The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Ex-Eaton football players eager to help Ohio Dominican team grow

QB Fudge, WR Robinson connecting on field for Division II program.

Quarterback Jeremy Fudge (left) and wide receiver Brandon Robinson are seniors on the Ohio Dominican University football team. They have been teammates since grade school, and the Eaton High School graduates will play important roles in the ODU offense for the 2011 season.

Kyle Nagel Quarterback Jeremy Fudge (left) and wide receiver Brandon Robinson are seniors on the Ohio Dominican University football team. They have been teammates since grade school, and the Eaton High School graduates will play important roles in the ODU offense for the 2011 season.

ENLARGE PHOTO

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Reds' six-game winning streak broken
5/26/12
Annual Warrior Soccer Classic kicks off today
5/26/12
Dragons' rally falls short against Lansing
5/26/12
WSU baseball ousted from tournament
5/26/12
> More sports headlines

By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 11:40 PM Monday, August 29, 2011

COLUMBUS — Eaton residents and close friends since grade school, Jeremy Fudge and Brandon Robinson return to the high school each summer for workouts while on break from Ohio Dominican.

The quarterback (Fudge) and receiver (Robinson), ODU’s top passing connection, can even be seen running scout team against the current Eaton players during summer workouts.

“We’re still close with the coaches and everyone there; it’s fun to help the young guys out,” Fudge said while standing next to Robinson on ODU’s game field after a practice last week.

“Feels good going back,” Robinson added.

Now the senior pair hopes to help Ohio Dominican take a significant step forward. In their first season as full members of the NCAA’s Division II after a move from NAIA, the Panthers are second-year members of the respected Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while beefing up the athletic department in general.

For the football team, that has meant going from 12-1 in 2007, its final NAIA season, to 2-8 last season, its first in the powerful GLIAC. The adjustment has been significant.

“The competition was not near as tough as it is now,” ODU coach Bill Conley said. “Guys here had to take their level up a notch.”

Two of the leaders of that move are Fudge and Robinson, who redshirted in 2007. By the end of last season, Fudge was the starter at quarterback and Robinson was the team’s top receiver. Fudge passed for 752 yards and rushed for 522 yards last season while Robinson caught 37 passes for 349 yards. Toss in Tyler Purcell, a senior receiver who was the 2006 Greater Catholic League North Division Player of the Year at Fenwick, and Ohio Dominican’s passing game has a significant Miami Valley flavor.

Those who have known Fudge and Robinson are not surprised they have continued their on-field connection in college. It started in fourth grade, and they were a quarterback-receiver pair nearly from the first pee-wee practice. Both were three-sport athletes, becoming close friends in the process.

“When you see them together, if you didn’t know, you would probably think they’re brothers,” Eaton football coach Ron Neanen said.

That connection showed in last season’s finale against Indianapolis. In a 31-17 loss, Fudge and Robinson connected 10 times for 73 yards and a touchdown, and the DVD of that game is one of several dozen lying around the living quarters shared by Fudge, Robinson, Purcell and other teammates.

“It matters a lot,” Purcell said of the off-field friendship. “If a play breaks down, we can know what the other person is thinking and how to react.”

Ohio Dominican hopes for more connections this season as it continues to adapt to Division II competition. The Eaton pals and Purcell are expected to be a major part of the result.

“The game of football is a lot of chemistry and body language, and these guys have been together a lot,” ODU offensive coordinator Todd Goebbel said. “We need them to be in leadership roles, because they’re important players for us.”

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-7389 or  knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Notable locals at non-Football Bowl Subdivision Ohio colleges

Clay Belton, junior quarterback, Findlay (Northmont): Transferred from Miami University to Maryland to Findlay, where he landed last season but did not play. A former first-team All-Ohio player, redshirted in 2007 at Miami before throwing for 639 yards and two touchdowns in seven games in 2008, his last action on the field.

Julian Goodwine, senior linebacker, Ashland (Thurgood Marshall): Second on team last season with 53 tackles and added six tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.

Kurt Hess, sophomore quarterback, Youngstown State (Chaminade Julienne): Passed for 2,117 yards and 12 touchdowns last season as redshirt freshman and was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Freshman of the Year. Was the first freshman quarterback in school history to pass for more than 2,000 yards. YSU opens at Michigan State on Friday.

Wes Ryder II, senior fullback, Mount Union (Belmont): Rushed for 391 yards (second on team) and two touchdowns last season while helping Purple Raiders to a national runner-up finish. Mount Union opens season ranked No. 2 in Division III.

Tyler Wright, sophomore quarterback, Bluffton (Troy): Passed for 764 yards and rushed for 611 last year, leading the team in both categories.

Share this article