Fresh off of a 9-4 season, a lopsided bowl victory in Nassau, and dozens of returning talent on offense, the Ohio Bobcats appear destined for their first conference title since the first moon landing.
The one glaring issue is the turnover on defense. Ohio’s typically stout unit under Frank Solich is in the midst of a major overhaul, replacing nearly the entire front seven. But one important constant remains in the secondary — redshirt junior strong safety Javon Hagan.
Hagan’s already been a key contributor in two successful Ohio seasons. One included a MAC East title, where the Bobcats were a possession away from knocking off an undefeated Western Michigan team in Detroit.