Incarnate Word ranks No. 9 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Cardinals lost 35-32 at No. 3 seed North Dakota State in the 2022 FCS semifinals as the No. 7 seed. They finished 12-2 overall.
Here’s a look at this year’s UIW football squad under first-year head coach Clint Killough.
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Returning 2022 FCS All-Conference Players (2)
1st Team
DE Steven Parker
DE Marcus Brown (2022 All-MEAC at Howard)
Players In 2023 FCS Positional Rankings (3)
Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Lost To The FBS (14)
Donte Thompson (DB) to Arkansas State
Tah Mac Bright (LB) to Marshall
Nash Jones (OL) to Texas State
Caleb Johnson (OL) to Texas State
Jimeto Obigbo (OL) to Texas State
Dorion Strawn (OL) to Texas State
Kaleb Culp (DB) to Texas State
Emeka Obigbo (OL) to Texas State
Kole Wilson (WR) to Texas State
Shawn Holton (DB) to Texas State
Sam Latham (DL) to Texas State
Brian Mayes (DB) to UAB
Isaiah Paul (LB) to UCF
Elliott Davison (DB) to UTSA
Transfers Lost To The FCS (3)
Jordan Bussey (DL) to Mississippi Valley State
Aaron Reynolds (DB) to Abilene Christian
Darius Richmond (DL) to Austin Peay
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (20)
Darren Brown (DL), SMU
Zach Calzada (QB), Auburn
Mason Chambers (DB), Iowa State
Derrick Lewis (LB), Texas Tech
Ryan Stubblefield (QB), East Carolina
Ronald Wilson (DB), New Mexico
Joe Bryson (OL), USC
Chase Carter (DL), Michigan State
Sam Obiang (DL), Texas State
Emmerick Dopona (LB), North Texas
Caleb Chapman (WR), Oregon
Mason Lawler (K), Bowling Green
Silas Robinson (OL), Texas State
River Gordon (OL), UTSA
Tre Siggers (RB), SMU
Richard Torres (QB), Nebraska
Devin Grant (LB), Colorado
Mister Williams (LB), Colorado
Caleb Lewis (LB), UTSA
Alex Costilla (OL), Texas State
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (3)
Marcus Brown (DL), Howard
Dalton Meyer (TE), Sam Houston
Ayodele Adeoye (DE), Sacramento State
Offensive Outlook
UIW returns only one of its 13 All-Southland Conference selections from last year (DE Steven Parker).
The offense loses Walter Payton Award-winning QB Lindsey Scott Jr., its 1,000-yard RB, its top two WRs, and four all-conference offensive linemen.
The roster overhaul includes 14 transfers leaving for the FBS, nine who followed former head coach G.J. Kinne to Texas State. Clint Killough and his staff have replenished the roster with 20 FBS transfers, which is the most in the FCS.
So, how does UIW come close to replicating last year’s offense that led the FCS with 51.5 points per game?
The Cardinals will need new names to step up, but there are also contributors from last year who can step into All-Conference-level roles.
The No. 3, 4, and 5 wide receivers are back: Brandon Porter (37 catches, 601 yards, 6 TDs), CJ Hardy (40 catches, 547 yards, 6 TDs), and Jaelin Campbell (19 catches, 399 yards, 6 TDs).
Last year’s No. 2 running back Jarrell Wiley returns after rushing 69 times for 435 yards and three scores.
And on the o-line, Stanley Mark (6’3″ 283 lbs) returns with starting experience from last year.
Transfers blending in with the returning talent will be key for UIW’s offense.
Branon Jackson (6’3″ 295 lbs) could make an impact on the OL, a transfer from D2 Texas A&M-Kingsville where he was a First Team All-Conference player.
Dalton Meyer is an experienced tight end from Sam Houston.
UIW will have a new starting QB for the third season in a row. The Cardinals landed three FBS transfers: Zach Calzada (Auburn/Texas A&M), Ryan Stubblefield (East Carolina), and Richard Torres (Nebraska).
Calzada was a massive get. He started 10 games at Texas A&M in 2021, throwing for 2,185 yards, 17 TDs, and nine interceptions, including going 21/31 for 285 yards and three TDs in a win over No. 1 Alabama. He transferred to Auburn in 2022 but did not see game action before undergoing shoulder surgery.
The Cardinals also brought in three FBS transfer offensive linemen, one FBS transfer WR, and one FBS transfer RB (listed above)
RELATED: 5 Offseason Questions For UIW
Defensive Outlook
After allowing 24.7 points per game, which ranked No. 38 in the FCS, UIW returns just three of its top 13 tacklers.
DB Brandon Richard returns as last season’s No. 3 tackler, totaling 79 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and five pass breakups. LB Ricky Rich is also back as last year’s No. 4 tackler (54 tackles and six TFLs). Richard looks primed for an All-Conference season, and one could argue his production warranted postseason honors last year.
Steven Parker should have another standout year at defensive end. He earned 2022 All-Southland First Team accolades, totaling 48 tackles, 11 TFLs, and seven sacks.
Like the offense, UIW’s defense hopes to have found impact players through the transfer portal.
Marcus Brown is a 6-foot-5 DE from Howard. He earned 2022 All-MEAC First Team honors after totaling 36 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and five sacks.
Ayodele Adeoye is another FCS defensive end transfer coming in. Last year at Sac State, he had 39 tackles, four TFLs, one sack, and nine QB hurries. Adeoye was a 4-star HS recruit who started his career at Texas.
UIW also landed 10 FBS transfers on the defensive side (listed above) from the likes of Iowa State, Texas Tech, Michigan State, and Colorado.
RELATED: The Meteoric Rise Of UIW
Schedule
9/2 at UTEP
9/9 at Northern Colorado
9/16 at Abilene Christian
9/23 vs. North American
10/7 vs No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana University
10/14 vs Texas A&M-Commerce
10/21 at McNeese
10/28 at Lamar
11/4 vs Nicholls
11/11 vs Northwestern State
11/18 at Houston Christian
HERO Sports’ rankings
Bold indicates Southland games
