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 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Bowling Green
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  Bowling Green State University football coach Scot Loeffler is in no hurry to announce the Falcons' next starting quarterback. Loeffler said he is "not in any rush" to make any decisions regarding the quarterback competition. BGSU, which needs to fill the void left by three-year starter Matt McDonald, has a handful of signal-callers who have been busy in spring practice getting reps and learning the system, including returners Camden Orth and Owen Bainbridge, transfers Connor Bazelak and Daelen Menard, and freshman Lucian Anderson III. "It's going to be great competition in that room," Loeffler said after Monday's spring practice at the Perry Field House. "I'm proud of Cam, I'm proud of the new guys, and it'll be fun to watch them compete. "Right now, I'm not in any rush to make any decisions whatsoever. I really want to spend these next seven weeks really working on becoming better, and then when we get to June, same deal, and then we'll have a great competition here in training camp."

BGSU (6-7 in 2022) was the first FBS program to start spring practice this year, according to the school's athletic department. The quarterback position has been one of the biggest areas of improvement since spring practice began Jan. 30, according to Loeffler. "I think our group is really taking the next step at that position, and I expect those guys to learn this summer, have a great training camp, and go out and produce," Loeffler said. "The quarterback position has really been a major emphasis." Orth and Bazelak, who both have two years of eligibility left, have the most playing experience in the group at the collegiate level. - Toledo Blade


rSr/2024 QB Connor BazelakBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  Odieu Hiliare and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim put up impressive numbers together at Alabama A&M. The two wide receivers want to do the same thing at Bowling Green State University. Hiliare and Ibrahim, Florida natives who excelled together for three seasons at the Football Championship Subdivision school, have reunited in northwest Ohio. Ibrahim transferred to BGSU in mid-January, around one year after Hiliare joined the Falcons. "When we first came to A&M, met in the 2019 summer, we told each other we're going to start something together and we're going to finish it together," Ibrahim said. "We started at A&M, and we're going to finish at Bowling Green." Hiliare and Ibrahim both have one season of eligibility remaining. The duo will be aiming to recreate the magic when they combined for nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns the last time they played together in 2021. - Toledo Blade

rSr/2024 WR Abdul-Fatai IbrahimBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  When Bowling Green State University's football team opened spring practice this week, a familiar face flew around the middle of the Falcons' defense. For a short stretch earlier this month, that wasn't going to be the case. But a change of heart brought back BGSU's best tackler over the past three seasons. Darren Anders, a 6-foot, 230-pound inside linebacker, withdrew his name from the transfer portal a week after entering it around Jan. 1. The Falcons' standout is excited to be finishing his career at BGSU, where he is hoping to lead his team to a Mid-American Conference title. "I got my degree, I graduated, so I was just thinking that possibly see what other options are out there," Anders said. "I think I was in the portal for six days or something, and I really just came to the decision that I didn't want to leave BG. This is the place that I want to spend my last year at, and I want to win a championship. "I don't think anything would be more sweet than winning the championship and turning this program around."

Anders' decision to return is rare in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but something the Falcons have certainly embraced. Head coach Scot Loeffler simply said "I'm jacked that Darren's back" in a recent interview with The Blade. According to the NCAA, only five percent of FBS student athletes withdrew or removed their name from the transfer portal in 2020 and 2021. Fifty-four percent reported to have enrolled at a new NCAA member school, while 41 percent were still active, may have transferred to a non-NCAA school, or may have left their sport. "To have him back on that defense, it means a lot," BGSU senior wide receiver Odieu Hiliare said. "The transfer portal, a lot of players leaving and we're bringing in new people. With him being a leader and knowing the system, he'll be able to bring guys up and tell guys what to do, so that's great having Darren back." - Toledo Blade


rSr/2024 ILB Darren AndersBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  Bowling Green State University's football team quickly turned its biggest offseason need into perhaps one of its biggest strengths for the upcoming season. Connor Bazelak was a big reason why. Bazelak, a former Indiana and Missouri signal-caller who was the 2020 Southeastern Conference co-freshman of the year, has bolstered a Falcons' quarterback room that has plenty of talent and potential.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior, who has two years of eligibility left, is one of the team's five quarterbacks who have head coach Scot Loeffler excited about the future of the position. The coaching staff was Bazelak's biggest reason for picking the Falcons. "My goal is to play at the next level, so how much they can develop me in the areas I need improvement in is important," Bazelak said. "Obviously, I'm ready to put the work in. I feel like I'm a good player right now, and I feel like this coaching staff can take me to that next level and get me ready for the next level." - Toledo Blade


rSr/2024 QB Connor BazelakBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  The Bowling Green football program has added two transfers in Arizona State offensive line transfer Armon Bethea and Ventura College wide receiver transfer Bo Tate, according to head football coach Scot Loeffler. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Bethea will have three years of eligibility with the Falcons. Bethea (Brooklyn, New York) spent two years at Arizona State. He played in two games in 2021 as a true freshman on the defensive line after making a transition to help with depth. He returned to the offensive line in 2022. Bethea was a consensus top-5 overall prospect in New York out of Erasmus Hall High School where he was teammates with current BGSU offensive tackle Tunde Fatukasi.

Primarily used as a left guard as a junior at Erasmus, Bethea helped lead the Dutchmen to the New York Public Schools Athletic League City Conference championship. He also played in the All-American Bowl after his senior year. At Erasmus, he was invited to the All-American Bowl as one of the top players in the class, where he previously committed to Arizona State on a national broadcast Bethea attended the same high school as a bevy of celebrities and sports figures like the Commanders' Curtis Samuel, actresses Barbara Streisand and Mae West to Pro Football Hall of Famers Al Davis and Sid Luckman. - Sentinel Tribune


rSo/2026 OT Armon BetheaBowling Green
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  At Bowling Green, the addition of wideout Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, who had two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in four years at FCS Alabama A&M, is a good start. The Falcons also got a commitment from former Arizona State offensive lineman Armon Bethea, who was the No. 5 overall prospect in New York in 2021 by 247Sports. - Toledo Blade

rSo/2026 OT Armon BetheaBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  Darren Anders' change of heart will be significant for Bowling Green. The three-year starting linebacker, who has racked up more than 200 total tackles the last two seasons with the Falcons, withdrew his name from the portal and will return to BGSU for the 2023 season. - Toledo Blade

rSr/2024 ILB Darren AndersBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  Bowling Green State University's football team lost another starter, as kicker Mason Lawler announced via Twitter on Thursday afternoon his decision to enter the transfer portal. Lawler, who will have one year of eligibility remaining, converted 11 of 16 field goal attempts for BGSU last season. He was 1 of 3, including a career-long 49 yarder, in the Falcons' 24-19 Quick Lane Bowl loss to New Mexico state on Dec. 26.

Lawler made all 34 of his PAT attempts during the 2022 campaign. For his career, he was 12 of 18 on field goals and made 35 PATs. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Lakewood St. Edward High School graduate appeared in 42 career games for BGSU. He spent a majority of the 2019 through 2021 seasons on kickoffs. - Sentinel Tribune


rSr/2024 K Mason LawlerBowling Green
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  Bowling Green State University's football team filled a key spot at wide receiver as the school announced the addition of Alabama A&M transfer Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim on Tuesday. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound wideout will have one year of eligibility with the Falcons after playing four seasons with the Bulldogs, an FCS team.

In 31 career games, Ibrahim totaled 163 receptions for 2,488 yards and 22 touchdowns. The former walk-on at Alabama A&M led the Southwestern Athletic Conference with 1,008 receiving yards in 2021. During his first collegiate season in 2019, Ibrahim was third in the SWAC with 1,004 yards and a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the nation's top freshman in the FCS. - Toledo Blade


rSr/2024 WR Abdul-Fatai IbrahimBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  Darren Anders, one of the top tacklers the last couple of seasons not only for Bowling Green State University but in the Mid-American Conference, will be returning for the Falcons. After announcing a week ago that he was entering the transfer portal, Anders posted on Twitter on Sunday afternoon that he is withdrawing his name from the portal and playing for BGSU for his final season.

The 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker started all 30 games for BGSU the past three seasons, and he has appeared in 41 contests for the Falcons in his career. Anders, who was second in the MAC with 124 total tackles in 2021 in earning first-team all-league honors, was third for BGSU with 77 tackles in the 2022 campaign. For his career, Anders has tallied 276 total tackles (130 solo), including 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. - Toledo Blade


rSr/2024 ILB Darren AndersBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  Darren Anders, one of the top tacklers the last couple of seasons not only for Bowling Green State University but in the Mid-American Conference, will be returning for the Falcons. After announcing a week ago that he was entering the transfer portal, Anders posted on Twitter on Sunday afternoon that he is withdrawing his name from the portal and playing for BGSU for his final season.

The 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker started all 30 games for BGSU the past three seasons, and he has appeared in 41 contests for the Falcons in his career. Anders, who was second in the MAC with 124 total tackles in 2021 in earning first-team all-league honors, was third for BGSU with 77 tackles in the 2022 campaign. For his career, Anders has tallied 276 total tackles (130 solo), including 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also has one interception, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. - Toledo Blade


rSr/2024 ILB Darren AndersBowling Green
News Source: Toledo Blade
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  2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: Tight End - Christian Sims, Bowling Green,...Sims (Sr., Norcross, Ga.) turned in a comparable season to the 2021 campaign when he earned first-team accolades. Sims was second on the team with 41 receptions for 402 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His third-and-long catch for 35 yards in the closing minute at Toledo set up the game-winning score by Keith. He was third in the league among tight ends with 41 catches and had at least three receptions in 10 of the 11 games in which he played. - Bowling Green Football

rSr/2023 FB Christian SimsBowling Green
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  2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM: Down Lineman - Karl Brooks, Bowling Green,...Brooks (Sr., Lansing, Mich.) was recently named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and named to the final watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive end. Brooks is No. 8 in the nation with 10 sacks and No. 9 in the nation with 18 tackles for loss. Brooks led the nation with 47 hurries per PFF and his 63 total pressures rank No. 2 in the nation among all FBS defenders, applying pressure on 17.3 percent of his pass rush attempts. Brooks' 91.3 PFF grade on pass rush is No. 2 in the nation among all defenders with at least 300 pass rushes. He is also the only player in the nation with 25+ tackles, 10+ sacks, 18+ tackles for loss, 2+ passes defended and 1+ fumble recoveries. - Bowling Green Football

rSr/2023 DT Karl BrooksBowling Green
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  2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: Kickoff Return Specialist - Ta'ron Keith, Bowling Green,...Keith (So., DeLand, Fla.) is No. 19 in the nation and No. 2 in the MAC with a 24.5 yards per kick return. He was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week for his 102 kick return yards on two returns against Western Michigan, including a career-long 83-yard return that set up the game-winning touchdown against the Broncos. Keith also scored three game-winning touchdowns for the Falcons on offense (vs. Marshall, vs. Miami (OH) and at Toledo). - Bowling Green Football

Jr/2025 RB Taron KeithBowling Green
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  2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: Wide Receiver - Odieu Hiliare, Bowling Green,...For an offensive unit that had eight players with at least 10 receptions, Hiliare (Sr., Belle Glade, Fla.) led BGSU with 54 receptions, 704 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with six touchdowns. He was named MAC East Offensive Player of the week after he had a career-high 246 receiving yards on eight receptions and two touchdowns in win at Toledo. The 246 receiving yards at Toledo are No. 3 on BGSU's single-game ledger and No. 11 on the MAC's single-game record list. His two touchdown catches against Marshall aided in BGSU's comeback overtime win over the Herd. Hiliare has a catch in 34-straight games, which currently is the 14th-best active streak in the nation. - Bowling Green Football

rSr/2024 WR Odieu HilaireBowling Green
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