Notable JUCO Players at Bowling Green

JUCO Players at BGSU

With 4 JUCO players signed to the current transfer class and another via UTSA, I wanted to take a look back to some recent JUCO players who shined at BGSU. If my memory serves correct BG does not have a history of signing many JUCO kids as Ohio is a fertile recruiting ground. It seems more schools with less high school talent around them rely on junior colleges such as UTEP and New Mexico State. If you look at the NMSU Aggies who beat us in the bowl game, they're roster is over half of JUCO players and they clearly have success. While BG should not be that reliant on JUCOs as a school in New Mexico or El Paso, in the new era of college football it would make sense to bring in more JUCOs. 

With so many recruited players out of high school leaving via the transfer portal, more and more teams can utilize transfers, whether from the portal or junior colleges to get possibly overlooked players from a lower level of football to come fill spots that you may have had to play a freshman in. JUCO players typically do not see many offers so they usually work harder than most to make the team and see the field. We have seen many overlooked players blossom into big time Falcons. 

Bronson Warner OL 2022-Present

(photo: BG Athletics)

Bronson embodies all that typically comes with a JUCO player and that is hard nosed blue collar football. I loved watching Warner start every game at RG for BG this year. He finished every play, gets chippy with the opposing defense, and I think really set a tone for our linemen should play in northwest Ohio. Warner was at Iowa Western Community College from 2019-2020 and then played one year at Abilene Christian. Coming from a CC and then an FCS school, unranked by 247, I am always going to back an underdog who has been overlooked and I was happy to see he won a starting job and was a huge factor in Bowling Green's best season since 2015. 

Kitione Tau DL 2022-Present

(photo: BG Athletics)

Kitione came to BG from Laney CC in Cali and was a perfect example of how a school like BG can utilize the JUCO ranks. Tau played in 11 of BG's games this past year as a rotational D lineman, totaling 11 tackles. Coach Loeffler saw a need for some depth on the D line, so you bring in an older player who does not need to be the focal point of the defense but still provides great depth compared to trying to have an freshman fill that void.  

Brandon Perce LB 2018-2019

(photo: BG Athletics)

Perce came to BG under Mike Jinks in 2018 from Rochester CC but did not see any game action until the Scot Loeffler era. I will always have fond memories of a hard nosed, 5'11 linebacker just crushing people. Obviously lacking ideal height, another overlooked diamond in the rough took the JUCO route to BG and flourished under Coach Loeffler, racking up 100 tackles in 2019. Perce had big performances all year and came up with 10 tackles in the monumental upset of Toledo in the Doyt in which the defense held Toledo to just 7 points despite being 27 point favorites. That game will always have a special place in my heart as I stormed the field with my friends and girlfriend, finally enjoying some football success as a student. Perce also won my personal award "The Golden Dumbbell" for biggest arms on the team. 

Matt Tanner OL 2017-2019

(photo: BG Athletics)

Tanner may be a lesser known player but he came to BG after a couple years at Eastern Arizona. After shirting in 2017, Tanner played in all 12 games in 2018. Matt started the final 7 games including the 2 MAC wins under interim head coach Carl Pelini. In 2019 Tanner started a bunch of games including the amazing upset of Toledo and the Senior Night win in the Doyt against Akron. Many fans forget O linemen because they do not rack up statistics and even the BG website is not great about their info but a guy who played in over 20 games and started at least 10 deserves to be remembered. Especially when you are apart of that legendary Toledo upset in Coach Loeffler's first year.  

Derek Lee TE 2015

(photo: BG Athletics)

Lee also came to BG from the FCS, starting at Butler CC and transferring to North Dakota State where he helped win 2 FCS Championships. Derek started 12 games for BG, playing in all 14 in 2015 on route to winning the MAC Championship. Lee did a lot of good blocking and totaled 18 catches for 108 yards and 3 scores. Lee caught a touchdown pass in the MAC Championship game, one in the upset of Maryland, and 5 of his receptions came in the upset of Purdue. This is a great example of bringing in a JUCO player to fill a hole in a roster that is a few pieces away from a championship.  

Paul Senn LB 2013-2014

(photo: BG Athletics)

Dave Clawson brought Senn to BG in the 2013 season to help fill the spots on a team trying to win a championship and they did in the historic 2013 season. Paul played in all 14 games on the way to winning the MAC, racking up 37 tackles including a punt return touchdown against Indiana which got him on SportCenter's top 10 plays. Senn then had 45 tackles in 2014, 6 of which came in another historic win at home against Indiana. Senn got to be apart of a MAC Championship upset over undefeated NIU and a Big10 win at home in just 2 years at BGSU. 

David Kekuewa OL 2012-2013

(photo: BG Athletics)

From Hawaii, Dave Clawson's staff found Kekuewa from Arizona Western CC. Nicknamed the "Chief", Kekuewa started every game at center from 2012 to 2013. Kekuewa anchored the O line which dominated the MAC in 2013 and set a foundation of winning in 2012 on the way to the Humanitarian Bowl. The Chief was straight up mashing people all year and culminated in that 2013 historic MAC Championship win where BG's offense exploded for almost 50 points. Another classic Clawson JUCO player who proved to be an absolute diamond in the rough. This guy not only dominated on the field but he helped refine the culture. 

Kamar Jorden WR 2009-2011

(photo: BG Athletics)

Kamar Jorden started his career at Hudsen Valley CC. Jorden was at BG for some rebuild years under Coach Clawson, after shirting in 09 where BG did make a bowl game, the Falcons were 7-17 the next two seasons. Kamar was still able to shine, posting over 1,000 yards in each season, especially impressive in 2010 when BG went just 2-10. Kamar caught 174 balls and 16 scores, 96 of which were in 2010 alone. Jorden is just one of two players in BG football history to have multiple 1,000 yard receiving seasons along with Roger Lewis.