Complete All-OAC Football Team (.pdf)
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Five Baldwin Wallace University football student-athletes have been selected to the 2017 All-Ohio Athletic Conference team.
Sam Groff |
Trypp Washington |
Ty Fields |
Austin Smith |
Rob Wolfington |
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Senior linebacker and team captain Sam Groff (Waynesburg/Sandy Valley) was named to the first-team. Senior defensive back and team captain Trypp Washington (Eatonville, Fla./Orlando First Academy) and junior defensive back Ty Fields (St. Augustine, Fla.) earned second-team honors. Senior running back Austin Smith (Broadview Heights/North Royalton) and junior wide receiver Rob Wolfington (Rapids City, Mich./Elk Rapids) were tabbed as honorable mention selections.
Groff, who earns his second-straight accolade after being named to the second-team in 2016, led the team for the team in tackles for the third consecutive season and was third in the OAC with a career-high 95 stops. He recorded 6.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, two quarterback hurries and recovered one fumble. Groff appeared in 37 career games and recorded 262 tackles, five sacks, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Washington, who garners his first honor, was second on the team and 12th in the OAC with a career-high 74 tackles. He led the team and was tied for fifth in the OAC with a career-best tying three interceptions. Washington was second on the squad and tied for fourth in the OAC with seven pass breakups. He also tallied three tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and forced one fumble. Washington appeared in all 40 of his career games and recorded 219 tackles, 19 pass break ups, nine interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
Fields, who earns his first accolade, led the OAC and the team with a career-high 12 pass break ups. He was fifth on the team with a career-high 45 tackles and was tied for second on squad with one interception. Fields also tallied one quarterback hurry and recovered one fumble. For his career, Fields has appeared in 19 games and has recorded 63 tackles, 15 pass break ups, made one interception and recovered one fumble.
Smith, who garners his second straight honor after being named to the second-team in 2016, led the team and was ninth in the OAC in rushing with 564 yards on 119 carries with three touchdowns and a 70-yard touchdown run. He also caught five passes for 144 yards with a career-long of 71 yards. Smith appeared in 35 career games, rushed for 1,720 yards on 385 carries with 21 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 284 yards with one touchdown.
Wolfington, who earns his first career accolade, had a breakout season as he led the team and was 13th in the OAC with a career-high 642 receiving yards. He was second the team with a career-best 34 catches and a career-high five touchdowns. Wolfington had a career-long touchdown reception of 78-yards against John Carroll University and tallied a career-best 131 yards against Muskingum University. He was selected as the Dick Miller Community and Family Day Player of the Game vs. John Carroll. Wolfington has appeared in 12 career games and had caught 34 passes for 642 yards with five touchdowns.
BW finished the 2017 season tied for fifth in the OAC standings with an overall record of 6-4 and a conference mark of 5-4. The Yellow Jackets open the 2018 season on Thursday, August 31 when they will host Alma (Mich.) College in their only non-conference game of the year on the Tressel Field inside Finnie Stadium at 6 p.m. BW will open up 2018 OAC action with back-to-back home games against Otterbein University and the University of Mount Union on September 8 and 15.
