Ashland University’s football team is set to begin their highly anticipated 2025 season after coming off another conference title by winning the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) for the second time in the last three years.
In the 2024 campaign, Ashland finished 9-4 overall and 8-1 against the G–MAC, qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament. In the first round, the Eagles won a nail biter on the road against the University of Charleston 40-38, upsetting the sixth ranked team in the nation. Unfortunately for the Eagles however, they fell in the second round against California (P.A.) 34-33, ending their season in heartbreaking fashion.
Now heading into the 2025 season, the Eagles have a team filled with experience and versatility both on the field and the sidelines. They are led by reigning Great Midwest Coach of the Year winner, Doug Geiser. On the offensive end, redshirt juniors Ty’aris Stevenson and Olando Kamara return to play key roles as the Eagles’ tailbacks. Ashland also added Willtrell Hartson, a transfer who has already spent time with Washington, Ohio State, and Southern Illinois. Along with freshman Chris Maloney from Benedictine, Coach Geiser feels comfortable in his depth at tailback. “That room is very deep and talented with a lot of competition,” Geiser told The Collegian.
On the offensive line, the Eagles have brought back their top nine, which has seen lots of time on the field. “We’ve had to play young there the last couple of years,” Geiser said, “It’s nice to now have guys that have been together for an extended period of time and know each other real well.” After a few seasons of rebuilding that room, the Eagles feel better prepared for their early-season foes than before.
In the receiving core, Ashland brings back redshirt senior Jent Joseph. The Eagles have been eager for his return, as he faced a season-ending injury in AU’s season opening defeat to IUP. In 2023, Joseph was a full-time starter at wide receiver, ranking second on the Eagles in receptions (40), receiving yards (685) and receiving touchdowns (four).
The Eagles also bring back their top three players in the tight end/fullback positions. Junior Collin Remenowsky will play fullback, and tight end will be filled by redshirt senior Brock Henne and sophomore Jonathan Merimee.
A huge key for Ashland is their starting quarterback, which is still undetermined, per Coach Geiser. “We’re going to let that play out through our two scrimmages,” Geiser remarks, “and see which guy does a better job leading our football team.” After the Eagles’ annual Purple & Gold spring game back in April, Geiser stated, “I wanted to see the competition at (quarterback), and it came down to Cameron Blair and Drew Novak.” Heading into preseason scrimmages, it appears that the competition between those two will be key. Blair, the 6’0 versatile redshirt senior, has played a lot of different roles for Ashland since 2021. He spent last season as the Eagles’ no. 2 pivot and punter but has not played full games at quarterback since the 2021 season. In five games in 2021, Blair completed 19-42 pass attempts for 276 yards. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Drew Novak spent last season as a primary member of the Eagles’ junior varsity squad. But Novak standing at 6’5 could be a prime option due to his size.
Defensively, senior Michael Shimek looks to lead the way at defensive end. Shimek is coming off a first-team All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference selection in 2024, after leading the defense in tackles for loss (13 1/2), tying for the lead in sacks (7 1/2), and recording 59 total tackles (33 solo), two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery.
Junior Ben Holzopfel and redshirt sophomore Jack Talkington will be two key linebackers. Holzopfel made second-team All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference, recording 71 total tackles (43 solo), two interceptions, a tackle for loss, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Talkington will make his return to the field after missing the final nine games of the 2024 season with a devastating leg injury. In the four games he played in, he recorded 27 total tackles (18 solo), a tackle for loss and an interception in four games.
For special teams, Ashland is looking for ways to replace the consistency of kicker A.J. Rhodes, after losing him to graduation. Rhodes was nearly automatic on PATs, while also connecting 15 of his 19 field goals last season. The Eagles do return sophomore snapper Nolan Kuenning and senior punter Jaden Cook. But Ashland will heavily rely on redshirt freshman Manaki Watanabe to try and replace what Rhodes did at that spot.
On the field, the Eagles will certainly have a target on their back as reigning G–MAC champions. But something else that could add to it is their schedule this fall. Ashland opens their season with six of their first eight games on the road. Ashland understands the tough task ahead this season, but they have no interest in using an unfavorable schedule as an excuse. “It is definitely a unique challenge,” Geiser said, “but we have goals set for ourselves and if we can encounter joy this year by overcoming things that people don’t think we can do, (that’s) even greater.”
On Thursday, Sep. 4th at 7 p.m., the Eagles travel to Indiana, Pennsylvania to face the IUP Crimson Hawks. IUP has won the last five games against the Eagles, including last season’s 19-10 victory in Ashland. The following Saturday on Sep. 13th, Ashland faces the University of Indianapolis on the road before coming home on Sep. 20th to face the Hillsdale College Chargers to open conference play.
After those two road games to open the season, there are some key dates to circle on the calendar. Ashland’s 101st Homecoming Game takes place on Saturday, Oct. 11th at 1 p.m. when the Eagles match up against the Thomas More Saints. Saturday, Oct. 25th is when the Eagles head to Tiffin to take on the Dragons. Tiffin tied with Findlay for the second-best G–MAC record in 2024 at 7-2 and was recently voted by GMAC coaches as the second-best team in the conference behind the Eagles.
On Saturday, Nov. 1st at 1 p.m., Ashland takes on the Walsh Cavaliers at Jack Miller Stadium, where Youth Day will occur. The Eagles will also look to get revenge on the Cavaliers, who handed Ashland their lone conference loss of the 2024 campaign. Finally, Senior Day takes place on Saturday, Nov. 15th, when Ashland closes out their regular season against the Lake Erie College Storm.
All Ashland University football home games will be broadcast live on FloCollege at flocollege.com, as well as on 88.9 WRDL, which can be found online at wrdlfm.com. For more on Eagles football and AU athletics, you can visit goashlandeagles.com.
