), sophomore transfer Derk Hutchinson (Malvern) and sophomore Mark Wilson (Northfield/Nordonia) will push for time in the pocket.
RUNNING BACKS
The rushing attack will have new look with the graduation of BW all-time leading rusher Jon Murray, Jr. Junior Victor Ford, Jr. (Cleveland/Shaker Heights) and senior DJ Griffus (Euclid/Lake Catholic) and return as the feature backs. Ford, Jr. carried the ball the second most times a season ago as he rushed for 299 yards on 66 carries with two touchdowns. Griffus rushed for 76 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown.
Seniors Jack Foley (Grove City/Columbus Bishop Hartley) and Rocco DelVerme (Uniontown, Pa./Central Catholic) and junior Khalize Beamon (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) will look to spell Ford, Jr. and Griffus.
TIGHT ENDS
The tight end position brings back seniors Jonah Schrock (Howell, Mich.) and Austin Schuck (Wadsworth/Medina Highland). Schrock caught five passes for 57 yards with one touchdown while Schuck has yet to catch a pass in his career. Sophomore Josh Minier (New Albany) and Elijah Pearson (Martindale, Texas/San Marcos) and a host of newcomers will get their shot to take jump into the offensive attack.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The receiving corps brings back a group of talented players that have seen action in various roles over the last seasons. Seniors Elijah Arnett (Akron/Woodridge), Vinny Lomeo (East Amherst, N.Y./St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute), and Darius Stokes (Canton/GlenOak) and junior Mikel Love (Fort Pierce, Fla./Westwood) and sophomore Tim Conwell (Avon) all recorded 12 or more receptions while Arnett and Stokes tied for the team lead with 31 catches.
Seniors Jake Nanosky (Medina), who missed last season with an injury, and Bryon Norment (Canal Fulton/Northwest), juniors Caden Bomback (Vermilion/Firelands), Broden Bostwick (Strongsville/St. Edwards), Ethan Johnson (Medina), Justin Weightman (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls), Garrett Scott (Norwalk/Edison) all look to play a part in the aerial assault.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line unit will have returns four starters and five players that saw action a season ago. Senior Academic All-OAC guard George Newcomb (West Seneca, N.Y.). junior center Josh Reid (Mount Gilead/Highland), junior Academic All-OAC tackle Cole Bryan (Lancaster/Amanda Clearcreek) and sophomore guard Nick Messenger (Painesville/Riverside) return as the starters wile junior center Dominic Biagiotti (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan) also started at times last year.
Seniors Nick Kalb (Painesville/Riverside) and Academic All-OAC selection Nate Samblanet (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) and sophomores Jakson Attanasio (Raleigh, N.C./Sanderson), Nick Bowen (Canfield), Damian Brown (Columbus, Ga.), Garret Kick (Loudonville), Dylan Simpson (Painesville/Riverside), Alex Smith (Parma) and Gavin Varndell (Amherst/Firelands) along with a host of newcomers will push for time on the line
DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line will be anchored by senior All-OAC defensive end Jordan Smith (Painesville/Riverside). Smith led the team and was 11th in the OAC with five sacks and was the team leader and 12th in OSAC for tackles for loss with 9.5.
Junior defensive tackle Grant Davis (Ottawa Hills), junior defensive tackle RJ Pegues, Jr. (Youngstown/Ursuline), junior defensive tackle Bryce Sanders (North Ridgeville/Midview) and junior defensive end Kadyn Viancourt (Avon Lake) all have played havoc in the opponents backfield over the past seasons.
LINEBACKERS
The linebacking unit returns two starters and its top two tacklers from the last season in senior All-OAC selection Mason Levasseur (Panama City, Fla./South Walton) and senior Devontae Jackson (Cleveland/John Hay). Levasseur led the team and was 11th in OAC with 71 tackles. Jackson was second on the team and 14th in OAC with 70 stops.
Seniors Connor Miller (Boardman), Jacob Stahl (Medina/Buckeye), Tyler Tobin (London) and Juniors Jonathon Dixon (Riverview, Fla./Bloomingdale), Jaydon McMillian (Wahiawa, Hawaii / Lakes {Wash.}), Gavin Shinn (Hartville/Uniontown Lake) Zane Zaborowski (Berkey/Perrysburg) and Zach Zoul (Strongsville) and sophomore Dom Tromba (Painesville/Riverside) provide experience and depth in the middle.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The secondary will have a new look in 2023 as senior safety Brandon Searight (Cleveland Heights) returns as the lone starter. Searight appeared in nine games and had 29 tackles and one pass breakup. Junior safety Alden Steele (Lorain/Amherst) saw action in eight games and finished fifth on the team with 36 stops while adding two fumble returns, including one for a touchdown, three pass breakups and one sack.
Juniors Brandon Kelley (Bedford Heights/John Hay), RJ Simon (Olmsted Falls), Ahmir Steward (Cleveland Heights), Marco Stilliana (Youngstown/Boardman) and sophomores Ty Mitchell, Jr. (Youngstown/Austintown Fitch), Tanner Pierce (Canton/South) and Jamar Worthy (Lithonia, Ga./Decatur) will push to fill the spots and bring depth to the position.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Acadmeic All-OAC Dylan Kooyman (Painesville/Chardon) returns to handle the punting duties. Conwell returns as the team’s long snapper. The kicking duties will be handled by one of host of newcomers.
RETURN GAME
The return game returns three players with the ability to change the game in one return. Love and Stokes will take on kickoffs while Steele and Stokes will handle punt returns.
THE SCHEDULE
For the sixth straight season, BW will not have their bye week in the first two weeks of the season but instead will take a Saturday off during week six.
The 2023 fall season also features the Yellow Jackets playing at home for six times, including the first three weeks and four of the five contests. BW opens the campaign with its lone non-conference game on Saturday, September 2 when it hosts Mount St. Joseph University on the 45th Lee Tressel Shrine Classic. What would have been the normal bye week in week two, the Yellow Jackets hosts Wilmington College in the OAC opener and Hall of Fame game on September 9. BW ends its season opening homestand on September 16 when it takes on crosstown rival John Carroll University in the 35th Battle for the Cuyahoga County Gold Bowl Trophy.
The Yellow Jackets hit the road for the first time on September 23 when it travels to Ada for an OAC clash against Ohio Northern University. BW closes out September action and returns to the friendly confines of The George Finnie Stadium on September 30 for its fourth home contest and fourth OAC game against Marietta College on Community and Family Day and Homecoming.
As the season rolls into October, the Yellow Jackets enjoy their bye week on October 7. After the bye week, BW hits the road for back-to-back OAC contests against Muskingum College on October 14 and Otterbein University on October 21. The second month of the season closes out as the Yellow Jackets host an OAC and Parents’ and Family Day game against Capital University on October 28.
As the calendar flips into November, BW plays its sixth and final home game with an OAC and Seniors’ Day contest against Heidelberg University on November 4. The regular season comes to an end on November 11 when the Yellow Jackets travel to Alliance for OAC game against defending OAC Champion University of Mount Union on November 11.
