Hunter Welcing’s football journey has been challenging. A 2020 graduate of Lake Zurich, Welcing faced two significant knee injuries, limiting his progress on Northwestern’s depth chart as a tight end. By the 2025 season, Welcing began to make strides with the Wildcats. His efforts paid off, and after a successful plea for an extra year of eligibility, he joined Ohio State, a national championship contender.
Welcing, measuring 6-3 and weighing 246 pounds, expressed enthusiasm about playing for the Buckeyes. “It’ll be exciting because I’ve never really played in some of the big games that we are used to playing in,” he said. Despite limited playing time in his first five years at Northwestern, Welcing started turning things around in the second game of the 2025 season. He scored his first career touchdown in a match against Western Illinois on September 5, which was especially memorable for his family who cheered from the stands.
Welcing finished the season with 28 receptions for 296 yards, marking the most yards by a Northwestern tight end since 2017. His performance earned him an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Together with his agent, Alex Guminski, Welcing explored his prospects for an NFL career. “I felt like my time in college was done,” Welcing reflected. However, scouts recommended he extend his college career for more exposure.
Embracing the advice, Welcing opted to enter the transfer portal right after New Year’s Day. “That first day, it did blow up,” he admitted. Welcing quickly visited Ohio State, finding that it met all his expectations, influencing his decision to transfer there.
Leaving Northwestern marked the end of an era for Welcing, who also earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there. “I definitely shed some tears leaving there,” he admitted, recognizing the importance of learning under new coaches and competing with top-tier athletes.
Welcing’s time at Ohio State has been transformative. On April 13, the symbolic black stripe was removed from his helmet, signaling his acceptance into the team. “The first day, I was sort of shell-shocked,” he recalled, acknowledging the challenges of adapting to a team where his previous techniques weren’t sufficient. This environment has pushed him to improve continually.
Welcing’s determination is one of his defining traits. His first big challenge came with a torn ACL after his junior year’s spring session. Despite this setback, he returned to play for the Bears in his senior year, securing a touchdown in a playoff game win against Andrew. Former Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz praised his perseverance, noting a pivotal corner route play.
At Northwestern, Welcing worked with Alex Spanos, director of football sports performance, to recover and gain approximately 40 pounds of muscle. “Hunter has a tremendous ability to weather the storm through adversity,” Spanos reflected, highlighting Welcing’s resilience and commitment to football.
On November 14, Ohio State will face Northwestern in Columbus. The specifics of Welcing’s season remain uncertain, but he is confident in his choice. “There are opportunities galore here,” he stated, recognizing Ohio State as the best place to prepare for his future ambitions.
The story of Steven Reaven, a freelance reporter, is featured in this article.
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