Story by Bob Davidson
As Kansas Wesleyan coach Matt Myers watches his football team go through its paces at JRI Stadium he sees opportunity and a new beginning for the Coyotes.
"It's pretty exciting," said Myers, who enters his second season as head coach after guiding KWU to an 8-3 record, 7-3 in the Kansas Conference last fall – the three losses by a combined 16 points.
Myers' glass is at least half full, unfazed by the departure of 35 athletes that included a large, talented, and experienced senior class.
"We are young," he said. "The majority of the team, the guys that are returning, are going into their junior or sophomore seasons. I'd say we're young and deep – a lot of guys vying for game day reps right now which is fun to see."
Myers and his staff spent the offseason replenishing the roster. The Coyotes opened fall practice with a squad of 147, approximately 85 of them newcomers.
A new puzzle to assemble with numerous pieces that could fit.
"We brought in 30 guys at mid-year so the structure that we had in place for the spring is almost all but back," he said. "It comes down to consistent execution then trying to find out where the incoming guys fit and how quickly they'll make an impact."
A significant change involves Myers who will work with the defense. Former KWU linebacker Justin Sullivan is the defensive coordinator but Myers will be deeply involved. He was defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach.
"Coach Sullivan, coach (Nolan) Jones and coach (Jacob) Brown will help me on defense," he said. "(Coordinator James) Bauer is doing more of the work on offense with coach (David) Leonard, coach (Mike) Hall and coach (Anthony) Bargas."
Brown is the lone newcomer on the staff.
"Administratively we're more organized with the staff having gone through this one time," Myers said. "They were pretty young last year and they're not old vets now. A lot of the jobs have been delegated and are being handled without my direct involvement."
Time is of the essence, though – KWU opens the season against KCAC newcomer Evangel at 6 p.m. August 26 in Nixa, Missouri.
OFFENSE
There's talent and experience at running back, wide receiver and quarterback. Finding four new starters in the line is a priority.
Richard Lara, who started the final five games of 2022, returns at quarterback. He completed 52.8 percent of his passes for 899 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. Trent Graves, a transfer who played well in the spring game, is vying for the starting job along with fellow transfers Jordan Moran and Jaeden Taylor.
"We've got a bunch of guys that were around in the spring that got a bunch of reps so I think that position is deep and really talented," Myers said.
Nick Allsman (795 yards rushing), Mark Benjamin (582) and Tyler Boston (413) return at running back.
Veteran receivers Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey (22 catches, 299 yards, four touchdowns), Woody Banks (12-261-2), Jacquante Pitts (6-122-2) and Nick Hays are back and joined by mid-year transfers Darrias Pearsall and Jacob Backus. Freshman Nick Simpson and transfer Ricardo Arias are the tight ends.
"Positionally, we feel really good about our depth. Now it's working out where they fit in and when they fit in," Myers said.
Right tackle Rolandius Williamson is the lone starter back in the line but Chris Muns, Jontrell Casimere and Dawson Adams also saw duty. Mid-year transfers Aiden Kendall, Daniel Longre and Lucas Dankenbring are in the hunt.
"You want to have guys that are coming into their second or third season and ready to play which we have," Myers said.
DEFENSE
Rebuilding the interior line is job one after graduation claimed six starters.
"We brought in some guys this fall we think will contribute at linebacker and D-line," Myers said.
Rush linebacker Ricardo Garcia and tackle Josh King-Bradley return after performing well last fall. Freshman Caleb Smith has stood out during early practices and Dylan Worrell moved from offense to nose tackle in the spring. Mid-year transfers John Opoku-Ababio and Sloane Simpson have impressed early on.
Veterans Jhalen Haynes and Ricco Moore anchor the linebacking corps. Kaleb Hagans returns for his senior year, Shaylan Lewis is back after sitting out last season and mid-year transfer Kobe Schroeder has joined the group.
The secondary has the most experience with My'Kell Barnett and Jordan Dupre returning at cornerback and Julian Urioste, Daren Hawkins and Colby Klieman at safety.
"We're two to three deep at corners and safeties," Myers said. "We're feeling pretty good about it. We'll still be looking to play 22 to 25 guys on Saturdays"
KICKERS
Talon Cope, Clay Gagnon and Easton Atwood return and are competing for the placekicking job held by Aaron Main. Griffin Wiltse is back and will handle the punting chores in place of All-American Miguel Millan.
NEW KCAC FORMAT
The conference will employ two divisions this fall – the Franklin "Gene" Bissell Division named in honor of KWU's long time coach and Dr. Ted Kessinger Division in recognition of the longtime Bethany coach.
The conference last used a divisional format for two seasons in 1969 and 1970. The Coyotes won the KCAC North Division in 1969 and beat Sterling in the KCAC Championship that season.
This year, the two divisional winners will be the automatic qualifiers to the NAIA Football Championship Series which begins November 18.
The Coyotes were picked first in the Bissell Division in the KCAC coaches' preseason poll. Avila was second followed by Tabor, Saint Mary, Ottawa and Sterling. Southwestern was tops in the Kessinger poll ahead of Evangel, Bethel, Friends, McPherson and Bethany.
Teams play opponents from the opposite division the first six weeks. Following a conference-wide bye week October 7 they play the five teams in their division to close regular season. Division winners advance to the NAIA playoffs.
"I like the structure," Myers said. "It gives us a bye week which we haven't had in many years. It guarantees us 11 games and we don't have to worry about scheduling out of conference games and all that stuff.
"We lost a lot but I think but we brought in what we needed to bring in. If we don't have any massive mental mistakes, I think we'll be all right coaching and playing."