May 4, 2007

Kansas Wesleyan, Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 8-2 | KCAC Finish: T-3^rd, 7-2

With the loss of two former NAIA All-Americans - one on each side of the football - Kansas Wesleyan returns six offensive starters and eight on the defensive side of the ball from a team that finished 8-2 last season, posting 7-2 mark that was good for third in the KCAC. The Coyotes lose 2005 All-American running back Darell Grames and 2006 All-America defensive tackle Eric Williams, but KWU returns five All-KCAC selections to its defensive lineup and a pair of offensive linemen that earned all-league honors a year ago. Newcomers will highlight the KWU lineup in 2007, as a familiar face returns to KWU in the form of Bryan Cooper, who spent last season away from the game after earning All-KCAC honors at wide receiver his freshman season at KWU. Several other Salina, Kan., natives return home to play their college football in 2007, including Drew Dallas at quarterback after playing his first two seasons at Fort Hays State (Kan.). Dallas is the son of KWU head football coach Dave Dallas.

 

Bethel (Kan.), Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 9-2 | KCAC Finish: T-1^st, 8-1

With the return of its leading rusher and KCAC Player of the Year Beau Cox along with starting quarterback Brett Clow, Bethel looks to make a run at its second-straight KCAC championship after sharing the crown with Friends (Kan.) a year ago. The Threshers return 17 starters - eight on offense and nine of defense - including defensive lineman James McCartney and defensive back Brandon Kaufman, both Second-Team All-KCAC defensive teamers a year ago. At tight end, the Threshers will need to find an answer to replace First-Team All-KCAC performer Garret Whorton, as well as a pair of starters on the offensive line in Jason MaDonna and John Morales. In addition to returning 17 of its 22 starters from its 9-1 playoff team in 2006, Bethel will also bring back five additional players with starting experience during its 2006 KCAC championship run.

 

Langston (Okla.), Central States Football League

2006 Record: 5-4 | Independent in 2006

After spending a season away from the CSFL in 2006 as an NAIA Independent, Langston returns to the league that it won as co-champion in 2005. The Lions played a nine-game schedule last season, finishing 5-4 with a win over NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) foe Prairie View A&M. The Lions return three starters on the offensive side of the football and eight on defense. Of its eight returning defenders, defensive linemen Brandon Kennard and Shayne Patterson anchor the defensive line while Samuel Draper leads the defensive backfield after grabbing two interceptions in 2006. Roderick Jenkins, a sophomore linebacker, returns to the defensive lineup card after leading the team in tackles and providing pass defense with three break-ups and an interception. The Lion offense loses its quarterback from last season, as 2005 CSFL Player of the Year Kendrick Dozier departs along with wide receiver Jimmy Early and running back Jimmy Scales must also be replaced from last season's offensive unit.

 

Malone (Ohio), Mid-States Football Association (Mideast Division)

2006 Record: 7-4 | MSFA (Mideast) Finish: T-2^nd, 4-2

Malone will enter the 2006 season without its starting quarterback from a season ago, as MSFA Honorable Mention selection Brad Reifsnyder departs from a team that finished in a tie for second in the Mideast Division of the MSFA. The Malone offense will turn to leading rusher and MSFA First-Teamer Bernard Payton, who ran for 955 yards and eight touchdowns while also catching 63 passes for 535 yards to compile 1,490 yards of total offense last season. Also returning to the Malone lineup will be wide receiver Derek Deardorff, who caught 35 balls for 558 yards and five scores. Defensively, Malone returns six starters, including linebacker Justin Murphy who led the team with 87 tackles, 33 of which were solo stops, in a First-Team All-MSFA campaign in 2006. Murphy also recorded 1.5 sacks last season and had a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The Malone offense returns seven starters from last season, while on special teams, Malone brings back punter Tyler Parry, who averaged 39.6 yards per boot with a long of 76, pinning 11 kicks inside the 20-yardline.

 

Northwestern Oklahoma State, Central States Football League

2006 Record: 2-8* | CSFL Finish: T-3^rd, 1-3*

*Northwestern Oklahoma finished the 2006 season with a record of 6-4 (4-0), but was forced to forfeit four wins, including three in conference play due to an ineligible player.

With the loss of two First-Team All-CSFL offensive linemen and a pair of Second-Team offensive scoring threats, Northwestern Oklahoma will turn to First-Team All-CSFL running back and returning starter Thez Robinson and First-Team wide receiver Zach Edwards to help carry the scoring load in the 2007 campaign. Robinson ranked ninth in yards per game last season in the NAIA scoring 10 touchdowns while Edwards averaged 16 yards per catch and found the end zone eight times. The Ranger offense returns five starters from last season's team, while the defense brings back seven, including all-conference linebacker B.J. Hodshire and defensive end Shawn Meek. Hodshire led the team with 84 tackles, 50 of which were solo stops, while Meek had 27 tackles on the year with 4.5 tackles for loss. The Ranger defense should also get and added spark from NCAA Division I transfers Seneca Collins (defensive tackle, North Texas) and Dallas Basset (linebacker, Northern Illinois).

 

Virginia-Wise, Mid-South Conference (East Division)

2006 Record: 8-3 | Mid-South (East) Finish: T-3^rd, 3-3

UVA-Wise returns 15 of its 22 starters from last season's 8-3 squad, including starting quarterback and First-Team All Mid-South performer Randy Hippeard, who completed 211 passes last season for 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns. The offense also returns Mid-South East Player of the Year Ra'Shad Morgan at the running back position, after Morgan ran for 1,657 yards and 25 touchdowns in 206 carries last season. Morgan also had 35 receptions for 304 yards, rolling up 1,961 all-purpose yards on the season. He'll run behind an offensive line anchored by Henry Potter, a first-teamer from 2006 at offensive tackle. Defensively, UVA-Wise returns eight starters, including defensive end Reggie Dorsainvil, who recorded 56 tackles and 15 tackles for loss to go with eight sacks and six forced fumbles. The defense does lose its leading tackler form a year ago, as linebacker Corey Wheeler recorded 66 stops, while the offensive line takes a hit after losing first-team offensive tackle Jon Mullins.

 

News & Notes from Others Receiving Votes

Cumberlands (Ky.) - Narrowly missed spring Top 25 after finishing second in the MSC-East last season

Montana Tech - Will play six of its 11 scheduled games on the road in 2007

Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - Will play in the first scheduled game of the season against MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Aug. 25 in Platte City, Mo.

Nebraska Wesleyan - Has made five trips to the NAIA playoffs in school history

Quincy (Ill.) - Finished 6-5 in 2006; First winning season since 1994

Belhaven (Miss.) - Opens with 4-of-5 games at home in September

Dickinson State (N.D.) - Quarterback competition between Matt Gittings and Jared Tuma highlighted spring drills

Shorter (Ga.) - Returns all 22 starters from 2006 offensive and defensive units

Sterling (Kan.) - First-Team All-KCAC quarterback Jake Buchanan leads Warriors into 2007

Southern Nazarene (Okla.) - Picked third in CSFL spring football poll

Graceland (Iowa) - Finished third at 6-4 in Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2006

Webber International (Fla.) - Five of 10 scheduled games slated for home; travels to The Citadel Sept. 8

Lambuth (Tenn.) - 16 returning starters highlight 2007 roster