The Ohio Bobcats’ upcoming 2025 season ushers in a new era for their offense, marked by the significant departure of a record-setting wide receiver, creating an expansive opportunity for emerging playmakers to redefine the team’s aerial attack.
Just a season prior, Coleman Owen, a transfer from the FCS level where he honed his American football skills at Northern Arizona, seamlessly transitioned to Division I, shattering program records with an astonishing 1,245 receiving yards on 78 receptions, showcasing exceptional talent.
However, as the 2025 college football season looms, Owen is no longer donning the Bobcats’ green and white; instead, he is rigorously pursuing a career as an NFL prospect, leaving a substantial void in the receiving corps and presenting a prime chance for new offensive leaders to emerge.
The commencement of fall camp has provided first-year head coach Brian Smith and his staff with a crucial period to evaluate and identify which players will step into this pivotal role, underscoring the team’s commitment to developing its next generation of talent.
Coach Smith articulated the team’s ongoing assessment, stating, “We’re always looking in that [receiver] group for who’s going to be the guy, who will really be your playmaker,” emphasizing the quest for reliable athletes capable of executing game-changing plays for the Bobcats offense.
The primary candidates to inherit the bulk of the playmaking responsibilities are juniors Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris II, two seasoned wide receivers who collectively accounted for a significant portion of the receiving yards not claimed by Owen last season, totaling 63 receptions and 760 yards.
Hendricks is anticipated to fill the critical slot receiver position, a role previously dominated by Owen, while Harris is poised to command targets from the outside, with other promising players also vying for opportunities to contribute significantly to the team’s offensive success.
The competition during fall camp will be instrumental in shaping the new landscape of the Bobcats’ passing game, setting the stage for an intriguing 2025 college football season where fresh faces aim to etch their names into the program’s history.
