Eric Boggs
Cade Stover has always been more than a football player to Ohio State fans. His toughness, leadership, and on-field production made him a star, but it was his authenticity—his true, grounded, Ohio-bred spirit—that earned him a special place in the hearts of Buckeye Nation. That genuine character is once again on display in the NFLPA’s latest AthleteAnd YouTube episode, which spotlights the Houston Texans tight end and his deep connection to farming.
In the feature, Stover walks viewers through the process of fulfilling a lifelong dream: purchasing his own cattle ranch near his hometown. His voice carries the same plainspoken sincerity that Ohio State fans came to cherish. “A picture of this farm has been my screensaver since high school,” he said. “Every time I open that phone up, I just know this is what I’m working for.” He shared that he was moved to tears when he finally bought the property, a place just three miles from where he grew up.
For Stover, farming isn’t a hobby or an image—it’s who he is. The video shows him checking equipment, tending to cattle, and explaining the daily rhythm of life on the ranch. It’s the same grit and consistency he showed as a Buckeye, now channeled into building something lasting beyond the football field. Fans who watched him transform from a hard-nosed linebacker to one of the nation’s most dependable tight ends will recognize that same drive.
It’s also why Stover became a two-time recipient of The OHIO Podcast’s Buckeye of the Year award in 2022 and 2023, an honor given to the player who best exemplifies what it means to be a Buckeye—on and off the field. Stover joined an elite list of past winners such as Chris Olave (2021), Haskell Garrett (2020), J.K. Dobbins (2019), and Jack Sawyer last year in 2024. Among them all, Stover stands out as the only back-to-back honoree, a testament to the respect he earned for representing the state, the university, and its fans with unwavering pride.
Even now, as a professional athlete, Stover remains the same humble, straightforward Ohio kid who never forgot where he came from. His journey, highlighted beautifully in the NFLPA’s series, reflects exactly what endeared him to Buckeye Nation: a relentless work ethic, a love for his home state, and a commitment to staying true to his roots no matter how bright the lights get.
The AthleteAnd campaign aims to reveal the depth behind athletes’ lives beyond football, and there may be no better example than Cade Stover—a player whose identity is rooted not in fame, but in family, community, and the land he calls home right here in Ohio.
