Gridiron Football Magazine Sept 2022

Page 62

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Contents

All players must have a 2.8 GPA or higher to be featured. PG 8 LSU DI FBS 9 Nicholls State DI FCS 9 Southeastern Louisiana DI FCS 10 Southern University DI FCS 10 Grambling State DI FCS 11 Tulane DI FBS 11 ULM DI FBS 12 Louisiana Tech DI FBS 12 University of Louisiana DI FBS 13 McNeese State DI FCS 13 Northwestern State DI FCS 14 #21 Ole Miss DI FBS 14 Southern Miss DI FBS 15 Mississippi State DI FBS 15 Delta State DII 16 Millsaps DIII 16 Mississippi Valley DI FCS 17 Alcorn State DI FCS 17 Jackson State DI FCS 18 Mississippi College DII 18 Belhaven DIII 19 Arkansas DI FBS 19 Arkansas State DI FBS 20 St Edmund Blue Jays 26 Matthew Fobbs 26 Tyree Adams 28 Jamall Franklin Jr 28 Dylan Carpenter 30 Arkansas Pine Bluff DI FCS 30 Central Arkansas DI FCS 31 Arkansas Tech DII 31 Arkansas Montecllo DII 32 Harding University DII 32 Henderson State DII 33 Ouachita Baptist DII 33 Southern Arkansas DII 34 #1 Alabama DI FBS 34 Alabama A&M DI FCS 35 Alabama State DI FCS 35 Troy DI FBS 36 Aurburn DI FBS 36 Jacksonville State DI FCS 37 North Alabama DI FCS 37 Samford DI FCS 38 South Alabama DI FBS 38 UAB DI FBS 39 Western Alabama DII 39 Tuskegee DII 40 Birmingham-Southern DIII 40 Huntingdon college DIII 41 Miles College DII 41 Clark Atlanta University DII 42 Albany State DII 42 Fort Valley State DII 43 Georgia DI FBS 43 Georgia State DI FBS 44 Georgia Southern DI FBS 44 West Georgia DII 45 Georgia Tech DI FBS 45 Kennesaw State DI FCS 46 Valdosta State DII 46 LaGrange College DIII 47 East Texas Baptisit DIII 47 Texas Lutheran DIII 48 Angelo State DII 48 Texas A&M DI FBS 49 Texas DI FBS 49 Baylor DI FBS 50 TCU DI FBS 50 North Texas DI FBS 51 Rice DI FBS 51 University of Houston DI FBS 52 Stefen F Austin DI FCS 52 Lamar DI FCS 53 Sam Houston State DI FCS 53 Texas College NAIA 54 Kutztown DII 54 Bowie State DII 55 St Olaf College DIII 55 Shepherd University DII 56 UTPB DII 56 Southwest Missouri State DI FCS 57 SEMO DI FCS 57 Missouri Southern State DII 58 Central State University DII 58 Ferrum College DIII 59 SWOSU DII 59 Adams State DII 60 Kings High School Ohio 61 Bergeb Catholic NewJersey 62 Quince Orchard Maryland 63 Iverson Howard 63 Kendall Johnson 64 Zachary Anderson 64 Ismael Cisse 65 Christian Abney 65 Jai Eugene Jr 66 Brady Wik 66 Jackson Carver 67 Hunter Jones 67 Jamezell Lassiter

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-John Wooden Bowl Game Board Eric

Follow Us On: is never final, failure is never fatal, and it’s courage that counts.” cease trying to be the best you can “Thebe.”best competition I have is against myself, to become better.” more concerned with your charac ter than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

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Nov 19 (Sat) vs. UAB Nov 26 (Sat) SEC at Texas A&M

Schedule

Oct 15 (Sat) SEC at Florida

Sep 4 (Sun) 6:30 PM vs. Florida State

The Brian Kelly era begins at LSU in 2022. Coach Kelly is the winningest active head football coach in college football with 284 victories at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame. The winningest head coach in Notre Dame history has accomplished just about everything except winning a national championship. He will try to continue the winning tradition at one of the proudest football programs in the country while also trying to become the fourth straight LSU head football coach to win a national title.

Former 4 star QB, Myles Brenan, resignes from LSU in August.

Oct 22 (Sat) SEC vs. Ole Miss Nov 5 (Sat) SEC vs. Alabama Nov 12 (Sat) SEC at Arkansas

8 By:

Oct 8 (Sat) SEC vs. Tennessee

Photo: LSU vs Troy taken By Gridiron Football LSU vs Texas A&M 2021. Photos taken by Gridiron Football Jace LeJeune

Coach Kelly on being the head coach at LSU: “I could not be more excited to join a program with the commit ment to excellence, rich traditions, and unrivaled pride and passion of LSU Football. I am fully committed to recruiting, developing, and graduating elite student-athletes, winning championships, and work ing together with our administration to make Louisiana proud. Our potential is unlimited, and I cannot wait to call Baton Rouge home.”

Everybody is looking at who will become the starting quarterback this season as it is a two man race between Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels and redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier. Daniels brings a lot of starting experience from the Pac-12 where he was a three year starter for the Sun Devils. During his time at Arizona State, he threw for over 6,000 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,288 yards and 16 more touchdowns. Nussmeier is the son of Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier and was one of the highest ranked pro-style quarterbacks coming out of high school. The former four star quarterback from Marcus High School (TX) has a huge arm, the ability to extend plays with his legs, and has a lot of swagger that coaches love in their quarterback. It will come right down to the end to see who will emerge as the Regardlessstarter. of who will be the quarterback, there are a lot of weap ons to throw the football to as the Tigers may have the deepest receiving core in the SEC led by preseason All-American Kayshon Boutte, Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, Jaray Jenkins, Kyren Lacy, and Jack Bech just to name a couple. The defensive line is also one of the best units in the SEC led by preseason All-SEC selections BJ Ojulari, Maason Smith, Jaquelin Roy, and Ali Gaye. The Tigers coaching staff also landed a top three transfer portal class national ly so if the new additions can mesh with the veterans quickly head ing into the opener, the Fighting Tigers can become a huge dark horse in the SEC West.

The road to getting back to becoming one of the nation’s elite col lege football programs will be tough in year one going through a daunting SEC West schedule while also playing cross division ri vals Florida and Tennessee. Not to mention, the Tigers open up the season against Florida State, but the good news is that the Tigers will have some of the best starting talent in the country.

Sep 10 (Sat) 6:30 PM vs. Southern Sep 17 (Sat) 5:00 PM SEC vs. Mississippi State

Sep 24 (Sat) 6:30 PM vs. New Mexico

Oct 1 (Sat) SEC at Auburn

During his career with the Lions, the former Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Pay ton Award winner set program records with 8,602 passing yards, 9339 total yards of offense, 70 passing touchdowns, 33 rushing touchdowns, and 105 total touchdowns.

By: Jace LeJeune

Southeastern features ten preseason All-Southland Conference performers on the roster including FCS All-American defensive back Ferlando Jordan. On the offensive side of the football, there is still plenty of offensive firepower for new quarterback Cephus Johnson with the most explosive receiving core in the Southland Conference, which includes All-Southland Conference performers CJ Turner and Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Gage HLarvadain.ead

There are going to be some tough shoes to fill replacing one of the best players in school history in Cole Kelley.

By: Jace LeJeune

9

Schedule

Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM A Ragin’ Cajuns Sep 10 (Sat) 5 PM A Florida Atlantic Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM H Central Connecticut Sep 24 (Sat) SLC H UIW Oct 1 (Sat) H Murray State Oct 8 (Sat) SLC H Texas A&M Com. Oct 22 (Sat) A Jacksonville State Oct 29 (Sat) SLC A McNeese State Nov 5 (Sat) SLC A Lamar Nov 12 (Sat) SLC H Northwestern State Nov 17 (Thurs) SLC A Nicholls State Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 4 PM A South Alabama Sep 10 (Sat) 7 PM A ULM Sep 17 (Sat) 3 PM A Southeast Missouri Sep 24 (Sat) 3 PM H Jacksonville State Oct 1 (Sat) SLC A Northwestern State Oct 8 (Sat) SLC A Houston Baptist Oct 15 (Sat) SLC H UIW Oct 22 (Sat) SLC H McNeese State Oct 29 (Sat) SLC A Lamar Nov 12 (Sat) SLC H Texas A&M-Com. Nov 17 (Thurs) SLC H Southeastern

Despite losing the FCS All-American at quarterback, there are still a lot of high expectations for the Southeastern Lions heading into the 2022 season. Led by head coach Frank Scelfo, the Lions are coming off two FCS Playoff appearances in three seasons and have been ranked inside the FCS Top 25 for 26 straight weeks. Heading into 2022, the Li ons are the preseason Southland Conference favorites and ranked number 16 in the country.

Coach Tim Rebowe and the Nicholls State Colo nels look to return to the top of the mountain of the Southland Conference and go back to playoff form in 2022. The Colonels are coming off their fifth straight winning season finishing with a 6-5 overall record in the 2021 sea Everson. since Coach Rebowe took over as the head coach of the Col onels, the program has had its greatest stretch with back to back Southland Conference championships in 2018 and 2019 along with three straight FCS Playoff appearances in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM A Arkansas State

Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC NG Prairie View A&M Oct 8 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC A Alabama A&M Oct 15 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Florida A&M Oct 29 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Alcorn State

The Eric Dooley era begins at Southern. Coach Dooley is a familiar name to the program and knows exactly what it takes to win SWAC and HBCU National Championships. Not only was he the head coach at Prairie View A&M where he led the Panthers to a SWAC Western Division title last season, but he knows what it is like to win on the Bluff as he was an assistant coach under the legendary Pete Richardson and helped guide the Jaguars to the 1997 and 2003 HBCU National Championship along with four SWAC Western Division titles in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2003. After a 4-7 season in 2021, the expecta tions are to not only bounce back with a winning season, but perhaps challenge for a SWAC Western Division title and a shot at a HBCU National Champion Theship.Jaguars are projected to finish first in the division while five players are selected on the preseason All-SWAC Team including the dynamic defensive line duo of Jordan Lewis and Prairie View A&M transfer Jason Dumas, who left the program to join his coach. Both are All-American candidates and can make the Jaguars’ defense one of the toughest in the country.

Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Mississippi Valley State

Sep 17 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC A Jackson State

Nov 26 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC NG Grambling

Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Oct 8 (Sat) 4 PM SWAC A Prairie View A&M

Schedule

After being a head coach in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and the Cleveland Browns, Hue Jackson now begins his first year as the head coach at Grambling, which is one of the most proudest winning programs in all of college football. Coach Jackson is an other prominent NFL figure that has joined the HBCU ranks joining Deion Sanders at Jackson State and Eddie George at Tennessee State. Coach Jackson will try to bring back the winning tradition at Grambling after back to back losing seasons.

Grambling AD Dr. Trayvean Scott on hiring Hue Jackson: “He knows that success in football means success in the classroom and in the commu nity. Hue is a professional and winner in all areas of life and a mentor to some of the best professional football players in the NFL.” Coach Jackson and his new coaching staff will lean on the leadership of four players that were selected on the All-SWAC Presea son Team including defensive lineman Sun diata Anderson, linebacker Blake Thomas, defensive back Quincy Mitchell, and kicker/ punter Garrett Urban. Coach Jackson will lean on his defense while the offense, which has five quarterbacks competing for the starting job, finds its footing.

Oct 15 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC H Alcorn State Oct 22 (Sat) 4 PM H Virginia U. of Lynchburg Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC A Jackson State Nov 5 (Sat) 5:30 PM SWAC A Florida A&M

Nov 12 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC A Texas Southern Nov 26 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC NG Grambling

2021 Gridiron Football All-AMerican Jerad Lewis Fresh O-Line at Southern

Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM NG Northwestern State

2019 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game Participant and Gram bling State Linebacker

Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM H Florida Memorial Sep 10 (Sat) 6:30 PM A LSU Sep 17 (Sat) 4 PM SWAC A Texas Southern Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC H Arkansas-Pine Bluff

10 Schedule

Sep 24 (Sat) 3 PM SWAC A Bethune-Cookman

By: Jace LeJeune By: Jace LeJeune

By: Jace LeJeune

Sep 3 (Sat) 7 PM A Texas Sep 10 (Sat) 7 PM H Nicholls Sep 17 (Sat) 3 PM A Alabama Sep 24 (Sat) 7 PM H Ragin’ Cajuns

The Green Wave is one of the preseason contenders for bounceback teams in 2022. The offense is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the conference in Michael Pratt, who is on the Maxwell Award Watch List after throwing for 2,544 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The offense also has three more players that were selected on preseason award watch lists including tight end Tyrick James, center Sincere Haynesworth, and running back Tyjae Spears. Meanwhile, the defense has one of the best line backing corps in the country led by Nick An derson and Dorian Wil liams. The 2021 season was the result of injuries, turnovers, and incon sistent play. With plenty of veteran players re turning, the 2021 season could be the exception rather than the norm. Tulane wide receiver/returner Jha’Quan Jackson was named to the 2022 Paul Hornung Award Watch List by the Louisville Sports Commission

The program will rely on quarterback Chandler Rogers, who won the starting job in the fall after ac counting for 1,678 yards and ten touchdowns in six starts last season.

Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM A Arkansas State Oct 8 (Sat) 7 PM H Coastal Carolina Oct 15 (Sat) A South Alabama Oct 22 (Sat) A Army Nov 5 (Sat) 4 PM H Texas State Nov 12 (Sat) A Georgia State Nov 19 (Sat) 2:30 PM A Troy Nov 26 (Sat) 4 PM H Southern Miss Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM H UMass Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM H Alcorn State Sep 17 (Sat) 2 PM A Kansas State Sep 24 (Sat) H Southern Miss Sep 30 (Fri) 6 PM AAC A Houston Oct 8 (Sat) AAC H East Carolina Oct 15 (Sat) AAC A South Florida Oct 22 (Sat) AAC H Memphis Nov 5 (Sat) AAC A Tulsa Nov 12 (Sat) AAC H Central Florida Nov 17 (Thurs) AAC H SMU Nov 26 (Sat) AAC A Cincinnati

By: Jace LeJeune

Rogers will look to weapon Malik Jackson, who has made the move from slot wide receiver to running back, and could be a matchup night mare for opposing defenses. Boogie Knight also returns as the team’s top receiver with 45 catches for 455 yards and three touchdowns. The defense will be led by arguably its best player in linebacker Zack Woodard, who had 89 tackles in 2021. Colin Larson of Brusly High chool played in the 2021 Gridiron Foot ball All-American Bowl.

The Tulane Green Wave look to get back to bowl eligibil ity after only winning two games in 2021. Willie Fritz has done an outstanding job making the Green Wave a competitive threat in the AAC making three consecu tive bowl games from 2018-2020. Although the Green Wave did lose ten games last season, five of those losses were one possession games including a 40-35 loss against national powerhouse Oklaho ma in the season opener.

Terry Bowden did one of the most impressive head coaching jobs in his first year with the ULM Warhawks leading a win less program in 2020 to four victories in 2021. Not only did the Warhawks make a big jump in the win category last season, but they defeated some respectful Division I football programs includ ing Liberty, Jackson State, Troy, and South Alabama. Now, the next goal for this football program is to accomplish something that has not been done for a while, and that is to make a bowl game. The last time the Warhawks participated in a bowl game was 2012.

11 Schedule

The Ragin’ Cajuns begin a new era in 2022 and will look to continue the cULture that Billy Napier built. Before tak ing the head coaching job with the University of Florida, Napier led the program to its greatest four year run in the history of the program with 40 wins, 27 conference wins, four Sun Belt Conference Western Division titles, and a 13 win Sun Belt Conference Championship season in 2021. Looking to continue the upward trajectory is former Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback Michael Desormeaux, who is now the program’s 27th head coach.

10 Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Southeastern Louisiana Sep 10 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Eastern Michigan Sep 17 (Sat) 6:30 p.m. A Rice Sep 24 (Sat) SBC A ULM Oct 1 (Sat) SBC H South Alabama Oct 12 (Wed) 6:30 p.m. SBC A Marshall Oct 22 (Sat) SBC H Arkansas State Oct 27 (Thur) 6:30 p.m. SBC A Southern Miss Nov 5 (Sat) SBC H Troy Nov 10 (Thur) 6:30 p.m. SBC H Georgia Southern Nov 19 (Sat) A Florida State Nov 26 (Sat) 4 p.m. SBC A Texas State

R-Soph OL AJ GILLIE, played in the 2018 Gridiron Football All-Star Bowl

R-Soph LB KHIRY MORRISON played in the 2018 Gridiron Football All-Star Bowl Game. Fresh DB DEVONTAE MOZEE played in the 2021 Gridiron All-American Bowl game

Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Eric Wood on hiring Sonny Cumbie: “Sonny Cumbie is the perfect fit for our pro gram, our department, our University, and our community. Culture. Class. Competitive Excellence. He exemplifies all of these things. As our student-athletes, staff, and fans get an opportunity to know Sonny, they will see what we saw during the interview process.”

Coach Desormeaux on being named head coach: “I am a Ragin’ Cajun through-and-through, so to get this unbe lievable opportunity is humbling to say the least. This program has been built on relationships, and I am looking forward to con tinuing to build and advance this #cULture that we have cre Despiteated.” some losses in the pro gram either to the NFL Draft or players following their former head coach to Florida, Napi er did not leave the cupboard bare as five players were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference teams including DL Zi’Yon Hill-Green, DB Eric Garror, P Rhys Byrns, RB Chris Smith, and LB Andre Jones.

By: Jace LeJeune

By: Jace LeJeune

The Sonny Cumbie era begins at Lou isiana Tech in 2022. Cumbie has earned his reputation as one of the best offensive play callers around. The former Texas Tech quarterback learned under offensive geniuses including Mike Leach and Kliff Kingsburry. He also was the offensive coordinator for the 2014 Big 12 Champion TCU Horned Frogs. Now, he will get his chance to add full time head coach to his resume after being the interim head coach for the Red Raiders.

Coach Cumbie looks to bring an ex citing offensive aerial attack back to Ruston led by former Georgia and TCU quarterback Matthew Down ing. The receiving core is deep, led by the duo of Smoke Harris and Tre Harris. The defense is led by two of the best in the country including two time All-Conference USA selec tions DB Bee Jay Williamson and LB Tyler Grubbs. Schedule Sep 1 (Thurs) 7 PM A Missouri Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM H Stephen F. Austin Sep 17 (Sat) 7 PM A Clemson Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM A South Alabama Oct 8 (Sat) 6 PM C-USA H UTEP Oct 15 (Sat) 3 PM C-USA A North Texas Oct 22 (Sat) 2 PM C-USA H Rice Oct 28 (Fri) 7 PM C-USA A FIU Nov 5 (Sat) 4 PM C-USA H Middle Tennessee Nov 12 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA A UTSA Nov 19 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA A Charlotte Nov 26 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA H UAB

Sep 24 (Sat) 7 PM H Mississippi College Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM SLC A UIW Oct 15 (Sat) 7 PM SLC H Texas A&M-Commerce Oct 22 (Sat) 3 PM SLC A Nicholls State Oct 29 (Sat) 7 PM SLC H Southeastern Nov 5 (Sat) 7 PM H Eastern Illinois Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM SLC A Houston Baptist

Just recently, Laird named the starting quarterback for the season in former Kansas quarterback Miles Fallin, who was competing with Zachary Clem ent throughout the fall. The Demons will rely on the running game led by Scooter Adams, who had multiple 200 yard rushing performances in 2020. Despite losing longtime receiving tar gets in six year players Kendrick Price and Gavin Landry, the offense does return talented 6’4, 220 pound target Javon Antonio, who made 2nd Team All-Conference in 2020 after sitting out last season.

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 2 PM A Montana Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM NG Grambling Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM A Southern Miss Sep 24 (Sat) 3:30 PM SLC H Lamar Oct 1 (Sat) 3:30 PM SLC H Nicholls State Oct 8 (Sat) 2 PM A Eastern Illinois

13

The McNeese State Cowboys have hired the 18th different coach in program history this past December. The new Cowboys head coach is Gary Goff, who previously led Valdosta State to a lot of success in a two year period in cluding a 22-3 overall record, back to back Gulf South Conference titles, and a NCAA National Championship appearance last sea Inson.2021, the Cowboys had a 4-7 overall record, but the team was a couple of plays away from being towards the top of the Southland Conference losing four one possession games. Offensively, there is a two man battle at quarterback between Georgia Southern transfer Cam Ranson and Virginia Tech transfer Knox Kadum to run Goff’s Air Raid style offense. Whoever wins the starting quarterback battle will have the luxury to throw to wide receivers Josh Matthews and Mason Pierce. The offense will also look to running back Deonta McMahon as a playmaker after rushing for 558 yards and eight touch downs last season. Although the defense does lose FCS All-American and former Southland Con ference Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Chambers, the front does return one of the best defensive players in the conference in Mason NKinsey.orthwestern State is coming off a disappointing 3-8 regular season in 2021, but there was some positive momentum at the end of the season as the Demons won two of its last three games against Houston Baptist and McNeese State. Head Coach Brad Laird enters his fifth year as the head coach at Northwestern State.

The defensive line has a chance to be come one of the best in the FCS led by the dynamic pass rushing duo of All-Southland Conference per formers Jomard Valsin and Isaiah Longino. The secondary is deep with PJ Herrington, Keenan Leachman, Shemar Bartholomew, and William Hooper all having experience. On special teams, Scotty Roblow is an outstanding punter averaging 40 yards per punt.

Schedule

By: Jace LeJeune

Oct 15 (Sat) 6 PM SLC A Houston Baptist Oct 22 (Sat) 1 PM H Southeast Missouri Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM SLC A Texas A&M-Commerce Nov 12 (Sat) 6 PM SLC A Southeastern Louisiana Nov 19 (Sat) 1 PM SLC H Lamar

Nov 19 (Sat) 7 PM SLC H Lamar MSU Fr-TE Kaleb Vizier played in the 2021 Gridiron Football All-AMerica Bowl NSU FR-TE JA’QUEL MACK played in the 2021 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl By: Jace LeJeune

Sep 3 (Sat) 7 PM A Montana State Sep 10 (Sat) 6:30 PM A Rice Sep 17 (Sat) 7 PM H Alcorn State

Hall begins his second year as head coach of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles after finishing with a 3-9 record in 2021. After struggling offensively through the 2021 season failing to hit 20 points in a game from September 18th to November 13th, the offense final ly hit its stride scoring 35 points in a win against Louisiana Tech and 37 points in a win against FIU. The Golden Eagles have some positive momentum not only heading into a new season, but also a new conference as the program is now playing in the Sun Belt Conference after playing in Conference USA.

By: Jace LeJeune

By: Jace LeJeune

14 Schedule Sept. 3 (Sat) vs Liberty Sept. 10 (Sat) at Miami (Fla.) Sept. 17 (Sat) vs Northwestern State Sept. 24 (Sat) at Tulane Oct. 8 (Sat) at Troy Oct. 15 (Sat) SBC vs Arkansas State Oct. 22 (Sat) SBC at Texas State Oct. 27 (Thu.) SBC vs Louisiana Nov. 5 (Sat) SBC vs Georgia State Nov. 12 (Sat) SBC at Coastal Carolina Nov. 19 (Sat) SBC vs South Alabama Nov. 26 (Sat) SBC at ULM Schedule Sep 3(Sat) 3 PM H Troy Sep10 (Sat) 6 PM H Central Arkansas Sep17 (Sat) 2:30 PM A Georgia Tech Sep24 (Sat) H Tulsa Oct1 (Sat) H Kentucky Oct 8 (Sat) A Vanderbilt Oct15 (Sat) H Auburn Oct 22 (Sat) A LSU Oct 29 (Sat) A Texas A&M Nov 12 (Sat) H Alabama Nov 19 (Sat) A Arkansas Nov 24 (Thurs) 6 PM H Mississippi State

#21

Under head coach Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss Rebels are ranked 21st in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll after fin ishing with the best regular season record in school history. Last season was an incredible season for the Rebels as the team finished with a 10-3 overall record, losing 21-7 in the Sugar Bowl to the Big 12 Champion Baylor Bears. The Rebels finished number 11 in both major polls at the conclusion of the season and it was only the eighth ten win season in the program’s Thehistory.Rebels

want to continue the positive momentum from last sea son despite losing star quarterback Matt Coral to the NFL Draft. Kiffin and the coaching staff did a phenomenal job in the offseason adding the number two transfer portal class in the country trail ing only USC. The Rebels did in fact pick up a couple of former USC Trojans including quarterback Jaxson Dart, tight end Michael Trigg, and linebacker Danny Lockhart II. Also included in this high ly talented transfer portal class is running back Zach Evans, who comes in as a former five star prospect from TCU. The Rebels have six play ers named to the WSECcoachespreseasonAll-teams.ill

The quarterback position was a question mark heading into the season after six different players threw passes in 2021, but talent ed redshirt fresh man Ty Keyes is the frontrunner to start the 2022 season. He will have some help from running back Frank Gore Jr., who ran for 801 yards and five touchdowns, and star wide receiver Jason Bromlee, who had 46 catches for 643 yards and eight touchdowns. When the offense was struggling last season, its talented defense kept the team in games leading the conference in pass defense thanks to a deep secondary that returns.

On Wednesday, July 27tth, there Statesmen were honored as Presea son All-Gulf South Conference selections: Dohnte Meyers, Keshawn Jennings, and Tim Williams Jr. were honored as Preseason All-Gulf South Conference selections.

On National Signing day, Delta State signed 28 players to the team including Gridiron Football’s All-American Bowl Game QB, Wydett Williams JR. I look for Wydett to make an immediate impact on this team. Fresh. QB Wydett Williams played in the 2021 Gridiron Football All-AMerican Bowl

Oct 8 (Sat) 12 PM A North Greenville Oct15 (Sat) 6 PM H West Alabama Oct20 (Thur) 6 PM A Shorter. Oct 29 (Sat) 6 PM A Mississippi College Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM H West Georgia Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM H West Alabama

In 2021, Delta state went 5-6 with 3-4 in conference play. On Offense, DSU averaged 397.3 yards per game while giving up 401.3 per game.

Led by Air Raid mastermind Mike Leach as head coach, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will once again have one of the best aerial attacks in the SEC after leading the competitive conference in passing with 378 yards per game. The Bull dogs will have one of the top returning quarterbacks in the SEC in Will Rogers, who is coming off a record breaking season. In 2021, Rogers threw for 4,739 yards and 36 passing touchdowns while completing a very impressive 74% of his throws. Despite missing some of his top receiving targets, Jalen Wiley returns as a NFL caliber receiver and Rogers’ top target with 55 catches for 628 yards and six touchdowns. Running backs Dillon Johnson and Jo’quavious Marks are effective when they do get carries, but they will also be used as top pass catchers with both players combining for 148 receptions in 2021. The offensive line will have to replace offensive tackle Charles Cross, who was drafted ninth overall by the Seattle Seahawks, but the interior returns some experience to help out the front five start ing out. The defense has talent at all levels led by CB Emman uel Forbes, DT Camer on Young, and LB Tyrus Wheat.

By: Jace LeJeune

Schedule

15

Sep 3 (Sat) 6:30 PM vs Memphis Sep 10 (Sat) 10:00 PM at Arizona Sep 17 (Sat) 5:00 PM SEC at LSU Sep 24 (Sat) vs Bowling Green

Nov5 (Sat) SEC vs Auburn Nov 12 (Sat) SEC vs Georgia Nov 19 (Sat) vs East Tennessee State Nov 26 (Sat) SEC at Ole Miss

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 1 PM A Kentucky State Sep 10 (Sat) 1 PM A McKendree Sep17 (Sat) 6 PM A Mississippi Valley State Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM A West Florida Oct 1(Sat) 6 PM H Valdosta State

Delta State is a DII school that plays in the GSC, Gulf South Conference. Delta State is located in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Oct 1 (Sat) SEC vs Texas A&M Oct 8 (Sat) SEC vs Arkansas Oct 15 (Sat) SEC at Kentucky Oct 22 (Sat) SEC at Alabama

Nov 12 (Sat) 12 PM CT A Centre College

Oct 8 (Sat) 1 PM H Hendrix College

Nov 3 (Thurs) 6:30 PM SWAC H Alabama A&M

Sep 10 (Sat)1 PM A McMurry University

The Millsaps Majors is a DIII football progam that plays in the Southern Athletic Association, SAA. Millsaps is located in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2021 the Majors went 2-8 in the regualr season and 2-5 in confrense play. The Majors averaged 331.6 yards per game last season and gave up an average of 500.8 yards per game.

By: Jace LeJeune

Oct 15 (Sat) 4 PM A Birm.-Southern Oct 22 (Sat) 2 PM H Rhodes College Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM CT A Berry College Nov 5 (Sat) 12 PM H Trinity University

#55 is Fresh Conor Diaz from St Edmund High School in Eunice, La. Conor Played in the 2021 Gridiron Football All-AMerican Bowl Game. Conor is currently getting reps with 1st and 2nd team players. Look for this young man to make an impact in 2022.

Oct 1 (Sat) 1 PM A Sewanee Sewanee

Sep 17 (Sat) 1 PM H U. of Wis.-Oshkosh

Jacory Rankin returns as the team’s leading receiver with 42 catches for 682 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, the front is led by Ronnie Thomas, who made 2nd Team All-SWAC honors with 22 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.

Nov 12 (Sat) 4 PM SWAC A Southern Nov 19 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC H Prairie View A&M

16 Schedule

Sep 1 (Thur) 6 PM H Belhaven University

Schedule Sep 1 (Thurs) 7 PM A Tarleton Sep 10 (Sat) 3 PM A Austin Peay Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM H Delta State Sep 24 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC A Jackson State Oct 1 (Sat) 5 PM SWAC A Florida A&M Oct 8 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC H Alcorn State Oct 15 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC A Alabama State Oct 22 (Sat) 3 PM SWAC H Bethune-Cookman

Mississippi Valley State has produced a lot of incred ible talent over the program’s history including the NFL’s all-time leading receiver Jerry Rice and Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. Head Coach Vin cent Dansby wants to bring the magic back to the program heading into his fifth year as the Delta Devils head football coach. In fact, former quarterback Willie Totten, who formed that legendary re cord breaking connection with the legendary San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, is currently on the staff as the team’s assistant head Aftercoach.a 4-7 overall record in 2021, the Delta Devils would like to achieve a winning record in 2022. Jalani Eason returns as the team’s starting quarterback after completing 60% of his passes for 1,533 yards and ten touchdowns. The bellcow of the offense is All-SWAC 2nd Team running back selection Caleb Johnson, who led the team in rushing last season with 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns.

17

The Alcorn State Braves begin year number six under head coach Fred McNair as this SWAC powerhouse program is looking for vengeance after losing to Jackson State for the right to go to the SWAC championship game in 2021. Un der McNair, the Braves have been near the top of the SWAC standings. In fact, the Braves have finished first in the SWAC Eastern Divison standings for four straight years until last season including two appearances in the Celebration Bowl.

Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A Tennessee State

Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC H Southern Nov 5 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC A Texas Southern Nov 12 (Sat) 4 PM SWAC NG Alabama A&M Nov 19 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC A Alcorn State

Sep 17 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC H Grambling State

The Braves were picked to finish second in the SWAC West ern Division behind the Southern Jaguars.

Oct 15 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC A Southern Oct 22 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Texas Southern Oct 29 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC A Grambling State

By: Jace LeJeune

Bolar, who came in as a transfer from Vanderbilt last season, made an instant impact with 668 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Duffey returns as the league’s fourth leading rusher from last season with 805 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Cherelus will become the leader on the defensive side of the football after racking up 76 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and two sacks last season.

“Prime Time” is making Jackson State “Big Time” throughout the entire college football world. Not only is legendary NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders winning with a 15-5 overall record in two years, but he is putting Jackson State on the national map. In December, Jackson State did the unthinkable and signed the number one player in the entire country in cornerback Travis Hunter to come and play for the Tigers. It was a historic moment as this was the first time a five star player has ever signed with a FCS program.

“I look forward to working with the iconic Deion Sanders, and especially with my fellow Tigers. Along with Coach Prime, they have made me feel like I’m already part of the team. Like I’m home. And I can’t wait to welcome the next class of top athletes into the family of HBCUs.”

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM H Stephen F. Austin Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A Tulane Sep 17 (Sat) 7 PM A McNeese State Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC H Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Once again, this team has a chance to get back to the SWAC championship game in 2022. There are three preseason AllSWAC performers for the Braves in wide receiver CJ Bolar, linebacker Claudin Cherelus, and running back Niko Duffey.

Sep 24 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC H Mississippi Valley Oct 8 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC A Alabama State Oct 15 (Sat) 3 PM SWAC A Bethune-Cookman Oct 22 (Sat) 2 PM H Campbell

Oct 8 (Sat) 6 PM SWAC A Mississippi Valley

Also led by eight preseason All-SWAC candidates, the Tigers are one of the heavy favorites to win not only the SWAC, but the HBCU National Championship as well. The Tigers are led by Coach Prime’s son Shedeur Sanders, who was the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year with 3,231 passing yards and 30 touchdowns.

By: Jace LeJeune

Schedule Sep 4 (Sun) 2 PM A Florida A&M

Nov 4 (Fri) 6:30 PM SWAC A Prairie View A&M Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Bethune-Cookman Nov 19 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Jackson State

Sep 10 (Sat) 7:00 PM H Southwestern U. Sep 24 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Huntingdon College

Mississippi College is a DII program that plays in the Gulf South Conference, GSC. The Choctaws play at home in Clinton, Mississippi. The Gulf South Conference released the 2022 All-GSC Preseason team with two Choctaws receiving honors. Nick Walker and Cody Myers were each selected to the GSC Preseason team with Walker making it as a defensive back and Myers making it as a Long Snapper/ InUtility.2021, the Choctaws went 4-6 for the season with 2-5 in conference play. On offense the Choctaws averaged 369.5 yards per game and on defense they gave up 375.1 yards per game. Last season the Choctaws were a run heavy offense averaging 294.7 per game. This keep the ball in the hands of the offense by averaging 32:49 minutes of playing time per Thisgame.team had a big recruiting class and has the potential to be a lot better in 2022.

Oct29 (Sat) 12:00 PM H LaGrange College

RIGHT: #58 Fresh OL Zane Hoop er is from Denham Springs HS and played in the 2021 Gridiron Footall All-American Bowl Game.

Freh RB #25 Caleb Gallashaw and Soph RB #34 D’ante Gallashaw are both former Gridiron Football All-AMerican Bowl Game players that now call Belhaven University home.

Oct 29 (Sat) 6:00 PM CT H Delta State

Sep 17 (Sat) 2:00 PM CT H North Greenville Sep 24 (Sat) 7:00 PM CT A McNeese State

Nov 12 (Sat) 2:00 p.m. CT H West Florida

Oct 1 (Sat) 5:00 PM CT A West Georgia Oct 8 (Sat) 2:00 PM CT H Shorter Oct 15 (Sat) 2:00 PM CT A Valdosta State

Belhaven University is a DIII program that plays in the USA South Confrence. Belhaven University is located in Jackson, Mississippi. 2021 Was Belhaven’s best season in program hstory The Green and Gold concluded the season with a 7-3 record and finished third in the American Southwest Conference. Additionally, the Belhaven Offen sive Line was named to the d3football.com Team of the Week for two straight weeks, which was the first time that the same offensive line has been named to the Team of the Week in consecutive weeks in the 23 year history of the award. Some other postseason awards for Belhav en Football included 16 Blazers earning ASC All-Conference, Head Coach Blaine McCorkle being named ASC Coach of the Year for the second straight year Look For Belhaven to contine what they started in 2021.

Oct15 (Sat) 11:00 AM A Greensboro College Oct 22 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Southern Virginia

Oct 22 (Sat) 4:00 PM CT A West Florida

Schedule Sep 1 (Thur) 6:00 PM A Millsaps College

Nov 5 (Sat) 2:00 PM CT A West Alabama

Oct1 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Methodist U. Oct 8 (Sat) 12:00 PM H N.C. Wesleyan Coll.

Nov 5 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Brevard College Nov 12 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Maryville College

Schedule

18

Sep 3 (Sat) 6:00 PM CT A Albany State Sep 10 (Sat) 12:00 PM CT H Keiser

Sep 3 (Sat) 6:00 PM Home Grambling State Sep 10 (Sat) 11:00 AM Away Ohio State Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 PM SBC Away Memphis Sep 24 (Sat) TBA SBC Away Old Dominion Oct 1 (Sat) 6:00 PM SBC Home ULM Oct 8 (Sat) 6:00 PM SBC Home James Madison Oct 15 (Sat) 6:00 PM SBC Away Southern Miss Oct 22 (Sat) TBA SBC Away Louisiana Oct 29 (Sat) 6:00 PM SBC Home South Alabama Nov 12 (Sat) TBA Home UMass Nov 19 (Sat) 4:00 PM SBC Away Texas State Nov 26 (Sat) TBA SBC Home Troy Schedule

The Arkansas Razorbacks football compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic As sociation and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. The program has one national championship awarded by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Helms Athletic Foundation (HAF) in 1964, and one nation al championship awarded by the Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments (Rothman (FACT)) in 1977. The school does not claim the 1977 title. Arkansas has won 13 confer ence championships, includes 58 All-Americans amongst its list of players, and holds an all-time record of 729–525–40. Home games are played at stadiums on or near the two largest campuses of the University of Arkansas System: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Arkansas finished first in the SEC and first among all Power Five programs in rushing last season, averaging 227.8 yards per game on the Tground.heArkansas

19 Schedule

State Red Wolves football team competes in in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The team was founded in 1911 and has competed as a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2001. Their home field is Centennial Bank Sta dium and the head coach is Butch Jones. In 105 seasons of foot ball, the Red Wolves have won over 450 games, appeared in seven bowl games and claimed 11 conference championships. Arkansas State’s most recent conference championship came in 2016 as they claimed their fifth title in six years. In 2008, the school changed its mascot from the Indians to the Red Wolves. With 101 players listed as underclassmen (freshmen/sophomores), A-State ranks fourth nationally amongst respondents to the FBS survey of youngest teams this season.

R-SR QB James Blackman went 109-of-183 passing for 1,344 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. Had three multi-touchdown games, hurling four touchdowns against Memphis. Spent the 2017-20 sea sons at Florida State appearing in 33 games. Was 433-of-716 pass ing for 5,445 yards and 43 touchdowns with the Seminoles.

#19

The Red Wolves are 72-24 when playing at home since the 2005 A-Stateseason. has thrown for at least 300 yards and two scores in 22 of 36 games since 2019, most among Sun Belt Conference schools and second-most nationally.

Sep 3 (SAT) 2:30pm H #23 Cincinnati Sep 10 (SAT) 11:00pm SEC H South Carolina Sep 17 (SAT) 6:00 pm H Missouri State Sep 24 (SAT) TBA SEC N Texas A&M Oct 1 (SAT) TBA SEC H Alabama Oct 8 (SAT) TBA SEC A Mississippi State Oct 15 (SAT) TBA A BYU Oct 29 (SAT) TBA SEC A Auburn Nov 5 (SAT) TBA H Liberty Nov 12 (SAT) SEC H LSU Nov 19 (SAT) SEC H Ole Miss Nov 25 (FRI) 2:30pm SEC A Missouri

The Hogs are opening their season with a top-25 matchup in Fay etteville for the first time in program history. No. 19 Arkansas faces No. 23 Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 3, inside Razorback Stadium to begin the 2022 campaign. Kickoff between the Hogs and Bear cats is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. This year marks the first time since 1974 that Arkansas is ranked in the preseason and opening its season against a fellow top-25 team at home. No. 20 Arkansas defeated No. 5 USC, 22-7, in a home game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark., to begin the 1974 campaign, finishing with a 6-4-1record under legendary head coach Frank Broyles.

St Edmund Blue Jays: Young, Strong, and Hungry St.

Edmund High School is a small 1A Catholic school in the town of Eunice Louisiana. This school has a number of proud traditions including winning foot ball games. Last season, the Blue Jays went 6-5 with a 2-3 district record. The Jays made the playoffs and faced a familiar face in the first round, the Sacred Heart Trojans. Sacred Heart is less then 10 miles up the road in Ville Platte. Sacred Heart won the round by a score of 19-13 to knock the Jay out of the Followingplayoffs. the loss, head coach James Shiver said, “we are a very young team. Most of our starters are freshmen. I am truly excited about the future of this program.”

SR DE backfieldseveralSummerlinBlakemakesstopsintheinthefallscrimmage

The Blue Jays 2021 team had one player that accepted an of fer to play college football at Millsaps, Conor Diaz. Conor received over $130k in scholarship money. “This is why I coach football,” said coach Shiver, “to see guys like Conor take his talents to the next level. Of the $600k in total scholarship money awarded to the senior class, just one person brought in a little over a quarter of the money.”

20

The Blue Jays embark on a journey that no other team in school history has ever done. The Blue Jays are headed to Dallas, Texas to play John Paul II High School at the Star of Frisco Stadium. “I am excited to take this team out of state to play this game because it will help my guys have a better understanding of how this game can take you places,” said coach James Shiver, St Edmund Head Football Coach, “Play ing games like this out of state also helps my program for the future. Last year I had one of my guys sigh to play college football at Millsaps, this year I have another one of my guys that can play at the DI level. These types of games help with the exposure of my kids. My job here is to help these kids realize their potential and hopefully go to college. By putting the kids future first, the kids play harder for me on the field.”

The St Edmund Blue Jays are loaded with young talent. Sophomore quarterback Kane West is picking up the offen sive system that coach Shiver has assembled. “Kane is a hard worker and is a quick learner. He is always asking questions and looking to get better,” said coach Shiver. The Blue Jays will also feature freshman tailback, Kevon John son, this season. “Kevon is a fast back that is hard to bring down,” said coach Shiver, “I think Kevon will turn a lot of head this sea Thereson.” are only a couple of seniors on this squad. The Blue Jays are led by senior Athlete, Taylor Daire, who has received attention from schools like McNeese State. Taylor recently received an offer from Centenary College. Taylor is an explosive athlete that plays both in the backfield and receiver. He is not hard to spot on this team, just look for the big pay and he will be the center of it. What does the future hold for this team? Look for more coverage of the Blue Jays as they travel to Dallas on Sept 10th to play John Paul II. I expect this team to continue their winning tradition and improve to advance in the playoffs.

LEFT: Fresh QB Kane West, looks for on open receiver in the Blue Jays Scrimmage.

Right: Fresh RB Kev on Johnson Far Right: Soph WR Blake Moran

21

Lannie Reed C/oWR2026

23 Jersey Name Class Ht WT 1 Wesley Lafleur SR 2 Bo Thomassee SO 3 John Landry SO 5’8” 125 4 Aiden Stelly SO 5 Kevon Johnson FR 6 Ian Rider SO 5’9” 165 7 Blake Moran SO 5’11” 160 8 Alex Ortego SO 5’11” 150 9 Marcus Gradney SO 10 Nathan Zaunbrecher FR 11 Seth Aucoin SO 13 Copland Miller JR 14 Zane Zaunbrecher SO 5’9” 15 Kane West SO 16 Emile Soileau SO 17 Wyatt Dubois FR 18 Sam Prudhomme SR 5’8” 157 19 Kyle Fonetnot FR 5’7” 135 20 Lannie Reed FR 21 Taylor Daire SR 5’8” 165 22 Jay Lavergne JR 5’8” 145 23 Koy Trahan SO 24 Owen Cart Fr 5’6” 125 25 Brennan Manuel JR 26 Colin Smith SR 27 Henry Summerlin SO 28 Gage Smith JR 5’7” 140 29 Payton Vizena FR 30 David Evans SO 31 Eathan Trahan SO 32 JP Fruge SO 44 Wiley Middlebrooks FR 48 Blake Summerlin SR 6’1” 160 52 Bradley Hebert SR 54 Jacob Bearb SR 55 Evan Aucoin JR 56 Haden Lasage SO 57 Ryan Young SO 58 Jon-Michael Brown SO 65 Matt McGee JR 5’9” 250 66 Noah Myers SR 5’9” 135 72 Joseph Guillory FR 74 Benji Guillory FR 75 Landon Marcantel FR 76 Clay Aguillard FR 77 Charles Sonnier FR 81 Trent Thibodeaux JR 5’10” 150 85 Wesley Hollier SR 89 Dominic Briscoe FR Head Coach/AD James Shiver Asst. Coaches Nick Trosclair DC Cade SethPaulClayLouisCoreyLeBlancDiazRiderHarperOrrJohnson

Athletic Trainers

Mike Driggs, DPT, ATC Lee Miller, DPT

At the heart of every team is the center. In St Edmunds case it is class of 2024, Matt McGee. We had the privalige to interview Matt on the Randall Corner in 2021. Matt was poised and con fident, everything yu want in a Caenter, but most importantly, he blew Marcus Randall away with his knowledge of lineman position. Matt is on my watchlist for the 2022 season.

Matt

McGeeJacobBearbC/o2023O-Line

Sam is a hard hitting line backer. I look for him to play Safety at the lext level. He also plays full back.

Lannie is a young receiver with great feet and is quick. I have him on my wtchlist for his fresham season.

Sam LinebackerC/oPrudhomme2023

Blake LinebackerC/oSummerlin2023

Jacob is a quick lineman that make great contact on the line. He makes good use of his hands when blocking.

Blake is explosive off the edge. He plays DE in HS, but I look for him to make the move to LB in college. He currently has a 4.0 GPA.

21 School Spotlight Get your school in the Gridiron Football Magazine and Newsletter for free. Contact us via andrew@gridironfootballusa.comemail www.GridironFootballUSA.com

24 Tayor Daire Class of StAthlete2023Ht:5’9”Wt:160EdmundEunice,LA Gridiron Football rating 7.6 of 10 Kane West Class of RisingQuarterback2025Ht:5’10”Wt:160StEdmundEunice,LAStar

23 Kevon johnson Class of 2026 Running Back Ht: RisingStWt:5’7”150EdmundEunice,LAStar marcus gradney Class of RisingLinebacker2025Ht:5’10”Wt:210StEdmundEunice,LAStar

Gridiron Football rating 8.6 of 10

defensive2023endHt:6’3”Wt:235NevilleMonroe,LA

That feeling started ever since the beginning of this process with the LSU coaching staff. “LSU started reaching out to me at the start of the year. The constant communication was everything.”

By: Jace LeJeune

The LSU Tigers landed themselves a huge prospect at a posi tion of need for the 2023 class and did so by grabbing one of Louisiana’s top prospects in Tyree Adams. From St. Au gustine High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, the 6’6, 285 pound four star offensive tackle prospect was the 17th commit in this year’s recruiting class for the Tigers as well as the second player at his position in this class. Adams chose the Tigers over the likes of Geor gia, Florida, and Ole Miss. For Adams, there were a couple of factors that helped him make his decision to commit this past Friday.

“I would like to highlight Coach Guilani and Coach Burris. They preached keeping the program traditional and family oriented and was on me hard from the very start.” of

It was also the persistence of two specific coaches that really helped to make a difference in his recruitment.

“It was the love that LSU showed me. I really felt at home whenever I was around there.”

By: Jace LeJeune

tyree adams Class of

NewOffensive2023LineHt:6’6”Wt:285StAugustineOrleans,La

Gridiron Football rating 8.8 of 10

The UL Ragin’ Cajuns got themselves another dynamic pass rusher this time from North Louisiana in Neville High School three star defensive end Matthew FobbsWhite. The 6’3, 235 pound pass rusher chose the Ragin’ Cajuns over the likes of Baylor, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Oklahoma State, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, and Western Kentucky. “ULL had made me a top priority in their recruitment. Looking at the culture all the times I had went down there really drew me in.”

Matthew Fobbs Class

26

28 Dylan Carpenter Class of BatonDefensive2023EndHt:6’4”Wt:250St.AmantRouge,La

Gridiron Football rating 8.8 of 10

At the commitment ceremony, Franklin had his options down to UL, Tulane, Missouri, Jackson State, and Houston. Even though the public would not know Franklin’s decision until the ceremony, the four star offensive tackle prospect already knew that his decision had been made as it was the Houston Cougars that won the Jamall Franklin Jr. sweepstakes.

One of the best pass rushers in the state of Louisiana commit ted to the UL Ragin’ Cajuns yesterday with St. Amant High School senior defensive end Dylan Carpenter announcing his decision on social media. Over his career, the 6’4, 250 pound de fensive lineman has become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks in Ascension Parish earning District Defensive MVP and Ascension Parish Defensive MVP honors in an incredible junior season.

This past Wednesday, four star offensive tackle Jamall Franklin Jr. announced his college decision in front of his friends and family at the place that he has called home the last two seasons, which has been Scotlandville Mag net High School located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Jamall Franklin Class of

BatonScotlandvilleOffensive2023LineHt:6’8”Wt:370Rouge,La

“It was really crazy. I never realized that I had this much support from so many people. I feel really blessed. I am grateful for my mom and my family. I have a great support system. I didn’t know that I meant that much to my teammates and my peers at school.”

Gridiron Football rating 8.7 of 10

By: Jace LeJeune

By: Jace LeJeune

Ever since his sophomore season, Carpenter has drawn the attention of Division I schools getting offers from programs like Tulane, Loui siana Tech, Arkansas State, Utah State, Southeastern, Charlotte, Troy, Rice, and Northwestern State. However, it was the Ragin’ Cajuns that emerged from the pack and won over the All-State performer.

“UL has been great to me throughout my whole recruitment with them and I got a chance to build a relationship with the whole staff. On top of that, they are close to home and my whole family can make it to every game.”

Gridiron Football All-AmeriCANBowlgAmeClAssof2023iNTeresTediNplAyiNg? emAil: ANdrew@gridiroNfooTBAllusA.Com SEND HUDL LINK CONTACT INFO Dec 27-30th 2022 Orange Beach, www.GridironFootballUSA.comAlabama

Oct 29 (Sat) 4:00 P.M. H North Alabama

The Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football program plays football in the NCAA Division I Football Cham pionship Subdivision level as a member of the South western Athletic Conference. The Lions play their home games at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The Lions have won one National Championship in 2012 while winning 3 di visional championships 2006, 2012, and 2020.

Nov 5 (Sat) 4:00 P.M. A Eastern Kentucky Nov 12 (Sat) 4:00 P.M. A Stephen F. Austin Nov 19 (Sat) 4:00 P.M. H Jacksonville State

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6 P.M. CT H Lane College Sep 10 (Sat) 6 P.M. CT H North American Sep 17 (Sat) TBA A Oklahoma State Sep 24 (Sat) 6 P.M. SWAC A Alcorn State Oct 1 (Sat) 6 P.M. SWAC A Southern Oct 8 (Sat) 2 P.M. SWAC H Texas Southern Oct 16 (Sun) 3 P.M. SWAC N Alabama A&M Oct 29 (Sat) 4 P.M. ET SWAC A Florida A&M Nov 5 (Sat) 2 P.M. SWAC A Grambling State Nov 12 (Sat) 2 P.M. SWAC H Prairie View A&M Nov 24 (Thu) TBA SWAC A Alabama State

The Central Arkansas Bears football program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the ASUN Conference, which will play its first football season in 2022. For the 2021 season, UCA was a de facto associate member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

Four University of Central Arkansas Bears were named to the pre season All-ASUN Football Team. The Bears were also picked in a second-place tie in the ASUN preseason coaches’ poll. UCA had two players on the offensive team and two on the defensive squad, including running back Darius Hale, offensive lineman Jaylin Hen drix, defensive end Logan Jessup and defensive back Tamuarion Hale,Wilson.the

ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2021 and the runnerup for the Jerry Rice Award that goes to the top FCS freshman in the nation, led UCA with 1,015 rushing yards and 17 rushing touch downs last season.

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 7:00 P.M. H Missouri State Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 PM A Ole Miss Sep 17 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. A Idaho State Sep 24 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. A Southeast Missouri Oct 1 (Sat) 4:00 P.M. H Austin Peay Oct 8 (Sat) 4:00 P.M. H Lindenwood Oct 15 (Sat) 12:00 P.M. A Kennesaw State

The Golden Lions hope to build on a 2-9 season in 2021 with a 1-7 in the SWAC. The Lions averaged 322.6 yards per game while giving up 453.5 yards per game on Defense.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff standout offensive tackle, Mark Evans II continues to catch the attention of the NFL Scouts as he was announced today to the 2022 Black College Hall of Fame watch list. Mark Evans II was named to the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List as well as a preseason All-American offensive line Theman.preseason

“That was one of the best freshman years I’ve ever seen in person at UCA,’ said Brown. “Just the production that he had, the num ber of touchdowns he had, and obviously go over 1,000 yards as a freshman running back. And then to finish second in the Jerry Rice Award as freshman of the year in the country is a huge deal. 30

accolades for the Southwestern Athletic Conference football teams were released and the Golden Lions had two stu dent-athletes earned the honors on defense and special teams and one on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive lineman Mark Evans II, punter Josh Sanchez, long snapper Thomas Reny, and linebacker Monroe Beard III were all named to the first team, while defensive lineman Athen Smith was named to the second team.

UCA left the Southland Conference, which had been its all-sports home since 2006 and its football home since 2007, for the ASUN Conference in July 2021. At the time, the ASUN did not sponsor football, but committed to launching an FCS football league in the near future. Before the 2022 establishment of the ASUN foot ball league, UCA competed in a football partnership between the ASUN and WAC officially branded as the “ASUN–WAC Challenge”

Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Arkansas Tech University

Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Southeastern Oklahoma State

R-Fr Tyler Williams played in the 2019 Gridiron Foot ball All-Star Bowl

Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 PM A Henderson State University

Great American Conference announced its 2022 preseason coaches poll with veteran Boll Weevil Head Coach Hud Jackson and the rest of the Weevil Football program come in seventh place overall as the season nears opening.

Nov 12 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Southern Arkansas University Fr WR J’waun Turner played in the 2021 Gridiron Football All-AMerican Bowl

Coming off a dominating 73-37 win over conference rival South ern Arkansas in the Battle of the Timberlands to conclude their 2021 season, the Weevils are hungry for a fresh start. “The preseason poll for football is not surprising,” said UAM Head Football Coach and Athletic Direc tor Jackson. “We feel that the sea son is long and any given week their could be a shakeup that will have a huge impact on the championship race. Our goal is to stay healthy and focused on our team. One game at a time will be the key for us.”

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:00 PM A Southwestern Oklahoma Oct 8 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Northwestern Oklahoma Oct 15 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Ouachita Baptist University

Oct 22 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Harding University

Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Oklahoma Baptist University

Nov 5 (Sat) 2:00 PM A East Central University

The Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils football program competes in the NCAA Division II and are members of the Great American Conference. The team plays its home games at Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello, Arkansas. The Boll Weevils are coached by Hud Jack Theson

Arkansas Tech University is a NCAA DII football pro gram that plays in the Great American Confrence. Ar kansas Tech University (ATU) is a public university in Russellville, Arkansas. Arkansas Tech University has dual nicknames: men’s athletic teams are called the Wonder Boys, while the women’s teams are called the Golden Suns. The Great American Conference re leased its annual preseason coaches’ poll, Arkansas Tech was slotted to fin ish ninth amongst the 12-team league. Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Kyle Shipp, the Wonder Boys will look to outperform their preseason prediction and are slated to begin their 2022 season on the road on Thursday, September 1 against South eastern ArkansasOklahoma.Techjunior

Sep 1 (Thu) 6:00 PM A Southern Nazarene U.

offensive lineman Garrett Jaster joins a list of 114 stu dent-athletes from across all divisions of NCAA college football that have been nominated for the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. In addition to Jaster, ATU head football coach Kyle Shipp is among a list of seven head coaches nominated.

Sep 1 (Thu) 6 p.m. A Southeastern Oklahoma Sep 10 (Sat) 6 p.m. H East Central Sep 17 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Ouachita Sep 24 (Sat) 6 p.m. A Arkansas-Monticello Oct 1 (Sat) 2 p.m. H Southern Nazarene

Schedule

Schedule

31

Oct 8 (Sat) 6 p.m. A Oklahoma Baptist Oct 15 (Sat) 2 p.m. H Southern Arkansas Oct 22 (Sat) 2 p.m. A Henderson State Oct 29 (Sat) 2 p.m. H Southwestern Oklahoma Nov 5 (Sat) 4 p.m. A Northwestern Oklahoma Nov 12 (Sat) 2 p.m. A Harding

Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00 P.M. A Southern Arkansas U.

Oct 8 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. A East Central University

The Reddies boasted the highest scoring offense in the Great American Conference last season, averaging 40.5 points per game across 11 contests. Quarterback Adam Morse and wide receiver L’liott Curry led the league in passing yards (3403) and receiving yards (1297). Morse and Curry’s shoes will look to be filled by Landon Ledbetter and Xavier Malone. Henderson brings back four starters on the offensive line from last season’s team in what will be one of the most expe rienced units in the entire conference. Last year, HSU’s line paved the way for the Reddie rushing attack, which averaged 183.2 rushing yards per game.

Oct 15 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. A Harding University Oct 22 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. H Arkansas Tech University

After going 9-2 last season, the Reddies have reached the nine-win mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In order to make it a third consecutive year, HSU will have to figure out how to re place All-GAC Second Team quarterback Adam Morse and All-American wide receiver L’liott Curry.

Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. A Southern Nazarene U. Nov 5 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. H Oklahoma Baptist University 32

Sep 1 (Thu) 6:30 p.m. W 29-12 East Central Sep 10 (Sat) 7 p.m. H Southeastern Okla. Sep 17 (Sat) 7 p.m. H Southern Ark. Sep 24 (Sat) 6 p.m. A Ouachita Baptist Oct 1 (Sat) 2 p.m. H Okla. Baptist Oct 8 (Sat) 2 p.m. A Southern Nazarene Oct 15 (Sat) 2 p.m. H Henderson St. Oct 22 (Sat) 2 p.m. A Ark.-Monticello Oct 29 (Sat) 3 p.m. H Northwestern Okla. Nov 5 (Sat) 2 p.m. A Southwestern Okla. Nov 12 (Sat) 2 p.m. H Arkansas Tech 1 - 0

Schedule

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 7:00 P.M. W S.W. Oklahoma State Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 P.M. A Northwestern Oklahoma Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 P.M. H U. of Arkansas at Monticello

of Keylon’s completions went for touchdowns, two of them to senior Kage Citty. Junior Zach Smith also had a touchdown recep Harding’stion. defense limited East Central to only 161 total yards, includ ing just 14 on the ground.

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:00 P.M. H Southeastern Oklahoma State

Harding Bisons football program competes as a Division II member of the Great American Conference. Harding is lo cated in Searcy, Arkansas. The Bisons are led by fifth-year head coach Paul Simmons, a former Harding linebacker, with a record of 41-11. The back-to-back 2016 and 2017 seasons were the most successful run in the history of the program. Ronnie Hucke ba’s 2016 squad, before his retirement from coaching, won the confer ence title before making it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The following year under first-year head coach Simmons, the Bisons won three post-season games to make it to the semifinals of the playoffs before losing to Texas A&M-Commerce (the storied foot ball program formerly and widely known as East Texas State). There are 52 former Bison football players who have earned All-American status, either on the NAIA or the NCAA Division II levels.

The Henderson State Reddies football program is a member of the Great American Conference which is in the Division II of the National Collegiate Ath letic Association and are currently coached by Scott Maxfield, who is in his seventh year at the university. Home games are played at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arka delphia, Arkansas. Henderson State shares the longest rival ry in Division II football with Ouachita Baptist University Tigers, the Battle of the Ravine, which began in 1895. Gus Malzahn, who played wide receiver for the Reddies, is one of their most famous alumni.

Harding redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Keylon threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in the ninth-ranked Bisons’ 29-12 victory over East Central Thursday night in Great American Conference action at Koi Ishto Stadium. It was the first time in 12 seasons that a Harding quarterback threw three touchdown passes in a Hardinggame. (1-0) won its opener for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons and defeated East Central (0-1) for the 10th consecutive time. The win was Harding’s sixth straight on the road and 10th straight GAC Allvictory.three

The Ouachita Baptist Tigers football program is in NCAA Division II and are members of the Great American Conference. Ouachita Baptist’s first football team was fielded in 1896. The team plays its home games at Cliff Harris Stadium / Benson-Williams Field in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The Tigers are coached by Todd Knight.

The Ouachita Baptist University football team enters the 2022 campaign picked to finish second in the Great American Conference according to the league’s head coaches. Ouachita finished the 2021 season tied for second in the GAC with a 9-2 record, marking the program’s 13th consecutive winning Ouachitaseason.

Baptist University football players TJ Cole and Peyton Stafford have been selected to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watchlist heading into the 2022 season. Both Cole and Stafford were All-America honorees in the 2021 season. Cole earned All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association, D2Football.com, and the Don Hansen Football Committee. Stafford earned All-America honors from the Division II Conference Com missioners Association and the Don Hansen Football Com mittee.

The Southern Arkansas Muleriders football team com pete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athlet ics Association (NCAA) and in the Great American Conference. SAU begin competing in 1911 when they were known as the Third District Agricultural School. Early Mulerider teams played local junior college and high school teams. The Muleriders are inaugural members of the Great American Conference. SAU has competed in the NCAA Divi sion II since 1995 after spending almost 50 years as members of the MuleriderNAIA.football teams have won 8 conference champion ships, participated in four college bowl games (2–1–1 record), and have made the NCAA Division II Playoffs in two seasons (0–2 record). SAU has produced 70 All-Americans and 172 First Team All-Conference players.

Optimism for a fresh start abounds around a program not far removed from a stretch of 39 wins across five 7+ win cam paigns from 2015 to 2019. Last season, Southern Arkansas suffered just its second below-.500 finish to a season as a GAC member and its first since 2011.

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 6 PM W, 42-32 Oklahoma Baptist Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM H Southern Nazarene Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM A Arkansas Tech Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM H Harding Oct 1 (Sat) 2 PM A N.W. Oklahoma Oct 8 (Sat) 12 PM H S.W. Oklahoma State Oct 15 (Sat) 1 PM H Arkansas-Monticello Oct 22 (Sat) 2 PM N Southern Arkansas Oct 27 (Thu) 6 PM H East Central Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM A S.E. Oklahoma State Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM A Henderson State Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 6 P.M. W, 62-31 N.W. Oklahoma Sep 10 (Sat) 6 P.M. A S.W. Oklahoma State Sep17 (Sat) 6 P.M. A Harding University Sep 24 (Sat) 6 P.M. H Henderson State Oct 1 (Sat) 2:30 P.M. H East Central U. Oct 8 (Sat) 2 P.M. A S.E. Oklahoma State Oct 15 (Sat) 2 P.M. A Arkansas Tech Oct 22 (Sat) 2 P.M. N Ouachita Baptist Oct 29 (Sat) 2 P.M. A Oklahoma Baptist Nov 5 (Sat) 2 P.M. H Southern Nazarene Nov 12 (Sat) 2 P.M. A U. of Ark at Monticello

The Muleriders return three All-GAC performers from last year’s squad. Redshirt sophomore Jariq Scales, the 2021 GAC Freshman of the Year, and grad wideout Micah Small head line the offensive returners for Smiley in year one. Both play makers are coming off historic yardage campaigns a season ago, while graduate placekicker Austin Wilkerson, a Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-Su per Region 3 performer as a senior and the program’s William V. Campbell Trophy nominee, returns to bolster the special teams unit. 33

The Alabama A&M Bulldogs will be a new look team in 2022 as the program will be playing 53 new play ers including 34 that are transfers to the universi ty. The leadership remains the same as head coach Connell Maynor returns for his fourth year. Offensively, the program has some big shoes to fill at quarterback with Aqeel Glass leaving after he has thrown for more than 12,000 yards and 109 touchdowns. Replacing the program great is former Jackson State starting quarterback Quincy Casey.

By: Jace LeJeune

Oct 1 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Bethune-Cookman

Oct 8 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC H Grambling State Oct 16 (Sun) 3 PM SWAC H Arkansas-Pine Bluff Oct 29 (Sat) 2:30 PM SWAC H Alabama State Nov 3 (Thurs) 6:30 PM SWAC A Mississippi Valley Nov 12 (Sat) SWAC H Jackson State Nov 19 (Sat) 1 PM SWAC H Jackson State By: Jace LeJeune

Oct 15 (Sat) SEC at TENNESSEE Oct 22 (Sat) SEC vs MISSISSIPPI STATE Nov5 (Sat) SEC at LSU Nov 12 (Sat) SEC at OLE MISS Nov 19 (Sat) vs AUSTIN PEAY Nov 26 (Sat) SEC vs AUBURN

Schedule Sep 1 (Thurs) 7 PM A UAB Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A Troy Sep 17 (Sat) 2 PM H Austin Peay Sep 24 (Sat) 5 PM SWAC A Florida A&M

There are a lot of new faces in the program, but there are some familiar names returning including three All-SWAC preseason selections in running back Gary Quarles, wide re ceiver Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, and offensive lineman Carson Vinson. Quarles ran for 955 yards and ten touchdowns last season while Ibrahim had over 1,000 yards receiving and 12 touchdown catches. After a 7-3 season in 2021, there are a lot more eyeballs on the Bulldogs for the 2022 season as more than half of the Bulldogs’ games are going to be broadcast on national tele vision this season via either ESPN+ or CBS Sports Network. 34

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6:30 PM vs UTAH STATE

Sep 10 (Sat) 11:00 AM at TEXAS Sep 17 (Sat) 3:00 PM vs ULM Sep 24 (Sat) SEC vs VANDERBILT Oct 1 (Sat) SEC at ARKANSAS Oct 8 (Sat) SEC vs TEXAS A&M

#1

The Alabama Crimson Tide has been the most dom inant dynasty in college football history under Nick Saban as the program has a 178-25 overall record, eight SEC championships, and six national cham pionships. Yet, the 2022 team could very well be one of the best the most accomplished college football coach in history has ever coached. After losing in the College Football Playoff National Cham pionship game to Georgia last season, the Crimson Tide is now out for blood led by Heisman Trophy winning quarter back Bryce Young. The All-American quarterback set nu merous school records by throwing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns in 2021. Now, Young will try to make history by coming only the second ever player to win back to back Heisman Trophies joining only Ohio State running back Ar chie Griffin. The scariest part about this team is that their Heisman Tro phy winner may not even be their best player. On defense, outside linebacker Will Anderson dominated offenses lead ing the nation with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss last season. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Young will lead the team as the Crimson Tide are the top favorites to win the national championship in 2022.

Oct 1 (Sat) 5 PM SWAC A Texas Southern Oct 8 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Jackson State

Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM SBC A Western Kentucky Oct 8 (Sat) 2 PM SBC H Southern Miss Oct 15 (Sat) 2:30 PM SBC H Texas State Oct 20 (Thurs) 2:30 PM SBC A South Alabama

Nov 12 (Sat) 2:30 PM H Army Nov 19 (Sat) 2:30 PM SBC H ULM Nov 26 (Sat) SBC A Arkansas State

The Hornets got the scoring started when they took their first lead of the game at 6-3 with an eight play, 55 yard drive capped off by a three yard touchdown run from Ja’Won Howell. Then, the offense scored again when Davis threw his only touchdown of the night to Isaiah Scott in order to give the Hornets a 13-6 lead after a seven play, 77 yard drive. The third touchdown also came off another long drive when the offense marched the entirety of the field on a 99 yard drive as Jacory Merrett-Croskey had a 22 yard touchdown scamper extending Alabama State’s lead to 13 at Although20-6. the Bison did score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, a Nathanial Eichner field goal secured the Hornets’ first victory of the season. After building the Troy Trojans into one of the country’s best defenses from 2015 to 2017, former Troy defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall is now the program’s new head football coach. An interesting fact is that six of the last seven Troy head football coaches previously served as an assistant coach on the Troy staff. Those coaches are Robert Maddox, Rick Rhoades, Chan Gailey, Neal Brown, Chip Lindsey, and now TheSumrall.Trojans have been known for their pass rushers dating all the way back to four time 1st Team All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, but the team’s bandit position has pro duced an All-Sun Belt 1st Team selection in five of the last six years. The streak can continue this season as Richard Jibunor and Javon Solomon combined for 72 total quarter back pressures. Linebacker Carlton Martial and cornerback Reddy Steward are also top defenders. The Trojans are also one of the most opportunistic defenses in the country forc ing the second most turnovers per game since 2016. Offensively, the team is led by quarterback Gunnar Wat son, who ranks among the top 15 all-time in Troy history in completion percentage, completions, yards, and touch downs. The offensive line is experienced returning four starters from 2021.

Schedule

Aug 27 (Sat) W, 23-13 NG Howard Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM H Miles College

35 By: Jace LeJeune

Oct 15 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Mississippi Valley S. Oct 29 (Sat) 2:30 PM SWAC H Alabama A&M

Sep 10 (Sat) 4 PM A UCLA Sep 24 (Sat) 5 PM SWAC H Prairie View A&M

Nov 24 (Thurs) 2 PM SWAC H Arkansas-Pine Bluff Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) A Ole Miss Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM H Alabama A&M Sep 17 (Sat) 2:30 PM A Appalachian State Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM SBC H Marshall

Nov 5 (Sat) 4 PM SWAC A Bethune-Cookman Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM SWAC H Florida A&M

The Eddie Robinson Jr. got off to a great start after Alabama State defeated Howard 23-13 in the ME AC-SWAC challenge in the last week of August. Hornets quarterback Demarius Davis was effi cient and in control of the offense completing 17 of 24 pass es for 187 yards and a touchdown. Davis was also named as the MEAC-SWAC Challenge Most Valuable Player.

By: Jace LeJeune

Nov 5 (Sat) 4 PM SBC A Ragin’ Cajuns

Sep 10 (Sat) 6:30 PM H San Jose State

By: Jace LeJeune

Sep 17 (Sat) 2:30 PM H Penn State Sep 24 (Sat) SEC H Missouri Oct 1 (Sat) SEC H LSU Oct 8 (Sat) SEC A Georgia Oct 15 (Sat) SEC A Ole Miss Oct 29 (Sat) SEC H Arkansas

Sep 3 (Sat) H Mercer

Schedule

Sep 3 (Sat) 1 PM H Davidson Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A Murray State Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM A Tulsa Sep 24 (Sat) 3 PM A Nicholls State

Aug 27 (Sat) W, 42-17 H Stephen F. Austin

The Auburn Tigers begin year number two under head coach Bryan Harsin. The Tigers are the bene factors of an eight game home schedule includ ing a highly anticipated non-conference matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions. After posting a 6-7 overall record in year number one for the former Boise State head coach, the Tigers are looking to bounce back and be come a main competitor in the SEC West.

Offensively, the quarterback position was a big question mark with former LSU quarterback TJ Finley, former Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada, and Oregon quarterback Robbie Ashford all battling for the starting job. Most recently, Harsin announced that Finley would start off as the man under cen ter, but this competition is certainly not over. Whoever takes snaps under center will make sure to give the football to do it all running back Tank Bigsby. The former SEC Freshman of the Year ran for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021.

Schedule

Oct 22 (Sat) 1 PM Southeastern Louisiana Oct 29 (Sat) 3 PM ASUN A Austin Peay Nov 12 (Sat) 1 PM ASUN H Eastern Kentucky Nov 19 (Sat) 4 PM ASUN A Central Arkansas 36

By: Jace LeJeune New Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodri guez’s debut was a success with an impressive 42-17 season opening victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. Star redshirt senior quar terback Zion Webb ran for a career best three touchdowns while accounting for 219 yards of total offense. Running backs Anwar Lewis and Matt LaRoche combined for close to 200 yards rushing. The Gamecocks finished with 484 to tal yards of offense and scored 35 unanswered points after Stephen F. Austin took an early 17-7 lead. 360 of those yards came in the first half as it was the most total yards accumu lated in a half since 2019 for the Gamecocks. The defense settled in the game only giving up 150 yards of offense and even scoring a touchdown themselves with a fumble recovery by Cole Fuller in the end zone. Sophomore Deco Wilson was the team’s standout player on defense with eight tackles and an interception returned for 22 yards.

Defensively, the Tigers will be led by defensive linemen Der ick Hall and Colby Wooden. Both are preseason All-SEC selections. Special teams will also be a team strength with kicker Anders Carlson and punter Oscar Chapman both re turning.

Nov 5 (Sat) SEC A Mississippi State Nov 12 (Sat) SEC H Texas A&M Nov 19 (Sat) SEC H Western Kentucky Nov 26 (Sat) SEC A Alabama

Oct 1 (Sat) 1 PM ASUN H Kennesaw State Oct 15 (Sat) 6 PM ASUN H North Alabama

The Gamecocks defeated the Lumberjacks despite not play ing the last 13 minutes because of lightning. It was deter mined after an hour and 46 minute delay. It was a huge state ment win for the Gamecocks defeating a top 10 FCS ranked team.

By: Jace LeJeune

Schedule

Chris Hatcher enters year number eight as a head coach of the Samford Bulldogs. Over his colle giate coaching career, Hatcher has a 161-93 overall coaching record after also having stops at Murray State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State. During his time at Samford, the Bulldogs have become one of the most ex citing offensive teams to watch. Last season, the Bulldogs produced the FCS all-purpose yardage leader in Montrell Washington. Throughout his first seven years at Samford, Hatcher’s offenses have averaged more points than under any other head coach in program history.

The North Alabama Lions will be making history this season as this will be the first season as a Divi sion I member of the Football Championship Sub division or FCS for short.

The Lions are coming off a 3-8 season in 2021 when the pro gram was making the transition to Division I. The offense is led by four players that were preseason All-ASUN Confer ence including running back Parker Driggers, wide receivers Cortez Hall and Takairee Kenebrew, and tight end Corson Swan. Drigggers is coming off 470 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Meanwhile, both Hall and Kenebrew combine for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns from last season. The quarterback race is down to four candidates right now between Jaylen Gipson, Rett Files, Noah Walters, and Ben Harris.

Schedule Sep 1 (Thurs) 5 PM A Indiana State Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM H UVA Wise Sep 17 (Sat) 5 PM A Chattanooga Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM H Tarleton State Oct 8 (Sat) 5 PM ASUN A Kennesaw State Oct 15 (Sat) 6 PM ASUN H Jacksonville State Oct 22 (Sat) 2 PM A Eastern Kentucky Oct 29 (Sat) 4 PM ASUN A Central Arkansas Nov 5 (Sat) 4 PM ASUN H Austin Peay Nov 12 (Sat) 4 PM ASUN H Tennessee Tech Nov 19 (Sat) 4 PM A Memphis

“Our guys are excited for a lot of reasons,” said UNA Head Football Coach Chris Willis. “Being a full Division I member and now eligible to compete for the playoffs has brought a lot of energy to our pre-season camp. But these guys have worked hard for almost a month now and they are ready to line up against someone else and see how they stack up.”

Despite the high powered offense, the Bulldogs will try to post a winning record after going 4-7 in 2021 while look ing to make the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2017. The offense will be replacing its record setting quarterback in Welch after he threw for 6,000 yards during his Bulldogs ca reer. The offense will be led by JUCO transfer Michael Hiers, who is the number one Pro-Style JUCO quarterback in the nation. Led by preseason 1st Team All-SoCOn linebacker Nathan East, offensive lineman Gavin Orr, punter Bradley Porcatello, and the help of eight other graduate students, this experienced Bulldogs team has high expectations in 2022.

Sep 1 (Thurs) 6 PM H #8 Kennesaw State Sep 10 (Sat) 3 PM A Georgia Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM A Tennessee Tech Sep 24 (Sat) 2 PM H Western Carolina Oct 1 (Sat) 1 PM SOCON A Furman Oct 8 (Sat) 12 PM SOCON H Wofford Oct 22 (Sat) 2:30 PM SOCON A ETSU Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM SOCON A The Citadel Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM SOCON H VMI Nov 12 (Sat) 12:30 PM SOCON A Chattanooga Nov 19 (Sat) 12 PM SOCON H Mercer

By: Jace LeJeune 37

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) H Nicholls State Sep 10 (Sat) 12 PM A Central Michigan

The Jaguars will have to replace its leading passer and receiv er from last season. The offense will look to Jalen Wayne to lead the receiving core after he had 53 catches for 630 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Toledo transfer Carter Bradley will take over the reins at quarterback. The Jaguars are known for having a ball control type of offense after leading the confer ence in time of possession. Defensively, the Jaguars will have one of the best secondaries in the Sun Belt Conference led by Darrell Luter Jr. and Keith Gallmon Jr. Luter returns after earning 1st Team All-Confer ence honors with four interceptions and ten passes defended. Gallmon returns at safety after having 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of pass breakups, and an interception. The ex pectations are high for the Jaguars in 2022 after being pro jected to finish second in the Sun Belt West Division.

By: Jace LeJeune

Earlier in the summer, Bryant Vincent was named as UAB’s interim head football coach after previ ous head coach Bill Clark announced that he would step down due to health concerns. Vincent is still familiar with the program as he has been the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. When the UAB foot ball program returned after a two year absence in 2015 and 2016, the Blazers were blazing hot in the C-USA Conference having five winning seasons, winning 43 games, two C-USA championships and another C-USA championship game ap Oncepearance.again, the Blazers are projected to be among the top of the conference behind defending conference champion UTSA. The offense is led by a lethal 1-2 punch at running back in Jermaine Brown Jr. and DeWayne McBride. Both combined for 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Dylan Hopkins returns at quarterback after completing 66% of his passes for 2,275 yards and 18 touchdowns to go along with five more rushing touchdowns. Zachary native Trea Shropshire returns as the team’s leading receiver with 702 yards and seven touchdowns. The defense has a really good secondary led by safety Keondre Swoopes, cornerback Star ling Thomas, and safety Will Boler.

Sep 17 (Sat) 1 PM A UCLA Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM H Louisiana Tech Oct 1 (Sat) SBC A Ragin’ Cajuns Oct 15 (Sat) 4 PM SBC H ULM Oct 20 (Thurs) 6:30 PM SBC H Troy Oct 29 (Sat) 6 PM SBC A Arkansas State Nov 5 (Sat) 3 PM SBC A Georgia Southern Nov 12 (Sat) 4 PM SBC H Texas State Nov 19 (Sat) SBC A Southern Miss Nov 26 (Sat) 11 AM SBC H Old Dominion

By: Jace LeJeune

After a 5-7 season in 2021, the South Alabama Jag uars look to bounce back and have a bowl eligible season. Kevin Wommack enters his second sea son as the Jaguars head coach after previously be ing the defensive coordinator at Indiana. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator for South Alabama.

Schedule Sep 1 (Thurs) H Alabama A&M Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A Liberty Sep 17 (Sat) 2:30 PM H Georgia Southern Oct 1 (Sat) 6:30 PM C-USA A Rice Oct 8 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA H Middle Tennessee Oct 15 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA H Charlotte Oct 21 (Fri) 7 PM C-USA A Western Kentucky Oct 29 (Sat) 7 PM C-USA A Florida Atlantic Nov 5 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA H UTSA Nov 12 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA H North Texas Nov 19 (Sat) C-USA A LSU Nov 26 (Sat) 2:30 PM C-USA A Louisiana Tech

38

Oct 1 (Sat) 2 PM GSC H Shorter

Sep 1 (Thurs) 6 PM H #8 Kennesaw State Sep 10 (Sat) 3 PM A Georgia Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM A Tennessee Tech Sep 24 (Sat) 2 PM H Western Carolina

Schedule

Ruffin will have big shoes to fill as Slater achieved a lot of success at Tuskegee posting a 123-47 overall record with sev en SIAC championships, and an HBCU National Champion ship over a 16 year period. However, Ruffin enjoyed plenty of success himself at Miles College winning more than 60% of his games,four SIAC championships, making two NCAA postseason appearances, and winning the SIAC coach of the year three times.

The Golden Tigers are also one win away from making his tory becoming the fourth Division II program to have 700 or more wins and the first to do so as a HBCU school. Tuskegee was picked to finish third in the SIAC West Division behind Lane and Miles in 2022.

Oct 15 (Sat) 6 PM GSC A Delta State Oct 22 (Sat) 4 PM GSC H North Greenville Oct 29 (Sat) 4 PM GSC A West Florida

Oct 8 (Sat) 6 PM GSC A Valdosta State

All-GSC running back Demetrius Battle returns for the Ti gers offense after rushing for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In the passing game, the offense will have to re place its quarterback and a couple of its receivers so relying Battle as an offensive weapon will be a key to success for this unit. Darius Nalls is expected to become the top receiving target for the offense. Defensively, the unit is led by safety Shamar Lewis and line backer Michael Anderson. Lewis had 38 tackles, six pass breakups, and led the team with three interceptions. Ander son led the team in tackles with 55 and also had two forced fumbles in 2021. Special teams is also a strength with kicker Gabriel Dunkle and punter Trey Sullivan returning as pro ductive veterans on the squad.

By: Jace LeJeune 39

Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM GSC H Mississippi College

Nov 5 (Sat) 2 PM SOCON H VMI Nov 12 (Sat) 12:30 PM SOCON A Chattanooga Nov 19 (Sat) 12 PM SOCON H Mercer

Sep 3 (Sat) 5 PM A Morehouse College Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A Miles College

Nov 12 (Sat) 2 PM GSC A Delta State Schedule

There is a new head football coach this season for Tuskegee University as longtime head football coach Willie Slater is now the head coach at Clark Atlanta University. Taking his place at Tuskegee is Reginald Ruffin, who previously served as the head football coach and athletic director at Miles College. He will serve both roles at Tuskegee. Ruffins knows what it is like to be part of this program as he was the defensive coordinator for the university from 2006-2010.

Sep 17 (Sat) 2 PM H Tuskegee University Sep 24 (Sat) 2 PM H West Georgia

By: Jace LeJeune

Oct 1 (Sat) 1 PM SOCON A Furman Oct 8 (Sat) 12 PM SOCON H Wofford Oct 22 (Sat) 2:30 PM SOCON A ETSU Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM SOCON A The Citadel

The West Alabama Tigers are coming off a nice 7-4 season in 2021, but head coach Brett Gilliland wants his team to finish the season strong just like how they started last season jumping out to a 6-0 start. Gilliland is entering his eighth season as the program’s head coach and is a program legend as a record setting quar terback and also as West Alabama’s winningest coach.

By: Jace LeJeune

40 Schedule SEP 3 (Sat) L, 41-34 Linfield Linfield

SEP 10 (Sat) 6pm A Birmingham Southern Sep 17 (Sat) 12pm A Guilford Sep 24 (Sat) 1pm H Belhaven Oct 1 (Sat) 1pm A Maryville (Tenn.) Oct 15 (Sat) 1pm H Brevard Oct 22 (Sat) 1pm A Methodist Oct 29 (Sat) 1pm H Greensboro Nov 5 (Sat) 11am A N.C. Wesleyan Nov 12 (Sat) 1pm H LaGrange

Oct 8 (Sat) 1 PM SAA A #9 Trinity Oct 15 (Sat) 4 PM SAA H Millsaps College Oct 22 (Sat) 6 PM SAA A Sewanee

Birmingham Southern is coming off one of the best seasons in their program’s history going 10-2 and finishing as the SAA runner-ups. That allowed them to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Play offs where they defeated Huntingdon 21-14 in the first round before losing to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second round. Not only was the team rewarded by the end of the year, but a lot of individuals were rewarded as well with 21 student athletes being named to an All-SAA team, and two Panthers earning All-American honors. Because of last season’s great breakout year, the Panthers are picked to finish second in the SAA preseason poll. The team will also start off as the number 25 ranked team in the coun try according to D3football.com.

Head Coach Tony Joe White has built a rising program in Division III football as he took over a team that was new just returning to play football again in 2007. Since taking the job in 2017, White has already enjoyed three winning seasons with the program entering the 2022 season.

Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM SAA H Hendrix College Nov 5 (Sat) 1 PM SAA H Centre College

Huntingdon College is a private Methodist col lege in Montgomery, Alabama. It was founded in 1854 as a women’s college. Huntingdon College teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III. The Hawks are members of the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS), formed in July 2022 by an amicable split of the USA South Athletic HuntingdonConference.wasplaced atop the rankings thanks to receiv ing 62 total points and six of the possible nine first place votes. The Hawks finished last season with a perfect 8-0 reg ular season Conference record and claimed its sixth League title in the last seven years. Since the first Conference football preseason poll in 2003, the Huntingdon program, who joined the USA South in 2013, has been picked to capture the title five times, follow ing through on that prediction four times. The team picked first in the preseason poll’s history has grabbed the Confer ence crown ten out of 18 years. Conversely, the team picked second has won the Conference championship four times.

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) A McMurry University Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM H Huntingdon College Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM H Point University Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM SAA H Berry College

Legendary Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football coach Willie Slater has become the new head foot ball coach at Clark Atlanta University. Slater, who won seven SIAC championships as a head coach at Tuskegee University, takes over for Tim Bowens, who served as CAU’s coach for the past three years. Slater spent the past 16 years at Tuskegee where his teams were 123-47, winning SIAC titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2017. The 2007 squad was named HBCU national champions with a 12-0 record. 41

Founded on September 19, 1865, as Atlanta University, it consolidated with Clark College (established 1869) to form Clark Atlanta University in 1988.

Sep 10 (Sat) 4:00pm Home Erskine College

Sep 17 (Sat) TBA Away Lane College Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00pm Home Albany State U.

ScCollegehedule

SEP 3 (SAT) 5 P.M. AT ALABAMA STATE

OCT 15 (SAT) 4 P.M. SIAC VS LANE OCT 22 (SAT) 2 P.M. SIAC VS KENTUCKY STATE OCT 27 (THU) 6 P.M. VS EDWARD WATERS

Nov 5 (Sat) 2:00pm Away Morehouse College

Three Clark Atlanta football players were named to this sea son’s Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Con ference team. Defensive back Charles Crawford was a first-team honoree, while wide receiver Drakar Jerry and linebacker Rodney Lewis were named to the second team.

SEP 17 (SAT) 6 P.M. VS VALDOSTA STATE SEP 24 (SAT) 12 P.M. SIAC AT CENTRAL STATE

OCT 1 (SAT) 1 P.M. SIAC AT ALBANY STATE OCT 8 (SAT) 1 P.M. SIAC AT BENEDICT

Miles College is a private historically black college in Fairfield, Alabama. The Golden Bears play NCAA Division II ball in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Miles College Golden Bears is coaches by Sam Shade. Sam is former college player at the University of Alabama and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1995–2002 as a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins. During his extensive coaching career, Shade has led the Pinson Valley Indians to a 2020 6A State Championship and was a 2021 6A Playoffs Quarterfinalist.

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 3:00PM W, 39-34 Edward Waters (Fla.)

Clark Atlanta University, known athletically as the Panthers, competes within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Con ference (SIAC) of the National Collegiate Athletic Associa tion (NCAA), Division II.

For the second straight season, Miles will open on the road against Alabama State (Sept. 3) in the Labor Day Classic. On Sept. 10, the Golden Bears will host West Alabama followed by a Sept. 17 date with Valdosta State. Both Gulf South Conference schools are perennial powerhouses within the region and VSU played in the Division II National Championship game last season.

Oct 1 (Sat) 4:00pm Home Tuskegee University Oct 8 (Sat) 6:00pm Away Allen University (S.C.)

Miles

Five student-athletes were named to the Preseason All-Con ference team at the SIAC Football Media Day; Mitchell Smiley, Tyler Lowery, Roosevelt Thompson, Marcus Lodge and Jackson Spradlin Additionally, the Golden Bears were picked to win the Western Division and earn a spot in the conference champi onship game for what would be a fourth consecutive time. All selections were earned by votes from the league’s head football coaches and media relations professionals.

NOV 5 (SAT) 1 P.M. SIAC AT TUSKEGEE

Clark Atlanta University (CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private, Methodist, historically black research uni versity in Atlanta, Georgia. Clark Atlanta is the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

Oct 15 (Sat) 2:00pm Home Savannah State U. Oct 22 (Sat) 4:00pm Home Fort Valley State U. Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00pm Away Benedict College

SEP 10 (SAT) 6 P.M. VS WEST ALABAMA

Oct 29 (Sat) 4 p.m. Neutral Savannah State U.

Nov 5 (Sat) 2 p.m. Neutral Albany State University

Sep 4 (Sun) 7 p.m. W, 21-6 Tuskegee University

Jeremy Atwell Defensive Coordinator

Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00 PM SIAC at Clark-Atlanta

Shawn Gibbs, in taking the helm of the Fort Valley State Uni versity football program in his first stint as a head coach, is putting the focus right out of the gate on team achievements rather than himself. Gibbs will have seven All-SIAC Preseason players to lead his first club with four on the First Team of offensive line men Emanuel Boone and Waylin Bell, running back Eman uel Wilson and defensive back Tyler Moore. The Wildcats have the defensive tandem of lineman Tim Alderman and defensive back Christian Maddox are Second Team honorees along with punt returner Hakeem Ellington.

Oct 15 (Sat) 2:00 PM SIAC vs Benedict College

Oct 8 (Sat) 1 p.m. Away Central State University

Coach Gabe Giardina on the 2022 recruting class: I am very excited to announce 19 new FAMILY members to our Albany State football family. I would like to personally thank our coaches and their families for the effort they have put into signing such a talented collection of young men. We have con tinued to find our type of guys that recognize how special and how hard it is to be a Golden Ram. These are not only guys who jump off the tape but men who are leaders and competitors at their respective schools. The future is bright and this group has been recruited over the last twelve months and has a chance to be very special. We continue to create competition and depth on a team that returns 18 of 22 starters and won the 2021 SIAC Conference Championship.

Sep 17 (Sat) 2 p.m. Home Allen University (S.C.)

The Fort Valley State Wildcats are located in Fort Valley, Georgia, and compete in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Wildcats are full mem bers of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Con ference, where all 12 of its athletic programs compete. Fort Valley has been a member of the SIAC since 1941. Fort Val ley State University is a historically black university. In 1969, the Fort Valley State football team set the modern-era record for most points scored against a college opponent, with 106 points against Knoxville College.

Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00 PM SIAC vs Morehouse College

Sep 17 (Sat) 12:00 PM At Shorter University

Oct 1 (Sat) 2 p.m. Home Benedict College

42 Schedule

Oct 22 (Sat) 2 p.m. Away Clark Atlanta U.

Schedule

Oct 15 (Sat) 2 p.m. Home Morehouse College

Sep 10 (Sat) 1 p.m. Home Kentucky State U.

Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 PM at Florida A&M

Michael Welch Defensive Line Coach

Adam Hollifield Associate Head Coach/ Offensive Coordinator

Oct 8 (Sat) 6:00 PM SIAC at Edward Waters

Jalen Bush Defensive Analyst/Corners

Sep 24 (Sat) 1 p.m. Away Bluefield State College

Sep 3 (Sat) 7 P.M. vs Mississippi College

Gabe Giardina Head Football Coach

Anthony Kelly Assistant Football Coach (Tight Ends)

Oct 22 (Sat) 5:00 PM SIAC at Savannah State

Charlie Skalaski Quarterbacks Coach & Recruiting Coordinator

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:00 PM SIAC vs Miles College

Gabe Giardina was tabbed this year’s SIAC Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Rams to an undefeated conference slate and a championship title in 2022. In his fifth season leading the Golden Rams, Giardina guided them to a No. 3 ranking in the NCAA Super Region poll, winning the SIAC’s Eastern Division, SIAC championship and hosted a NCAA playoff game.

Nov 5 (Sat) 1:00 PM SIAC Fort Valley State Coaches

#3 Schedule

Sep 3 (Sat) 7:30 PM L, 14-35 South Carolina Sep10 (Sat) 12:00 PM H North Carolina Sep 17 (Sat) 7:00 PM H Charlotte Sep 22 (Thu) 7:30 PM H SBC Coastal Carolina Oct 1 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Army Oct 8 (Sat) TBA H SBC Georgia Southern Oct 19 (Wed) 7:30 PM A SBC Appalachian State Oct 29 (Sat) TBA H SBC Old Dominion Nov 5 (Sat) TBA A SBC Southern Miss Nov 12 (Sat) TBA H SBC ULM Nov 19 (Sat) TBA A SBC James Madison Nov 26 (Sat) TBA A SBC Marshall 43

Sep 3 (Sat) 3:30 p.m. W, 49-3 Oregon

Sep 24 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. H Kent State

The Georgia Bulldogs football program compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Ath letic Association and the Eastern Division of the South eastern Conference. UGA claims three consensus nation al championships (1942, 1980 and 2021); the AP and Coaches Polls have each voted the Bulldogs the national champion twice (1980 and 2021); Georgia has also been named the National Champion by at least one polling authority in four other seasons (1920, 1927, 1946 and 1968). The Bulldogs have won 15 conference champi onships, including 13 SEC championships, tied for second-most in conference history, and have appeared in 59 bowl games, sec ond-most all-time. After helping lead Georgia to the 2021 national championship, se nior QB Stetson Bennett returns to the quarterbacks room in 2022. Bennett is 14-3 as a starter, including 11-1 last season. He set the school record for Passing Efficiency at 176.7 during the 2021 cam paign. Bennett was the Offensive MVP in both the College Foot ball Playoff National Championship win over top-ranked Alabama as well as in the CFP Semifinal Orange Bowl victory over No. 2 Michigan. He directed the Bulldogs to the first undefeated regular season in the SEC (school record 8-0) since 1982.

For the third time in school history, Georgia led the nation in Scor ing Defense. The 2021 unit allowed just 10.2 points per game and only 153 total points in 15 games.

Oct 8 (Sat) TBA H SEC Auburn Oct 15 (Sat) TBA H SEC Vanderbilt Oct 29 (Sat) 3:30 p.m. N SEC Florida

Sep 10 (Sat) 4:00 p.m. H Samford e

Sep 17 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. A SEC South Carolina

Nov 12 (Sat) TBA A SEC Mississippi State

Last season, the Panthers had a close call at Auburn. Geor gia State led until the final minute but the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-down pass with 45 seconds left and went on to win 34-24.

Nov 19 (Sat) TBA A SEC Kentucky Nov 26 (Sat) TBA H Georgia Tech

Nov 5 (Sat) TBA H SEC Tennessee

Senior running backs Tucker Gregg (third) and Jamyest Williams (seventh) both rank among the top seven career rushers in GSU history. Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,445) and Williams (1,188) have combined for 2,633 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

Senior OLB Nolan Smith, redshirt sophomore DB Kelee Ringo and senior S Christopher Smith are the Bulldogs’ three returning de fensive starters from last season’s championship team. Eight Geor gia defenders were taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick in Travon Walker (Jacksonville) and four others in the First Round (Jordan Davis, Philadelphia; Quay Walker, Devon te Wyatt, Green Bay; Lewis Cine, Minnesota).

The Georgia State Panthers football team was founded in 2010 and competes at the NCAA Division I FBS lev el. The team is a member of the Sun Belt Conference. One of the biggest moments in GSU athletics history was the Panthers’ 38-30 victory at Tennessee in the 2019 season opener, the program’s first win over a Power Five team. In that Tennessee win, Georgia State trailed 17-14 at the half but outscored the Vols 24-13 in the second half. Tra Barnett’s 19-yard run gave GSU a 28-23 lead, and then quarterback Dan Ellington sealed the win with a 22-yard touchdown run with five minutes left. Now Georgia State’s tight ends coach, Ellington also threw two TD passes in the game, and the GSU defense held Tennessee to 98 yards rushing.

Oct 1 (Sat) TBA A SEC Missouri

Schedule

Starting with the offense, UWG returns quarterback Harri son Frost who threw for a single-season school record last season, and also brings back two of his top five targets from a season ago in Terrill Cole and Ronnie Blackmon.

Georgia Southern has had a 100-yard rusher in 74 of its past 100 games dating back to its move to the FBS in 2014. Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, Georgia Southern has won 23 of its past 28 games when having a 100-yard rusher. Since the start of the 2018 season, Georgia Southern has had 34 100-yard rushing performances, coming from nine differ ent players. The nine different 100-yard rushers is the most in the conference during that span. GS has outrushed its op ponent in 71 of the past 100 games dating back to its move to the FBS in 2014.

The

44

Nov 12 (Sat) 12:30 PM A North Greenville

The West Georgia Wolves (UWG Wolves, formerly the West Georgia Braves) are located in Carroll ton, Georgia, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Wolves compete as members of the Gulf South Conference for all 13 varsity sports. West Georgia has been a member of the GSC since 1983.

Sep 17 (Sat) 3:30 PM A UAB Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM H Ball State

The Eagles competed as an FCS independent from 1984 to1992 and as a member of the Southern Conference from 1993 to 2013, winning 10 SoCon championships. In 2014, Georgia Southern moved to the FBS level and joined the Sun Belt Conference, winning the conference championship out right in its first year. Georgia Southern’s main Sun Belt rival is Appalachian State.

But in the backfield, UWG has some new and familiar faces ready to run behind an experienced offensive line. One of the familiar faces is Rajaez Mosley who rushed 81 times for 343 yards and three touchdowns in 2021.

Schedule

Nov 26 (Sat) 6:00 PM H SBC App State

Oct 22 (Sat) TBA A SBC Old Dominion Nov 5 (Sat) 4 PM H SBC South Alabama

Oct 1 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Mississippi College

Oct 15 (Sat) 4 PM H SBC James Madison

Oct 22 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Valdosta State

Oct 1 (Sat) TBA A SBC Coastal Carolina

Oct 29 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Shorter Carrollton, Nov 5 (Sat) 3:00 PM A Delta State

On defense, UWG has experience at all three levels. On the defensive line, the trio of Marzavion Dix, Allen Johnson, and Shahin O’Neal have combined to play in 97 games in their careers.

Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM W, 59-7 Morgan State

Oct 8 (Sat) TBA A SBC Georgia State

Nov 10 (Thu) 7:30 PM A SBC Louisiana Nov 19 (Sat) 6 PM H Marshall

“One of the new guys in the backfield is Jaxton Carson, who will actually start in the game on Thursday night, and he brings a lot of experience after transferring in this offseason,” Dean added.

Sep10 (Sat) 7:30 PM A Nebraska

Oct 8 (Sat) 6:00 PM H West Florida

Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 PM A Morehouse

Georgia Southern Eagles football program is part of the Sun Belt Conference. The current head coach is Clay Helton. The Eagles have won six FCS (I-AA) national championships and have produced two Walter Payton Award winners. Georgia Southern first continuously fielded a football team in 1924, but play was suspended for World War II and did not return until 1981.

Sep 24 (Sat) 3:00 PM A West Alabama

Oct 15 (Sat) 1:00 PM A North Greenville

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 7:00 PM W, 38-7 Carson-Newman

The Owls enter 2022 with six-straight seasons finishing topthree in the FCS in rushing yards. KSU has outrushed oppo nents in 13 consecutive games and has only been out-rushed three times in its history (81 games). No other start-up program in college football history had more wins in its first five seasons than Kennesaw State with 48 victories. 45 Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) L, 17-27 Samford Sep 10 (Sat) 3:30 PM A Cincinnati Sep 24 (Sat) 6 PM H Wofford Oct 1 (Sat) 2 PM (ET) A Jacksonville State Oct 8 (Sat) 6 PM H North Alabama Oct 15 (Sat) 1 PM H Central Arkansas Oct 22 (Sat) 3 PM H Tennessee Tech Oct 29 (Sat) 1 PM H Charleston Southern Nov 5 (Sat) 1 PM (ET) A UT Martin Nov 12 (Sat) 1 PM H Austin Peay Nov 19 (Sat) 3 PM A Eastern Kentucky Schedule

SEP 5 (MON) L, 41-10 Clemson SEP 10 (Sat) 7:00 pm H Western Carolina SEP 17 (SAT) 3:30 pm H Ole Miss SEP 24 (SAT) A UCF OCT 1 (Sat) A Pitt OCT 8 (Sat) H Duke OCT 20 (Thu) 7:30 pm H Virginia OCT 29 (Sat) A Florida State NOV 5 (Sat) A Virginia Tech NOV 12 (Sat) H Miami NOV 19 (Sat) A North Carolina NOV 26 (Sat) A Georgia

Kennesaw State has averaged 404.7 yards per game in its first three meetings with Samford. The Owls have outscored the Bulldogs 75-55 in these matchups and have averaged 25.0 points per game.

Preseason All-American quarterback Xavier Shepherd en ters the season nine rushing yards shy of 1,000 for his KSU career. Shepherd currently ranks sixth in the Owl record book in this category and aims to become the sixth player in Kennesaw State history to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football Program represents the NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Com petitors in the sport of American football. The Yel low Jackets college football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Georgia Tech has fielded a football team since 1892 and, as of 2020, has an all-time record of 740–518-43 through the 2020 season. The Yellow Jackets won four national championships across four decades (1917, 1928, 1952, 1990), including 16 conference titles. Among the team’s former coaches are John Heisman, for whom the Heisman Trophy is named, and Bobby Dodd, for whom the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award and the school’s stadium are named. Heisman led the team to the most lopsided game in football history, 222–0, and both Heisman and Dodd led Tech’s football team to national Georgiachampionships.Techopens its 130th season of football with a stiff test when it faces No. 4 Clemson in the season opener for both teams on Monday, Sept. 5 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz QuarterbackStadium.

The Kennesaw State Owls football began play ing in 2015 as a member of the Big South Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The head coach of the Owls is Brian Bohannon, and plays at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Jeff Sims returns for his third season as Geor gia Tech’s starting signal-caller. Last season, Sims was on the field for the equivalent of just six games due to injuries, but averaged 29.7 points and 431.2 yards per game with him be hind center, as opposed to 16.7 points and 302.8 yards per contest with him off the field

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 3:00pm vs Middle Georgia Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00pm at Berry Sep 17 (Sat) 1:00pm vs Ferrum Ferrum Sep 24 (Sat) 1:00pm vs Methodist Oct 1 (Sat) 12:00pm at N.C. Wesleyan Oct 8 (Sat) 1:00pm vs Maryville (Tenn.)

Sep 10 (Sat) 5 p.m. H Virginia Union Sep 17 (Sat) 7 p.m. ET A Miles College Sep 24 (Sat) 12 p.m. A Shorter Oct 1 (Sat) 7 p.m. ET A Delta State

Oct 8 (Sat) 7 p.m. H West Alabama

Nov 12 (Sat) 3 p.m. H Shorter

Valdosta State University, VSU, is a public university in Valdosta, Georgia. VSU is a NCAA DII program in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta State University foot ball teams won the Division II National Championship 4 times (2004, 2007, 2012, 2018) and also played in the title game in Defending2002. national runner-up Valdosta State was picked second in the D2Football.com Top 25. The Blazers, who finished 12-2 last season and 6-1 in Gulf South Conference play earning a share of the program’s third-straight Gulf South Conference title and ninth overall in program history, are sitting right behind defending na tional champion Ferris State. Blazer senior quarterback Ivory Durham, along with senior run ning backs Seth McGill and Jamar Thompkins were named to the all confrence team, along with graduate student offensive lineman Jeremiah Campbell. On defense, senior linebacker Jameon Gas kin earned preseason honors, along with sophomore kicker Estin Durham,Thiele. a native of Jacksonville, Fla., helped lead the Blazers to the program’s sixth national title appearance in 2021 in his first year as a starter under center. Durham went 12-2 last season earning AllGSC Second Team honors and D2CCA Second Team All-Region accolades. He went 244 of 406 passing for 3,425 yards, 32 touch downs and 11 interceptions, while he was one of three Blazers (all returning this season) to rush for over 1,000 yards on 128 carries for 1,012 yards and 13 rushing scores. He also had one reception for four yards and a touchdown.

Nov 5 (Sat) 1:00 pm vs Southern Virginia

Oct 15 (Sat) 3 p.m. H Mississippi College Oct 22 (Sat) 6 p.m. A West Georgia Oct 29 (Sat) 3 p.m. A North Greenville

Nov 12 (Sat) 2:00pm at Huntingdon 46

Nov 5 (Sat) 7 p.m. H West Florida

The preseason football poll was voted upon by the head coaches in the confer ence, and coaches couldn’t vote for their own team.

Oct 29 (Sat) 1:00pm at Belhaven at Belhaven

Trenton Harrison of Come oux High School played in the 2021 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game

The Panthers are looking to bounce back from a tough 2021 season when they went 2-8 overall, and 2-6 in the USA South.

The Panthers are an experienced team, especially on the offensive side with nearly every starter returning, includ ing quarterback Shedrick Lindsey, and All-American tight end De’queze Fryer.

“We’ve got a good group of guys,” said veteran offensive lineman Len Spivey. “We’ve got the most returners that we’ve ever had since I’ve been a part of this pro gram. I think we’ve got a shot to really do something special.”

Schedule

Sep 1 (Thu) 7 p.m. H Keiser

Oct 22 (Sat) 3:00pm vs Brevard at Brevard

LaGrange College is a private college in LaGrange, Georgia. LaGrange College is a member of NCAA Division III and the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS), formed in July 2022 by an amicable split of the previously 19-mem ber USA South Athletic Conference. In 2008, the Panthers football team rewrote NCAA Division III history when it went from its first two seasons of 20 straight losses to a 9-1 conference championship and a trip to the national playoffs, a turnaround record that stands to this day.

The Panthers, who open their season on Sept. 3 against Middle Georgia, have been picked to finish seventh in the USA South.

Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00 PM ASC VS SUL ROSS ST.

Nov 12 (Sat) 1:00 PM H North American Schedule

Texas Lutheran All-Conference punter and the 2021 ASC Newcomer of the Year, Cameron Welch (New Braunfels/Canyon), was named one of 20 players to watch this season.

O’Neil holds a 3.94 grade point average as a Theology and Sociology double major. The Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams recognize student-athletes who achieve a high level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the sports information directors from the 12 ASC member institutions and three affiliate members select a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each sport.

Nov 05 (Sat) 1:00 PM ASC AT SOUTHWESTERN

Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 PM AT TRINITY (TEX.)

Oct 1 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Southwestern Oct 8 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Mary Hardin-Baylor

O’Bryant heads into his senior season as one of the top receivers in the TASC.exas Lutheran University (TLU) is a private Evangelical Lu theran Church in Seguin, Texas.The Bulldogs compete at the Division III level of the NCAA and are in the American Southwest Conference, ASC.

Oct 29 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Texas Lutheran Nov 5 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Sul Ross State

47 Schedule

Sep 3 (Sat) 1:00pm vs Howard Payne

Sep 17 (Sat) 1:00 PM A McMurry

Oct 15 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Hardin-Simmons

Oct 22 (Sat) 1:00 PM ASC AT MCMURRY

Nov 12 (Sat) 1:00 PM ASC VS HARDIN-SIMMONS

Sep 3 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Wisconsin-Oshkosh

East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) is a private Baptist univer sity in Marshall, Texas. ETBU is a NCAA Division III program that plays in the American Southwest Conference, ASC. Playing in one of the top conferences in NCAA Division III, East Tex as Baptist University has been picked to finish fourth in the American Southwest Conference. ETBU earned 104 votes and was just 14 votes out of third place. “The ASC is the best conference in NCAA Division III. It is always great to be considered one of the top teams in the con ference from our peers; however, in this conference you better not take anyone lightly – you better bring your ‘A’ game each week,” said Brian Mayper, ETBU Head Coach.

Johnson (So.) played in all 10 games recording 73 tackles to finish second in the ASC. He was an All-ASC third-team selection. He posted a career high 15 tackles vs. Austin College and had 13 vs. Tex as Lutheran while forcing four fumbles on the year.

Sep 24 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Howard Payne

Oct 29 (Sat) 1:00 PM ASC VS EAST TEX. BAPTIST

Kelley returns for his senior year coming off an injury in the 2021 season. He came into last season as a preseason All-American before the injury and was an All-ASC first-team member.

Texas Lutheran University claims two back to back national champi onships in football for the 1974 and 1975 seasons in the NAIA Divi sion II Football National Championship. Both seasons were coached under legendary head coach Jim Wacker, who later went on to be a head coach at North Dakota State University (1976–1978), Southwest Texas State University, which is now Texas State University (1979–1982), Texas Christian University (1983–1991), and the University of Minnesota (1992–1996).

The Texas Lutheran football team was picked sixth in the 2022 Amer ican Southwest Conference (ASC) Preseason Poll.

Child (Sr.), an All-ASC third-team selection, was one of the top punt ers in the ASC averaging 33.1 yards per punt with eight inside the 20-yard line. He also doubled as a quarterback starting the final game vs. Belhaven. He also rushed for three touchdowns off the bench in helping ETBU with a come-from-behind win over Sul Ross State.

Texas Lutheran offensive lineman Jackson O’Neil (Katy/Cinco Ranch) has been named to the American Southwest Conference’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Football Team for the 2021-22 aca demic year.

Oct 22 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Austin College

Oct 01 (Sat) 7:00 PM AT NORTH AMERICAN

Four players are on the ASC watch list in Alek Child (P; Castroville, Texas), Joey Johnson (LB; Dallas, Texas), K.J. Kelley (DB; Abilene, Texas), and Kaleb O’Bryant (WR; Houston, Texas). All four players were key to the team last season.

Oct 08 (Sat) 1:00 PM ASC AT AUSTIN Oct 15 (Sat) 1:00 PM ASC VS MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

Thecoach.Aggies

return two of the team’s top three scorers from a season ago in senior WR Ainias Smith and junior RB Devon Achane ... Achane led the team last season with 11 touchdowns, while Smith added seven trips to the end zone.

#6

Oct 22 (Sat) SEC Away South Carolina Oct 29 (Sat) SEC Home Ole Miss Nov 5 (Sat) SEC Home Florida

Angelo State brings back one of the best running back duos in Di vision II in Nathaniel Omayebu III and Alfred Grear. Omayebu was the Lone Star Conference Running Back of the Year after rush ing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the LSC while Greer was second with 839 yards and five touchdowns.

Sep 24 (Sat) SEC Neutral Arkansas

Sep 17 (Sat) 6 p.m. Away UT Permian Basin Sep 24 (Sat) 6 p.m. Home West Texas A&M Oct 1 (Sat) 3 p.m. CST Away Western Oregon Oct 8 (Sat) 6 p.m. Home Eastern New Mexico Oct 15 (Sat) 7 p.m. Away Western N.M. U. Oct 22 (Sat) 6 p.m. Home Texas A&M - Kings. Oct 29 (Sat) 8 P.M. CST Away Simon Fraser Nov 5 (Sat) 6 p.m. Home Central Washington Nov 12 (Sat) 1 p.m. Away Midwestern State

The Rams are coming off a season where they ended with the 11th overall ranking in Division II after appearing in the quarterfinals of the 2021 NCAA Division II National Tournament, winning backto-back playoff games at home for the first time since 1989. ASU also tied the program record for most wins in a season with 11.

Tre’Darius Colbert and Weston Bauer return to lead the defensive line after combining for eight sacks last year and 21 tackles for loss.

Oct 8 (Sat) SEC Away Alabama

Nov 12 (Sat) SEC Away Auburn Nov 19 (Sat) Home UMass Nov 26 (Sat) SEC Home LSU

The seventh-ranked Angelo State football team begins the 2022 campaign at home with a Thursday night kickoff against Chadron State at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.

Angelo State Rams football team competes in NCAA Division II college football. The Rams compete in the South Division of the Lone Star Conference. Angelo State has earned one national title and three conference titles since becoming a member of the Lone Star Conference.

Sep 10 (Sat) 2:30 PM Home Appalachian State

The A&M defense finished the 2021 season third in the nation in scoring defense (15.9 ppg) and second in points allowed (191 pts).

The offensive line sees great experience and depth return for 2022, led by veteran Layden Robinson, who started 10 games at right guard last season ... Sophomores Bryce Foster and Reuben Father ee II were named Freshman All-Americans by the FWAA and The Athletic after making immediate impacts in 2021, as Foster started all 12 games at center and Fatheree II became a mainstay in the starting lineup at right tackle.

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 11:00 AM Home Sam Houston

Sep 17 (Sat) 8:00 PM Home Miami

Texas A&M Aggies football program competes in the Foot ball Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Western Division of the Southeast ern Conference. exas A&M football claims three national titles and 18 conference titles. The team plays all home games at the newly redeveloped Kyle Field, a 102,733-person capacity outdoor stadium on the university campus. Jimbo Fisher is the team’s head

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 7 p.m. Home Chadron State Sep 10 (Sat) 1 p.m. CST Away Co. School of Mines

Quarterback Zach Bronkhorst returns for his third season leading the Rams’ offense. With a career 56 completion percentage, Bronk horst has collected 3,191 passing yards in his career while throwing for 19 touchdowns in 2021.

Six of the team’s top 10 tacklers return from a season ago, led by junior DB Antonio Johnson, who tallied 79 takedowns in 2021, in cluding 53 solo tackles. 48

#18

The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference.

The University of Texas Football program, entering its second sea son under head coach Steve Sarkisian, is ranked No. 18 and in the Preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. It marks the sixth-straight season in which UT has been ranked in the presea son coaches poll and ninth time in the last 12 seasons.

49

Texas Longhorns football program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference. With over 900 wins, and an all-time win–loss percentage of .705, the Longhorns rank 3rd and 7th on the all-time wins and win–loss records lists, respectively. Additionally, the iconic program claims 4 national championships, 32 conference championships, 100 First Team All-Americans (61 consensus), and 2 Heisman Trophy winners.

#10

Nine of Texas’ 2022 opponents qualified for bowl games last sea son, including national runner-up Alabama who will visit Austin on Sept. 10. In 2022, Texas will host seven home games for the first time since 2010 and play nine of 12 regular-season games in the Lone Star State. Football season ticket sales for the 2022 season have broken an alltime record, eclipsing the previous record of 63,279 set in 2019. Thus far, over 7,000 new season tickets have been purchased lead ing into Coach Steve Sarkisian’s second season at the helm of the Longhorns. The 2022 home schedule, featuring seven home games for the first time since 2010, is highlighted by a marquee non-con ference home game with future Southeastern Conference foe Al abama on Sept. 10. It marks only the second time the Longhorns and Crimson Tide have met in Austin and the first time since 1922!

TJ Franklin, DL All-Big 12 Third Team (Athlon) Jacob Gall, All-AmericaC Third Team (PFN) All-America Fourth Team (Athlon, Pick Six Preview) All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6 p.m. H UAlbany Sep 10 (Sat) 9:15p.m. A BYU Sep 17 (Sat) 11 a.m. H Texas State Sep 24 (Sat) XII A Iowa State Oct 1 (Sat) XII H Oklahoma State Oct 13 (Thu) XII A West Virginia Oct 22 (Sat) XII H Kansas Oct 29 (Sat) XII A Texas Tech Nov 5 (Sat) XII A Oklahoma Nov 12 (Sat) XII H Kansas State Nov 19 (Sat) XII H TCU Nov 25 (Fri) XII A Texas

All-Big 12 First Team (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Preview) All-Texas Second Team (DCTF) Rimington Trophy Watch List Outland Trophy Watch List Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 7 p.m. CT Home ULM Sep 10 (Sat) 11 A.M. CT Home Alabama Sep 17 (Sat) 7 p.m. CT Home UTSA Sep 24 (Sat) XII Away Texas Tech Oct 1 (Sat) XII Home West Virginia Oct 8 (Sat) XII Neutral Oklahoma Oct 15 (Sat) XII Home Iowa State Oct 22 (Sat) XII Away Oklahoma State Nov 5 (Sat) XII Away Kansas State Nov 12 (Sat) XII Home TCU Nov 19 (Sat) XII Away Kansas Nov 25 (Fri) XII Home Baylor

In January 2020, after Rhule’s departure for the Panthers, Baylor hired former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. In Aranda’s first season, the team compiled a 2–7 record. However, in 2021, Aranda led the Bears to a 12-2 record with a Big12 Championship and a Sugar Bowl Championship. This season, there is confidence to repet their success from 2021. “I think momentum on both sides, players and coaches, you’re feeling it,” said third-year head coach Dave Aranda, “I think you see at tention to detail, the enthusiasm when you start out is always going to be there. But, it’s mixed in with some wisdom, some expectation. And then we’re grateful that there’s some high standards in there, too.”

2022 BAYLOR FOOTBALL PRESEASON HONORS Dave Aranda, Head Coach Dodd Trophy Watch List Dillon Doyle, LB All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media) All-Big 12 First Team (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Preview) All-Texas Second Team (DCTF) Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

UNT welcomes SMU to Apogee Stadium as it plays in its first home contest of 2022 after taking down UTEP 31-13 to open the season. The Mean Green will be looking to take down SMU at home for the second time in three tries. The Mean Green head into the contest after opening the season with a victory for the sixth straight season. After putting up 236 yards in Saturday’s win over UTEP, QB Aus tin Aune now ranks eighth in program history with 4,013 passing yards. Next up is Giovanni Vizza with 5,146.

Schedule Aug 27 8 PM CT Win 31-13 UTEP Sep 3 6:30 PM CT H SMU Sep 10 6:30 PM CT H Texas Southern Sep 17 2 PM CT A UNLV Sep 24 TBA A Memphis Oct 1 3 PM CT CUSA H Florida Atlantic Oct 15 3 PM CT CUSA H LA Tech Oct 22 2:30 PM CT CUSA A UTSA Oct 29 2:30 PM CT CUSA A Western Kentucky

50

Coach Dykes is known for putting togther some explosive of fensessuc as in 2011 when he was at Louisiana Tech. I look for 2022 to be no different.

Seven TCU football players were named to the watch list for the Senior Bowl, the top college all-star game and the first step in the NFL Draft process. Selected to the watch list were offensive line man Steve Avila, safety Millard Bradford, cornerback Noah Dan iels, running back Emari Demercado, cornerback Tre’Vius Hodg es-Tomlinson, defensive lineman Dylan Horton and linebacker Dee TCUWinters.cornerback

Texas

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and wide receiv er Quentin Johnston have been named to multiple Preseason All-America Teams. Johnston ranks first in Big 12 history with a 20.4 yards per catch average for a player in his first two seasons. He also ranks eighth nationally since 1996 for the first two years of a career.

Christian University, TCU, is a NCAA DA FBS foot ball program that plays in the Big 12. TCU began playing football in 1896 and claims national championships in 1935 and 1938. TCU has one Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O’Brien, and has had eight former players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In Sonny Dykes took over in Nov 2021 after the Forned Frogs wentt 5-7 with a 3-6 Big 12 play. Last season, the Horned Frogs had an average of 435.8 yards per game on offense and the defense gave up an average of 461.8 yards per game.

The North Texas Mean Green are a NCAA DI FBS football program that plays in Confrence USA. North Texas head coach Seth Littrell has led the Mean Green to five bowl game appearances in six years. The Mean Green have been to 13 bowl games in their program’s 106-year history. The current streak is the only time in program history they’ve reached five bowl games over a six-year period. UNT went to four straight bowl games from 2001-04 to end a drought that started in 1960.

Schedule Sep 2 (Fri) 9 p.m. CT A Colorado Sep 10 (Sat) 7 p.m. H Tarleton Sep 24 (Sat) TBA A SMU Oct 1 (Sat) TBA XII H Oklahoma Oct 8 (Sat) TBA XII A Kansas Oct 15 (Sat) TBA XII H Oklahoma State Oct 22 (Sat) TBA XII H Kansas State Oct 29 (Sat) TBA XII A West Virginia Nov 5 (Sat) TBA XII H Texas Tech Nov 12 (Sat) TBA XII A Texas Nov 19 (Sat) TBA XII A Baylor Nov 26 (Sat) TBA XII H Iowa State

UNT linebacker KD Davis is the first Mean Green defender to lead the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons since Zach Orr from 2011-13 and could be first to accomplish the feat in four straight years. UNT QB Austin Aune was named the Confer ence-USA Player of the Week for his stellar performance against UTEP. Junior wide receiver Roderic Burns has recorded at least one reception in 17 straight games, tops on the team. The Mean Green have had eight different players return a punt for a touch down since 2012, tied for the second-most nationally behind only Alabama (12).

Nov 5 3 PM CT CUSA H FIU Nov 12 2:30 PM CT CUSA A UAB Nov 26 1 PM CT CUSA H Rice

Ikenna Enechukwu, George Nyakwol and Bradley Rozner are on the initial list of prospects identified as candidates for the 98th East-West Shrine Bowl football game which will be held on Feb ruary 2, 2023 in Las Vegas. All three will be looking to become the first Owl to play in the game since Jack Fox in 2019. A total of 29 Owls have played in the game, dating back to 1936 when John Sylvester and Bill Wallace were members of the West squad. The last seven Owls to play in the game (Jarett Dillard, Cheta Ozougwu, Phillip Gaines, Bryce Callahan, Jordan Taylor and Fox) all went on to reach the NFL.

The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Di vision I FBS football team that is in Houston, Texas. The UH football program is a member of the American Ath letic Conference West Division. Over the history of the program, the Cougars have won eleven conference championships and have had several players elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, including a Heisman Trophy winner (Andre Ware, 1989). For the 12th time in program history and first since 2016, the Uni versity of Houston Football program will enter the season ranked by Associated Press voters. The Cougars checked in at No. 24 in the first AP Houston,poll.which was ranked No. 25 in the USA Today AFCA Coaches’ Poll, is among three Texas programs in the AP poll, join ing Texas A&M (No. 6) and Baylor (No. 10). Fellow American op ponent Cincinnati is ranked No. 23.

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 5 p.m. A USC Sep 10 (Sat) 6:30 p.m. H McNeese State Sep 17 (Sat) 6:30 p.m. H Louisiana Sep 24 (Sat) TBA A Houston Oct 1 (Sat) 6:30 p.m. CUSA H UAB Oct 15 (Sat) 5 p.m. CUSA A FAU Oct 22 (Sat) 2 p.m. CUSA A Louisiana Tech Oct 29 (Sat) 1 p.m. CUSA H Charlotte Nov 3 (Thu) 6 p.m. CUSA H UTEP Nov 12 (Sat) 1 p.m. CUSA A WKU Nov 19 (Sat) 12 p.m. CUSA H UTSA Nov 26 (Sat) 1 p.m. CUSA A North Texas

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 2:30 p.m. A UTSA Sep 10 (Sat) 3 p.m. A Texas Tech Sep 17 (Sat) 3 p.m. H Kansas Sep 24 (Sat) H Rice Sep 30 (Fri) 6 p.m. H Tulane Oct 7 (Fri) 6:30 p.m. A Memphis Oct 22 (Sat) 11 a.m. CT A Navy Oct 29 (Sat) H USF Nov 5 (Sat) A SMU Nov 12 (Sat) H Temple Nov 19 (Sat) A East Carolina Nov 25 (Fri) H Tulsa 51

#24

Houston Football had six players named to the 2023 Senior Bowl watch list, the Senior Bowl committee announced. The six players consist of quarterback Clayton Tune, wide receivers Nathaniel Dell and KeSean Carter, defensive end Derek Parish, linebacker Dona van Mutin and safety Gervarrius Owens.

The Rice Owls football competes at the NCAA Division I FBS level and have competed in Conference USA’s West ern Division since 2005. Rice is represented on the Confrence USA Watchlist by R-JR OL Shea Baker, R-JR DE Ikenna Enechuckwu, Fr CB Sean Fresch, SR DBGeorge Nyakwol, and R-JR WR Bradley Rozner.

Houston senior quarterback Clayton Tune and junior wide receiver Nathaniel Dell have been named Third-Team Preseason All-Amer ica by Pro Football Network.

Oct 8 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. H Abilene Christian Oct 15 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Tarleton State Oct 22 (Sat) A Southern Utah Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00 p.m. H Utah Tech Nov 12 (Sat) 4:00 p.m. H Central Arkansas

Nov 12 (Sat) 3 PM A New Mexico State

Xavier Gipson was voted the Preseason WAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Chris Campos was named the Preseason WAC Spe cial Teams Player of the Year.

The Lumberjacks were voted No. 10 in the Preseason Stats Perform Top 25. Led by fourth-year head coach Colby Carthel, the ‘Jacks were also picked as the WAC preseason favorites and placed 14 on the All-WAC preseason team.

Sep 3 (Sat) 6 PM A Alcorn State Sep 10 (Sat) 6 p.m. A Louisiana Tech Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. H Warner (Fla.)

Nov 5 (Sat) 3 PM H Southeastern La

The Lamar Cardinals football program represents Lamar University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Cardinals are members of the Southland TheConference.Cardinals left the Southland Conference in July 2021 to join the Western Athletic Conference, which relaunched its football league at the FCS level during the 2021 season. After one season in the WAC, Lamar and the Southland Conference announced on July 11, 2022 Lamar’s accelerated return to the Southland Confer ence effective immediately. “We are very excited to be back in the Southland Conference,” said LU head coach Blane Morgan. “We have established historical rival ries in the Southland, and our fans know these teams, and they enjoy these rivalries. In addition to that, our fans and our students now have the opportunity to travel to away games for all of our teams that they probably didn’t have last year. That is huge for our student-ath letes.” The Cardinals are going to be young in 2022 with only 41 return ing letterwinners and 12 returning starters, with just four on those defensive side of the ball. The overall youth was reflected in the league’s recent preseason poll that has Big Red picked seventh for the upcoming season. Big Red enters 2022 looking to build from a 2-9 record last season.

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:30 PM Neutral Sam Houston

Oct 1 (Sat) 3 PM H Houston Baptist Oct 8 (Sat) 4 PM A UIW Oct 22 (Sat) 4 PM H Prairie View A&M Oct 29 (Sat) 3 PM H Nicholls

52 Schedule

Five Lumberjacks were named to the 2022 Stats Perform FCS Pre season All-America Team. Wide receiver Xavier Gipson led the WAC with 75 receptions, 1,377 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021, turning in an average of 144.0 all-purpose yards per game. Defensive end BJ Thompson, punter Max Quick, quarterback Trae Self and kicker Chris Campos rounded out the preseason All-America selections

Aug 27 (Sat) 2:30 PM Neutral Jacksonville State

The Lumberjacks earned a berth in the FCS playoffs in 2009, the first postseason appearance for the team since 1995. The 2010 sea son marked the first time that the school had won an outright con ference championship since 1989. The team’s only bowl game was the 1973 Poultry Bowl, in which the team defeated Gardner-Webb, 31–10, in Gainesville, Georgia.

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 7 PM A Abilene Christian Sep 10 (Sat) 6 PM A SMU Sep 17 (Sat) 6 PM H Northern Colorado Sep 24 (Sat) 3:30 PM A Northwestern State

Nov 19 (Sat) Away Abilene Christian

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football program are a NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are formerly members of the Southland Con ference. On July 1, 2021, SFA joined the Western Athletic Conference, which will relaunch its football league at the FCS level.

Nov 19 (Sat) 7 PM A McNeese

Jackson, a former University of Oklahoma receiver and returner standout, brings a wealth of energy and experi ence to the College, both as a coach and player.

Schedule SEP 3 -7:00 PM at Arkansas Baptist Sep 10 -2:00 PM vs. Langston University Sep 17 -6:00 PM at Panhandle State Sep 24 -2:00 PM at Wayland Baptist Oct 8 -7:00 PM at Ottawa U.- Arizona Oct 15 -2:00 PM at Lyon College Oct 22 -11:00 AM vs. Arizona Christian Oct 29 -7:00 PM vs. Texas Wesleyan Nov 5 -2:00 PM at S.W. Assemblies Nov 12 -5:00 PM vs. Louisiana College 53

New running backs coach John Johnson has been pleased with what he has seen out of his group so far, both on and off the field.

Most recently serving as Tyler Junior College’s Offensive Coordina tor, his 17-year professional career has spanned a multitude of roles with various teams at the professional, collegiate, and secondary level. Notably inclusive of the aforementioned are the XFL’s Dal las Renegades, the Arizona Cardinals, the Miami Dolphins, Dart mouth College, Washington State, and Mississippi State, just to name a few. Now, Coach Jackson has been handed the reigns to the Steer Football program in preparation of the 2022 season.

Oct 15 (Sat) 5:00 PM A Eastern Kentucky

A talented group of running backs were a nice compliment to a powerful passing attack in 2021, and a combination of quality re turners and newcomers such as Oklahoma State transfer Dezmon Jackson should have the Kats in a good position in 2022.

Texas College is pleased to announce that Jarrail Jackson has been named Head Football Coach for the Steers.

Oct 22 (Sat) 8:00 PM A Utah Tech Oct 29 (Sat) 6:00 PM A Tarleton Stephenville

“We are glad to have Mr. Jackson join us as our new Head Coach,” commented Dr. Dwight Fennell, President of Texas College. “We look forward to his leadership and moving the Steer Football pro gram in a new direction.”

“I expect us to come out and have an explosive year at the running back position,” Johnson said. “I want guys to come out and have a great experience in college but to also leave their mark here at Sam Houston.”.

As no stranger to Tyler and East Texas, Coach Jackson’s well-es tablished rapport within the region and beyond positions Texas College for an exciting future. Well-known and respected for his ability to recruit, accompanied with his breadth of professional ex periences, of which has situated him alongside coaching legends such as Bob Stoops and Hal Mumme, the father of the “air raid” offense, the naming of Coach Jackson as the Steers’ Head Football Coach will undoubtedly serve as a benefit to the campus both on and off the field.

Sam Houston had one of most balanced offenses in the country over the past two seasons which saw the Bearkats go a combined 21-1 and win a national championship.

Sam Houston State is a NCAA DI FCS football program that plays in the Western Athletic Conference, WAC. The Bear kats are transitioning into FBS and will begin competiting in Conference USA in 2023.

In 2021, the Bearcats went 11-1 with a 5-0 confrence play. The Kats lost to #7 Montana State in the NCAA DI FCS playoffs by a score of 42-19. The Kats offence averaged 490.8 yards per game and gave up an average of 346.2 yards per game on defence

Nov 12 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Abilene Christian Nov 19 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Southern Utah

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:30 PM Neutral Stephen F. Austin

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 11:00 AM A Texas A&M Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Northern Arizona Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Texas A&M Com.

Bowie State is a NCAA DII program that plays in the Cen tral Intercollegiate Athletic Association, CIAA.

Nov 5 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Lincoln University

Bowie State University is a public historically black univer sity in Prince George’s County, Maryland, north of Bowie.

54 Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Assumption

Nov 5 (Sat) 12:00 PM H West Chester Nov 12 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Slippery Rock Schedule Sepr 3 (Sat) 1:00 PM H U. of New Haven Sep 10 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Saginaw Valley State Sep 17 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Shaw University Sep 24 (Sat) 1:00 PM A St. Augustine’s U. Oct 1 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Livingstone College Oct 8 (Sat) 4:00 PM A Virginia State U. Oct 15 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Virginia Union U. Oct 22 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Chowan University Oct 29 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Elizabeth City State

The Bowie State Bulldogs remain in preseason headlines as Quinton Bobo, Raymond Boone and Joshua Pryor were all named to the 2022 the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. -Per Bowie State Athletics Bowie State graduate senior offensive lineman Quinton Bobo (White Plains, MD) was named to the BOXTOROW Preseason All-America Team, the publication announced last Thursday.

Sep 10 (Sat) 12:00 PM H California (PA) Sep 17 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Mercyhurs Sep 24 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Shepherd

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a public universi ty in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Kutztown is a NCAA DII program that plays in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, PSAC.

BSU enters the 2022 season carrying the longest active winning streak in the conference at 18-straight. The Bulldogs return eight starters from last season’s team, four on offense and four on de fense, while adding some pivotal transfers and freshman to the mix.

Oct 1 (Sat) 1:05 PM A East Stroudsburg Oct 8 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Bloomsburg Oct 15 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Shippensburg Oct 22 (Sat) 3:00 PM H Lock Haven Oct 29 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Millersville

The Kutztown University football team is expected to contend for its third straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division title in 2022. The reigning PSAC champion Gold en Bears received four first-place votes and were selected second in the East as the league office released its Preseason Coaches Polls Thursday afternoon. The Maroon and Gold sported matching 11-2 records in 2019 and 2021 (2020 season canceled due to COVID-19), both campaigns tying KU’s record for wins in a season, originally set in 2011. If the Golden Bears put together another double-digit win season in 2022, it would mark the first time they’ve registered three straight double-digit win seasons in the program’s 106-season history. Despite the graduation of some key players, Kutztown’s returning core should be strong on both sides of the ball. The Bears return seven all-conference players, an expected seven starters on offense and five on defense.

The Bowie State Bulldags had a 12-2 season with a 7-0 confrence play last season. The Bulldoga lost in the NCAA DII playoffs to Valdosta State University in the Quarterfials by a score of 17-14.

Offensivly, the bullgogs averaged 354.4 yards per game and on de fense only allowed 255.4 yards per game.

Kutztown’s four first-place votes are its most since 2012 when it collected five and led that season’s East poll. The Golden Bears have won 15 consecutive PSAC East games dating back to 2018 and their second-place showing in the preseason poll is their high est since 2017.

Oct 1 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Shippensburg Oct 8 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Lock Haven

Sep 10 (Sat) 1 p.m. H Luther College

In 202, the Rams went 13-2 and 6-1 in confrence play. In 2021 te Rams were an offensive juggernaught. Their offence averaged 502.5 yards per game while only giving up 342.3 yards per game on de Thefense.Shepherd

Five student-athletes from the St. Olaf College football team were among the members of the 2022 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.

Nov 5 (Sat) 1:05 PM A East Stroudsburg Nov 12 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Mercyhurst 55 Shepherd

University is a public university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Shepherd is a DII program that plays in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, PSAC. In 2015, Shepherd advanced to the NCAA Division II football nation al championship game, losing to Northwest Missouri State Univer sity 34–7. In 2016, the Rams lost in the D-II semi-finals to North Alabama 23–13. In 2019, the Rams reached the NCAA Division II playoffs and lost in the second round to Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 50–31. In 2021, Shepherd advanced to the Division II semi-finals for the third time since 2015, where they lost to Ferris State, 55–7.

Seniors Gabe Alada, Brandon Foster, Lars Prestemon, Nick Sa batino, and Nikoloz Vasadze were part of an elite group of 1,559 student-athletes from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and sprint football who were honored. Now in its 16th year, the society recognizes college foot ball student-athletes from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and sprint football who maintained a cumu lative grade-point average of 3.2 at the conclusion of their careers.

Nov 5 (Sat) 1 p.m. H Gustavus Adolphus

Oct 1 (Sat) 1 p.m. H Augsburg University

St.

Coach Eric Pully, running back coach, for St Olaf college teaching.

Sep 24 (Sat) 7 p.m. A Macalester College

Sep 17 (Sat) 12:00 PM H California (Pa.)

Oct 15 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Millersville

Oct 8 (Sat) 1 p.m. A Carleton College Oct 15 (Sat) 1 p.m. H Saint John’s U. Oct 22 (Sat) 1 p.m. A C. of St. Scholastica

Oct 29 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Bloomsburg

Olaf College is a NCAA DIII program that plays in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, MIAC. St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota.

Schedule Sep 1 (Thu) 5:30 PM A S. Connecticut State

Sep 10 (Sat) 12:00 PM H Edinboro

University football team is ranked second in the 2022 College Football America Division II Preseason Top 30. Additional ly, senior quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martins burg), senior offensive lineman Joey Fisher (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring), and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Beach (Frederick, Md./ Northwest) garnered 2022 College Football America Yearbook Divi sion II Preseason Starting Lineup accolades. Standout quarterback Tyson Bagent returns to headline the Rams’ conference-leading offense. In 2021, Bagent ranked first in passing completions (391), yards (5,000), and touchdowns (53) throughout all of Division II. Bagent was the NCAA Division II Harlon Hill Tro phy recipient after one of the top offensive seasons in DII history.

Oct 22 (Sat) 12:00 PM A West Chester

Sep 24 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Kutztown

Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 1 p.m. A Central College

Oct 29 (Sat) 1 p.m. A Bethel University

In 2021, St Olaf went 5-5 and 4-4 in conference play. On offence, they averaged 339.6 yards per game and gave up 386.3 yards per game on defense. Their run game averaged 128 yards per game and passing game averaged 211.6 yards per game.

Link was a First Team All-Lone Star Conference selection and been a playmaker in two seasons with the Falcons. The Lakeland, Flor ida native had 628 receiving yards last season, the third most in a year in program history, along with eight touchdowns, a program record. Link is one touchdown away from tying the program’s all time record and is fourth in receiving yards.

Sep 3 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Southwest Baptist Sep10 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Western Colorado Sep 17 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Angelo State Sep 24 (Sat) 3:05 p.m. A Western Oregon Oct 1 (Sat) 7 p.m. A West Texas A&M Oct 8 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Simon Fraser Oct 15 (Sat) 7 p.m. A Texas A&M-Kingsville Oct 22 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Midwestern State Oct 29 (Sat) 3 p.m. A Eastern New Mexico Nov 5 (Sat) 6 p.m. H Western New Mexico Nov 12 (Sat) 3 p.m. A Central Washington

Robinson has become a defensive stalwart for the Falcons since ar riving on campus. The senior from Orange, New Jersey has five career interceptions and 115 tackles in three seasons. He set a ca reer-high last season with 17 tackles in an impressive performance at Angelo State a year ago.

In 2021, the Falcons wet 5-5 and 3-4 in confrence play. Their of fence averaged 346.8 yards per game last season while their defence gave up an average of 345.4 yards per game. The Falcons averaged 219.45 yards passing a game last season.

The list of the nation’s top football talents in the NCAA’s Division I championship subdivision includes first-team honorees Jason Shelley (QB), Grant Burkett (P) and Montrae Braswell (DB) with wide receiver Ty Scott landing on the second team, and safety Kyriq McDonald earning third-team honors. All five MSU preseason All-Americans are also on the Preseason All-MVFC first team list.

Southwest Missouri State is a DI FCS program in the Missou ri Valley Football Conference. Southwest Missouri State is located in Springfield, Mo.

MSU was ranked No. 5 in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 on Aug. 8 and the Athlon Sports Top 25 on August 2, while being picked No. 6 in the Hero Sports Preseason Top 25 on May 18.

UT Permian Basin Football received a pair of first place votes in the 2022 Lone Star Conference preseason poll the league announced.

Missouri State is ranked No. 8 in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 football poll released on Aug. 15.

Coach Bobby Petrino enters his third season as Missouri State head coach with 17 starters and 41 lettermen returning from an 8-4 squad that finished as runners-up in the Missouri Valley while making the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the second straight season.

Five Missouri State football players were announced Thursday (Aug. 11) to the Hero Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team.

The Falcons earned the third most first place votes in the poll and were one of four teams with one. Overall the Falcons were picked to finish fifth out of 10 teams.

Missouri State cornerback Montrae Braswell (Jr., Avon Park, Fla.) is on the exclusive list of FCS football players announced on Au gust 4 to the Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List. 56

Schedule Sep 1 (Thur) 7:00 p.m. A Central Arkansas Sep 8 (Thur) 7:00 p.m. H UT Martin Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. A Arkansas Sep 24 (Sat) 2:00 p.m. H South Dakota State Oct 1 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. Away North Dakota Oct 8 (Sat) 2:00 p.m. H Southern Illinois Oct 22 (Sat) 4:00 p.m. A Northern Iowa Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00 p.m. H Western Illinois Nov 5 (Sat) 1:00 p.m. A South Dakota Nov 12 (Sat) 2:00 p.m. H Youngstown State Nov 19 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. A Indiana State Schedule

University of Texas Permian Basin is a NCAA DII program that plays in the Lone Star Confrence, LSC. The Universi ty of Texas Permian Basin is located in Midland, TX and plays their home games at Grande Stadium.

Two of UT Permian Basin Football’s best were recognized by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as the duo of MJ Link and D’Ondre Robinson were named to the publications Texas All-Small College Preseason Team. Link and Robinson are set to enter their senior seasons for the Falcons.

Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley (Sr., Frisco, Texas) is one of a handful of elite FCS football players announced on August 3 to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List.

Sep 17(Sat) 2:00 PM H Nicholls Sep 24 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Central Arkansas Oct 1 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Lindenwood

SEMO had an overall record of 4-7 last season with a 4-2 confrence record. Their offense averaged 360.6 yards per game and gave up 430.5 yards per game defensively.

Newcomer Paxton DeLaurent will be Southeast Missouri’s start ing quarterback when the Redhawks take the field for their sea son-opener at Big 12 Conference and Football Bowl Subdivision member Iowa State Sept. 3. DeLaurent edged CJ Ogbonna, who started every game under center last season, in a tight race that wasn’t decided until Monday morning. At 6’5”, 215 pounds, De Laurent finished a strong camp to win his first starting job as a NCAA Division I quarterback.

Missouri Southern State University is a DII program in Jo plin, Mo. MSSU playes in the MIAA, Mid-America In tercollegiate Athletics Association.

Oct 22 (Sat) 2:00 pm H Emporia State Oct 29 (Sat) 1:00 pm A Missouri Western St.

Nov 5 (Sat) 5:00 PM A Tennessee State Nov 12 (Sat) 2:00 PM A Eastern Illinois

Nov 5 (Sat) 1:30 pm A Northwest Missouri Nov 12 (Sat) 2:00 pm H Washburn #12 QB Dawson Herl is a Redshirt Sophomore that is from Inde pendence, Mo. Herl played his high school ball at William Chrisman High School. Photo by MSSU Athletics 57 Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Iowa State Sep10 (Sat) 6:00 PM A Southern Illinois

The Missouri Southern football program has been picked to finish 10th in both the coaches’ and media preseason polls during the MIAA Media Day.

Nov 19 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Murray State

The Lions will be playing year two under the watchful eye of head coach Atiba Bradley. Southern returns eight starters on offense and defense, including six All-MIAA players. Richard Jordan Jr. was a second-team All-MIAA pick last year, while Nick Williams earned third-team honors at kicker and honorable-mention at punter. Sol omona Fetuao, Dylan Bolden, Nick Kruse and Colton Winder all return as All-MIAA honorees.

Oct 8 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Tennessee Tech Oct 22 (Sat) 1:00 PM A Northwestern State Oct 29 (Sat) 1:00 PM H Eastern Kentucky

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:00 pm A Pittsburg State Oct 8 (Sat) 2:00 pm H Lincoln Oct 15 (Sat) 1:30 pm A Central Missouri

Schedule Sep 1 (Thur) 7:00 pm H Nebraska - Kearney Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 pm A Northeastern State Sep 17 (Sat) 5:00 pm H Central Oklahoma Sep 24 (Sat) 7:00 pm A Fort Hays State

Southeast Missouri State University, SEMO, is a DI FCS foot ball program that playes in the Ohio Valley Confrence, OVC.

“Geno has had a lot of experience as a Redhawk and he has done an excellent job of being a leader,” said Running Backs Coach Luke Ber blinger. “He worked hard this summer and I’m excited to see what he can do this year.”

Southeast Missouri’s backfield features one of the nation’s best in senior Geno Hess and he is leaving a lasting impression in his pro gram’s record book. Geno Hess is among 35 players on the 2022 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List which Stats Perform presents to the National Offensive Player of the Year in college football’s Division I subdivision. Hess was named to the Stats Per form 2022 FCS Preseason All-America Team as well. He ran for 1,116 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021.

Oct 1 (Sat) 1 pm A Shenandoah Oct 8 (Sat) 3:30 pm H Hampden-Sydney

Oct 29 (Sat) 2 PM A Lane College Nov 5 (Sat) 1 PM H Kentucky State Schedule Aug 25 (Thu) 5 pm H Myrtle Beach Prep Sep 1 (Thu) 7 pm A Virginia-Wise Sep 10 (Sat) 1 pm H Muskingum Sep 17 (Sat) 1 pm A LaGrange

Oct 15 (Sat) 2 pm H Washington and Lee Oct 22 (Sat) 1 pm A Guilford Oct 29 (Sat) 2 pm H Bridgewater (Va.)

Central State University is a DII program in Wilberforce, Ohio. They play in the SIAC, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which is a HBCU confrence.

Head coach, Kevin Porter, was selected to be the head man at Cen tral State on Dec 24th 2021. “During our national search, we re ceived an influx of interest from qualified candidates. Throughout the process, Coach Porter stood out as the person with the right mindset and characteristics best suited to lead Marauder football into a new era. Coach Porter comes to CSU with a championship pedigree and a wide array of experiences as a coach and player on all levels of the game,” Tara Owens (CSU Athletic Director) said. “Under Coach Porter’s guidance, we believe our student-athletes will flourish on the field and in the classroom. As Coach Porter prepares to lead our foot ball program, we look forward to establishing a sustainable culture of positivity and success.”

Nov 5 (Sat) 1 pm A Randolph-Macon Nov 12 (Sat) 1 pm H Averett

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains lies Ferrum Col lege a DIII program that plays in the ODAC, Old Do minion Athletic Conference. Home of the late legend ary coach Hank Norton and former NFL star running back, Chris Warren. Head coach Cleive Adams is Ferrum’s eighth head football coach in the 65-year history of the program. A native of Radford, Vir ginia, Adams played football at Ferrum under legendary Coach Hank Norton in 1988 and 1989. Both seasons culminated with the Panthers making appearances in the NCAA Div. III national semi Lastfinals.season

2021 Gridiron Football All-Americn Bowl participant #10 Sharone Finister Jr. is begining freshman year Schedule

the Panthers went 6-4 overall with a 3-3 conference re cord and fell short of the DIII playoffs. The Panthers averaged 27.8 points per game with an average of 376.7 yards per game of offense and the defense giving up an average of 392.4 per game.

Sep 4 (Sun) 4 PM N Winston-Salem State Sep 10 (Sat) 1 PM H Lincoln University Sep 17 (Sat) 12 PM A Bluefield State Coll. Sep 24 (Sat) 1 PM H Miles College Oct 1 (Sat) 6 PM A Allen University Oct 8 (Sat) 1 PM H Fort Valley State Oct 15 (Sat) TBA A Tuskegee University Oct 22 (Sat) 1 PM H Edward Waters

Coach Adams had a big year on the road recruiting this past year. He has brought in a number of talented young men to fill the need on the defensive side of the ball and add some quality depth on offense. Marquis Adams is a cornerback that he can build a sec ondary around. At 6’ and 177 lbs, Marquis man handled receivers in high school at Roanoke Catholic in Roanoke, Va. I also like the signing of Dillion Hobbs at Linebacker. Dillion is 6’ and 215 lbs and is from Olin, N.C. Dillon is a multi use linebacker that can drop back into coverage or cover the middle of the line. I look for these two freshmen to make a big splash this season for the Pan thers. 58

Oct 8 (Sat) 12:00 PM A Ouachita Baptist University

The Grizzlies, who are under the leadership of second-year head coach Jerrell Harrison, were picked to finish ninth with 22 points.

Sep 17 (Sat) 1:00 p.m. H Colorado School of Mines

Nov 12 (Sat) 1:00 p.m. A Western Colorado University

Sep 17 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Southeastern Oklahoma State

Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 PM H Southern Arkansas University

Oct 22 (Sat) 2:00 PM A East Central University

Sep 24 (Sat) 6:00 PM A Oklahoma Baptist U.

Oct 15 (Sat) 5:30 PM H Southern Nazarene U.

Adams State University is a public university in Alamo sa, Colorado. Adams State Grizzlies football team com petes under the auspices of the Rocky Mountain Athlet ic Conference in the NCAA DII level

Oct 22 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. H Colorado Mesa University

wide receiver, Elijah Harper, played with suer star intent last season. He played in all 11 games and had 44 receptions with 652 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. He also stared on special teams with 20 kick returns for 520 yards and a touchdown and another touchdown on the punt return team.

Sep 1 (Thur) 7:00 PM A Henderson State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a NCAA DII football program that plays in the Great AMerican Con frence. Southwestern Oklahoma State University is located in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Nov 5 (Sat) 2:00 PM H Harding University

2022 will be a huge year for the Bulldogs as coach Kirkland sets out to build a winning culture. 59 Schedule Sep 3 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. A Western New Mexico U. Sep 10 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. H West Texas A&M University

Oct 15 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. A Chadron State College

Oct 29 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. A South Dakota Mines

The future is bright for this young team. Head Football Coach Jar rell Harrison signed 16 athletes to this squad back in Febuary. Look for them to make a huge splash on Sep 3rd when they play Western New Mexico University.

Comng off an 0-11 year, SWOSU hired a good friend of Gridiron Football, Josh Kirkland as their Head Coach. Coach Kirkland makes the 23rd head coach for the Bulldogs in school history, dat ing back 113 years to the birth of the program.

“It is an exciting time for the future of SWOSU football,” Todd Hel ton (SWOSU Athletic Director) said. “Coach Kirkland brings all the skills and experience we were looking for to elevate the program to a level our campus, community and alumni will be proud of, and we can’t wait to welcome Josh, his wife Marina and sons Kash, Krew, and Kolt to Weatherford.” “I cannot thank Coach Helton and Dr. Lovell (SWOSU president) enough for allowing me this opportunity and welcoming me with open arms,” Kirkland said. “My wife and I are extremely excited about moving to Weatherford and getting to be a part of this western Oklahoma community. Weatherford played a major factor in this de cision for us and is a place I am excited to bring my family to. After seeing it firsthand, SWOSU truly does have a lot going for it and I believe it’s on the cusp of something great. I am lucky to be a Bulldog and look forward to hitting the ground running and working hard towards the end goal of building back the success of SWOSU football.”

Last season the Grizzlies were in every game until about the middle of the third quarter before falling. The Grizzlies finished the 2021 season 1-10 with their lone win of the season coming on Nov. 6 when they defeated the Fort Lewis Skyhawks on Senior Day with a score of 37-14.

Schedule

Sep 24 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. A Fort Lewis College Oct 1 (Sat) 7:00 p.m. H New Mexico Highlands U. Oct 8 (Sat) 1:00 p.m. H Colorado State University

Oct 1 (Sat) 2:00 PM H U. of Arkansas at Monticello

Nov 5 (Sat) 1:00 p.m. H Black Hills State U. (S.D.)

The Grizzlies were a solid defensive team in 2021 as they ranked third in the RMAC with 13 interceptions and ten fumble recov Senioreries.

Nov 12 (Sat) 3:00 PM H Northwestern Oklahoma

Oct 29 (Sat) 2:00 PM A Arkansas Tech University

The King’s Knights are coming off of an undefeated 10-0 season, marking it the fifth time in the last fifteen years the team has won every game in the regular season. They won the conference and placed #1 in their division, but lost in the playoffs to the eventual state champions in Winton Woods.

60

By: William Lamphier

“Our drive here is to help train young leaders of the next genera tion through the game of football. I love to give them opportunities to be leaders in their school, in their units, on their teams, [and] in the weight room. We talk a lot about what it means to be a leader, how to be a leader, and how to come together as a team. [We do this because] Being a leader in a team environment is how the world works. We’ve created this foundation of care, love, and trust in the locker room, and we talk about how we can improve as a team… It’s my mission to help pump into them that same mentalities, so that they go and create opportunities to love each other and grow as a Withinteam.”the

“Being a leader is not just doing the right thing, but taking people with you. Part of being a leader means standing out in front and having people follow you. If people aren’t following you, you are not a leader. You’re just going in your own direction… Some peo ple are quiet about it, some people are loud about it, but in general, if you’re going to be a leader you are going to have to know where you’re going and you gotta bring people along with you.” Coach Garvin continues to mention that being a leader means putting in the hard work and having humility.

Ohioschool

Earlier today, I had the great honor of talking to Knight’s head coach Alex Garvin and asking him about his history as a coach, how the team looks, and some players he expects to be good this season. He said that in his gut, he always knew he wanted to be a coach and an educator. “I don’t know if I ever really had a direct plan… I went into education in college and got a job at a local ju nior high my first year out of college. I played at Kings, so I grad uated here in 2003, and the guy I played for – Andy – was still the coach here [at Kings High] and they had a math teacher opening. [I ended up] calling the principle, told him I was interested in coming back home, and I called Andy and said ‘if coaching would help me get a job here, then I’ll help you coach.” He started coaching Junior Varsity (JV) after he got the job, and rose up to become the offen sive coordinator for the team under Andy. When the 2018 season came around, Andy said it would be his last year, and the team had a “fun little year of handing it off [to me]. He spent the whole sea son and offseason really training me on what it looks like.”

Knight’s team, there is a saying that Coach Garvin preaches: Love over everything. It’s almost like their battle cry.

“This love isn’t ‘Valentine’s Day love.. it’s true trust, value, and care, and giving the people around you a level of trust and care that’s kind of unheard of in young men right now. Their goal is to be tough. We train them to be tough in the weight room, but that doesn’t mean in the locker room you have to be a tough guy. You can love eachother and be good to each other and have a lot of solid friendships… and we believe that creates a foundation of trust and care out on the field that actually leads to better performance. They don’t always buy that initially, then realize ‘man, it’s a lot more fun to play with a whole bunch of people that you care about.”

Kings High School is located in Kings Mills and the foot ball team is ranked #12 in the state of Ohio (according to MaxPreps) and #1 in their division. The way that Ohio sets up its divisions is similar to that of the rest of the country, in the way that the top division – D1 – has the larg er schools in the state (about 72 schools) and D7 has the smaller schools in the state (about 115 schools each). King’s High plays in the D2 level, and has posted a winning season almost every year since 1996.

kings high

While the Crusaders are looking to repeat success with another state title, they are faced with a challenging task of replacing their past seniors. On the defensive side of the ball, the Crusaders lost both their top cornerbacks in Jaeden Gould, a Nebraska commit and Jayden Bellamy, a Notre Dame commit. One the offensive side, the Crusaders lost their star quarterback, Steve Angeli, a Notre Dame commit as well as running back, Ryan Butler, Princeton commit.

Edge DJ Samuels is also a 2023 recruit. DJ is 6’2 and about 240 pounds. His versatility makes him a challenge to block for both pass and run protection. This relentless pass rusher has already surpassed the school’s all-time sack record with his senior season still yet to play. Coach Campanile stated, “the energy and the effort DJ has played with is incredible. We’re doing some different things with him this year, such as playing off the ball and trying new spots on the d-line. He’s like a swiss army knife”. – (Coach Campanile) WR Christian Carti is a 2023 recruit. Christian is 6’1 and about 190 pounds. He plays both wide out and slot, but his incredible route running and his hands makes him very effective between the numbers. “He just does everything the right way, his toughness, his attitude. Carti is like having a coach on the field. He’s one of the best blocking receivers I’ve ever coached. He’s selfless and devoted as a player you’ll find”. – (Coach Campanile)

Bergen Catholic New Jersey 61

Bergen Catholic located in Oradell, New Jersey, is only about an hour drive from the city of New York. Bergen is an all-boys school with about 700 students throughout the whole student body. The football team is a part of the New Jersey division non-public group A. The Crusaders are known for being a football powerhouse, as they are ranked 19th in the na tion (according to MaxPreps). Over the past forty years, Bergen has the winningest percentage of any team in the state of New Jer sey. Along with their 18 state championships, the football team has seen some serious talent on the field over the years, with names like former Texan, Brian Cushing and Tennessee alum, Jarrett Guaran tano. Head coach Vito Campanile took over the program in 2018 after his brother Nunzio, accepted a job at the University of Rutgers as the tight ends coach. Since taking the reins as head coach, Cam panile led his team to a state championship win last season.

LB Malachi Mercer is a 2023 recruit. At 6’1 and around 225 pounds, Mercer is a dominant run stopper who uses his high football IQ to make smart plays and quick reads. His loud and aggressive style of play showcases his hard hitting ability. Coach Campanile even stated that “you hear him play instead of watch him play”.

Last week, I got the great opportunity to speak with Coach Cam panile about his team and their upcoming season. When I asked coach about what he is most excited about this season, he said that “Every team is different. A lot of people think that we lost so much after last season. I think just having the opportunity to go back out and get reacclimated to who we are. Also developing an identity on all three phases of the game. I think that we are eager to show that we have a lot of kids that are incredibly committed and accountable guys. We feel good about who we are already”.

It will be interesting to see how Coach Campanile’s new young core will help fill in the shoes of their top guys last season.

By: Tyler Barros

DL Sydir Mitchell is a 2023 recruit that is very athletic for his size. At the height of 6’6 and 330 pounds, he uses his athleticism to eas ily beat blockers on pass protection. His quick hands and powerful first step can make him unguardable at times. “To be that athletic at that size, its beyond extraordinary”. – (Coach Campanile)

“Probably the most important [value to instill as a coach] is dis cipline. If you’re disciplined, that transitions to other important values, like effort and how hard you’re gonna work. If you have discipline, you’re gonna work hard. And when you’re an adult, you’ll get things done.”

Orchard High School plays at a 4A level, is lo cated in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and is ranked the #6 football team in the state (according to MaxPreps).

The Cougars team has produced some notable football alumni, including Florida State Seminoles special teams coordi nator and defensive ends coach John Papuchis and NFL defen sive lineman Zach Kerr. Furthermore, some college players from Quince Orchard include Kent State running back Marquez Coo per, Texas Christian University linebacker Johnny Hodges, and Penn State defensive end/linebacker Demeioun Robinson. Fresh off of an undefeated, championship season, head coach John Kelley leads the team to what looks like yet another promising sea son. With other championship seasons in 1991, 2007, and 2018, Kelley knows how to lead and manage his team. After a few assis tant jobs after graduating from Towson University in Maryland in 2004, Kelley took on the job as the defensive line coach at North Carolina Central University in 2007. Kelley would become the de fensive coordinator at Quince Orchard shortly after in 2009, where he would stay and become head coach in 2014.

Earlier this week, I was given the honor to speak with Coach Kelley. When asking how the team looks so far, he went in depth about the team, how he got there, and what makes him as good of a coach as he is. “We lost a lot of guys on the offensive line, we lost about four former All-Stars and three or four of our stars in our secondary…

Quince

Usually, this time of year, you’re just trying to evaluate where guys fit in best. The more reps we get, the more it becomes clear.” 62

“It’s just about trying to get better every week. We get nine games that are guaranteed for us, so we just try to take each game one at a time. The key is to get better every game, to improve every game, and to build off of each one.”

I love teaching, I love watching kids develop, I love working with kids… so I knew I wanted to get involved in that. I made some phone calls [while at North Carolina] back up here, since this is where I’m from, and I became defensive coordinator in 2009 and head coach in 2014. That’s where we’re at now.”

“I played in high school, I played in college, then I spent six years coaching college football. I knew as a player that I wanted to coach… I didn’t really want to sit behind a desk. I couldn’t do that.

By: William Lamphier

Quince orchard High maryland

“I think the most important thing a coach has to do… is to be able to build a rapport and a relationship with your players. They kin da fight a lot, right? And you’re the coach right? But at the same time you’ve got to have a relationship with them as far as they can trust you, talk to you about things promptly… I think – from a philosophy standpoint – I would say that just that relationship piece is important to me. It makes a Continuedifference.”readingjust click the page

Kendall Johnson Class of gaithersburg,qunceLinebacker2025Ht:6’2”Wt:180orchardmd

Iverson Howard is a class of 2025 ATH out of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The 5’11”, 175-pound rusher was the lead running back for the Cougars last year as a freshman with a GPA of 3.3. Already, he has gotten offers from the Boston College Eagles, the Maryland Terrapins, and the Ole Miss Rebels (to name a few). This week I had the honor of talking to him for a little bit, and here’s how it went.

By: William Lamphier

Class of

Kendall Johnson is a class of 2025 outside-linebacker out of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The 6’2”, 180-pound senior is a three-star player with a GPA of 3.9 who has recently committed to the Duke Blue Devils over universities like Rutgers and Bowling Green. After starting all of last year, Johnson balled out and the Quince Orchard Cougars ex pect him to be a major factor again this year. This week, I had the honor to talk to Kendall Johnson, and here’s how it went.

gaithersburg,qunceathlete2025Ht:5’11”Wt:175orchardmd

Gridiron Football rating 7.2 of 10 63

iverson howard

Gridiron Football rating 7.9 of 10 Commited By: William Lamphier

ismael cisse Class of 2023 wide greenwood,cherryWt:Ht:receiver6’1”180creekco Gridiron Football rating 8.7

Anderson is a class of 2023 offensive lineman out of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The 6’2”, 275 pound senior has recently committed himself to the University of Massachusetts over plenty of other teams in the country. A staple on the offensive line, Anderson benches 315, squats a 475, and deadlifts an even better 530, all while managing a 3.71 unweighted GPA. This week, I had the great ability to chat with Zachary, and this is how it went.

Zachary anderson Class of gaithersburg,qunceOffensive2023LineHt:6’2”Wt:275orchardmd

Gridiron Football rating 7.5 of 10

Ismael Cisse is a 6’1” 180-Pound Wide Receiver out of Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado. He is the #1 ranked wide receiver and #6 overall prospect in Colorado, in the class of 2023, according to 247 Sports. He is a big-bodied receiver that can maneuver in and out of routes very well and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He is a very versatile prospect with the ability to pair his speed and deep threat ability with phys icality both when shedding tackles, as well as in the air attacking the football.

By: Lucas Berger of 10

Commited By: William Lamphier

Zachary

Quarterback2023Ht:6’5”Wt:215Zionsvillezionsville,in

“Tulane is a great program, and I felt like it was a great decision.”

This dual threat quarterback will continue the bloodlines given to him by his dad Jai Eugene Sr., who was also a highly recruited player that played quarterback for the Wildcats and signed to play in the second ary for the LSU Tigers. Like his dad, Eugene Jr. will also play in the secondary at the collegiate level. Despite being great high school quar terbacks and Division I football recruits, there are actually some differ ences to each of their games.

Gridiron Football rating 8.8 of 10 65

Christian Abney is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the country for the Class of 2023 from Zionsville High School in Zionsville, Indiana. At 6’5, 215 pounds, Abney has a lot of raw ability at the quarterback position as he does possess not only good arm strength, but also good touch on the deep ball as well. Not to mention, he is big, physical, has good running ability, and has the mentality of a linebacker when he runs the football.

7.8

Asecond generation standout athlete from Destrehan High School is taking his talents to the Tulane Green Wave after quarterback Jai Eugene Jr. announced his decision to commit yesterday.

By: Jace LeJeune

By: Jace LeJeune

Gridiron Football rating of 10

Jai eugene jr Class of defensive2023backHt:6’1”Wt:180destrehanDestrehan,La

“I want to use my size and speed to my advantage. I want to be phys ical with people and win the 1 on 1 battles when I scrambles as well as on passes.”

Christian

“My dad was more of a runner. I really take pride in being able to throw the ball at a high level. It helps back guys up when I actually need to run.”

Extending plays with his feet is a big attribute to his game, but so is his leadership. After missing the first couple of games to an injury, this dual threat quarterback from the Hoosiers state immediately looked like a star completing 70 of 126 passes for 1,006 yards and 11 touchdowns to only two interceptions. The mobile big guy also ran for 184 yards and seven more touchdowns on the ground using his 4.59/40 speed. Not only was the offense much more explosive, but Abney also did what matters most when it comes to the quar terback position and that is win games. He helped lead the Eagles to the Indiana Class 5A State Championship Game. Abney Class of

Jackson Carver is a class of 2023 tight end out of Loomis Chaffee school in Windsor, Connecticut. Jackson is not like most college football recruits at all. This 6’6 220 pound tight end has only played just one year of high school football. Originally from the state of Minnesota, Carver played hockey and lacrosse his whole life. Since hockey is played both in the fall and winter, he never had the option to play football. Jackson then transferred during his ju nior year to Culver, Indiana, where his football career began. Play ing for Culver Military Academy, he became an immediate starter on both sides of the ball playing tight end and defensive end/tackle. Jackson’s athletic background is shown by the way he plays on the field. He uses his big frame to go up and make big plays, but he also has the speed to beat linebackers off the ball. Jackson also provides a physical presence on the field, especially with his run blocking ability. Jackson will be completing his post-graduate year at Loomis Chaffee this year. He is currently committed to the University of Miami.

By: William Lamphier

jackson carver Class of 2023 tight end Ht: 6’6” Wt: 220 loomiswindsor,chaffeect

Brady Wik is class of 2023 cornerback out of Kings High in Kings Mill, Ohio. The senior is new to the game of football, as he put on his shoulder pads for the first time about three months ago. So far, he has balled out for the Knights, grabbing three interceptions in the first two games of the season so far while managing a 4.0 GPA.

Brady Wik Class of KingsCornerback2023Ht:6’1”Wt:180KingsHighMill,oh

By: Tyler Barros

Gridiron Football rating 8.7 of 10 66 Committed

jamezell lassiter Class of 2023 running back Ht: LasalleWt:5’8”180AcademyProvidence,ri Gridiron Football rating 7.2 of 10

Hunter Jones is a class of 2023 outside linebacker out of Kings High in Kings Mill, Ohio. Standing at 5’11”, 215 pounds, and a 3.1 weighted GPA, Jones can bench 285, squat 385, and deadlift 470. Jones has a history of being a force to be reckoned with, as he has the achievements of First Team All-ECC and First Team All-City from last year alone.

By: Tyler Barros

By: William Lamphier

67

Hunter Jones Class of KingsLinebacker2023Ht:5’11”Wt:215KingsHighMill,oh

Gridiron Football rating 7.5 of 10

Jamezell

Lassiter plays for the Lasalle Academy Rams located in Providence, Rhode Island. Jamezell is a class of 2023 running back. He is 5’8 and weighs about 180 pounds. Last season he went first team all state first with only 8 games played due to covid. While he did miss some time on the field, he still had himself a remarkable season. With only 56 carries, he managed to run for about 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also rallied in two inter ceptions while playing cornerback. Jamezell is a physical downhill running back, who has a powerful stiff arm, and is not afraid to put his head down and make a little contact. Jamezell has unbeliev able breakout speed when he hits the secondary. His quickness and agility gives him a chance of making a big play every time the ball is in his hand. He runs 4.47 40 time with a max bench of 275. He currently has offers from Army, Brown, Long Island, Navy, and the University of Rhode Island.

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