JONESVILLE — Few athletes filled more roles for Jonesville during the 2025-26 school year than Ian Doyle.
Whether it was helping the Comets reach a regional final in baseball, contributing to a district championship basketball team or making plays on Friday nights during Jonesville’s playoff football season, Doyle became one of the program’s most dependable senior athletes.
The three-sport standout will continue his athletic and academic career at Trine University, where he plans to study engineering while joining one of Division III football’s most successful programs.
“You know, I’ve been playing football since little leagues, like 6U, and I just really enjoy playing the game and really just fell in love with playing it,” Doyle said.
Football ultimately became Doyle’s choice at the collegiate level after a standout senior season for the Comets. Jonesville finished 6-3, earned an MHSAA Division 7 playoff berth and leaned heavily on Doyle’s versatility on both sides of the ball.
A Swiss-army knife weapon on offense, Doyle lined up primarily as a slot receiver but was utilized throughout the formation. He finished second on the team in all-purpose yards and delivered several of the season’s biggest plays.
His offensive versatility was on full display during a 38-34 victory over Grass Lake, when he turned two receptions into two touchdowns and 86 receiving yards.
Doyle also helped Jonesville secure a playoff berth in a pivotal 22-0 shutout victory over Manchester on the road. On a night when the Comets’ defense dominated, Doyle recorded eight tackles while helping lead one of the team’s strongest defensive performances of the season.
He finished second on the team in total tackles and earned honorable mention all-league honors at linebacker. Doyle also received all-area recognition following his senior campaign.
Jonesville coach Frank Keller said Doyle’s willingness to do whatever was needed made him one of the team’s most valuable players.
“Whenever we needed something or we wanted to do something special, we knew we had to go by Ian, and that’s what we did,” Keller said.
Keller believes that same mentality will serve Doyle well at Trine.
“Ian’s got an edge. He’s got the chip-on-the-shoulder kind of guy, and he plays hard, and he’ll do anything they ask him to do,” Keller said. “So I think he’ll fit in real well.”
While football provided his path to college athletics, Doyle’s impact at Jonesville extended far beyond the gridiron.
This spring, he helped the Comets baseball team reach the regional finals and later represented the program in an all-star game following the conclusion of his senior season.
During the winter, Doyle was a key contributor for a Jonesville boys basketball team that captured a district championship. He earned honorable mention recognition for his play while helping the Comets make a postseason run and earn another Pat Patterosn Pool A championship.
Doyle said Trine’s academic reputation played a major role in his decision.
“Trine’s engineering program is one of the top,” Doyle said. “So that and also they have really nice facilities.”
The combination of academics, athletics and campus resources made Trine stand out during his recruiting process.
Doyle credited Trine assistant coach Matthew Keith for helping guide his recruitment and thanked his family and coaches for supporting his athletic journey.
“I just want to thank my family and my coaches for giving me the opportunity to be able to progress as far as I have,” Doyle said. “I want to thank my parents for being able to buy me things I need to use to be able to play at the next level.”
As he prepares for his freshman season, Doyle will enter a new environment without former teammates alongside him. Still, he said the relationships built through Jonesville football remain among his favorite memories.
“Definitely going to Olivet and doing those team camps where you just spend the night and you just make more of a bond,” Doyle said. “And the bond that you create when you’re playing together.”
About Trine
Located in Angola, Indiana, Trine University is a private institution founded in 1884 and is known for its engineering, business, health sciences and education programs. The Trine football program competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Troy Abbs is going into his 11th year as head coach of the Thunder football team. The team did not feature any Hillsdale County athletes on its 2025 roster.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Jonesville’s Ian Doyle heads to Trine to continue football career
Reporting by Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News | USA TODAY Network
