Bobcat Attack - Ohio Football - 2026 Portal Tracker

Ohio Football Topic

Topic: 2026 Portal Tracker

Page: 7 of 25

Bobcat1998

General User

B1998

Member Since: 11/7/2012

Post Count: 2,788

B1998

mail

Bobcat1998

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 12:32 PM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

I'll be surprised if everyone from the group of Dukes, Luqman, Crable, Harris, Brune, and Williams are not on the roster next year. I have no insider information, just a hunch that some of them are testing the waters. Hendricks I figured and Harris graduated so I have no hard feelings there. I think Williams can get on with a decent P4 and contribute or even start. The rest.... I don't know if any of them have done anything to prove they aren't in the right spot playing at Ohio.

Mason is BETTER than Kacmarek so look for him to head to OSU. Crable will move to LB for someone like Pitt. Harris will be a solid 3 receiver and Luqman and Dukes will be lucky to sniff the field if they go P4. Brune must have been told he wouldn't be #1 back. Now just wait for Thomeson, DJ and all our LBs!!!!

L.C.

General User

Member Since: 8/31/2005

Post Count: 10,595

mail

L.C.

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 1:25 PM

I think we are going to have a mad flurry of activity beginning tomorrow that doesn't let up for a week. The deferred start gives coaches (for all teams) time to decide on who they want to make offers to, and once the portal officially opens, everyone will get those offers out as fast as possible, and then try to convince the kids to commit.

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus

Mike Johnson

General User

Member Since: 11/11/2004

Location: North Canton, OH

Post Count: 1,779

mail

Mike Johnson

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 2:47 PM

L.C. wrote:expand_more

And whatever happened to academic requirements and compliance officers? 😉

http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

Symbol of Fury

General User

Member Since: 10/11/2013

Post Count: 28

mail

Symbol of Fury

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 3:26 PM

Per his X Tim Carpenter is heading to the portal.

https://x.com/i/status/2006819722634080557

Last Edited: 1/1/2026 3:54:00 PM by Symbol of Fury

Jonesy1017

General User

J1017

Member Since: 5/14/2014

Location: Dublin, OH

Post Count: 94

J1017

mail

Jonesy1017

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 4:07 PM

Updated list as of 1/1/26 at 4:06pm

QB - Tim Carpenter
QB - Matthew Papas
RB - Duncan Brune
WR - Chase Hendricks
WR - Rodney Harris
TE - Mason Williams
TE - Nick Segarra
OL - Aidan Johnson
OL - Ibrahim Kebe
OL - Jordon Jones
DL - Nehemiah Dukes
EDGE - Jay Crable
EDGE - Anas Luqman
S - Taliq Black
K - Alex Kasee
K - Britton Watts

colobobcat66

General User

C66

Member Since: 9/1/2006

Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO

Post Count: 4,744

C66

mail

colobobcat66

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 4:10 PM

Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more

Looks like the offense is getting a complete makeover. Makes you wonder if “losing” Coach Smith is part of the problem, or maybe not having an OC named is the problem or ?

Jonesy1017

General User

J1017

Member Since: 5/14/2014

Location: Dublin, OH

Post Count: 94

J1017

mail

Jonesy1017

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 4:10 PM

With Carpenter entering the portal, that leaves the Bobcats with 3QBs currently on roster/signed:

Hype Grand
Jacob Winters
Levi Davis

Last Edited: 1/1/2026 4:15:05 PM by Jonesy1017

Mike Coleman

Administrator

Member Since: 12/21/2004

Location: Near the Pristine Sandy Shores of Lake Erie, OH

Post Count: 2,038

mail

Mike Coleman

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 4:21 PM

Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more

With Carpenter entering the portal, that leaves the Bobcats with 3QBs currently on roster/signed:

Hype Grand
Jacob Winters
Levi Davis

Poulos did not walk on senior day. He was injured his second year of JC, so should we expect him back barring portal announcement?

Also, the elephant in the room is Navarro, who announced he is seeking a 7th year but has not yet publicly announced for the portal.

bobcatsquared

General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004

Post Count: 5,924

mail

bobcatsquared

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 4:22 PM

Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more

And whatever happened to academic requirements and compliance officers? 😉

Unfortunately, and obviously, academics and going to college for a degree is nothing more than an afterthought these days. Look no further than the most recent Bobcat to enter the portal, Tim Carpenter. First year of college at Tulsa, second year at Ohio, third year at his third college in as many years. Makes you appreciate Davion Weatherspoon even more.

Jonesy1017

General User

J1017

Member Since: 5/14/2014

Location: Dublin, OH

Post Count: 94

J1017

mail

Jonesy1017

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 4:37 PM

Mike Coleman wrote:expand_more

Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more

With Carpenter entering the portal, that leaves the Bobcats with 3QBs currently on roster/signed:

Hype Grand
Jacob Winters
Levi Davis

I had Poulos on the list but then saw him listed as a Redshirt Senior on the roster this year so wasn’t sure of his status. Definitely good to hopefully have him back with a little bit of experience

Athens

General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004

Location: Alexandria, VA

Post Count: 5,496

mail

Athens

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 6:04 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more

Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more

Looks like the offense is getting a complete makeover. Makes you wonder if “losing” Coach Smith is part of the problem, or maybe not having an OC named is the problem or ?

Or this is the new normal of the offense on one of the MAC's best teams hitting the portal to leverage playing for a good program into paydays.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740

Athens

General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004

Location: Alexandria, VA

Post Count: 5,496

mail

Athens

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 6:21 PM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

This is the way I feel about it particularly with roster sizes decreasing to 105 there will be pressure at bigger programs to save their better walk-ons. Guys in the portal pf course are testing the portal for a variety of reasons.

Bobcat1998

General User

B1998

Member Since: 11/7/2012

Post Count: 2,788

B1998

mail

Bobcat1998

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 7:48 PM

Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more

Mike Coleman wrote:expand_more

Jonesy1017 wrote:expand_more

With Carpenter entering the portal, that leaves the Bobcats with 3QBs currently on roster/signed:

Hype Grand
Jacob Winters
Levi Davis

If Poulos is out starter next year we are in trouble. Dude is a good backup but not a starter.

StevenTimothyVitte

General User

Member Since: 5/22/2025

Post Count: 435

mail

StevenTimothyVitte

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 7:51 PM

I'd rather have Hype Grand show us what he's got instead of depending on Poulos. Redshirt Levi for the year. If Hype doesn't live up to the "hype", go to Levi in 2027.

DC_United47

General User

DCU47

Member Since: 7/23/2022

Post Count: 100

DCU47

mail

DC_United47

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 8:13 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:expand_more

shabamon wrote:expand_more

I totally agree with this. Kacmarek might have been taller and faster but Mason was like having another OL out there in the run game. Not to mention how he ran after the catch. Like an old-school fullback. I'm not sure he's going to go to a place like Ohio State...but he'll probably end up a Big10 starter. Not too shabby of a pipeline for the program! Not sure there's been a better developed position over the last 10 years outside of QB other than tight end! But that's a debate for the next time I'm at Courtside!

Kevin Finnegan

General User

Member Since: 2/4/2005

Location: Rockton, IL

Post Count: 1,230

mail

Kevin Finnegan

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 10:46 PM

What’s the point of the players advocating for Coach Hauser if they’re all looking to leave anyway? This seems insane, the number of players already in the portal.

L.C.

General User

Member Since: 8/31/2005

Post Count: 10,595

mail

L.C.

mail

Posted: 1/1/2026 11:02 PM

Actually, the number in the portal for Ohio is below average. Some teams have 40-50 in there. Had the AD opted for an outside coach, I think you'd have seen 50 in there for Ohio. That seems to be the norm these days when an outside coach gets hired.

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus

Last Edited: 1/1/2026 11:51:41 PM by L.C.

MonroeClassmate

General User

Member Since: 8/31/2010

Post Count: 2,376

mail

MonroeClassmate

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 7:45 AM

Be optimistic.

Ole Miss with the former D-2 QB getting them to the semi’s.

Get the psych department to come up with the ideal profile of the player who like them Running Rebels can play through all kinds of personal and team adversity and be team players and with that just “Win baby” attitude and give them that profile test.

In new Coach and staff we must trust.

greencat

General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005

Post Count: 2,837

mail

greencat

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 8:26 AM

MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more

It is surprising how many good D-1 players can be found in 1aa and D-2

Tre Richardson WR at Vandy this season? 800+ yards / 7 TDs / 17.5 ypc

A transfer from Washburn (Kansas)...now an NFL prospect playing in the SEC

Bobcat1998

General User

B1998

Member Since: 11/7/2012

Post Count: 2,788

B1998

mail

Bobcat1998

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 9:47 AM

DC_United47 wrote:expand_more

Bobcat1998 wrote:expand_more

shabamon wrote:expand_more

Jake Bruno was a great get as well. He came from a smaller college and excelled. It is what makes Segarra'a decision all the more puzzling.

M.D.W.S.T

General User

Member Since: 12/23/2021

Post Count: 3,812

mail

M.D.W.S.T

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 10:09 AM

Bobcat1998 wrote:expand_more

Guys like Dukes frustrate me. We pulled him out of D1 AA at YSU and he used us. Just like Cam Rice. I don't wish ill of him but also cannot wish him well. Brune really will find it harder at another school. I am sure the staff told him he would never be the featured guy. Crable will also be interesting. He did great for us but he is undersized for P5.

The life of a Top G5 program.

Either lean into it or get run over by it.

It's frustrating, and doesn't make much logical sense for them, but in the age of instagram chasing clicks and cash is king.

And in the midst of a coaching change - you're always gonna have a lot of turnover. Brian was the anomaly, and I think a lot of that had to do with Parker, Sieh in the building. A lot of unknowns, and these kids don't want to be a part of what could be a rebuild.

Will be quite interesting to see what we can dig up in the portal, but it might be pretty tough without a QB1, WR1 or RB1 in the building. Someone will need to blink first, and hopefully get others excited about joining this team.

Last Edited: 1/2/2026 10:10:50 AM by M.D.W.S.T

Doc Bobcat

General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004

Post Count: 4,437

mail

Doc Bobcat

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 10:31 AM

MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more

We’ve been lucky with D-2 players who have filled position of needs. Maybe not game changers but solid players. I think we can land some solid D-1 players as well and maybe a game changer.

As a recruiting and portal nut these next couple of weeks will be like Christmas for me.

AlumDadDad

General User

Member Since: 10/18/2015

Post Count: 627

mail

AlumDadDad

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 11:18 AM

Carpenter is a head scratcher for me. Maybe the writing was on the wall that he wasn't going to be the guy next year? Not like teams are going to be wowed by all his game film.

Some of these guys are becoming serial portal entrants (i.e. Doggette from last season, Dukes, Luqman, Carpenter). Teams have to make decisions about whether they want a "one and done" to fill a gap or someone who will be a consistent contributor. At least Doggette, Dukes, and Luqman filled a gap and contributed.

Last Edited: 1/2/2026 11:31:37 AM by AlumDadDad

StevenTimothyVitte

General User

Member Since: 5/22/2025

Post Count: 435

mail

StevenTimothyVitte

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 12:08 PM

I'm going to be as optimistic as possible about this year's portal season.

Most of the guys leaving us didn't even get playing time. The few who did contribute quite a bit are legit losses, but they're not anything we can't come back from.

I'm sure Hauser, the coaching staff, AD Larscheid and (insert new GM here) are well aware that they should make some moves to keep the train moving. Look at how many guys are in the portal now. Hard to believe we won't be able to get a few decent guys from that when the dust settles.

M.D.W.S.T

General User

Member Since: 12/23/2021

Post Count: 3,812

mail

M.D.W.S.T

mail

Posted: 1/2/2026 1:37 PM

STVCastle wrote:expand_more

There are at least 75 3 star+ QB's in the portal at the moment. I scrolled through like 4 pages before I gave up.

Bananas how crazy this thing has gotten.