Huron's Landon Hohler signs with Walsh

HURON — College football recruits like to talk about the right "fit." Landon Hohler believes he has found the perfect spot to continue his athletic career. The Huron senior signed Wednesday to playing football for Walsh University, an NCAA Division II program located in North Canton, Ohio. His lead recruiter was Adam Ferback, a Perkins graduate who is Walsh's defensive coordinator. "From the second Adam Ferback contacted me it honestly felt like a home," Hohler said. "It blew my mind with how welcoming they were. They're an up-and-coming program in the G-MAC." Walsh is a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, one of the toughest D-II leagues in the country. Ashland, another member of the G-MAC, was Hohler's other finalist. Ferback also is the outside linebackers coach, the position Hohler will play for the Cavaliers. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Hohler played safety and quarterback for Huron. "They'll probably bump me up in weight, but the position I'll be play will include coverage, too, and I do get to blitz a decent amount at that position," he said. "I'm sure they'll want me to gain quickness with a little bit of muscle and weight." Hohler, who was an honorable mention All-Ohio selection in Division VI last fall, made 203 career tackles and intercepted six passes in three years on Huron's varsity squad. He also threw for 3,777 yards and 31 touchdowns as a two-year starter at quarterback. Hohler rushed for 916 yards and 22 touchdowns. Hohler was a first team All-SBC Bay Division quarterback and defensive back as a senior. The Tigers did not qualify for the playoffs last fall, which Hohler cited as part of his desire to play college football. "It's the love of the game I've had ever since our season ended not the way we wanted," he said. "I feel hungry to get back on the field and show what I can do. I'm just grateful I was able to land somewhere I wanted." Hohler will see some familiar faces when he gets to Walsh. Sandusky graduate Amir Aaron — who attended junior high in Huron — and Vermilion's Aaron Mathis are on the Cavaliers roster. Walsh's head coach is John Fankhauser, who is entering his ninth season leading the program after working 19 years as an assistant. Fankhauser was a star player at Walsh. "It's a good setup for him," said Sam Hohler, Huron's head coach and Landon's father. "It's right up Landon's alley. They were very interested in him and very positive and did a good job during the recruiting process. "They have a couple older guys ahead of him, but they told him if he made the travel squad he would play." Landon Hohler will be busy this spring. He's a two-time All-SBC Bay first team infielder in baseball and should be one of the top players in the league. He's also been named a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete and will be honored along with 65 other northwest Ohio players at a banquet in Toledo on March 9. Hohler will play in the North-South All-Star Football Classic this spring in Massillon. "He's been a team leader, a great teammate," coach Hohler said. "When the chips were down for us the last few years and we needed to make a play, Landon usually did it for us." Huron will have six former Tigers on college football rosters this fall. That list includes Andrew Delaney and Donni Hartley (University of Windsor), Cam Manner (Ohio Dominican) and Tommie McDonald (Heidelberg). Landon Hohler will join brother Dylan Hohler (Toledo) as the other two Huron alums who will play this fall. That should keep parents Sam and Dawn plenty busy on fall weekends. "We're probably gonna put a lot of miles on the car, but we'll make it work," Sam Hohler said.