Bowling Green State University Athletics
Loeffler Announces Nine Additions to the Bowling Green Roster for 2023
May 19, 2023 | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green football program has added nine transfers, according to head football coach Scot Loeffler. Offensive lineman Chris Akporoghene (Tulsa/Tennessee), defensive lineman Evan Branch-Haynes (Arizona), defensive lineman Chace Davis (UTSA), wide receiver Finn Hogan (Central Michigan), defensive back Jordan Jackson (Stony Brook), defensive back Steve Lubischer (Boston College), inside linebacker Davian Mayo (Memphis) and wide receiver Jaylon Tillman (Grand Valley State) have signed letters of acceptance to BGSU.
Also, cornerback Davon Ferguson (Baltimore, Md.) returns to Bowling Green after spending spring practice with Georgia Southern. Ferguson has started nine of 10 career games for the Falcons over the last two seasons before suffering season-ending injuries each season. One of the MAC's top overall players, when he went down with injury in 2021, he was the only player in the nation with 60+ tackles (68), 2.0+ sacks (2) and 4+ passes defended (4). Ferguson was No. 1 in the MAC and No. 14 in the nation with 5.6 solo tackles per game.
Akporoghene (Warri, Nigeria) spent the 2022 season at Tulsa after playing at Tennessee for three years. He has appeared in 17 collegiate games, including 10 for Tulsa in 2022 after joining the team the week of the first game. Akporoghene Appeared in seven games as a reserve offensive lineman and special teams contributor at Tennessee from 2019-21. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Branch-Haynes (Richmond, Calif.) spent two years at Arizona and will have three years of eligibility. He appeared in four career games with the Wildcats and made five tackles, including four against Utah.
Davis (Whittier, Calif.) spent one year at UTSA after two seasons at East Los Angeles College where he was a first-team all-conference honoree. He recorded 25 tackles, five TFLs, 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble in 2021. Made four tackles in four games with UTSA in 2022. Davis has two years of eligibility.
Hogan (Maple City, Mich.) spent two years at Central Michigan where he appeared in 15 career games with six starts. He saw action in all 12 games in 2022 where he made 19 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown. Hogan has three years of eligibility.
Jackson (Freeport, N.Y.) spent three years at Stony Brook on Long Island. He appeared in 25 career games with five starts. Jackson has two years of eligibility remaining. He collected 70 career tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, eight pass breakups and one interception during his time with the Seawolves.
Lubischer (Oceanport, N.J.) comes to BGSU after four years at Boston College. He has two years of eligibility remaining after appearing in 22 career games for the Eagles. Lubischer saw time in a career-high 12 games in 2022 and made seven tackles as a reserve safety.
Mayo (Monticello, Ark.) spent three years at Memphis and has two years of eligibility. He appeared in 30 career games for the Tigers with one career start. Mayo notched 21 tackles over 13 games in 2022 and was part of the Tigers' 2020 Montgomery Bowl and 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl championship teams.
Tillman (Plainfield, Ill.) comes to BGSU after spending two years at Grand Valley State. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after helping GVS go 22-3 over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, losing to eventual NCAA DII national champion Ferris State in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament and quarterfinal round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Tillman appeared in 19 career games at GVS and accumulated 38 career receptions for 689 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Chris Akporoghene (aw-POUR-aw-go-nay)
OL • 6-3 • 310
Warri, Nigeria • IMG Academy/Tulsa
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent the 2022 season at Tulsa and prior to that spent three years at Tennessee
• Played in 10 career games at Tulsa after transferring the week of the first game
• Saw most of his time on special teams at Tulsa
• Appeared in seven games as a reserve offensive lineman and special teams contributor at Tennessee from 2019-21
• Made collegiate debut at right tackle in the fourth quarter vs. No. 3 Georgia in 2019 and saw time against UAB
• Played in four games for Tennessee in 2020 (Alabama, Florida, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M) and one game in 2021
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Moved to the U.S. from Warri, Nigeria in 2016
• Played his senior season IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., after transferring from The King's Academy in Seymour, Tenn.
• Was a starter all four years of his prep career
• Started nine games as a senior and paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged over 200 yards per game
• Helped lead IMG to the No. 4 national ranking in 2018
• Was a 2017 TSWA Division ll-A All-State selection at the King's Academy
• Earned 2017 Tennessee Football Coaches Association Division ll-A all-state honors
• Was also a 2017 First-Team All-PrepXtra selection
• Held 33 Division 1 offers coming out of high school
• Prep coach was Kelvin Wright.
Evan Branch-Haynes
DL • 6-2 • 300
Richmond, Calif. • Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep/Arizona
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent two years at Arizona and will have three years of eligibility
• Appeared in four career games with the Wildcats
• Made five total tackles (4 solo, 1 assist) during his four career games in 2022
• Recorded four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) at Utah on
• Made one tackle (1 solo) in his first career game against Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Played at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep for head coach Barry McLaughling
• Was named second-team all-state as a sophomore
• Was second-team all-conference his sophomore year and first-team all-conference his junior year
Chace Davis
DL • 6-4 • 280
Whittier, Calif. • La Serna HS/UTSA
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent one year at UTSA where he appeared in four games and made four tackles
• Retained redshirt in 2022 at UTSA
• Spent two years at East Los Angeles College, where he was named first-team all-conference in 2021
• Played in 10 games for the Huskies as a sophomore
• Recorded 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble
• Had six tackles, including a sack at Long Beach
• Made 1.5 sacks in a win over Canyons
• Recorded four tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in five games in 2019
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Prepped at La Serna High School in California
• All-league selection
• Was twice named to the academic honor roll
• Born in Long Beach, Calif.
• Son of Stephanie Davis
• Has one sister, Hannah
Finn Hogan
WR • 6-5 • 210
Maple City, Mich. • Glen Lake HS/Central Michigan
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent two years at Central Michigan where he appeared in 15 career games with six starts
• Comes to BGSU with three years of eligibility
• Saw action in all 12 games with six starts in 2022 where he made 19 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown
• Scored lone touchdown at Penn State
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• A 2021 graduate of Glen Lake High School, where he played four years of varsity football
• First-team all-state selection as a senior
• Two-time first-team all-region honoree
• Three-time first-team all-conference award winner
• Two-time Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream member
• Named the 2021 Traverse City Record-Eagle Male Athlete of the Year
• Caught seven touchdowns and led a Glen Lake team that advanced to the state title game
• Also competed in track and field and basketball
• Set school record in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dash and high jump
• Qualified for the state track and field championship in three events
• Won state title in the 400-meter dash, took second in the high jump, fourth in the 200-meter dash, and sixth in the 100-meter
• has a sister Ruby, who was named the MHSAA Division 4 state player of the year in basketbal
Jordan Jackson
DB • 5-10 • 190
Freeport, N.Y. • Freeport HS/Stony Brook
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent three years at Stony Brook and appeared in 25 career games with five starts
• Has two years of eligibility remaining
• Collected 70 career tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, eight pass breakups and one interception
• Notched seven tackles at UMass and at Albany in 2022
• His lone sack came at Richmond in 2022
• His lone interception came at Colgate in 2021
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Two-way standout led Freeport to an undefeated Long Island Championship season for head coach Russ Cellan
• In his senior season, his 25 solo tackles, one interception, 17 pass break ups and seven touchdowns helped Freeport win the prestigious Rutgers Cup as the best team in Nassau County
• In the Long Island Championship game, Jackson scored the first touchdown, blocked a game tying kick and recorded the game sealing interception
• Son of Zorina and Hassein Jackson
• Has two siblings, Jaidan and Jamaiya
• Brother Jaidan plays football at Stony Brook (DL)
Steve Lubischer
DB • 6-1 • 205
Oceanport, N.J. • Red Bank Catholic/Boston College
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent four years at Boston College and appeared in 22 games
• Has two years of eligibility
• Saw time in a career-high 12 games in 2022 and made seven tackles
• Made five tackles and 0.5 TFL in 2021
• Boston College staff switched him from quarterback to safety upon arrival on campus
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• One of the key players in Red Bank Catholic's drive to an undefeated 2018 season and the NJSIAA Non-Public Group II championship as the state's top-ranked team
• Asbury Park Press all-area first-team selection and USA Today all-state first-team honoree
• In 2018 was 85-of-122 passing (69.6% completions) for 1,678 yards and 21 touchdowns
• Also ran for 377 yards and seven touchdowns en route to being named the Shore Conference Freedom Division Offensive Player of the Year
• Led the Caseys to their first unbeaten season since 1960
• Team captain.
• Three-star prospect according to ESPN who is rated as the No. 40 dual-threat quarterback nationally
• Son of Steve and Diane Lubischer
• His father Steve was a three-year letterwinner at defensive end for Boston College from 1981-83
• His uncle Nick lettered for the Boston College at defensive end in 1982
Davian Mayo
LB • 6-0 • 230
Monticello, Ark. • Drew Central HS/Memphis
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent three years at Memphis and has two years of eligibility
• Appeared in 30 career games for the Tigers with one career start
• Made 21 tackles in 2022 over 13 games
• Part of Memphis' 2020 Montgomery Bowl and 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Championship teams
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Played linebacker and running back at Drew Central High School under coach Matt Gonzales
• Amassed 1,575 yards rushing and 143.2 yards per game during his senior year
• Added six 100-yard rushing games and 19 touchdowns
• Defensively, tallied 60 total tackles from his linebacker position
• Also registered 2.5 tackles for loss and recorded an interception
• Ranked the No. 9 player in the state of Arkansas
• Son of Lataaka Harvey
Jaylon Tillman
WR • 6-0 • 210
Plainfield, Ill. • North HS/Grand Valley State
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent two years at Grand Valley State
• Helped GVS go 22-3 over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, losing to eventual NCAA DII national champion Ferris State in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament and quarterfinal round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament
• Appeared in 19 career games at GVS and accumulated 38 career receptions for 689 receiving yards and six touchdowns
• Made 31 receptions for 568 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2022, earning second-team All-GLIAC honors.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Prepped at Plainfield North High School for head coach Anthony Imbardino
• Caught 18 passes for 518 yards and 11 TDs as a senior
• Earned First-Team All-SPC honors as a senior
• Named team's MVP as a senior
• Averaged 28.7 yards per catch during his final prep season
• Earned First-Team All-SPC honors as a junior.
Also, cornerback Davon Ferguson (Baltimore, Md.) returns to Bowling Green after spending spring practice with Georgia Southern. Ferguson has started nine of 10 career games for the Falcons over the last two seasons before suffering season-ending injuries each season. One of the MAC's top overall players, when he went down with injury in 2021, he was the only player in the nation with 60+ tackles (68), 2.0+ sacks (2) and 4+ passes defended (4). Ferguson was No. 1 in the MAC and No. 14 in the nation with 5.6 solo tackles per game.
Akporoghene (Warri, Nigeria) spent the 2022 season at Tulsa after playing at Tennessee for three years. He has appeared in 17 collegiate games, including 10 for Tulsa in 2022 after joining the team the week of the first game. Akporoghene Appeared in seven games as a reserve offensive lineman and special teams contributor at Tennessee from 2019-21. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Branch-Haynes (Richmond, Calif.) spent two years at Arizona and will have three years of eligibility. He appeared in four career games with the Wildcats and made five tackles, including four against Utah.
Davis (Whittier, Calif.) spent one year at UTSA after two seasons at East Los Angeles College where he was a first-team all-conference honoree. He recorded 25 tackles, five TFLs, 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble in 2021. Made four tackles in four games with UTSA in 2022. Davis has two years of eligibility.
Hogan (Maple City, Mich.) spent two years at Central Michigan where he appeared in 15 career games with six starts. He saw action in all 12 games in 2022 where he made 19 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown. Hogan has three years of eligibility.
Jackson (Freeport, N.Y.) spent three years at Stony Brook on Long Island. He appeared in 25 career games with five starts. Jackson has two years of eligibility remaining. He collected 70 career tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, eight pass breakups and one interception during his time with the Seawolves.
Lubischer (Oceanport, N.J.) comes to BGSU after four years at Boston College. He has two years of eligibility remaining after appearing in 22 career games for the Eagles. Lubischer saw time in a career-high 12 games in 2022 and made seven tackles as a reserve safety.
Mayo (Monticello, Ark.) spent three years at Memphis and has two years of eligibility. He appeared in 30 career games for the Tigers with one career start. Mayo notched 21 tackles over 13 games in 2022 and was part of the Tigers' 2020 Montgomery Bowl and 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl championship teams.
Tillman (Plainfield, Ill.) comes to BGSU after spending two years at Grand Valley State. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after helping GVS go 22-3 over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, losing to eventual NCAA DII national champion Ferris State in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament and quarterfinal round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Tillman appeared in 19 career games at GVS and accumulated 38 career receptions for 689 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Chris Akporoghene (aw-POUR-aw-go-nay)
OL • 6-3 • 310
Warri, Nigeria • IMG Academy/Tulsa
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent the 2022 season at Tulsa and prior to that spent three years at Tennessee
• Played in 10 career games at Tulsa after transferring the week of the first game
• Saw most of his time on special teams at Tulsa
• Appeared in seven games as a reserve offensive lineman and special teams contributor at Tennessee from 2019-21
• Made collegiate debut at right tackle in the fourth quarter vs. No. 3 Georgia in 2019 and saw time against UAB
• Played in four games for Tennessee in 2020 (Alabama, Florida, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M) and one game in 2021
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Moved to the U.S. from Warri, Nigeria in 2016
• Played his senior season IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., after transferring from The King's Academy in Seymour, Tenn.
• Was a starter all four years of his prep career
• Started nine games as a senior and paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged over 200 yards per game
• Helped lead IMG to the No. 4 national ranking in 2018
• Was a 2017 TSWA Division ll-A All-State selection at the King's Academy
• Earned 2017 Tennessee Football Coaches Association Division ll-A all-state honors
• Was also a 2017 First-Team All-PrepXtra selection
• Held 33 Division 1 offers coming out of high school
• Prep coach was Kelvin Wright.
Evan Branch-Haynes
DL • 6-2 • 300
Richmond, Calif. • Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep/Arizona
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent two years at Arizona and will have three years of eligibility
• Appeared in four career games with the Wildcats
• Made five total tackles (4 solo, 1 assist) during his four career games in 2022
• Recorded four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) at Utah on
• Made one tackle (1 solo) in his first career game against Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Played at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep for head coach Barry McLaughling
• Was named second-team all-state as a sophomore
• Was second-team all-conference his sophomore year and first-team all-conference his junior year
Chace Davis
DL • 6-4 • 280
Whittier, Calif. • La Serna HS/UTSA
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent one year at UTSA where he appeared in four games and made four tackles
• Retained redshirt in 2022 at UTSA
• Spent two years at East Los Angeles College, where he was named first-team all-conference in 2021
• Played in 10 games for the Huskies as a sophomore
• Recorded 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble
• Had six tackles, including a sack at Long Beach
• Made 1.5 sacks in a win over Canyons
• Recorded four tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in five games in 2019
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Prepped at La Serna High School in California
• All-league selection
• Was twice named to the academic honor roll
• Born in Long Beach, Calif.
• Son of Stephanie Davis
• Has one sister, Hannah
Finn Hogan
WR • 6-5 • 210
Maple City, Mich. • Glen Lake HS/Central Michigan
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent two years at Central Michigan where he appeared in 15 career games with six starts
• Comes to BGSU with three years of eligibility
• Saw action in all 12 games with six starts in 2022 where he made 19 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown
• Scored lone touchdown at Penn State
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• A 2021 graduate of Glen Lake High School, where he played four years of varsity football
• First-team all-state selection as a senior
• Two-time first-team all-region honoree
• Three-time first-team all-conference award winner
• Two-time Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream member
• Named the 2021 Traverse City Record-Eagle Male Athlete of the Year
• Caught seven touchdowns and led a Glen Lake team that advanced to the state title game
• Also competed in track and field and basketball
• Set school record in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dash and high jump
• Qualified for the state track and field championship in three events
• Won state title in the 400-meter dash, took second in the high jump, fourth in the 200-meter dash, and sixth in the 100-meter
• has a sister Ruby, who was named the MHSAA Division 4 state player of the year in basketbal
Jordan Jackson
DB • 5-10 • 190
Freeport, N.Y. • Freeport HS/Stony Brook
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent three years at Stony Brook and appeared in 25 career games with five starts
• Has two years of eligibility remaining
• Collected 70 career tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, eight pass breakups and one interception
• Notched seven tackles at UMass and at Albany in 2022
• His lone sack came at Richmond in 2022
• His lone interception came at Colgate in 2021
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Two-way standout led Freeport to an undefeated Long Island Championship season for head coach Russ Cellan
• In his senior season, his 25 solo tackles, one interception, 17 pass break ups and seven touchdowns helped Freeport win the prestigious Rutgers Cup as the best team in Nassau County
• In the Long Island Championship game, Jackson scored the first touchdown, blocked a game tying kick and recorded the game sealing interception
• Son of Zorina and Hassein Jackson
• Has two siblings, Jaidan and Jamaiya
• Brother Jaidan plays football at Stony Brook (DL)
Steve Lubischer
DB • 6-1 • 205
Oceanport, N.J. • Red Bank Catholic/Boston College
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent four years at Boston College and appeared in 22 games
• Has two years of eligibility
• Saw time in a career-high 12 games in 2022 and made seven tackles
• Made five tackles and 0.5 TFL in 2021
• Boston College staff switched him from quarterback to safety upon arrival on campus
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• One of the key players in Red Bank Catholic's drive to an undefeated 2018 season and the NJSIAA Non-Public Group II championship as the state's top-ranked team
• Asbury Park Press all-area first-team selection and USA Today all-state first-team honoree
• In 2018 was 85-of-122 passing (69.6% completions) for 1,678 yards and 21 touchdowns
• Also ran for 377 yards and seven touchdowns en route to being named the Shore Conference Freedom Division Offensive Player of the Year
• Led the Caseys to their first unbeaten season since 1960
• Team captain.
• Three-star prospect according to ESPN who is rated as the No. 40 dual-threat quarterback nationally
• Son of Steve and Diane Lubischer
• His father Steve was a three-year letterwinner at defensive end for Boston College from 1981-83
• His uncle Nick lettered for the Boston College at defensive end in 1982
Davian Mayo
LB • 6-0 • 230
Monticello, Ark. • Drew Central HS/Memphis
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent three years at Memphis and has two years of eligibility
• Appeared in 30 career games for the Tigers with one career start
• Made 21 tackles in 2022 over 13 games
• Part of Memphis' 2020 Montgomery Bowl and 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Championship teams
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Played linebacker and running back at Drew Central High School under coach Matt Gonzales
• Amassed 1,575 yards rushing and 143.2 yards per game during his senior year
• Added six 100-yard rushing games and 19 touchdowns
• Defensively, tallied 60 total tackles from his linebacker position
• Also registered 2.5 tackles for loss and recorded an interception
• Ranked the No. 9 player in the state of Arkansas
• Son of Lataaka Harvey
Jaylon Tillman
WR • 6-0 • 210
Plainfield, Ill. • North HS/Grand Valley State
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
• Spent two years at Grand Valley State
• Helped GVS go 22-3 over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, losing to eventual NCAA DII national champion Ferris State in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament and quarterfinal round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament
• Appeared in 19 career games at GVS and accumulated 38 career receptions for 689 receiving yards and six touchdowns
• Made 31 receptions for 568 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2022, earning second-team All-GLIAC honors.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
• Prepped at Plainfield North High School for head coach Anthony Imbardino
• Caught 18 passes for 518 yards and 11 TDs as a senior
• Earned First-Team All-SPC honors as a senior
• Named team's MVP as a senior
• Averaged 28.7 yards per catch during his final prep season
• Earned First-Team All-SPC honors as a junior.
Players Mentioned
OG
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DL
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DL
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CB
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WR
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S
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ILB
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WR
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