Edison preps for reload in 2025

MILAN TWP. — Behind the scenes, it also looked good. The Edison football team will be replacing key players all over the field in 2025 after a dominant 13-1 season a year ago. However, longtime head coach Jim Hall and his assistants believe there is still plenty of talent to continue the steady winning the Chargers have produced for the past 10-plus years. "Having the numbers and kids we have really helps, because those kids played roles last year, and some played big roles," Hall said. "I look at a kid like Blaise Garn as an example of that." Hall said the senior ended up starting several playoff games against some strong passing teams and held his own. "For him to step into that role after not having played as much leading up to it, now he's a senior and it's his turn," Hall said. "You look for those kinds of kids that maybe people don't know who have little experience, but they are kids you know and feel good about." Hall said that summarizes the 14-player senior class in 2025. "It has some players who have done a lot in Bryson (Wittmer) and Ryder (Kramb), but then you kind of usher in the next group that buys into the system," he said. "They have high expectations, and they plan to continue this." Offense The Chargers were set to have three returning starters on the offensive line, but Kramb (6-foot, 190), an All-SBC Bay and Northwest District performer, is shifting to the backfield for his senior season. Senior Jacob Kuhl (5-10, 190) returns at center as an all-league performer in 2024. Senior Tristian Weatherill (6-3, 195) is also back, while senior Chaz Smith (5-10, 205) is another lineman who rotated in heavily last season. Hall will then turn to junior Colten Collins (5-10, 175), who is a two-year starter along the defensive line. Sophomores Joel Smith (6-0, 250) and Connor Goodwin (6-1, 175) are also going to see time. "We have some starter minutes and experience, and decent depth," Hall said. "Offensive line is just an area where you're constantly building." In the backfield, the Chargers figure to rely heavily on Wittmer (6-0, 225). The University of Louisville baseball commit totaled 1,097 yards and 18 touchdowns on just 114 attempts last season while sharing the workload with graduated standouts Cy Finnen and Abe Hermes. He also caught nine passes for 236 yards and two more touchdowns. Caden Clere (5-9, 180) returns after picking up 514 yards and five TDs on 70 attempts in 2024. They are joined by Kramb and junior Silas Perez (5-7, 160), who also lettered last season. At quarterback, the Chargers will turn to senior Cole Leimeister (5-11, 155), a standout in basketball and baseball, to replace Hermes. "Cole has been with us for four years and knows what we're doing and how we want it done," Hall said. "What I like about him is he's been at a high, competitive level with basketball and baseball. He's been a central part of those programs. "He will get better as we go, and with those four behind him, we really like the backfield and will package them in different ways," he added. "We want to keep those guys fresh, because most of them are also playing defense." Senior Brody McFadden (5-11, 190) is at tight end, with sophomore Jackson Esser (6-0, 155) backing him up. At receiver, senior Coltyn Meagrow (6-4, 185), Garn, and senior Andy Strecker (5-11, 160) will see the bulk of the time. Meagrow caught five passes for 69 yards and two TDs last season. "We have some experience there, but we also like the depth," Hall said. "Offensively, I think we're on schedule. We're evaluating after practices and making corrections. You need great practice and effort even though it's been scalding hot out there. "I think there is progress being made, and we'll get better and better." Defense Up front, most of the same names from the offensive line join Collins, who made 24 tackles last season. That includes Kuhl, Joel Smith, Chaz Smith (six tackles, one sack), and Thompson, who added 21 tackles and one fumble recovery. "Colten started at tackle last year, but he will be an end as well," Hall said. "We feel good about them, but it's a lot of the offensive line guys also going the other way." Wittmer (64 tackles) moves from inside to outside linebacker, where he is joined by Clere (65 tackles, one sack, one interception) and Weatherill. Kramb made 118 tackles with one sack, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery and returns in the middle, where he is joined by McFadden, Goodwin, and sophomore Max Limberios (6-0, 180). Strecker (38 tackles) and Garn (15 tackles) are the defensive backs, with Meagrow (16 tackles) and Leimeister (17 tackles, one interception) at the safety positions. Hall noted Perez and some younger players may work into the secondary mix as well. Senior Alex Davidson (5-9, 150) was 52 for 58 on extra points and 2 for 3 on field goals and returns to the position this season. Wittmer punted 12 times for a 26.5-yard average and also returns. Last season, the Edison defense was maybe the best in Hall's tenure. The Chargers allowed two offensive touchdowns through the first six weeks and just 45 points during the regular season total. That being said, Hall doesn't think the current defensive group feels the pressure to live up to those numbers. "I don't think they compare last year to this year," he said. "Speed-wise, our defense should be pretty good. We always love to have those athletic guys we can move up front and angle and twist to bring those linebackers up to cover for them on the back end with speed. "I just think it's a new team, a new identity, and a new defense. The more we can do and scheme with them, the better." 2025 schedule Aug. 22: Firelands, 7 p.m. Aug. 29: St. Paul, 7 p.m. Sept. 5: Hopewell-Loudon, 7 p.m. Sept. 12: at Johnstown Northridge, 7 p.m. Sept. 19: Norwalk, 7 p.m. Sept. 26: Bellevue, 7 p.m. Oct. 3: at Clyde, 7 p.m. Oct. 10: at Port Clinton, 7 p.m. Oct. 17: at Vermilion, 7 p.m. Oct. 24: Huron, 7 p.m. 2024 results (13-1) Edison 47, Firelands 16 Edison 41, St. Paul 2 Edison 12, Gibsonburg 7 Edison 36, Johnstown Northridge 0 Edison 35, Norwalk 0 Edison 21, Bellevue 6 Edison 15, Perkins 14 Edison 41, Port Clinton 7 Edison 17, Vermilion 0 Edison 28, Huron 3 Playoffs Edison 42, Johnstown Northridge 0 Edison 42, Wooster Triway 21 Edison 49, Eastwood 28 Liberty Center 34, Edison 6 2025 roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 1 Talon Wechter WR/DB 5-8 145 9 2 Andy Strecker WR/DB 5-11 160 12 3 Evan Schnittker QB/DB 5-8 130 9 4 Cole Leimeister QB/DB 5-11 155 12 5 Blaise Garn WR/DB 5-9 165 12 6 Cohen Dawson RB/LB 5-9 160 9 7 Jackson Esser TE/DB 6-0 155 10 8 Cayden Clere RB/OLB 5-9 180 12 9 Camdyn Horvath RB/OLB 5-7 150 10 10 Coltyn Meagrow WR/DB 6-4 185 12 11 Brody McFadden TE/OLB 5-11 190 12 12 Brody Peugeot RB/OLB 6-0 190 9 13 Wesley Seel RB/OLB 5-10 160 10 14 Caleb Wigner WR/DB 5-6 130 10 15 Styles Perez RB/DB 5-6 140 9 16 Colton Story TE/DB 6-3 180 9 17 Bently Illuzzi RB/OLB 6-1 185 9 18 Tanner Dellasanti WR/DB 5-8 120 9 21 Kyle Robinson WR/QB/DB 5-7 150 10 22 Silas Perez RB/DB 5-7 160 11 23 Alex Davidson K 5-9 150 12 24 Maverick Mesenburg WR/DB 5-5 140 9 25 Bryson Wittmer RB/OLB 6-0 225 12 26 Alex Garton WR/OLB 5-9 160 11 28 Elijah Ruck RB/DL 5-7 195 12 30 Trenton Williams RB/DB 5-10 140 9 32 Max Limberios RB/LB 6-0 180 10 33 Alik Houser WR/DB 5-9 160 11 34 Granstyn Yamanouch WR/LB 6-0 155 9 36 Kaleb Stover WR/DB 5-8 130 9 37 Connor Allsopp WR/DB 6-1 165 10 40 Ryder Kramb RB/LB 6-0 190 12 50 Josh Thompson OL/DL 5-11 205 12 51 Kaleb Martin OL/OLB 5-10 175 11 52 Chaz Smith OL/DL 5-10 205 12 53 Colten Collins OL/DL 5-10 175 11 54 Sevastian Garton OL/DL 5-10 240 11 55 Jacob Kuhl OL/DL 5-10 190 12 56 Carson Eckell OL/DL 5-10 195 9 57 Tristian Wetherill OL/OLB 6-3 195 12 58 Trajan Taylor OL/DL 5-6 210 10 59 Travis Werner OL/DL 6-3 165 9 60 Nicolas Samsa OL/DL 5-9 200 9 61 Connor Goodwin OL/DL 6-1 175 10 62 Josh Felter OL/DL 6-1 200 10 64 Ian McCord OL/DL 5-6 205 9 65 Brandt Smith OL/DL 5-11 225 9 67 Pierce Corbin OL/DL 6-0 375 9 70 Jacoby Kraft OL/DL 6-0 300 10 71 Jeff Collingsworth OL/LB 5-10 175 9 72 Joel Smith OL/DL 6-0 250 10 73 Leland Irby OL/DL 5-6 150 9 74 Jeremiah Cumston OL/DL 5-10 170 9 75 Weston Hoover OL/DL 5-9 290 10 77 Korbin Kozlowski OL/DL 5-10 190 11 78 Jacob Fields OL/DL 5-7 210 9 79 Mason Murphy OL/DL 6-1 318 10 80 Ben Rosekelly WR/OLB 5-9 145 9 84 Colton Ritz WR/DB 6-1 145 11 88 Carter Jones K 6-0 165 10