Photo By Michael Lipscomb
By Marquis Frias and Abrielle Tutino
With the offseason now full at play for the Susquehanna Football Team, a valuable piece of the past successful teams will not return for 2026. Quarterback Josh Ehrlich announced he will be transferring to the University at North Carolina Pembroke for his redshirt senior year.
In Ehrlich’s three years with Susquehanna, he racked up 7,480 passing yards, 78 passing touchdowns while maintaining a 68% completion percentage. These numbers put Ehrlich in the top five for all of Susquehanna’s career passing records, including second all-time in passing touchdowns and third all-time in passing completions.
Not only did Ehrlich see success on the field, but so did the entire team. Susquehanna in the past 3 years with Ehrich under center went 35-6, won the Landmark Conference all three years, and had two meaningful runs in the NCAA Divion III Football Playoffs in 2024 and 2025.
When Josh Ehrlich arrived at Susquehanna University in 2023 as a spring-semester transfer from Marist College, his future felt uncertain. He was new to the program, new to the locker room, and still learning what his role would be. What followed, however, became one of the most successful and meaningful quarterback careers in River Hawks history defined by growth, winning and leadership built over time.
“It was a wild ride at Susquehanna, started coming in as a transfer from Marist and meeting some of my best friends right away,” Ehrlich said. “The memories and experiences with my teammates I got to have throughout my time there is something I’ll always cherish.”
Those early days came with doubt. Arriving midyear as a freshman, Ehrlich was still adjusting both on and off the field. “Coming in as a freshman in spring semester I had doubts, but those were quickly squashed with the guys I met on the team,” he said. “I was still young during that freshman season and played like it. I was more of an athlete than a quarterback.”
As the seasons progressed, so did Ehrlich. Each year brought a deeper understanding of the position and greater confidence running the offense. He credits much of that evolution to the players around him. “Credit to all the linemen and skill I had around me,” Ehrlich said. “The best in the country.” That trust allowed him to settle into the quarterback role he always envisioned for himself.
That progress showed up where it mattered most, on the scoreboard. Over three seasons, Ehrlich helped guide Susquehanna to 35 wins, an achievement that stands out as the proudest of his career. “All the winning I got to be a part of during my time there,” he said. “To win 35 games in three years is very hard to do at every level of football, and it’s something I’m going to cherish for the rest of my life.”
By his senior season, Ehrlich was not only producing at an elite level but also leading the program. Being voted a team captain was one of the most meaningful honors he received. “I feel like it’s one of the highest awards you can receive as a player,” he said. “I was very honored being able to walk out to the 50-yard line for the coin toss each game.” That season also brought national recognition, as Ehrlich emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in Division III and earned Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist honors.
Ehrlich’s junior and senior year statistically are two of the best seasons ever played by a Susquehanna quarterback. Ehrlich’s 3,092 passing yards in 2024 is the most in a single for an SU quarterback, while his 2,826 passing yards in 2025 ranks second. The same with passing touchdowns and passing completions, where Ehrlich’s 2024 and 2025 seasons hold the No.1 and No. 2 spots respectively.
Some moments, though, mattered more than accolades or stats. Two games in particular stand out: “Saint John’s and Christopher Newport were my favorite two games,” Ehrlich said.
Against Saint John’s, Susquehanna entered as the underdog. “No one expected us to even be in the game,” he recalled. “After facing adversity early, being able to win on a field goal as time expired was the coolest experience.” The Christopher Newport win carried a different kind of satisfaction. “To come out and win every aspect of that game as a team was amazing,” Ehrlich said. “The best team game I’ve been a part of.”
Now preparing for the next chapter at UNC Pembroke, Ehrlich believes every season at Susquehanna helped prepare him for the jump: “I think every season at Susquehanna has prepared me for the jump up to a highly competitive Division II program,” he said. “I feel more prepared than I’ve ever been with 40 college starts under my belt.”