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Six-foot-6 redshirt freshman tight end Clay Rolf is starting to make a big impact at Bowling Green State University. The Eastwood graduate is following his grandfather’s footsteps by playing for the Falcons.
“Football is fun to play. I lived 10 minutes away, my granddad played for the Falcons and I have been going to BG football games ever since I was kid,” says Rolf.
Grandfather Paul Rolf played at BGSU from 1964-65 and was coached by Doyt Perry and Bob Gibson.
At Eastwood, Rolf helped lead his team to a second round playoff appearance and earned first-team all-league honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Rolf excelled at three sports while attending Eastwood, but football was his choice at the next level.
“When he was a freshman he played on the freshman (football) team, but was playing varsity basketball and baseball. People thought he would be a (NCAA) Division I basketball player. I always said he would be a tackle for a Division I (football) team,” says Eastwood football coach Jerry Rutherford.
The Falcons were young this year, which showed during their 4-7 season heading into the Buffalo game. However, Rolf plans for success very soon, he stresses
“Our young guys will continue to help each other and grow with one another for success in the future — the near future,” says Rolf.
Although his team did not have the best of the seasons, Rolf still takes pride in defeating Mid-American Conference rivals Miami (37-23) and Temple (13-10). The Falcons lost to Ohio in a thriller, 29-28. Ohio went on to a 9-3 season (6-2, MAC) and will play in the league championship game against either Toledo or Northern Illinois after the Bobcat’s won a 21-14 victory over Miami in a nationally televised game Tuesday night. Other BGSU wins came over Idaho (32-15) and Morgan State (58-13)
Rolf says those four wins were tremendous team victories and those games show glimpses of what the Falcons can do in years to come.
Primarily a blocking tight end, Rolf also has soft hands. He was the leading receiver of his high school team and he also has one catch for 23 yards this season with the Falcons.
Only a freshman, Rolf has had to adjust to the new style of play at BGSU.
“The speed of the game is the big difference between high school and college. In high school, I used to be one of the fastest on the field, now in college everyone is faster than me,” says Rolf.
While his physical presence is enough to intimidate opposing players, Rutherford says Rolf is a very intelligent player.
“He is a guy that if you explained how to do something, he would do it. He knows the game pretty well,” says Rutherford.
Rolf plans to use his height, weight, and speed to open holes for Falcon running backs for years to come — he says those are the qualities he needs to have, and a former NFL player will agree.
“If you are versatile, smart and tough, you will be a successful offensive lineman,” former New York Giants offensive lineman Grey Reugamer is quoted.
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