The defending MAC champions were already facing significant challenges this offseason due to roster turnover.
Less than a day after securing their first MAC title since 1968, the Ohio Bobcats saw head coach Tim Albin depart for Charlotte, followed by a wave of assistant coaches joining him there.
Maintaining player continuity becomes especially difficult during a coaching transition, and now, just a week before the April 19 spring game, Ohio is losing two key defensive starters for the 2025 season. Linebackers Shay Taylor and Kadin Schmitz both entered the transfer portal on Friday, announcing their decisions within an hour of one another.
Taylor, the team’s starting middle linebacker in 2024, joined Ohio in 2021—Albin’s first year—and saw a significant uptick in production last season. He finished third on the defense with 72 tackles, added 10 tackles for loss (second-most on the team), forced two fumbles, recovered one, and returned an interception for the Bobcats’ only pick-six in a blowout win over Buffalo. He enters the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.
Schmitz came to Ohio as a defensive end in 2023, backing up Ben McNaboe, before transitioning to inside linebacker in 2024. He still played a key role on defense, recording 33 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. After two seasons with the program, Schmitz is now looking for a new opportunity with two years of eligibility left.
While neither has revealed a transfer destination yet, Charlotte stands out as a potential landing spot—Albin is now on staff there, along with former Ohio co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Nate Faanes. Charlotte has already added two Ohio linebackers this offseason, making the 49ers a logical fit for Taylor or Schmitz.
Unless either player pulls out of the portal, Ohio will be down two projected defensive starters for 2025 just days before spring ball concludes. Despite undergoing major defensive staff and roster changes last offseason, the Bobcats still excelled in 2024, finishing 12th nationally in scoring defense, ninth in total defense, and fourth against the run en route to an impressive 11-3 campaign.
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