NWADG College Football

30 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.27.2023 OUACHITA BAPTIST HEAD COACH: Todd Knight, 23 seasons at school, 171-131-2 overall coaching record (143- 99 at Ouachita) 2022 RECORD: 11-1 overall, 11-0 Great American Conference POSTSEASON RESULT: Lost in first round of NCAA Div. II playoffs to Northwest Missouri State KEY LOSSES: All-America RB TJ Cole, finished fifth in Harlon Hill Award voting, winner of the Darren McFadden Award; All-America OL Peyton Stafford, now an assistant coach on the team; All-America OL Anthony Chairez; All-Region DE Anthony Freeman; All-GAC First Team TE Hunter Swoboda; All-GAC First Team Utility Justin Dean; All-GAC First Team CB Andrew Hayes KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: OL Zac Henson, 6-3, 300, Sr.; P Joe Couch, 5-11, 210, Sr.; RB Kendel Givens, 5-9, 215, Jr.; WR Connor Flannigan, 5-10, 190, Jr.; LB Jax Miller, 6-3, 220, Jr.; S Josiah Johnson, 5-11, 210, Jr.; DL Braylen Butler, 6-1, 280, Jr.; S Dhante Gibson, 6-1, 190, Sr.; K Gabe Goodman, 6-1, 180, Sr.; QB Riley Harms, 6-5, 210, Gr.; OL Nate Turner, 6-2, 285, Gr.; DE Mikey Gonzalez, 6-4, 240, Jr.; LB Dawson Miller, 6-1, 220, Sr. KEY NEWCOMERS: WR Bo Baker, 5-11, 180, Fr.; OL Joe Fleming, 6-3, 275, Jr.; DL Chris Haywood, 6-3, 255, Jr.; WR Jaylin McKinney, 6-0, 180, Fr.; OL Eli Wilson, 6-4, 285, Fr. OUTLOOK: Ranked No. 8 in preseason AFCA D2 coaches poll (ranked in 52 consecutive AFCA top 25 polls)…Picked No. 1 in GAC preseason coaches poll coming off sixth GAC championship out of 11 total years of the league's history…14 consecutive winning seasons, longest active streak among all college football teams in Arkansas, regardless of classification…17 returning starters (5 offense, 10 defense, 2 special teams)…Nine returning all-conference performers ARKANSAS TECH HEAD COACH: Kyle Shipp, 4 seasons at school, 12-21 overall record 2022 RECORD: 5-6 overall, 5-6 Great American Conference POSTSEASON RESULT: No postseason appearance KEY LOSSES: K Jesus Zizumbo; RB Devontae Dean: QB Jack Grissom; OL Cameron Hataway; OL Jacob Cato; OL Larry Clark; OL Montae Lynch; DB Tyrus Fort; LB Christian Cole; DB Jordan Furtch; LB Victor Hill KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: QB Taye Gatewood, 6-0, 220, Sr.; QB Hunter Loyd, 6-4, 215, R-So.; RB Deon Simmons, 5-6, 180, R-Jr.; TE Jordan Edington, 6-2, 260, R-Jr., WR Joyrion Chase, 6-0, 190, R-Jr.; WR Mason Ross, 5-11, 175, R-Jr.; WR Matthew Rivera, 5-10, 180, Jr.; WR Adam Cousins, 5-11, 180, R-Jr.; OL Jason Richardson. 6-5, 320, R-Jr.; OL Peyton Henderson, 6-1, 275, R-So.; LB Matthew Minnix, 6-2, 225, R-Jr.; DB Willie Miles, 5-10, 185, R-Sr.; DL Trey White, 6-1, 300, R-Jr.; DB Matt Arnold, 6-0, 185, R-Jr.; P Aaron Winn, 6-1, 190, Sr. KEY NEWCOMERS: DB Caleb Arnold, 6-2, 200, Jr.; TE Josiah Carter, 6-2, 225, So.; K Austin Hosier, 5-7, 170, Jr.; OL Ramsey Kifolo, 6-3, 285, So.; WR Keshaun Lazard, 6-2, 185, So.; OL Christian Moody, 6-3, 315, Jr.; DL Vershaud Richardson 6-3, 245, Jr.; WR Caleb Tanis, 6-3, 215, Jr.; DL Israel Whitmore, 6-2, 245, So.; RB Deuce Wise, 5-10, 200, So. OUTLOOK: Picked No. 7 in GAC preseason coaches poll…Kyle Shipp is a Tech alum…New coaches at both coordinator positions…Six home games this season HENDERSON STATE HEAD COACH: Scott Maxfield, 17 seasons at school, 125-62 overall record at Henderson; became winningest head coach in HSU football history last season. 2022 RECORD: 8-3 overall, 8-3 Great American Conference POSTSEASON RESULT: No postseason appearance KEY LOSSES: All-American WR Xavier Malone; D2CCA Second Team All-Region TE Mike Benning KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: QB Andrew Edwards, 6-3, 200, R-So.; RB Korien Burrell, 5-10, 218, Jr.; DE Gary Lewis, 6-2, 215, R-So.; 4 of 5 starting OL returning; 9 of 11 defensive starters returning, including entire DL KEY NEWCOMERS: LB Fred Lewis, 6-1, 220, Jr.; LB Zach Dixon, 6-1, 210, Sr. OUTLOOK: Picked No. 3 in GAC preseason coaches poll…Team has exceeded its preseason ranking in each of the last three seasons… Returning eight of 12 All-Conference selections from 2022 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS HEAD COACH: Brad Smiley, 1 season at school, 5-6 overall record 2022 RECORD: 5-6 overall, 5-6 Great American Conference POSTSEASON RESULT: No postseason appearance KEY LOSSES: RT Austin Patricia; OL Marshall Poppenhusen; K Austin Wilkerson; DE Prince Udenze; DE Garrett Roberts KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: QB OB Jones. 6-2, 220, Sr.; RB Jariq Scales, 5-10, 190, Jr.; RB Kadyn Roach, 6-1, 205, Jr.; WR Cole Williams, 6-0, 200, Jr.; C Thomas Bowman. 6-3, 310, Jr.; OL Colton Grier, 6-7, 300, Jr.; OL Cade Baker, 6-4, 295, Jr.; TE Matthew Whitten, 6-4, 220, Jr.; DL Elvin Calhoun, 6-1, 280, Jr.; DL Tre'von Letts, 6-1, 265, R-Jr.; LB Jacob Berry, 6-0, 220, Sr.; LB Gavin Roe, 5-10, 220, Jr.; CB Melvin Smith Jr., 6-0, 185, Jr. KEY NEWCOMERS: WR DJ Wagoner. 6-2, 190, Gr.; DB Javian Gathright, 6-1, 190, Jr.; DB Hosea Singleton. 6-1, 210, Jr.; DB Deonta Barnes, 5-11, 190; Jr.; LB Phillip Joest, 6-0, 205. R-Fr.; DE Ken Ellison, 6-1, 225, Jr.; OL Dylan Crippen, 6-5, 285, So.; OL Bennett Castleberry, 6-2, 310, So. OUTLOOK: Led GAC in total offense with 485.4 YPG, ranked third nationally in 2022…Eclipsed 5,300 total yards and rushed for 30 touchdowns last season for the third time each in program history…All-Regional and All-GAC First-Team RB Scales ranks, among active career players in Division II, fourth in rushes per game (18.9), fifth in all-purpose plays per game (20.5), fifth in rushing yards per game (114.5), and ninth in all-purpose yards per game (129.6)…All-GAC honorable mention linebacker Berry became the first Mulerider with 100 tackles in a single season since 2004 and finished the season with the most tackles of any NCAA Div. II defender in the state of Arkansas UAPB HEAD COACH: Alonzo Hampton, first season at school 2022 RECORD: 3-8 overall, 1-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference POSTSEASON RESULT: No postseason appearance KEY LOSSES: QB Skyler Perry; RB Kayvon Britten; OL Mark Evans II; DL Athen Smith; LB Isaac Peppers KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: QB Jalen Macon, 6-5, 205, R-So.; OL Ryan Atkins-Frazier, 6-6, 280, Gr.; OL Calvin Lester III, 6-2, 290, Jr.; WR Maurice Lloyd, 6-0, 175, Sr.; TE Tristan Ballard, 6-6, 240, R-Sr.; WR Javaughn Williams, 6-3, 189, Gr.; DB Laprel Boyd, 5-11, 188, Sr.; LB Timon Akins, 6-1, 220, Jr.; LB Rico Dozier, 6-1, 195, Jr.; DL JaVonn Gray, 6-2, 300, Sr.; DB Grant Ewell Jr., 6-0, 205, Jr.; DL Kendarius Clark, 6-2, 290, Jr.; LS Thomas Reny, 6-2, 230, Sr. KEY NEWCOMERS: RB Michael Jamerson III, 6-0, 200, Jr.; QB Makhi Hagens, 6-3, 200, R-So.; DB Donavann Collins, 5-11, 188, R-Jr.; LB Khiry Morrison, 6-1, 218, R-Jr.; LB Khaliil Arnold, 6-3, 220, R-So. OUTLOOK: Hampton, a native of Warren, is a 20- year coaching veteran who was last the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Louisville-Monroe before joining the Golden Lions…UAPB has gone 5-17 since playing for the league title in 2021…Team was picked to finish sixth in the SWAC's West Division preseason coaches poll HARDING HEAD COACH: Paul Simmons, 5 seasons at school, 50-13 overall record 2022 RECORD: 9-2 overall, 9-2 Great American Conference POSTSEASON RESULT: No postseason appearance KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: QB Cole Keylon, So.; OL Keegan Shive; OL Hunter Willis; LB Clark Griffin; DL Nathaniel Wallace; DT Welsey Coleman; KR Kendale Allen OUTLOOK: Harding picked to finished second in the GAC preseason coaches poll and opens the season ranked no. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll…Over the last six seasons, the team has finished in the top two in the conference, winning the GAC title in 2016 and 2021…Bison averaged 36 points per game in 2022 ARKANSAS STATE COLLEGES CAPSULES KNIGHT, OUACHITA BAPTIST RELOAD FOR 2023 GAC SEASON HANK LAYTON HAWGS SPORTS NETWORK OJ Jones Southern Arkansas Quaterback File Photo

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