There’s an air of optimism concerning the Chadron State College football team as it begins practicing this week. Some 130 players reported on Saturday to have their pictures snapped, for physicals, fill out forms and check out equipment.
Perhaps the hype should be called “cautious” optimism. The Eagles have had some ups and downs the past few years, but the coaches are confident their team is on rise. CSC finished 5-6 overall and 4-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last fall, when, after injuries took a toll, only six seniors saw much playing time. This season the team is returning nearly 40 lettermen that include nine returning starters on offense and seven on defense.
A big plus in this era of easy transfer is the Eagles’ high retention of their key players.
“We’ve been developing a lot of good, young players the past two years and have kept almost all of them,” Head Coach Jay Long said. “We’ll have them on the field this fall. We also added a strong group of transfers during who joined the team for spring practice and believe they will help us a lot. We’re excited about this season.”
When the results of the RMAC preseason poll of the 10 head coaches were released last weekend, the Eagles were picked to finish seventh this fall. Long didn’t care to comment about the vote, but thinks it will be an incentive for his team to pull a few upsets.
One of the newcomers expected to help is DJ Ralph, a senior quarterback who started at Saddleback College in California before initially transferring to San Diego State and then joining the Eagles in January. Following spring practice, Ralph was among about 50 Eagles who remained in Chadron for weight training and to work out on their own all summer.
“He knows the game, throws the ball well, has a quick release and has been readily accepted by his teammates. They’re glad he’s joined us,” Long said.
The head coach has another reason to believe the Eagles will be improved offensively. He also tutors the offensive line and says it will be stronger this fall.
“We’ve struggled up front the past two years, but this is an area where we’ll be better,” Long said. “We have six seniors among the O-linemen and have added a couple transfers who will provide great competition and will probably start.”
The latter pair came from Santa Ana College, which had a 9-2 record and won a bowl game last fall. They are Levi Banuelos (6-3, 285) and Iskandar Albitar (6-1, 315).
The Eagles expect good things from sophomore tailback James Marschall, who came on strong late last season and was the leading rusher with 129 carries for 591 yards. The coaches also are high on Isaac Jean-Pierre, who after having an excellent season at Mountain View High at Mesa, Ariz., last fall, graduated early, enrolled at CSC for the second semester and was promising during spring ball.
Led by Tommy Thomas, who caught 55 passes for 908 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore last season while earning First-Team All-RMAC honors, the Eagles have proven pass receivers. The next three busiest receivers also return. Wideouts Grant Swenson and Rollin George each caught 27 passes and tight end Peter Krohn grabbed 19, four of them for TDs, while repeating as Second-Team All-RMAC.
The receiving corps also will include last year’s starting quarterback much of the season—junior Preston Pearson. Offensive Coordinator Micah Smith says Pearson is multi-talented, could see some action at his former position, and undoubtedly will be on the field often.
“He can throw the ball, catch the ball, run with the ball and also blocks well,” Smith said. “He’ll be our utility player and is looking forward to making things happen.”
Defensive Coordinator Clint Sasse is also enthused about the potential on his side of the ball.
All but one of last year’s eight leading tacklers return. Sasse says he has nine linemen, led by First-Team All-Conference choices Hunter O’Connor and Tanner True, ready to lead the charge up front.
While the Eagles must replace last year’s leading tackler Joey Geil in the middle, Sasse says linebacker will still be defensive strength. The coach puts a star alongside the names of Xavier Harrell, Reed Henkel, Dylan Meyer and Logan O’Brien on the linebacker depth chart, and says several redshirt freshmen and sophomores will challenge them for playing time.
The secondary returns the three primary safetys in Tucker Peterson, Sutton Pohlman and Dax Yeradi. During the spring Sasse said he was pleased by what he saw from transfers Omar Ali and Tasean Young at cornerback. Senior Donte Jackson is also an experienced corner.
Particularly early last season, the Eagles had a problem at the back end of their defense. They gave up nine touchdown passes of 50 or more yards. Sasse says that preventing those big plays will certainly be emphasized.
The kicking game is expected to be one of the Eagles’ bright spots again. Both Brodie Eisenbraun, who averaged 41.6 yards on 57 punts last fall, and Wilson Yee, who connected on 10 field goals, including a school-record 61-yarder, return.
Yee also plays the piano for the college’s jazz band.
Area fans will have lots of chances to watch the Eagles this fall. Seven of their 11 games will be at home, beginning on Thursday, Aug. 29, when Nebraska-Kearney will visit Elliott Field for a 6 p.m. kickoff.