Local football standouts Stoudmire, Geibel navigate transfer portal

With a one-time 15-day window to transfer, thousands of athletes jumped into the portal this past January. Many were looking for a better situation, a better opportunity, and some a bigger payday.

Locally, two former standout athletes found themselves among the thick of things in former Norwayne star Owen Stoudmire and Garaway phenom Brady Geibel. Both shone in their playing days, with Stoudmire anchoring the Bobcats’ run to the Division VI regional finals in 2019 and Geibel leading the Pirates to the Div. VI state semifinals in 2023. Earlier this spring Stoudmire announced his transfer from Boston College to the University of Nebraska and Geibel from Furman University to Ohio State University.

Since enrolling at Boston College in 2020, Stoudmire totaled 53 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 16 solo stops. Along the way, he developed and took his game to the next level while establishing himself as a front-line starter on the defensive line for the Eagles, starting all three games he played this year prior to a season-ending injury. A year ago he started two games and played in all 13 for the Eagles.

“My football journey has been defined by mental toughness and growth through adversity,” Stoudmire said. “When I first arrived at Boston College, I learned that Div. I football demands consistency more than anything else, showing up every single day and performing regardless of pain, fatigue or circumstances. There are no off days.”

When asked where he has seen the most growth during his time at Boston College, Stoudmire pointed to how he has learned to respond when things did not go as planned.

“Overcoming injury was one of the biggest challenges of my career," he said. "Being hurt in a new town, surrounded by new people, tested me mentally as much as physically.

“I learned patience, discipline and how to trust the process when I couldn’t contribute the way I wanted to on the field. Navigating rehab, academics and football at the same time forced me to mature quickly and taught me resilience that will stay with me long after football.”

Getting the chance to live out a dream, Stoudmire has enjoyed his time playing in Chestnut Hill. Going from Creston, Ohio, 660 miles to Massachusetts, Stoudmire graduated with a double major, earning a bachelor’s degree in transformative education and applied psychology and a minor in communications. He was a John J. Cardinal Award recipient, a prestigious award recognizing excellence in communications from the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, and earlier this year on X (formerly Twitter), Stoudmire announced his transfer to the University of Nebraska for his final year of eligibility. Just as importantly, in December, he will receive his master’s degree in applied science.

“I am excited and motivated,” he said. “I had a lot of schools reach out when I entered the transfer portal, but my agent and I are confident Nebraska is where I need to be.”

Asked what drew him to Lincoln, Stoudmire said the culture and the relationship he built with coach Matt Rhule and his staff were key factors.

"I am hoping to improve my skills and abilities as a defensive lineman, and my goal is to compete for a Big Ten championship," he said. "Right now my focus is finishing what I started here. After that, I’ll be ready for whatever doors open.”

Another local taking his talents to the Div. I level this past year was Geibel, who enrolled at Furman University. There, he saw the field on special teams and continued to hone his craft at one of the toughest positions on the gridiron, quarterback.

“My transition from Dalton to Garaway gave me the opportunity to develop as a quarterback and become a leader,” Geibel said. “This past summer and fall at Furman University provided me even more opportunities for growth at the next level in my football skills, my football IQ and leadership abilities.”

After one year with the Paladins, Geibel entered the transfer portal looking for an opportunity closer to home. Little could he or his family have imagined was the phone call gave him the opportunity at a school most Ohio boys grow up dreaming of playing for.

“I am very excited for this great opportunity,” Geibel said. “It does seem surreal, but with hard work and staying consistent to the plan and the goals that I have set out for myself, anything is possible. I am realizing that with this opportunity.

“I was blessed to have received that phone call from Ohio State and be given the opportunity to continue my academic and athletic careers as a Buckeye.”

With a wealth of talent throughout its roster and especially the wide receiver room, being a quarterback at Ohio State is a sought-after spot. The opportunity to play with and train with that level of talent definitely checked the box for Geibel.

“It’s a great opportunity to compete at one of the best programs in college football and develop my skill set with some of the best players in the country,” he said. “I am confident that Ohio State will help me in every phase in life, academics and football as I continue to grow as a young adult.

“Being here this past week, it is just awesome. The level of support and encouragement I’ve received — everything is next level: teammates, coaches, strength and conditioning workouts, nutrition and academic support. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.”