Incarnate Word ranks No. 12 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Cardinals finished 8-2 last fall (9-2 if you include their forfeit win over Northwestern State) and missed the FCS playoffs. That forfeit win was not counted on their playoff resume.
Here’s a look at the 2024 UIW football squad.
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Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (4)
First Team
QB Zach Calzada
LB Tylan Foster
Second Team
S Ronald Wilson
KR/PR Dekalon Taylor (WR)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (7)
Roy Alexander (WR), UAlbany
Anthony Stell Jr. (WR), Eastern Washington
Nolan Hay (OL), Houston Christian
Jaren Mitchell (WR), Northwestern State
Declan Williams (LB), Rhode Island
Traveon Newsome (OL), Southern
Dune Smith (LB), Southern Illinois
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (12)
Jalen Walthall (WR), Hawaii
Logan Compton (TE), Houston
Jordan Norwood (LB), Liberty
Isaiah Pedack (DL), Louisiana-Monroe
Mason Pierce (WR), Marshall
Ryan Shamburger (P), Minnesota
Jonathan Thomas (LB), Nevada
Talib Salahuddin (DL), San Diego State
Josh Emmanuel (LB), Texas State
Myron Warren (DL), Texas State
A.J. Tisdell (DB), Wisconsin
Mason Williams (OL), WKU
Transfers Lost To The FCS (4)
Dayton Toney (WR) to Montana
Ben D’Aquila (P) to Northern Arizona
Ryan Stubblefield (QB) to SC State
Ricky Rich (LB) to Southern Utah
Transfers Lost To The FBS (1)
Tyrese Brown (RB) to Texas State
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Offensive Outlook
After ranking No. 11 in FCS scoring offense last fall (33.6 PPG), UIW returns its First Team All-Conference quarterback, top three running backs, and three offensive linemen who played between 250-500 snaps.
Zach Calzada leads the offense again at QB. A 2023 transfer from Texas A&M/Auburn, Calzada was named First Team All-Southland in his debut season last year. In nine games, he finished 188/283 passing (66.4%) for 2,598 yards, 19 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and five rushing TDs.
Richard Torres, another 2023 transfer quarterback who arrived from Nebraska, is also back. Torres showed great flashes as a redshirt freshman last year, stepping in for Calzada at different times. He went 42/67 (62.7%) for 544 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Expect Torres to push for playing time again this fall.
New targets need to emerge for the QBs as UIW loses its top five pass-catchers from a year ago. But the top three running backs are all back after last season’s backfield battled through injuries. Jarrell Wiley led UIW with 77 carries for 399 yards and three TDs in nine games. Timothy Carter added 57 attempts for 377 yards and two scores in seven games. Isaiah Robinson tallied 56 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns in six games.
Some transfer help at WR should ease the losses.
Roy Alexander arrives from UAlbany. Alexander played in only six games last year due to injury, but in 2022 he tallied 47 receptions for 610 yards and two touchdowns. In 2021, he recorded 37 catches for 560 yards. Anthony Stell started six games last year at Eastern Washington, totaling 282 receiving yards. Jaren Mitchell had 187 receiving yards in six games last season at Northwestern State. Jalen Walthall comes in from Hawaii, recording 10 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Mason Pierce transfers in from Marshall. In 2022, he led McNeese with 512 receiving yards on 40 catches.
Another transfer who could be a threat in the passing game is tight end Logan Compton from Houston.
Like the backfield, UIW dealt with injuries on the offensive line last fall. The Cardinals lose their three linemen who played the most snaps. Two guys return who logged around 500 snaps as freshmen — Rasheed Jackson (6’7″ 320 lbs) and Caleb Flores (6’4″ 279 lbs).
Jayden Borjas (6’5″ 295 lbs) is also back after starting six games before being sidelined due to injury. Branon Jackson (6’3″ 295 lbs) is another returner who saw some playing time last year, logging around 200 snaps.
UIW added three D1 transfers on the o-line — Houston Christian’s Nolan Hay (6’4″ 300 lbs), Southern’s Traveon Newsome (6’2″ 350 lbs), and WKU’s Mason Williams (6’3″ 295 lbs). Hay graded out as PFF’s No. 42 FCS offensive tackle last year, and Newsome was the No. 44 FCS offensive guard. Williams didn’t see 2023 action at WKU, but he was a 2022 First Team All-Ivy League performer at Harvard.
Defensive Outlook
UIW had 17 players record more than 200 snaps last fall. Ten of those players are returning, including three of the top five. As far as production, five of the top 11 tacklers are back.
The Cardinals had an underrated defense last year, stronger than some may think. They ranked No. 15 in FCS scoring defense (19.5 PPG), No. 6 in passing defense (157.2 YPG), and No. 46 in rushing defense (141 YPG).
All-Conference First Team linebacker Tylan Foster, Second Team safety Ronald Wilson, and safety Mason Chambers lead the unit.
Foster had a team-high 84 tackles last year, including three TFLs and one interception. Chambers’ 68 tackles finished second. Wilson had a team-high four interceptions while adding 35 tackles, which ranked eighth on the squad.
While the safety tandem is strong, UIW’s No. 6 FCS passing defense from last year loses its top two cornerbacks. James Tuayemie is the most experienced returning CB after logging more than 200 snaps and recording 14 tackles and two pass breakups. UIW added A.J. Tisdell, a cornerback transfer from Wisconsin. He’s a redshirt freshman who was a three-star recruit out of high school.
At linebacker alongside Foster will be Mister Williams, whose 31 tackles finished 10th on the 2023 squad.
The Cardinals also loaded up with five D1 linebacker transfers.
Dune Smith was a terrific portal get from Southern Illinois. His 64 tackles last fall ranked fourth for a strong SIU defense. Declan Williams comes in from Rhode Island after totaling 48 tackles and four TFLs in 2023. Jordan Norwood arrives from Liberty, Jonathan Thomas from Nevada, and Josh Emmanuel from Texas State.
UIW has good experience coming back on the defensive line. Five players return who recorded more than 200 snaps last year. At defensive tackle, John Mathis (6’2″ 265 lbs) totaled 25 tackles, five TFLs, and one sack, and Josh Gonzalez (6’3″ 310 lbs) added 16 tackles.
At DE, Chase Carter (6’4″ 255 lbs) had 20 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, three sacks, and three QB hurries last season. Devin Grant (6’3″ 225 lbs) added 13 tackles and 5.5 TFLs. And Marcus Brown (6’5″ 245 lbs) recorded 21 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and three QB hurries.
Three FBS transfer defensive linemen strengthen the room — Louisiana-Monroe’s Isaiah Pedack (6’3″ 275 lbs), San Diego State’s Talib Salahuddin (6’5″ 245 lbs), and Texas State’s Myron Warren (6’2″ 275 lbs).
2024 Preseason Preview Central
UIW Football Schedule
8/31 vs Northern Colorado
9/7 at No. 1 South Dakota State
9/14 at No. 9 Southern Illinois
9/21 vs Northern Arizona
10/5 vs Prairie View A&M
10/12 vs RV Nicholls
10/19 vs McNeese State
10/26 at Southeastern Louisiana
11/2 vs Houston Christian
11/9 vs Lamar
11/16 at Stephen F. Austin
11/23 at Texas A&M University-Commerce
Bold indicates Southland games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received votes
