FB SEASON PREVIEW: Experience to propel Yellow Jackets in 2024
DEFIANCE, Ohio – With all the changes at Defiance College, the Yellow Jackets football team will have several familiar names to rely on during the team's first season in the NAIA. The season kicks off with two road games at Concordia and Saint Francis before the home opener on Sept. 21 against Judson.
Head coach Bill Nickell enters his third season at the helm and has taken a that won one game before he arrived to three and four wins apiece in his first two years. DC is coming off one of its best offensive seasons since the 90s by averaging over 30 points per game with many weapons returning for 2024.
Season Outlook
The 2024 season will be a provisional year for the Yellow Jackets in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast Division and will not be eligible for the conference title. It will have the feel of a transitional season with four NCAA Division III opponents from the HCAC on the schedule, including a Week 11 clash against rival Bluffton. Defiance went 2-2 against those four teams a year ago. Among the MSFA programs, Taylor is the only team that the Yellow Jackets have played in the program's previous 109 seasons.
About the Team
Defiance has nine of last season's 11 all-conference players back on the roster for 2024 headlined by First Team defensive end Richard Pope IV and Second Team running back Tyshaun Freeman. Both players will continue to climb the career rankings in their respective categories as Freeman stands third all-time in rushing yards (2,603) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (23) while Pope is second in career sacks (25.0).
The Yellow Jackets will look very familiar on the offensive front with all five starters back for another season. Anchored by four-time all-conference center Eric Moultrie Jr., Andre Almore, Brian Hammer, Aidan Burke and Gabriel Bookman (honorable mention All-HCAC last year) will clear the way for Freeman and have the duty of protecting quarterback Jehlani Warren. Warren takes the reigns of the offense after appearing in eight games last season and steps in place of the graduated Jordan Ambrose, who compiled all-conference honorable mention a year ago. DC is also tasked with replacing tight end Cole Recker, who is now a member of the coaching staff, but retained the team's top four wide receivers (Tawann Rome, Dazzmon Garrett, Shonjae Gibson and Jalen Warren). Added to that group is incoming freshman receiver Caleb Johnson out of Trotwood-Madison and transfer tight end Cedric Madry from Florida Memorial.
The defense also brings back three all-conference players and seven starters. Dominic Harris will man the opposite end of the line to Pope as a second team lineman last season. At linebacker, the Jackets will have Coty Johnson and Bradyen Birkholz on the second level after they split starts last season. On the back end, returning all-conference defensive back V'Sean Palmer is one of three returners that saw significant time on the field in 2023. Transfers Connor Essick (Anderson) and Jerry Addo-Boateng (Indianapolis) slide into primary roles in the secondary. The big hole to fill will be linebacker Thomas Coltrain, who departs after graduation as the program's all-time solo tackles leader, four-time First Team all-conference and three-time All-Region.
The theme of experience also bleeds over to the specialists. Kicker Zeke Sanchez and punter Mathew Bolanos were both HCAC honorees in 2023 returning for their senior seasons. Tawann Rome was a Second Team returner last year and will be on returns alongside the explosive Dazzmon Garrett once again.
Conference Outlook
Noted as one of the NAIA toughest leagues, the MSFA placed four teams in the NAIA Preseason Top 25. Indiana Wesleyan was voted No. 6 and the favorite to repeat in the Mideast League followed by No. 7 and Midwest-favorite Marian. Saint Xavier, the Midwest defending champs, ranked No. 9 in the initial poll followed by Concordia receiving votes and chosen to place second in the Mideast.
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