was voted by his peers as the 2025 Larry Kehres Coach-of-the-Year. Fries led the Polar Bears to an 8-2 overall record that included a 7-1 mark in the OAC, improving upon last season’s 5-5 (4-5 OAC) record. ONU also earned a spot as the conference’s representative in the 2025 Opendorse Bowl Series.
The Larry Kehres Award is presented by the University of Mount Union. Kehres served as the head football coach for 27 seasons (1986-2012). He retired with 11 national titles and a 332–24–3 record.
was recognized as the OAC Assistant Coach-of-the-Year. The Yellow Jackets went 8-2 (6-2 OAC), and Brown helped the squad finish second in the league in points (41.1), total offense (438.9), and rushing yards (231.9) per game in his third year with the team.
has been chosen as the Bob Packard Award winner, presented to the OAC’s Most Outstanding Offensive Back. Maloney was tops in the league with 27 passing touchdowns, a 69.0 completion percentage, and a 187.3 passing efficiency. His 2,237 passing yards ranked third in the conference in the regular season, and he added 391 yards and eight scores on the ground. Maloney earned All-OAC First Team honors for his efforts.
The Packard Award is presented by Baldwin Wallace University in honor of Bob Packard, who served as head coach of the Yellow Jackets from 1981-2001. He led B-W to six OAC championships and a 156-54-2 overall record.
was voted as the 2025 Ken Wable Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. The center started every game for a third straight season and helped the Polar Bears finish near the top of the league in both passing and rushing offense. Also landing first-team All-OAC honors, Lehman and his fellow offensive linemen paved the way for 33 regular-season rushing touchdowns, the top total in the conference.
The Wable Award is presented by Mount Union College in honor of Ken Wable, who spent 24 years (1962-1985) leading the football program. During his time at Mount Union, he led the Purple Raiders to 123 victories and an OAC Championship.
garnered recognition as the 2025 Ed Sherman Most Outstanding Receiver. In nine games, Gore topped the conference with 81.7 receiving yards per game and 59 total catches. His 735 receiving yards ranked fourth, and his five touchdown catches tied for eighth. Gore, an All-OAC First Team honoree, also added 11 kick returns for 219 yards.
The Sherman Award is presented by Muskingum University in honor of the winningest coach in school history. Sherman guided the Muskies to a 141-43-8 record from 1945-66.
has been picked as the Paul Hoernemann Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman. Brown paced the conference with 14 tackles for loss and ranked second with seven sacks. He had 53 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for the league’s best overall defense in points (12.9) and yards (288.5) allowed per game. Brown also earned All-OAC First Team recognition for the second straight season after a second-team spot as a sophomore.
Heidelberg University presents the Hoernemann Award in memory of its most successful football coach, Paul Hoernemann, who directed the Student Princes to a 102-18-4 record from 1946-59. Hoernemann was inducted in 1997 to the College Football Hall of Fame.
has been chosen for the Gene Slaughter Award, issued to the OAC’s Most Outstanding Linebacker. Hartsel led the conference with 96 total tackles and added six tackles for loss, an interception, and a pass breakup for the league’s second-best defense in points (21.3) and yards (307) allowed per game. He also secured a spot on the All-OAC First Team.
The Slaughter Award is presented by Capital University in honor of Gene Slaughter. Slaughter spent 25 years (1961-1985) at the helm of the Capital football program and guided it to a 120-94-3 record and a Stagg Bowl victory in 1970. He also served as Capital athletic director from 1981-1987.
have been voted as the Lee J. Tressel Most Outstanding Defensive Backs. Kaufmann tied for third in the league with 10 pass breakups and tallied 23 tackles while helping the Yellow Jackets post the OAC’s stingiest passing defense (160.3 yards per game). Thrasivoulou led the league with 15 pass breakups and tied for second with three interceptions. He also added 54 tackles for the second-best passing defense in the conference. Both players earned first-team All-OAC honors.
Baldwin Wallace presents the Tressel Award in memory of coach Lee J. Tressel, who guided the Yellow Jackets to four OAC championships, one national title and a 154-52-6 record from 1958-80. Tressel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
was selected for the 2025 OAC Special Teams Award. The linebacker finished the season with 37 total tackles and impacted both sides of special teams with two blocked kicks and four total returns (three kickoff returns, one punt return). Niederkohr was also named to the All-OAC First Team.
2025 All-OAC Football Teams | First Team Offense
Position Player, School Yr. Hometown / High School
Receiver Tim Conwell, Baldwin Wallace Sr. Avon, Ohio / Avon
John Christopher Gore, Muskingum So. Chicago, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor
Davion Grant, Mount Union Jr. Naples, Fla. / Gulf Coast
De'Anta Sanon, Wilmington Sr. Nicholasville, Ky. / East Jessamine
Tight End Micah Willink, Heidelberg Sr. Clymer, N.Y. / Clymer Central
Center Quentin Lehman, Ohio Northern Jr. Dalton, Ohio / Dalton
Offensive Line Foster Wertz, Muskingum Sr. Camby, Ind. / Decatur Central
Gio Kennedy, Mount Union Sr. Avon, Ohio / St. Edwards
Fred Fevrier, Mount Union Sr. Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Lehigh Senior
Brayden Adams, Marietta Sr. Fresno, Ohio / Garaway
Quarterback Mikey Maloney, Mount Union Fr. Concord Twp, Ohio / Riverside
Running Back Drew Miller, Heidelberg Jr. Portland, Mich. / Portland
George Linberger, Baldwin Wallace Jr. Barberton, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary
Louie Blasiole, Ohio Northern Sr. Mantua, Ohio / Crestwood
Kicker Ivan Marc, Mount Union Jr. Falls Church, Va. / Mclean
2025 All-OAC Football Teams | First Team Defense
Position Player, School Yr. Hometown / High School
Defensive Line Connor Sanders, Ohio Northern Sr. McGuffey, Ohio / Upper Scioto Valley
Nathan Thomas, Muskingum So. Orange City, Fla. / University
Brandon Bowden, Mount Union Sr. Gainesville, Fla. / Gainesville
Kaleb Brown, Mount Union Sr. La Plata, Md. / La Plata
Linebacker Nolan Hartsel, Baldwin Wallace Jr. Lodi, Ohio / Northwestern
Trey Farris, Heidelberg Sr. Atlanta, Ga. / Duluth
Connor Gurney, Muskingum So. Seminole, Fla. / Seminole
Brady McManaway, Marietta Sr. Pleasant City, Ohio / Meadowbrook
Harley Hopkins, Marietta Sr. Zanesville, Ohio / West Muskingum
Myles Aldrich, Ohio Northern Sr. Lima, Ohio / Shawnee
Defensive Back Colin Kaufmann, Baldwin Wallace Sr. Avon, Ohio / Avon
Griffin Reese, Heidelberg Sr. Hudsonville, Mich / Hudsonville
Kosta Thrasivoulou, Mount Union Sr. North Ridgeville, Ohio / North Ridgeville
Diamonte Salley, Capital Jr. Columbus, Ohio / Eastmoor Academy
Punter Mike Franklin, Mount Union Sr. Sandusky, Ohio / Sandusky
Special Teams Austin Niederkohr, Heidelberg So. Carey, Ohio / Carey
2025 All-OAC Football Teams | Second Team Offense
Position Player, School Yr. Hometown / High School
Receiver Xavier Balson, Baldwin Wallace Jr. North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted
Seth Borondy, Ohio Northern Jr. Bellbrook, Ohio / Bellbrook
David Westrick, Muskingum Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum Senior
Jacob Cockrell, Mount Union Sr. Stockbridge, Ga. / Dutchtown
Nick Turner, Mount Union Sr. Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville
Wesley Armstead, Capital So. Zanesville, Ohio / Maysville
Tight End Kameron Cox, Ohio Northern Sr. Enon, Ohio / Greenon
Center Zach May, Heidelberg Jr. Wayne, Ohio / Elmwood
Offensive Line Owen Taylor, Heidelberg So. Rossford, Ohio / Rossford
Nick Lulow, Baldwin Wallace Jr. Painesville, Ohio / Riverside
Alex Smith, Baldwin Wallace Sr. Parma, Ohio / Parma
Mitch Coffee, Mount Union Jr. Salem, Ohio / West Branch
Quarterback Garrett Gurney, Muskingum Sr. Seminole, Fla. / Seminole Senior
Running Back Darnell Williams, Mount Union Sr. Cleveland, Ohio / John Adams
Kassim Johnson, Capital Jr. Tampa, Fla. / Robinson
Kicker Robbie Feamster, Baldwin Wallace Fr. Edenton, N.C. / EA Laney
2025 All-OAC Football Teams | Second Team Defense
Position Player, School Yr. Hometown / High School
Defensive Line Bryant Pfeifer, Heidelberg Sr. Galion, Ohio / Bucyrus
Luke Zebell, Ohio Northern Sr. Waynesville, Ohio / Waynesville
Kenny Page, Muskingum Sr. Englewood, Ohio / Northridge
Declan McAdams, Capital Jr. Tampa, Fla. / Sickles
Linebacker Mason Villarreal, Heidelberg Jr. Fremont, Ohio / Ross
Devontae Jackson, Baldwin Wallace Sr. Cleveland, Ohio / John Hay
Weston Arthur, Mount Union Sr. Homerville, Ohio / Northwestern
Cyrus Burden, Capital Sr. Tiffin, Ohio / Columbian
Defensive Back Jamar Worthy, Baldwin Wallace Sr. Lithonia, Ga. / Decatur
A.J. DeSousa, Ohio Northern Sr. DeBary, Fla. / University
Leo Grandizio, Marietta So. Garrettsville, Ohio / Garfield
Drew Neal, Marietta So. Massillon, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic
Punter Eric Groesser Jr., Baldwin Wallace So. New London, Ohio / Black River
Special Teams Darryl Story, Wilmington Sr. Tipp City, Ohio / Univ. of Findlay
2025 All-OAC Football Teams | Honorable Mention
Player, School Pos. Yr. Hometown / High School
Charlie Bubonics Baldwin Wallace QB Jr. Solon, Ohio / Solon
Kyle Langenbrunner, Baldwin Wallace DB Jr. Newark, Ohio / Newark Catholic
Nate Younker, Capital WR Sr. Pataskala, Ohio / Watkins Memorial
Bryson Roberts, Capital DB Jr. Piqua, Ohio / Piqua
Austin Duffy, Heidelberg OL Sr. Kennesaw, Ga. / Kell
Tyler Jackson, Heidelberg DL Jr. Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic
Vante Hodges, Marietta RB Sr. Horn Lake, Miss. / Horn Lake
John Sierputowski, Marietta WR Sr. Mentor, Ohio / Mentor
Mason Fortner, Mount Union OL Sr. Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth
Keenan Cruz, Mount Union LB Sr. Lutz, Fla. / George M. Steinbrenner
Samaar Scott, Muskingum OL Sr. Cleveland, Ohio / James Ford Rhodes
Malachi Stromile Muskingum DB So. Weirton, W. Va. / Weir
Sam Feldman, Ohio Northern QB Sr. Springboro, Ohio / Springboro
Kolten Burner, Ohio Northern LB Sr. Springfield, Ohio / Northwestern
Christian Pataky, Otterbein TE Sr. Lagrange, Ohio / Keystone
Bryce Mount, Otterbein OL Sr. Chesapeake, Ohio / Chesapeake
Isaac Ross, Wilmington QB Sr. Bayfield, Colo. / Bayfield
Dylan Alltop, Wilmington OL Sr. Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek