The power has shifted in the Pioneer Football League. Dominated by San Diego as the outright champion and playoff auto-bid from 2016-2019, the PFL has seen a new representative in the postseason the last two seasons. Davidson won the title in the 2021 spring, and then finished 7-1 at the top of the standings alongside San Diego but held the AQ tiebreaker.
Can Davidson three-peat? Or will San Diego reclaim its throne? Or will someone else emerge? Here’s a look ahead at the top returning players and our predicted order of finish.
2022 FCS Preseason Preview Central
Returning All-Conference Players
From last season’s All-PFL Team
San Diego — 11: DL Will Buck (1st), DL Muhindo Kapapa (2nd), WR Vance Jefferson (2nd), LB David Ambagtsheer (HM), WR Christian Brown (HM), WR Michael Carner (HM), K Brandon Eickert (HM), DL Mykee Irving (HM), OL Finley Lecky (HM), DB Hunter Nichols (HM), DB Amir Wallace (HM)
Stetson — 11: DL Fermon Reid (1st), WR Nazeviah Burris (2nd), TE Dominic Carlucci (HM), LB Majeste Hansberry (HM), DL Josh Hughes (HM), LB Ethan Hull (HM), DB Rassie Littlejohn (HM), WR Jalen Mason (HM), DB Davion Maxwell (HM), QB Alex Piccirilli (HM), LS Michael Wojciechowski (HM)
St. Thomas — 9: DB Luke Glenna (2nd), LB Luke Herzog (2nd), OL Matt Weimann (1st), RB Hope Adebayo (2nd), LB Jonathan Bunce (HM), P Kolby Gartner (HM), LB Jack Mohler (HM), OL Alec Rasmussen (HM), TE Max Zimmerman (HM)
Davidson — 7: DL Jonathan Hammond (1st), FB Coy Williams (1st), OL Beck Kipperman (1st), RB Dylan Sparks (2nd), AP Aris Hilliard (HM), DB Kaedon Jenkins (HM), RS Aaron Maione (HM)
Morehead State — 6: DB Cooper Krezek (2nd), LS Brady McKnight (1st), OL Cam Marriott (1st), DL Devon Connors (HM), DB Khiyree Keith (HM), OL Jaxsen Spears (HM)
Dayton — 6: RB Jake Chisholm (1st), K Sam Webster (2nd), LB Ben Schmiesing (2nd), WR Sam Bubonics (HM), OL Brian Stevens (HM), OL David Tkatch (HM)
Drake — 6: LS Ryan Kriceri (2nd), P Shane Dunning (HM), WR Colin Howard (HM), DB Joey Lukrich (HM), DB/KR Danny Morales (HM), OL Ross Palmer (HM)
Valparaiso — 6: K Brian Bartholomew (1st), RS Chuck Maxwell (2nd), LB Evan Annis (HM), OL Aaron Byrd (HM), DB Jadarius Horton (HM), DB Keyon Turner (HM)
Butler — 5: DL Jacob Cain (HM), DL Austin Korba (HM), WR Johnny O’Shea (HM), DB Connor Reid (HM), OL Skyler Spetter (HM)
Marist — 4: DB Clayborne Fields III (2nd), DB Teddy Wright (1st), LB Mike Arrington (2nd), DL Aaron Acosta (HM)
Presbyterian — 2: LB Alex Herriott (HM), Delvecchio Powell (AP 2nd, RB HM)
Returning HERO Sports All-Americans
From last season
Davidson — 2: FB Coy Williams (2nd), DL Jonathan Hammond (Soph.)
Dayton — 1: AP Jake Chisholm (3rd)
Morehead State — 1: LS Brady McKnight (Fr.)
San Diego — 1: DL Will Buck (Soph.)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Jake Chisholm, Dayton RB — Chisholm is a 2022 HERO Sports Preseason Second Team All-American at the all-purpose spot. In 2019, he led the FCS with 204.3 all-purpose yards per game (1,129 rushing yards and eight TDs, 21 receptions for 230 yards and three scores, and returned 29 kickoffs for 684 yards and one TD). Last fall, Chisholm finished second in the FCS with 163.9 all-purpose yards per game (1,033 rushing yards and 14 TDs, caught 30 passes for 361 yards and five TDs, and returned 15 kickoffs for 300 yards).
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Jonathan Hammond, Davidson DL — As a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American last season, Hammond racked up 64 tackles, 13 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, and six QB hurries. During the spring, the 6-foot-3 and 225-pounder was named the Pioneer Football League Defensive Freshman of the Year as he totaled 21 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and four sacks in seven games.
TOP NFL PROSPECT: Rassie Littlejohn, Stetson S — In 13 combined games during the 2021 spring and fall seasons, Littlejohn totaled 66 tackles, three TFLs, six interceptions, and 17 passes defended. This summer, he was named on the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000.
HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish
1. St. Thomas
2. San Diego
3. Davidson
4. Dayton
5. Morehead State
6. Marist
7. Stetson
8. Valparaiso
9. Drake
10. Butler
11. Presbyterian
Making the unique jump from D3 to D1, St. Thomas has the resources to become a strong FCS member. In their first season in the PFL last year, the Tommies (located in St. Paul, MN) went 7-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play. The conference losses were 27-24 to San Diego and 42-15 to Davidson. The defense was strong, allowing 17.8 points per game, and has tremendous players returning like Luke Glenna and Luke Herzog. I think St. Thomas is going to take a big step in Year 2 and become a top team in the PFL, which it nearly did last year. The Tommies are eligible for the conference title but are not eligible for the playoffs as they transition.
When it comes to the auto-bid, I see San Diego returning to the playoffs after a short drought. Guys like DL Will Buck and WR Vance Jefferson are fantastic players and lead a team that returns 11 All-PFL standouts. The Toreros also got a potential boost in Iowa transfer QB Connor Kapisak. Plus, they get Davidson at home.
Davidson will look to three-peat and will be the 1b team to USD’s 1a in the hunt for the playoffs. Coy Williams and Dylan Sparks lead the option offense, while Jonathan Hammond is a star on the defensive side.
