Hunter Welcing, a 2020 Lake Zurich graduate, faced several challenges throughout his football career. He suffered two major knee injuries and struggled to make significant progress on Northwestern’s depth chart as a tight end. However, during the 2025 season, the 6-foot-3, 246-pound athlete began to establish himself with the Wildcats. After carefully considering his options and successfully petitioning for another year of eligibility, Welcing decided to transfer to Ohio State, aiming to excel with a national championship contender.

Talking about his move, Welcing expressed enthusiasm, saying, It’ll be exciting because I’ve never really played in some of the big games that we are used to playing in. The Buckeyes won the national title after the 2024 season, adding to the anticipation.

Welcing’s time at Northwestern saw limited playing opportunities. He did not play in 2020, appeared in five games and redshirted in 2021, tore his ACL again and redshirted in 2022, and mostly participated in special teams during 2023 and 2024. His fortunes changed early in the 2025 season, as he scored his first career touchdown in a win over Western Illinois on September 5. Reflecting on this moment, Welcing shared, That’s when it set in, where I was truly seeing everything I worked for come to light, recalling his family’s emotional reaction.

Welcing finished the 2025 season with 28 receptions for 296 yards, marking the highest performance by a Northwestern tight end since 2017, and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention. This achievement prompted Welcing and his agent, Alex Guminski, to explore his NFL prospects. However, feedback indicated that another year of college play would provide better evaluation metrics. Therefore, shortly after New Year’s Day, Welcing entered the transfer portal before receiving approval for an additional year.

Recalling the experience, Welcing stated, That first day, it did blow up. He quickly visited Ohio State, where he and his family felt there was no need to explore other options, and soon joined the Buckeyes.

Concluding his time at Northwestern with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Welcing reflected on the decision, I definitely shed some tears leaving there. He was motivated to learn from top coaches and play against skilled athletes.

Welcing’s adaptation to Ohio State involved early challenges, such as having the black stripe removed from his helmet on April 13, indicating his commitment to the team. The first day, I was sort of shell-shocked, Welcing said, describing the physical demands and the drive to improve.

Welcing’s resilience is a defining aspect of his football journey. His first major setback was a torn ACL after his junior year. Despite Northwestern’s assurance of maintaining his scholarship, he made a notable recovery, playing in a win against Mundelein in Week 8 of his senior year and scoring in the Class 7A playoffs against Andrew. Former Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz highlighted Welcing’s determination during this period.

Alex Spanos, Director of Football Sports Performance at Northwestern, praised Welcing’s perseverance. Spanos emphasized Welcing’s ability to overcome numerous obstacles, noting his enduring toughness and dedication. The Wildcats will face Welcing on November 14 in Columbus, Ohio, during Ohio State’s upcoming game.

Welcing identified Ohio State as offering numerous opportunities. Convinced of the benefits this move offers, Welcing believes This represents my best opportunity to put myself in position to have success on the next level. He emphasized the significance of maintaining a positive attitude, contributing to the player he has become today.

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.