Fall Roster Review

So, I'll have to agree to disagree with what happened.  Like it matters. I truly hope they are as right as they think they are.  Been part of my life too long to break it off over one thing.

Spent (as usual) way more time on the Fall roster than normal people.

Here's the biggest takeaway.

BG lists 103 players on the roster.  62 of those are FR or r-FR.  41 of those are true freshmen.  In any given game, with no injuries, we can only put 41 players who are SO or above onto the field.

A complete breakdown:

• FR:  41
• R-FR:  21
• SO:   5
• R-SO:  5
• JR:  2
• RJR:  13
• SR  3
• RSR:  13

Position-wise, Joey Carroll has moved to OL and Trent Simms is listed at QB.

BG had 13 players on the spring roster that did not appear on the Fall roster.  Most were players who did not sign a LOI and didn't ever appear in a game.  

The three most notables were:

• Joe Maxwell, OL...never played but signed in the last Jinks class, only 8 of whom remain on the roster.
• Nigel Sealey, who ran the ball 16 times last year.
• Davin Wilson, a starting DB, which was known previously.

The recruiting class from 2020 has all but two of its members listed on the Fall roster.  The two not listed--Joey Formani and Jaylen Lawson--both list BG on their twitter profiles and most likely are involved in some roster management effort.

As I counted it, there were fourteen new players listed on the fall roster.  A few notes:

• Taron Keith would be the most highly recruited of the players, a one-time USF commit.
• Five of the 14 are WRs, a place where depth is needed right away.
• There is only one TE.  Repeat.  One TE.
• Only one JUCO player.

Below are the names I ID'd, with some associated information I either found, or lifted from their BGSU bio.

Diata Burns 6'0'" 185...DB

Played at DeAnza JC in California

Ty Cook 6'1'' 170 WR

From Pickerington, not much else is known.

Nate Damron 6'4" 240 TE and Cole Lakatos 5'8" 168 WR

These young men announced earlier and are listed here

Demetrius Hardamon--6'3" 240 LB

Beavercreek OH one year at Georgetown College

Taron Keith 5'9" 180 lbs WR

• USF Commit
• Competed for Mainland High School in DeLand, Fla.
• Played three varsity seasons for Buccaneers
• As junior, named team offensive Most Valuable Player
• As senior, threw for 1,643 yards, completed 61 percent of his throws, and achieved a 13:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 170 attempts
• Also rushed for 639 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 9 yards per attempt
• Named team Most Valuable Player
• Also earned player of the week and offensive player of the year honors from Daytona Beach Quarterback Club
• In addition, played varsity basketball and named team defensive player of the year in 2018

Nic Kilbride, WR, 6'4" 195

• Played in three seasons for Yellow Jackets of Perrysburg High School
• Caught 28 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns in sophomore season
• As a junior, played in only two games due to injury but earned 16 receptions and 200 yards
• Helped lead team to state playoffs and 8-3 record by catching 39 passes for 820 yards and eight touchdowns
• As senior, named first-team academic all-league
• Also named first team all-league, all-district and all-Ohio Division I
• Served as team captain in 2019
• Played two seasons of varsity basketball

Ja'Von Lyons, 6'2" 325 OL

• Played four seasons for St. Clairsville High School
• Helped lead team to 28-7 record in final three seasons
• In junior season, Red Devils finished 10-0 in regular season and reached regional final
• Earned honorable mention All-Ohio Division IV as sophomore
• Named first-team All-Ohio Division IV as junior and senior
• Team captain during senior season
• Also competed in track and field

Dylan Pate 5'11 180 WR

• Attended Arkansas Baptist College
• Offer from Troy
• From Jacksonville

Jack Sauder, K

• Competed as placekicker and punter for Battle Ground Academy
• Helped team to 10-1 record as sophomore by going 49-for-50 on extra point tries and 4-for-4 on field goal attempts
• Successfully converted all 27 extra points in five games during junior season
• Scored 50 points (44 extra points, two field goals) as a senior
• Posted 3,950 kickoff yards and 23 touchbacks in 78 career kickoffs
• Named all-district, all-region and most valuable kicker as a junior
• Began senior year as preseason all-state selection
• Team captain during senior year
• Also played varsity soccer

Braden Sears 6'2" 230 Long Snapper

• Played for Independence High School
• Earned three varsity letters with the Blue Devils
• As a senior, caught 19 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns
• On defense, recorded 39 tackles, two sacks, seven passes defended, four fumble recoveries and one interception
• Helped team win 21 games in three seasons, including 7-4 record as a senior
• Named team captain in 2018 and 2019
• Also lettered in track and field, wrestling, and swimming
• Wrestling team captain in 2019-20 season

Cody Sparks, QB

Previously announced

Malone VanGorder 6'1" 280, OL

Previously announced

Jack Wardzala 6'0 230 DL

• Played four seasons and earned three letters for Roncalli High School
• Part of 15-0 Indiana state championship team as a freshman
• Made debut as sophomore and registered three tackles and one sack for 8-2 conference champions
• In junior season, made 64 tackles and registered 9.5 sacks
• As senior, led team to sectional championship and 7-6 record by posting 100 tackles (17.5 TFL) and 8.5 sacks
• Team captain in senior season
• Senior awards included IFCA North-South All-Star, Indianapolis Star Super Team, Blue-Grey All-American, AP and IFCA All-State, and Academic All-State
• Also competed on lacrosse and track and field squads for Rebels
• Named lacrosse team captain in 2020

Chris Williams  6'2" 230 LB

From Alpharetta GA.  Not a ton out there on him.