CWU Wildcat Nation

Quarterback: The 2023 season saw the emergence of  former 3-star recruit  Kennedy McGill , who became the starter in Week 8. A dual-threat with great rushing abilities, McGill added a spark to the offense and won his first 2 starts to help lock in a playoff berth. The young McGill then faced the tall task of leading the team through the playoffs, and lived up to the challenge by knocking out 2 nationally-ranked foes on the road in the first 2 rounds before Central bowed out to the #1 ranked team and eventual national runners-up in the quarterfinals.  The redshirt sophomore McGill will go into 2024 as the frontrunner for the starting job. R edshirt sophomore  Justin Brennan and redshirt freshman  Mitchell Johnson are returning, while CWU added a former 3-star recruit in transfer  Caleb Christiansen from Whitworth. Additionally, the Wildcats signed Luke Gale  (Eastmont HS) and Bo Gionet (West Seattle HS) out of high school who will both serve their time as redshirts. Former CWU quarte

SIGNED/COMMITTED: 35 QB: 3 RB: 2 WR: 2 TE: 0 OL: 7 DE: 5 DT: 1 LB: 3 DB: 10 K/P: 2 Cooper Britton, Mt. Si HS K/P, 5'10" 155 lb MSHS 2021, 2023: 12/16 FG, 51/57 PAT, 36.6 yds/punt All-KingCo 4A 2nd Team https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14585444/656517ee38639c0c4451d379 Caleb Christensen, Royal HS/Whitworth QB, 6'3" 200 lb Whitworth 2021: 628 passing yards, 3 TD 3-star, #40 class of 2021 recruit in WA by 247 Sports https://247sports.com/player/caleb-christensen-46086082/ Coen Cronk, Olympia HS DB, 6'3" 180 lb OHS 2023: 394 receiving yards, 5 TD; 138 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR News Tribune All-Area 2nd Team, All-SPSL 4A 1st Team https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14610487/65283b150c5445030c382a50 Other offers: Portland State (FCS, PWO), Linfield (DIII) Isaiah Cuellar, Glacier Peak HS DB, 6'0" 175 lb GPHS 2023: 92 tackles, 4 INT, 4 TD WSFCA All-State 4A 1st Team , HeraldNet All-Area 1st Team, All-Wesco 4A 1st Team https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16537358/65408

CWU finished in 2nd place in their inaugural season in the Lone Star Conference, proving that they can compete and win in a competitive full-sized conference. CWU owed most of their success to their deep rushing attack, physical lines on both sides of the ball, and dominant defense from front to back. Here is an outlook for what we can expect going into the season in 2023. Quarterback : With continuing injuries to the 2022 season's starter Quincy Glasper, 2021's season starter JJ Lemming saw the majority of snaps last season, mainly coming in the second half of the season. CWU struggled to find consistency, completing less than 50% of passes with 10 interceptions. Glasper was the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 but continued to be hampered by injuries in 2022 and has since made a surprise move to NAIA Eastern Oregon. With no QB added from the transfer portal, team captain Lemming will look to step into a larger leadership role and find that consistency this year in w

SIGNED/COMMITTED: QB: 1 RB: 2 WR: 7 TE: 4 OL: 7 DL: 11 LB: 3 DB: 6 LS: 1 K: 2 Malachi Ajayi, Del Campo HS (CA)/American River College DT, 6'2" 265 lb https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7698663/6361f8d14df60c16a4873552 Other offers: West Texas A&M (DII) Ryan Atterberry, Curtis HS WR, 5'10" 160 lb Cooper Beltz, Clackamas HS (OR) WR, 6'3" 185 lb CHS 2022: 615 receiving yards, 8 TD All-State 6A Honorable Mention, All-Mt. Hood 1st Team https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16113482/638ef88f4ba888084c0c20a8 Other offers: Lewis & Clark (DIII), Linfield (DIII), Puget Sound (DIII), Willamette (DIII) Jesse Benge, Naches Valley HS TE, 6'3" 250 lb NVHS 2022: 74 tackles, 27 TFL, 22 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 blocked punts SCAC West Lineman of the Year, All-SCAC 1st Team https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/college_sports/cwu_sports/naches-valleys-benge-signs-to-play-tight-end-as-one-of-29-new-central-washington/article_27c1dbce-a28a-11ed-80e4-0ffd75575

After navigating the turbulent challenges and suspension of play associated with COVID, only playing one spring football game vs. Montana in the 2020-21 academic year and losing several key players who left the program or transferred away, the Central Washington football program had many questions going into the 2021 season. After a 2-2 start including a close home loss to fellow playoff team Angelo State, the team found their footing and saw the emergence of new standout players as the Wildcats went on to win 6 straight games to win the GNAC title and earn their first postseason berth since 2017. With only three teams in the conference, CWU only had themselves to beat to win the conference title. However, we knew that we couldn't continue moving forward with just three teams. CWU, Western Oregon, and Simon Fraser have joined the Lone Star Conference as football affiliates starting in the 2022 season. Despite more travel, the Wildcats will get the benefits of facing good Texas comp