CWU Football 2024 Season Recap & 2025 Outlook

After winning 2 playoff games and playing in the Super Region 4 championship game last season, CWU returned most of their starters and other key contributors to run it back in 2024. Led by one of the best running games and offensive lines in the nation, as well as a stout defense led by All-American Tanner Volk, Central once again saw a successful season by winning 8 games and returning to the playoffs where their road ended a bit sooner. Going into 2025, the Wildcats will have to reload several positions including running back, wide receiver, defensive line, and defensive back. A strong recruiting class featuring a trio of 3-star Top-60 (in the state) recruits will help build for a strong future. Here is a look at each position group for Central, featuring 2024's top players and the outlook for the 2025 season.

Quarterback:

Kennedy McGill led the Wildcats to a pair of playoff wins as a freshman in 2023, then built off that this past season. His passing game improved throughout the season and he continued to tear through defenses on the ground as he led the Wildcats to another playoffs appearance. The former 3-star recruit amassed over 1700 passing yards and 1200 rushing yards with 27 total touchdowns, and sky's the limit over the next two seasons as he continues to improve as a passer and playmaker. But in 2025, he will be joined by another 3-star QB in prolific Lake Stevens HS star Kolton Matson, a 2-time state 4A champion and the 2023 state Gatorade Player of the Year. Kolton is ranked as the #1 2025 QB in the state and #114 in the nation. It will be interesting to see how soon he gets his chance to play and how the team will use both him and McGill. Especially after Matson signs with the program, we will see which backups return in 2025 among Justin Brennan, Caleb Christensen, and Mitchell Johnson; Bo Gionet and Luke Gale will also be coming off their redshirt seasons and hungry for spots on the depth chart.

Running back:

Tyler Flanagan produced his second-straight 1000 yard season while tallying 14 rushing touchdowns, earning him his second-straight LSC Offensive Back of the Year Award. It is hard to imagine he was the team's second-leading rusher as part of such a lethal CWU rushing attack. Cameron Daniels added 542 yards in his final season. Flanagan has one more year of eligibility remaining if he wanted to return for a 7th season, but he did participate in the Senior Day ceremonies and it will remain to be seen whether he returns for one more season. If not, former 3-star recruit Beau Phillips will be the top returning rusher in 2025 but CWU would likely pursue a transfer to add. Other potential returners are Ki'Marree Washington, Justice Taylor, and Blake Borup. CWU will be adding another 3-star recruit in Antoine Lee (Kentwood HS), who amassed over 2000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his senior year, with nearly 6600 yards and 62 touchdowns in his 4-year high school career.

Wide Receiver/Tight end:

In most of CWU's recent seasons, the Wildcats have not been known to produce any dominant receivers who light up the stat sheet. Instead CWU relies on a well-balanced passing attack. Marcus Cook, Darius Morrison, and Darrien Gaines combined for over 1200 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in their final seasons of eligibility, and the Wildcats will look to reload without them in 2025. Idaho transfer Jalen Grable will be the top returning receiver for Central next season. Ty Snider and Logan Brady are among a host of other potential returning receivers. CWU is adding 3-star recruit Khris Norris from powerhouse Graham Kapowsin HS, who has played alongside many D1 recruits over the years. Andrew Molloy was CWU's top tight end in 2024 and will lead potential returners that include Max Moenoa and Camden Loidhamer.

Offensive Line:

The Wildcats had the luxury of returning their entire starting line from 2023, led by LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year Slade Edwards, All-LSC 1st Team Kingston Grey, and All-LSC 2nd Team selections Darrell Duckett and Axel Isackson. This squad offered formidable protection for McGill while paving the way for a dominant rushing game. The latter two along with Noah Thompson are graduating, but Edwards and Grey will return next season along with a deep group including Noah Koke-Mauga and Tyler Luzan. Ellensburg's very own Charlie Bennett is among incoming recruits.

Defensive Line: 

All-Conference 2nd Team selections Chase Loidhamer (36 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks) and Daniel Matagi (38 tackles, 9 TFL, 5.5 sacks) led a strong group that also saw most starters return from 2023, joined by All-LSC Honorable Mention nods Josiah Cochran and Isaac Clark and LSC Defensive Freshman of the Year Mikao Edward. Looking to take his game to the next level, Matagi entered the transfer portal and committed to FCS program Portland State. So Edward and rising defensive end Tyler King will be top returners in 2025 with plenty of young talent looking for their opportunities to make an impact. On the edge, CWU is adding Labarrio Mays from Adams State as well as Oregon 6A State champion and All-State selection Hudson Hardy.

Linebacker: 

Captain Brett McCalla came off a huge breakout season in 2023 only to suffer a season-ending injury 3 games into the 2024 campaign. If there was one position for CWU that was a bit light on depth and lacked the standout that the Wildcats are used to having, this was it. Leading the way was Brycen Indell (55 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Chase Coalson (49 tackles, 5 TFL), who moved up from the safety position. The great news is that all of these players should return next season, along with Kuma Scanlan. 

Defensive Back:

The legendary career of perhaps CWU's greatest defensive player of all-time has finally come to a close. 2023's National Defensive Player of the Year Tanner Volk once again earned LSC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named to every All-American team after leading the team with 64 tackles and 6 interceptions, which were just half of his absurd video game 2023 numbers. He leaves Central after amassing 307 tackles and 24 interceptions in his 46 game career. Volk was just one member of a loaded deep defensive backfield which also featured All-LSC 2nd Team Daniel Mendoza (39 tackles, 2 interceptions) and All-LSC Honorable Mention selections Jalen Webber and Dom Wieburg. Three of these players including Volk will be missed next season, as well as other key players Jaylen Clay, Jeremy Banks, and possibly LaMarq Patterson (has one more season but participated in Senior Day). But Jalen Webber will return to lead a deep and talented group also including Wahi Emmsley, Robert Matulich, and Jalen Owens as numerous other younger players look to battle for snaps. 3-star recruit Khris Norris (Graham Kapowsin HS) is one of the prizes of Central's 2025 recruiting class and All-State selection Braxton Feldmann (Chiawana HS) is another incoming recruit who had 6 interceptions including 3 for touchdowns last season, most notably a 96 yard pick-six against new college teammate Kolton Matson!

Special Teams: 

CWU endured kicking struggles early in the season, as Quinton Pacheco and Boise State transfer Wyatt Redding combined to only convert 3/10 field goal attempts. But in Game 7 in Kingsville, Central turned to walk-on freshman Cooper Britton, who would go on to nail 7/8 of his attempts and earn 2 consecutive LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Britton made 2 key field goals in the final game of the regular season against Western Oregon to help send CWU into the playoffs, then made 2 more in the playoff loss to Western Colorado. The Wildcats have found their kicker of the future! Punter Dan Stewart's college career comes to a close after 3 years off handling the punting duties. Stewart has one more year of eligibility remaining but participated in Senior Day celebrations. Bennett Nield handled long snapping duties and is set to return in 2025, to be joined by the state of Washington's top 2025 long snapper Joey Costanti (Curtis HS).