BOWLING GREEN — A new recruiting class of 31 players is signed, sealed, and even partly delivered at Bowling Green, which already has seven true freshmen enrolled and undergoing offseason workouts.
The Falcons brought in a much-needed infusion of talent by signing 19 three-star players, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, a particularly high number for a school in the Group of Five conferences. And the silver lining for Bowling Green’s low numbers — BG finished the 2019 season with 60-odd scholarship players available — is that the Falcons were able to sell opportunity on the recruiting trail.
As Falcons coach Scot Loeffler said Wednesday at his signing day news conference, predicting the first year on campus for true freshmen is difficult — but Bowling Green will play first-year players if they prove ready for the field.
When position battles start in earnest during training camp in August, more than a few true freshmen could have a path to serious playing time, especially at a few positions where BG sorely needs help.
1. Deshawn Jones, Jr., cornerback
Jones was the highest-rated recruit in Bowling Green’s class of 2020, and he likely has the best odds of playing right away among all of his incoming classmates due to favorable circumstances.
First, Jones is talented enough to play in the Mid-American Conference from the start. The Akron East product was an all-state player who drew offers from Michigan, Penn State, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and more than half of the MAC. Second, he’s a skill position player, who almost always have faster routes to the field when compared to their counterparts on the lines of scrimmage.
Third, Jones will walk into a position group that needs some help and could look to young players to find it. At one point last season, the Falcons started three true freshmen in the secondary, although JaJuan Hudson, who played the most of the three, transferred after the season.
Rising junior Caleb Biggers should have the inside track on one cornerback spot, but the other two are very open for discussion. If Jones has a good summer, he certainly could be starting when the Falcons travel Sept. 5 to Ohio State.
2. Billie Roberts, defensive line
Another three-star player who picked Bowling Green against Power Five offers (Roberts drew offers from Tennessee, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, and Syracuse, among others), Roberts will be walking into a position of need for Bowling Green.
The Falcons lost two leaders of the defensive line in graduated seniors David Konowalski and Nico Lautanen, and BG almost certainly will need freshmen and sophomores to complete its D-line rotation.
Roberts gives his new coaches some flexibility here, as well. An all-state player for Muskegon (Mich.) High School, Roberts is athletic enough to rush the passer as a defensive end — he also played tight end and basketball during high school — but he’s listed at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, so he could play inside eventually or possibly even this season on obvious passing downs.
3. A freshman wide receiver TBD
Bowling Green goes into the offseason with some actual stability on offense. Hybrid tight end Quintin Morris and running back Andrew Clair are two of the MAC’s top players at their positions, Matt McDonald is the clear starter at quarterback, and four of five starting offensive linemen are scheduled to return.
Playing time at receiver is much more available to the class of 2020. Julian Ortega-Jones saw a ton of snaps as a redshirt freshman and should start again as a sophomore, but BG lost RB Marlow and Jordan Wayne-Prather to graduation.
Jacksonville teammates Jhaylin Embry and Javonte Kinsey join the roster, and Cleveland prospect Charles Rosser could fit if BG decides to keep him at wide receiver.
The Falcons need speed to stretch defenses and players who can create touchdowns in the passing game. If one of the freshmen fits the bill, he’ll play this season.
First Published February 6, 2020, 5:52 p.m.
