Fairbanks High School fullback Riordin Stauffer (24) picks up yardage at Paint Valley during 2021 Division VI playoff action. Stauffer has committed to becoming a preferred walk-on for The Ohio State Buckeyes. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
For the past four seasons, Riordin Stauffer made a name for himself on the Fairbanks High School gridiron.
He now has his eyes set on the next level of football at one of the country’s premier Division I college programs.
The 6-3, 240-pounder has committed to The Ohio State University Buckeyes as a preferred walk-on for the 2022 season.
Stauffer first came to the attention of the OSU coaching staff after his sophomore season.
Panther head coach Patrick Cotter sent game tapes of Stauffer to several schools in order to gain him exposure with college coaches.
The tapes attracted the attention of Buckeye offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.
“I was invited to visit Ohio State and went there in early June between my junior and senior years at Fairbanks,” said Stauffer.
The former Panther gridder visited the Buckeye facilities and worked out for the coaching staff.
He was then offered a roster spot as a walk-on fullback.
Stauffer said he had his eye on a handful of a few other schools.
He attended camps at Harvard and the University of Toledo.
Cotter said Stauffer also received NCAA D-II offers from Tiffin and Ashland.
Ohio Dominican University had also inquired about Stauffer, according to Cotter.
All of those schools, however, went by the wayside in favor of Ohio State.
“The big things about Ohio State are the great facilities and the fact it’s a great program,” said Stauffer.
As a preferred walk-on, Stauffer has a roster spot.
However, there is no guaranteed scholarship money available at this time.
There are, though, opportunities to become a scholarship athlete.
“The Ohio State coaches are personable, honest and straight-forward,” Stauffer said. “They’ve told me exactly what I’m going to have to do in order to advance from a walk-on to possibly earning scholarship money.
“I know I’m going to have to prove that I’m a player who wants to be with the program,” he said. “I’m going to work hard to give myself the opportunity to – at some point – get on the field.”
Stauffer has been on a steady workout regimen in order to build himself up for the rigors of NCAA Division I college football.
He sends proof of his progress to the Buckeye coaches every week.
Preseason workouts will begin this coming summer.
By that time, Stauffer will already be enrolled in summer classes.
“You have to take summer classes in order to work out in the preseason at Ohio State,” he explained. “Those classes are necessary.”
Stauffer said he is well aware of the benefits OSU presents, both academically and athletically.
He will major in creative writing, with the hopes of one day becoming a free-lance writer.
His specialty when it comes to writing?
Stauffer likes poetry and is a lyricist.
“I got started writing poetry in the eighth grade and have written a lot over the years,” he said. “I haven’t had anything published yet, but I’ve looked into it.”
He also hopes to get into coaching football at some point down the road.
Stauffer plans to move on campus in late May, right after his high school graduation.
“I’ve already got my housing set up,” he said.
Cotter said Stauffer has meant a great deal to Fairbanks football during his high school years.
“Riordin was our starting fullback for four years and our starting ‘Mike’ linebacker for three,” said the FHS coach. “He was a steady presence for our team and gained a lot of respect as a football player.”
Stauffer rushed for nearly 700 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a fullback during the 2021 campaign.
He also led the Panthers with 59 total tackles and earned first-team honors in the Ohio Heritage Conference and Central District.
The Panthers posted a 6-6 record and went 1-1 in Division VI playoff games last fall.
Cotter said Stauffer’s opportunity with the Buckeyes should set a good example for future Panther gridders.
“It shows that if you work hard, college coaches will find you,” he said. “It’s my job as head coach to create those type of opportunities for our kids.”
Stauffer will be one of three former Panthers on Division I grid rosters for the 2022 season.
Others include lineman Sam Rengert at Iowa State University and linebacker Braylon Green at the United States Naval Academy.