Ohio State football players participate in “Fall Kickoff 3.0”, mass baptism follows at event held on campus Monday

Carson Hinzman stood onstage with a microphone, looking into a crowd of hundreds of people listening to his testimony.?

A fifth-year center on the Ohio State football team, Hinzman said he grew up in a small western Wisconsin farming community. Although he regularly attended church with his family, Hinzman struggled to find God’s meaning in his life.

That changed entering his sophomore season when he prepared for a more prominent role on the team.

“I tried to put all the pressure on myself and say, ‘Well, I have so many people back home I want to do good for, I have so many people here I want to do good for,’” Hinzman said. “I felt that my validation came through what I did in my sport.”

Hinzman did not play for the Buckeyes his freshman year, but was in line to earn a larger role on the team the following season. In the spring before his sophomore season, Hinzman questioned whether he was ready for the opportunity, calling?his father in tears from his dorm.

His father encouraged him to pray. After praying, Hinzman said he felt at peace.

“I had an overwhelming sense of peace fall on me at that moment,” Hinzman said.

Hinzman’s testimony was one of six given by student-athletes at the “Fall Kickoff: An Invitation to Jesus” on College Green Park in the courtyard by Curl Market to spread the Christian gospel. Other student-athletes who gathered to share their testimonies included football players Beau, Atkinson, TJ Alford, Epi Sitanilei, field hockey player Katie Fichtner and dance team member Chloe Cerreto.

This was the third event of its kind on campus, having been launched Aug. 25, 2024. The event began with worship music as the crowd raised their palms in the air and sang along. Former Buckeye football players Master Teague III, Gee Scott Jr. and Kamryn Babb joined a band on stage to welcome the crowd.

“I promise you, he wants to meet you,” Babb said of Jesus Christ. “If you just give him your heart, you’ll be so surprised on what he can do.”

Monday’s event also featured baptisms for anyone who wanted to participate.

Anna Kain is a first-year in exercise science education and member of the Ohio State campus ministry Cru, stood with a white towel over her shoulders with tears rolling down her face moments after she was baptized.

“College is a big, big step in life and it has been very different for me here, obviously and my religion has grew because it has been so difficult and different,” Kain said. “I feel like getting baptized would grow the religion more.”

Angelina Ferraro, a first-year in religious studies, who is a member of 614 College Ministry and said she originally did not want to attend Ohio State but it was the expressed faith? the faith of the members on the Ohio State football team that drew her to campus.?

“I was like, wait, ‘OK, God, I could see maybe some potential happening,’ but I would have no idea that I would be helping the football team with the event this year,” Ferraro said. “So it’s just a full circle moment.”

Nolan McKendry, a second-year in actuarial science, said he attended the 2025 Fall Kickoff. He decided to get baptized Monday and shared how much it meant to him to go through with it.?

“When going under the water like it just brought tears upon me,” he said. “I really just felt it in my heart I just felt the spirit, the presence of Him, and I was just so excited to be able to proclaim Jesus as my Savior and show that to others.”

Ferraro said the event is one of a kind because of how it makes people feel.?

“Being here is very heartfelt,” Ferraro said. “You just have this refreshing [mentality] of ‘Oh! I don’t have to put on a show. I can let the stress of class go away and I can just be in the moment.’”