CWU Football Season Preview 2022

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 competition every season in a full 10-team conference. Now that Central has found their new football home with a talented core of returning players, we can expect some exciting football in the seasons to come.

Quarterback:

After Reilly Hennessey graduated, CWU went through a revolving door of quarterbacks including Canon Racanelli (2019), Christian Moore (2019), Jack Smith (2020), and JJ Lemming who started the first 4 games of the 2021. But then Quincy Glasper emerged, who upset Midwestern State in his first start and went on to lead CWU to an undefeated final 6 games of the regular season, a GNAC title, and a postseason berth. Glasper was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year despite starting just 6 games and should be a lock to enter 2022 as the starter. Boise State transfer Zach Matlock also saw playing time in 2021, passing for 4 touchdowns in 4 games. Joining the team is Justin Brennan (Lakes) and 3-star North Creek product Kennedy McGill. Former 3-star recruit Daniel Buxton redshirted in the 2021 season, but is not listed on the 2022 roster.

• Returning: Quincy Glasper, JJ Lemming, Zach Matlock
• In: Justin Brennan, Kennedy McGill
• Out: Daniel Buxton

Running back:

In the post-Michael Roots era, the Wildcats turned to a pair of talented backs who combined to get the job done. Colorado State transfer Rashaad Boddie led the team in rushing and was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year in his lone season as a Wildcat. All-GNAC 1st Team selection Tyler Flanagan accumulated over 1000 all-purpose yards with 10 touchdowns in 2021, and will look to step into an even larger role with Boddie departed. The deep CWU backfield in 2022 will also include Cameron Daniels, Jackson McCann, North Dakota graduate Cameron McKinney, and SF Austin transfer Tre'Jon Henderson.

• Returning: Cameron Daniels, Tyler Flanagan, Cameron McKinney, Jackson McCann
• In: Tre'Jon Henderson (SF Austin), Ethan Morrill, Justice Taylor
• Out: Rashaad Boddie, Davine Tullis

Wide receiver: 

Program veterans Tony Archie and Jojo Hillel have departed after leading an otherwise young but deep core of receivers in 2021 that saw six Wildcats tally at least 200 receiving yards. GNAC Freshman of the Year Darius Morrison will return to build off a season when he led the team with 609 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Daniel Johnson and Tai-John Mizutani are other key returning contributors. 6'4" wideout Anthony Aguirre (Ferris) passed up an Idaho offer to sign with CWU. Cole Miller continues the Steilacoom to CWU pipeline. The Columbian All-Region Player of the Year 6'3" Ty Snider (Ridgefield) is a late addition to the recruiting class. DeMonte Horton adds some size at 6'3" 225 lb and is transferring in from Idaho State, while Ventura College transfer Gaven Brasker joins the team from the JUCO ranks.

• Returning: La'akea Asuega-Stark, Logan Brady, Marcus Cook, Daniel Johnson, Tai-John Mizutani, Darius Morrison
• In: Anthony Aguirre, Gaven Brasker, Aidan Canada, Trayce Hanks, DeMonte Horton (Idaho State), Cole Miller, Ty Snider, Zach Watson
• Out: Tony Archie, Ethan Eilertson, Kellen Gregory, Jojo Hillel, Abe Woodward

Tight end:

At tight end, the Wildcats will finally have to deal with replacing Sam Sanchez, with Isaac Crichton also departing. The team will next look to Kaiden Hammond, Titan Phillips, Payton Glasser, and Max Moenoa to compete for snaps, as well as Ellensburg's own Bryce Messner, who is making the switch from defensive line. Joining the team is freshman Camden Loidhamer (Wenatchee), the brother of CWU defensive end Chase Loidhamer.

• Returning: Payton Glasser, Kaiden Hammond, Bryce Messner, Max Moenoa, Titan Phillips
• In: Cornelius Grushke, Camden Loidhamer, Andrew Molloy, Ryan Pelton
• Out: Isaac Crichton, Sam Sanchez

Offensive Line:

Every year the O-Line Brotherhood dominates the trenches to pave the way for Central's dominating offense. CWU will see key Brotherhood members Will Ortner, Josh Alvarez, Tytus Timoteo, and Donald Wilkinson depart. Fortunately, Central will have plenty of talent returning led by GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Scottland Vise and All-GNAC 1st Team's Raymond Schalk, as well as other key returners that include Axel Isackson, Kent Powell, and Noah Thompson. Several freshmen join the team including 6'6" tackle Kaleb Potts, who was named HeraldNet All-Area 1st Team and helped pave the way for a dominant rushing attack at Marysville-Pilchuck. Noah Koke-Mauga (Lakes) was named the PCL 3A Offensive Lineman of the Year. Dustyn Coughlin switched to the dark side after transferring from conference rival Western Oregon.

• Returning: Dylan Dean, Slade Edwards, Lei-Ben Fesili, Kingston Grey, Axel Isackson, Alex Krueger, Kent Powell, Raymond Schalk, Noah Thompson, Scottland Vise
• In: Dustyn Coughlin (Western Oregon), Noah Koke-Mauga, Jackson Locke, Tyler Luzan, Kaleb Potts, Tyler Steinbach, Sam West
• Out: Josh Alvarez, Alex Hall, Bryan Henderson, Will Ortner, Kekoa Pele-Allen, Tytus Timoteo, Donald Wilkinson

Defensive Line:

CWU will lose a key trio in GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Zach Stecklein, Fred Feleti, and Max Nauer but will still see a deep group of talent returning for 2022. Defensive tackle Sean Gordon earned All-GNAC 1st Team honors and Matulino Masunu showed a lot of promise as a freshman. Fellow DT Christian Penny joined the CWU program in 2015 but still has one more season to play after not playing in 2018 and 2019 and COVID suspending play in 2020. Program veterans Isaiah Carbajal, Sonny Fuavai, and Kai Gamble also return to help lead a large group of linemen on the defensive side. Transferring from Grambling State is Tico Nah.

• Returning: Cameron Alefaio, Isaiah Carbajal, Josiah Cochran, Bridger Feldmann, Sonny Fuavai, Kai Gamble, Sean Gordon, Elijah Grace-Golston, Kaanan Huffman, Chase Loidhamer, Matulino Masunu, Josiah Nikolao, Christian Penny, Conner Warick
• In: Vinny Lenzi, Tico Nah, Trishion Sullivan
• Out: Fred Feleti, Max Nauer, Ethan Tela-Porter, Zach Stecklein, Sermon Wilson

Linebacker:

It will take some time to get used to not seeing All-American and GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Donte Hamilton making big plays everywhere on the field, instead now coaching from the sidelines. Fellow All-GNAC 1st Teamer Daeon Hudson will be CWU's top returning linebacker, being joined by key players like Brett Accimus, Johnny Navarro, and Max Randle. The Wildcats focused heavily on linebackers in the 2022 recruiting class. Brycen Indell (Thurston) earned all-state honors in Oregon. Brett McCalla racked up 151 tackles and 8 sacks for Mira Costa HS. Jairus Phillips (Camas), brother of CWU tight end Titan Phillips, was named All-State 1st Team, Columbian All-Region, and the GSHL 4A Co-Defensive MVP. 3-star Quintin Yon-Wagner previously held an SEC offer from Tennessee and has a good shot at making an instant impact.

• Returning: Brett Accimus, Isaac Clark, Lewa Emmsley, Daeon Hudson, Danny Metsker, Johnny Navarro, Max Randle
• In: Brycen Indell, Brett McCalla, Jairus Phillips, Samaad Turner, Quintin Yon-Wagner
• Out: Justin Douglas (Idaho State), Donte Hamilton, Tevita Tuilimu

Defensive Back:

CWU is expected to return almost their whole core of defensive backs, including their leading tackler in All-GNAC 1st Team safety Jahleel Breland and fellow 1st team corner Patrick Rogers. Tanner Volk and Dominic Wieburg will look to build off of fantastic first seasons of play as freshmen. The Wildcats will also feature Jeremy Banks, Hunter Eckstrom, Landen Neff, Nate Perkins, and Tristan West. JUCO product Almani Bishop from Chaffey College joins the program after amassing 119 tackles in his previous two seasons, Joshua Flowers comes in from FCS program Saint Francis, and LaMarq Patterson transfers in from DII Augustana. In the 2020-21 recruiting cycle CWU was one of several DII programs who was recruiting Tyeson Thomas, who played his senior season at Del Valle HS in Texas after transferring from Lakeridge HS in Oregon due to COVID. Thomas instead walked on to Oregon State where he redshirted last season, but will now come to play for the Wildcats!

• Returning: Tony Barajas, Jeremy Banks, Jahleel Breland, Jaylen Clay, Chase Coalson, Hunter Eckstrom, Landen Neff, Jalen Owens, Nate Perkins, Blake Peterson, Patrick Rogers, Jalen Webber, Tristan West, Tanner Volk, Grant Wedeberg, Dominic Wieburg
• In: Almani Bishop, Ronnie Brutus, Wahieloa Emmsley, Joshua Flowers (Saint Francis), David Jones, LaMarq Patterson (Augustana), Joseph Schneider, Tyeson Thomas (Oregon State), Aiden Whipple
• Out: Michael Chisley, Shawn Monan, Mike Sims, Matt Wiitanen

Special Teams:

Patrick Hegarty has been one of the most solid and consistent kickers in program history, making 18/23 of his field goals with 94 PATs in his two seasons as a Wildcat. In a bit of a surprise move, Hegarty tested the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, but will not play his final year of eligibility. With UW transfer Van Soderberg also departing, that leaves just Jude Mulette and Dan Stewart as the only returning kickers/punters, neither of which having collegiate experience. CWU signed HeraldNet All-Area 1st Team Marysville-Pilchuck kicker Ashton Wolff, who is ranked as the #26 class of 2022 kicker in the nation and held over 20 college offers. Long snapper Colson Brunner will return.

• Returning: Colson Brunner, Jude Mullette, Dan Stewart
• In: Daniel Garcia, Ashton Wolff
• Out: Patrick Hegarty, Van Soderberg