William Penn 2023 Football Season Preview

Interview with Coach Benavidez at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W0ZvAbuD4s

2022 record: 3-7 (1-4 Heart)
Starters returning/lost: 14/10 (including special teams)

Notable returners:
Keegan Simmons, Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 260 rushing yards)
Harlan Plumber, Sr., Bryan, Texas
(Second-team all-Heart, 109 tackles)
Trey Mosley, Jr., Fort Dodge, Iowa
(Honorable-mention all-Heart, 38 receptions, 438 yards)
Kyriee Lewis, Jr., Eight Mile, Ala.
(Second-team all-Heart, 58 tackles, 10.5 sacks)

Notable losses:
Marquis Knighten
(All-Heart)
Jagger Blubaugh
(All-Heart)
Dylan Wemer
(All-Heart)
Jaden Curtis
(Letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Joey Mars, Jr., Piedmont, Okla.
Liam Bryant, So., Jackson, Mo.
CJ Cunningham, Grad., Atlanta, Ga.

The Statesmen football team, under a new skipper, enter the 2023 gridiron season with renewed vigor and hope.

For the first time in two decades, William Penn, which was 3-7 a year ago (1-4 Heart North), has a new coach as Marc Benavidez takes the reins. He and his staff have worked tirelessly to construct a squad that will hopefully turn the tide back in favor of the navy and gold.

Leading this year’s crew will be returning all-conference players Kyriee Lewis (Jr., Eight Mile, Ala., Sports Management), Harlan Plumber (Sr., Bryan, Texas, Exercise Science), Trey Mosley (Jr., Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kinesiology), and Logan Myers (Jr., Joplin, Mo., Business Management).

Quarterback

Sterling Ramsey II (So., Broken Arrow, Okla., Business Management) is back behind center after taking a generous amount of snaps as a freshman. The sophomore completed 91 of 214 passes for 1,219 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.

Running Back

Team captain Keegan Simons (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Elementary Education) will be battling with Destynd Loring (So., Charleston, S.C., Sports Management) for the starting ball carrier spot. Fellow returner Chauncey Andrews (Jr., Tulsa, Okla., Psychology) is slated to earn plenty of playing time as well, while also being a key contributor on special teams.

Simmons managed 260 rushing yards and a team-high four touchdowns last season, while Loring had 320 and three scores. Andrews notched 308 yards on the ground in 2022.

Wide Receiver

The Statesmen look to have great depth on the ends with a large contingent of newcomers in the mix, but it all starts with returning honorable-mention all-Heart pick Mosley who recorded 38 catches for 438 yards and two scores a year ago.

The expansive list of newcomers includes, but is not limited to, Lukas Hamilton (Jr., Columbus, Ohio, Secondary Education), Odarius King (Fr., Tampa, Fla., Business Management), Kingston Oliver (Fr., St. Joseph, Mo., Exercise Science), Jaris Acklin (So., Mountain View, Mo., Wellness and Recreation), and Myles McCoy (Jr., Upper Marlboro, Md., Wellness and Recreation).

Fullback/Tight End

Returners Sham Graham (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sociology), with two receptions for 26 yards last year, and Alexander Price (So., McKinney, Texas, Sports Management), with eight grabs for 62 yards, will be utilized primarily as play-making tight ends, while transfer Justin Clatterbuck (Grad., Gilbert, Ariz., Master’s of Sports Management) is a combination player who is considered one of the top athletes for the Statesmen.

Offensive Line

Myers, another team captain as well as honorable-mention all-Heart selection, is back in the trenches, while the coaching staff brought in a talented trio of transfers in CJ Cunningham (Grad., Atlanta, Ga., Master’s of Organizational Leadership), Liam Bryant (So., Jackson, Mo., Physical Education), and Dylan Frulla (So., Cordova, Tenn., Exercise Science). 2022 starter Cameron Carnes (Jr., Colerain, Ohio, General Accounting) is transitioning from guard to tackle, while returner Jalen Chappell (So., Hoxie, Ark., Sports Management) is also at the top of the charts for WPU.

Defensive Line

The first line of defense will be guided by Lewis. The junior, who was a second-team all-Heart honoree last campaign, finished 2022 with 58 tackles (14.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks.

Transfer Malcolm Bryant (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, Sports Management) is set to pace the interior, while David Campbell (So., Miami Gardens, Fla., Sports Management) will be more than complementary to Lewis on the edge.

Linebacker

The Statesmen have a pair of team captains at linebacker with top returning tackler Plumber (109 tackles) as well as newcomer Joey Mars (Jr., Piedmont, Okla., Business Management) caring for the middle.

William Penn will employ a rotation of players on the outside, headlined by Aldo Delgado (So., Kansas City, Mo., Sports Management), Tramon Lias (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Mechanical Engineering), and Turner Ellis (Grad., Urbandale, Iowa, Master’s of Sports Management.

Ellis had 32 stops last year, while Lias added 12 more.

Defensive Back

The Statesmen have added a number of new faces to the secondary, but returners Ellis, Howard Huerta (Jr., Panorama City, Calif., Business Management), and Mason Ford (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, New Media) are all projected to be in the lineup at the start of the year.

Huerta was third on the team in 2022 with 53 tackles in addition to two interceptions, while Ford collected 20 stops and one pick.

As they progress, several freshmen will win time on the field, including Anthony Massie (Fr., Miami, Fla., Business Management), Patrick Darelus (Fr., Sample Road, Fla., Business Management), and Brandon Young (Fr., Houston, Texas, Computer Science).

Special Teams

Ethan Olivas (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) returns as the Statesmen placekicker, while Cael Crawford (Jr., Mount Vernon, Iowa, Business Management) is prepared to once handle the punting duties.

Olivias connected on 16 extra points and a pair of field goals (long of 37 yards) in 2022, while Crawford averaged 34.0 yards per punt attempt last fall.

Conference

The Statesmen decided to forgo a Week Zero game and instead take in one more week of practice. WPU will open the 2023 slate against Heart newcomer Missouri Baptist Saturday. The navy and gold then return to Oskaloosa on September 9 for their home opener versus Missouri Valley, one of five home games for the squad. Homecoming is set for October 21 against Peru State.

Defending North champion Grand View leads the preseason coaches’ poll, while William Penn is picked fourth.