Central Arkansas ranks No. 11 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Bears finished 7-4 last fall and missed the FCS playoffs. Two of their losses were two-point games to UAC foes Tarleton State and Austin Peay. The other two were at North Dakota State (49-31) and Oklahoma State (27-13).
Here’s a look at the 2024 UCA football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (4)
First Team
DE David Walker
S TaMuarion Wilson
Second Team
RB ShunDerrick Powell
OL Will Diggins
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (1)
Isaiah Hernandez (DL), Presbyterian
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (2)
Eli Wisdom (WR), Army
Davian Mayo (LB), Bowling Green
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Travelle Anderson (RB) to North Alabama
Zane Hayman (OL) to Texas A&M-Commerce
Transfers Lost To The FBS (4)
Jake Golday (LB) to Cincinnati
Myles Butler (WR) to Middle TN State
Luke Stringer (OL) to South Alabama
Kylin James (RB) to UNLV
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Offensive Outlook
After scoring 31.5 points per game last year (No. 22 in the FCS), UCA returns its multi-year starting quarterback, top two running backs with All-American accolades, and four starting offensive linemen.
The Bears will have a two-headed monster at running back.
ShunDerrick Powell is a top FCS RB eyeing his third straight All-American season. In 2022 at North Alabama, he rushed for 1,508 yards and 18 touchdowns. Powell transferred to UCA last season and rushed 136 times for 1,016 yards and six scores, ranking No. 2 in FCS yards per carry (7.5). Darius Hale also returns. Hale saw fewer carries in 2023 with the arrival of Powell, tallying 93 attempts for 469 yards and four TDs. But he has the capability of being an All-American himself, as he accomplished in 2021 and 2022. Hale had 141 carries for 951 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. As a freshman in 2021, he carried the ball 198 times for 1,021 yards and 17 scores.
Will McElvain engineers the offense at quarterback. McElvain enters his seventh year of college football and his third as a starter at UCA. He spent his first four seasons at Northern Iowa, redshirting in 2018, setting the UNI freshman passing record in 2019, starting five games in the 2021 spring, and playing in four games with two starts in the 2021 fall before entering the transfer portal in early October.
McElvain has had two strong seasons at UCA, throwing for a combined 5,069 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Last year, he went 239/376 (64%) for 2,477 yards, 24 TDs, and five interceptions.
UCA does lose its top four pass-catchers from last year. Wide receiver Kam Robinson is back after tallying 14 receptions for 206 yards. Six-foot-6 tight end Jordan Owens also returns after recording seven catches for 56 yards and three touchdowns.
The offensive line will be big and experienced, featuring four returning starters from 2023 — All-UAC selection Will Diggins (6’4″ 325 lbs), Justin Lairy (6’3″ 305 lbs), Jamal Mull (6’5″ 320 lbs), Bakarius Collier (6’4″ 305 lbs).
Defensive Outlook
The Bears allowed 23.0 points per game last fall, ranking No. 29 in the FCS. Returning are three of the four top tacklers and seven of the 15 players who recorded at least 200 snaps.
Highlighting the defense are All-Americans David Walker at defensive end and TaMuarion Wilson at safety.
Walker is one of the best defensive players in the FCS and an early favorite for the Buck Buchanan Award. He has dominated in his two years at UCA after transferring from Division II Southern Arkansas University. In 2022, Walker recorded 66 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks, finishing third in the Buck Buchanan Award voting, earning ASUN Defensive Player of the Year honors, and being named to six All-American teams. Last fall, he racked up 57 tackles, 18 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks. He graded out as PFF’s No. 9 overall FCS edge defender. Walker earned three more All-American accolades and was named the UAC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Wilson is a top safety in the FCS. He totaled 66 tackles in 2021 and 104 in 2022. Last year as an All-UAC selection, Wilson had 64 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups.
In the middle of the defense, Demetrias Charles will lead the linebackers. He finished second on the team with 72 tackles last season.
At cornerback, T.D. Williams is back after recording 33 tackles, one interception, and four pass breakups. James Jordan added plenty of snaps as well, tallying 19 tackles and five pass breakups.
And on the defensive line, Bradley Clark (6’2″ 320 lbs) and Javeon Jones (6’3″ 290 lbs) played more than 200 snaps each last fall.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Central Arkansas Football Schedule
8/31 at Arkansas State
9/7 at Lindenwood
9/14 vs Austin Peay
9/21 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
9/28 vs Lamar
10/5 at Abilene Christian
10/12 vs West Georgia
10/26 vs North Alabama
11/2 at Utah Tech
11/9 at Eastern Kentucky
11/16 vs Southern Utah
11/23 at No. 18 Tarleton State
Bold indicates UAC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
