BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University football team, led by ninth-year head coach Jim Hilvert, enters the 2025 season with its sights set on an Ohio Athletic Conference championship and a return to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Quarterbacks

• Charlie Bubonics (Solon) returns as the starting quarterback after a record-setting sophomore season. He set the school's single-season record with 214 completions, breaking a 31-year-old mark. He threw for a career-best 2,146 yards (third in the conference) and 25 touchdowns (second in the conference), and added 64 rushing yards with three scores on the ground.

• Mark Wilson (Northfield/Nordonia) returns as the backup. The Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference performer completed three passes for 11 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown.

• Caleb Heckel (Bay Village/St. Edward) and Nico Lamonde (McDonald, Pennsylvania/South Fayette) provide depth and experience.

Running Backs

• George Linberger (Barberton/St. Vincent-St. Mary) leads the backfield. The Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree rushed for 485 yards on 124 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also caught eight passes.

• Josiah Sessler (Fort Myers, Florida/Bonita Springs) added 95 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries as the backup.

• Will Ostrowski (Westlake) and Jacob Robinson (Amherst/St. Edward) will see increased opportunities this season.

Tight Ends

• Mason Williams (Windermere, Florida/Windermere Prep) is the only returning tight end with a reception in 2024, finishing with two catches for 19 yards.

• Josh Minier (New Albany) and Elijah Pearson (Martindale, Texas/San Marcos), both Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference performers, will aim to expand their roles in the offense.

Wide Receivers

• Tim Conwell (Avon), also the team's short snapper, is back as the top receiving threat. He led the team and tied for third in the Ohio Athletic Conference with eight touchdown receptions, totaled 486 receiving yards (tied for 11th in the conference), and finished with 48 points.

• Connor Awad (North Ridgeville/Midview) was third on the team with 31 receptions, added 309 yards, and scored four touchdowns.

• Donovan Birkett (Rootstown), Derk Hutchison (Malvern), Xavier Balson (North Olmsted), Seandelle Gardner (New Middletown/Springfield), Colin Quinlan (Willoughby/South), and Harley Barmen (Solon) all contributed in 2024 and are expected to take on larger roles.

• Additional contributors include Mark Tomei, Jr. (Chagrin Falls/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin), Avery Offenburg (Sylvania/Southview), Zach Onorati (Valley City/Buckeye), Cade St. Clair (West Salem/Northwestern), and Jimmy Timonere (Ashtabula/Lakeside).

Offensive Line

• The offensive line returns three players with starting experience: Alex Smith (Parma), Nick Lulow (Painesville/Riverside), and Colton Ross (Youngstown/Ursuline).

• Other returning veterans include Jakson Attanasio (Raleigh, North Carolina/Sanderson), Grahm Dixon (Wooster), Shamus Griffin (Norton), Sam Jackson (Middleburg Heights/Berea-Midpark), Mason Nemec (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark), and Noah Sali (Brunswick).

• Zach Cuglewski (Parma/Holy Name), Jaxon Mast (Dover), and Aidan Shaw (Carrollton) will compete for playing time in the trenches.

Special Teams

• The kicking duties are up for grabs between Jacob Russell (Wooster), Eric Groesser, Jr. (New London/Black River), Tyler Nicholson (Oakdale, Pennsylvania/South Fayette), and several newcomers.

• Brian Cox (Perry) takes over as the primary punter.

• Tim Conwell will handle short-snapping duties, with Donovan Birkett as the holder. Devin Boyle (Strongsville) returns for his second year as the long snapper.

Return Specialists

• Colin Quinlan returns as the team's primary return man after fielding five punts and two kickoffs last season.

• Several veterans and newcomers with speed will also contribute in the return game.

Defensive Line

• Hasim Rashid (Cleveland/Shaker Heights) is the lone returning starter. He was second on the team with seven tackles for loss, third with 47 total tackles, and added three sacks, two quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble.

• Key returners include RJ Pegues, Jr. (Youngstown/Ursuline), JD Crouse (North Lima/South Range), Daniel Hopkins (Norton), Mariano Mazzagatti (Uniontown/St. Vincent-St. Mary), and Judah Reid (Mount Gilead).

• Khalize Beamon (Rochester, New York/Spencerport) transitions from offense to defense, joining Quinn Knox (Stow/St. Vincent-St. Mary), Issac LaFlame (Lisbon/Salem), and Joey Simpson (Steubenville/Edison) in the rotation.

Linebackers

• Dom Tromba (Painesville/Riverside) led the defense in 2024 with 59 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, and 3.5 tackles for loss.

• Nolan Hartsel (Hartville/Lake) added a sack, seven tackles for loss (tied for second on the team), and 41 tackles overall.

• Davonte Jackson (Cleveland/John Hay), Tyler Smith (Grafton/Midview), and Jacob Reed (Plant City, Florida/Durant) all return with significant game experience.

• Depth and special teams contributions will come from Mason Bova (Bellevue), Isaac DiTirro (Rootstown), Kross Rapini (Orchard Park, New York), Ryan Fox (Willard), and Blake Hopkins (West Salem/Black River).

Defensive Backs

• Colin Kaufmann (Avon) returns as the leader in the secondary after leading the team with nine pass breakups and recording 22 tackles.

• The secondary features experienced returners including TJ Handsel (Palm Harbor, Florida/East Lake), Sean O'Horo (Boardman), Jaeden Roman (Grafton/North Olmsted), Jamar Worthy (Lithonia, Georgia/Decatur), TJ Gibbons (Willoughby/Lake Catholic), Kyle Langenbrunner (Newark/Newark Catholic), Donnie Oesch (Salem), Triston Valley (Mineral Ridge), and Maalik Duffy (Orlando, Florida/Windermere Prep).

• Ashton Baer (Van Wert) and JJ Jethroe (Warren/LaBrae) look to break into the rotation.

Season Opener

Baldwin Wallace opens the 2025 campaign on the road against longtime rival Wittenberg University on Saturday, September 6.

The Yellow Jackets host Wilmington College on Saturday, September 13 at George Finnie Stadium for the 47th Lee Tressel Shrine Classic, which also marks the start of Ohio Athletic Conference play.