KWU Sports Information
Tyler Boston (JR/Dixon, Calif.) was one of the new guys on the block on a veteran Kansas Wesleyan football team last fall.
A running back and transfer from Shasta College (Calif.), Boston quickly fit in and became part of the backfield rotation finishing with 413 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
This spring, though, Boston is one of a small handful of returning Coyotes on an offense that saw nine starters graduate or depart. KWU coach Matt Myers and his staff brought in 30 mid-year transfers to help fill the gaps and the rebuilding project began in earnest with spring practice.
Boston and the Coyotes went through 15 practice sessions that culminated with a controlled scrimmage Saturday afternoon at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.
Boston was front and center from his tailback perch gaining 42 yards on just six carries while displaying quickness, power and vision. He played on the first offensive group that was led by returning quarterback Richard Lara (SO/Bakersfield, Calif.).
"Definitely tons of progress made this spring season," Boston said, "A lot of guys that transferred didn't really know what was going on. This is just a showcase of what they've learned thus far. This fall they'll be a lot tougher and I'm excited."
The 68-play, 90-minute scrimmage before a large crowd gave fans a glimpse of what the 2023 Coyotes might be.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Boston is part of a deep group of backs that also includes returner D'Heaven Domena (FR/Charlotte, N.C.), transfers Eric Hunter from Diablo Valley (Calif.) C.C., Marquis Washington from Los Medanos (Calif.) C.C. (Calif.), Zarek Fewell (JR/Fort Scott, Kan.) from Garden City C.C. and Erek Smith (FR/Banning, Calif.), a talented freshman from Banning, Calif.
"I thought we did really well," Boston said. "We worked well together; we had each other's backs and helped each other out with whatever we were going through. We got our feet wet and this is going to help prepare us for the season to come."
"I thought our tempo was really good on offense," Myers said. "I think we put the defense in a little bit of a bind there with how well we were moving and specifically running the ball which was good to see."
The second offense was led by quarterback Trent Graves, a transfer from Sul Ross State (Texas). Jordan Moran, a transfer from Hudson Valley Community College (N.Y.) also played along with Taylor Daeden, a transfer from Feather River C.C. (Calif.), and returners Silas Isaacs (SO/Konowa, Okla.) and Tyrese Wilson (FR/Kansas City, Mo.).
Moran threw a touchdown pass to Laken Webb (FR/Salina, Kan.), Graves ran five yards for a score and Isaacs ran for a TD. Domena scored the first touchdown of the day on a run.
"The quarterbacks distributed the ball down the field," Myers said. "Our tailbacks ran the ball really well; Boston looked good, Erek Smith had a couple of really good runs and he's just a freshman. We were more efficient today than any practice we've had all spring, for sure. We scored a lot of touchdowns."
Myers said he was pleased with the spring session overall.
"From practice one to now it was leaps and bounds, we made a lot of progress," he said. "It was good to see us come out and execute with the pads on in front of a crowd. I'm satisfied."
The Coyotes open fall camp August 4 and play Kansas Conference newcomer Evangel in their season opener August 26 in Springfield, Mo.