2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

Last updated

2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
ACU Wildcats wordmark.svg
Conference AQ7
Record5–6 (1–5 AQ7)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Josh Lamberson (5th season)
Offensive scheme Single set back
Defensive coordinatorClint Brown (3rd season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
Seasons
  2020
2022  
2021 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Sam Houston $^  5 0   11 1  
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^  4 1   8 4  
Abilene Christian  2 2   5 6  
Tarleton State *  2 3   6 5  
Dixie State *  0 3   1 10  
Lamar  0 4   1 9  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ FCS playoff participant
  • * – Ineligible for FCS playoffs due to transition from Division II
Rankings from STATS Poll
2021 WAC–ASUN Challenge football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Sam Houston $^  6 0   11 1  
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^  4 2   8 4  
Eastern Kentucky  4 2   7 4  
Central Arkansas  3 3   5 6  
Jacksonville State  3 3   5 6  
Abilene Christian  1 5   5 6  
Lamar  0 6   1 9  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Wildcats were led by fifth-year head coach Adam Dorrel and played their home games at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, Texas. The Wildcats played their 100th season in 2021. [1]

Contents

The Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference announced the formation of the WAC-ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs. [2]

Preseason

Preseason polls

WAC Poll

The Western Athletic Conference coaches released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the conference. [3]

Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Sam Houston20 (5)
2Stephen F. Austin16 (1)
3Tarleton State11
4Lamar8
5Abilene Christian5
  • Note: Dixie State is not included since they are not playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts. Dixie State players are eligible for individual rewards.

AQ7 Poll

The AQ7 coaches also released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Wildcats were picked to finish sixth in the ASUN-WAC Challenge. [4]

Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Sam Houston49 (7)
2Central Arkansas40
3Jacksonville State37
4Stephen F. Austin27
5Eastern Kentucky20
6Abilene Christian15
7Lamar8

Recruits

College recruiting information (2021)
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeight40Commit date
Hayden Anderson
QB
Keller, Texas Keller High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)-Jul 24, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  2 stars.svg    
Tyrin Bradley
DE
Lubbock, Texas Monterey High School (Lubbock, Texas) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)245 lb (111 kg)-Dec 11, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  2 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    (73)
Cirby Coheley
LB
Iowa Park, Texas Iowa Park High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg)-Jul 13, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  2 stars.svg    
Colt Cooper
TE
Quinlan, Texas Ford High School6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)230 lb (100 kg)-Jun 30, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  2 stars.svg    
Luke Dillingham
S
Brock, Texas Brock High School (Texas) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg)- 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Kyle Pointer
LB
Queen Creek, Arizona Queen Creek High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)215 lb (98 kg)- 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Jar'Quae Walton
RB
Waco, Texas La Vega High School 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)175 lb (79 kg)-Dec 13, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  2 stars.svg    
Jackson Andrews
OL
Schertz, Texas Samuel Clemens High School (Schertz) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)295 lb (134 kg)- 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  2 stars.svg    
Landon Eades
DT
Boerne, Texas Samuel V. Champion High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)280 lb (130 kg)- 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Isaiah Pedack
DT
Dallas, Texas Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)250 lb (110 kg)- 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Ethan Taite
OLB
Frisco, Texas Independence High School (Frisco, Texas) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg)- 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Overall recruit ranking:
  • ‡ Refers to 40-yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.

Transfers

NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrev. school
Trey Adams#5LB5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)190 pounds (86 kg)Redshirt Sophomore Corvallis, Oregon Northern Colorado
Alex Spadone#7WR6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)216 pounds (98 kg)Redshirt Junior Houston, Texas San Diego
Triston Anderson#12CB6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 pounds (88 kg)Redshirt Freshman Rockwall, Texas Arkansas State
Roland Williams III#15DB5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)180 pounds (82 kg)Redshirt Junior Arlington, Tennessee Richmond
Anthony Smith#20RB5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)195 pounds (88 kg)Redshirt Sophomore Fort Worth, Texas Texas State
Mike Garrett Jr.#29DB6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)187 pounds (85 kg)Redshirt Junior Magnolia, Texas Tulsa
John Brannon#43LB6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)233 pounds (106 kg)Senior Prosper, Texas Texas State
Kaleb Chester#58OL6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)271 pounds (123 kg)Sophomore Grayson, Georgia Lenoir–Rhyne
Derek Simmons#73OL6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)311 pounds (141 kg)Redshirt Freshman Jacksonville, Florida Tusculum
Reese Moore#74OL6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)273 pounds (124 kg)Redshirt Freshman Seminole, Texas Texas
Derek Simmons#99DL6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)245 pounds (111 kg)Redshirt Freshman Bakersfield, California Fresno State
Tyran Calloway#DT5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)249 pounds (113 kg)Junior Fort Worth, Texas Howard Payne

Personnel

Roster

2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football

Quarterback

  •  2 Peyton Mansell – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'2, 213)
  •  3 Stone Earle – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'2, 203)
  •  4 Sema'J Davis – senior (6'1, 191)
  •  12 Hayden Anderson – freshman (6'1, 173)
  •   Trevor Baker – freshman (6'3, 186)
  •   Carson Cross – freshman (6'2, 185)
  •   Jace Robinson – freshman (6'0, 190)

Running backs

  •  14 Quae Walton – freshman (5'10, 166)
  •  20 Anthony Smith – Redshirt.svg sophomore (5'11, 209)
  •  21 Jermiah Dobbins – Redshirt.svg freshman (5'11, 195)
  •  24 Tyrese White – senior (5'10, 202)
  •  31 Robert McKnight – Redshirt.svg senior (5'10, 186)
  •  34 Charlie Moore – freshman (5'11, 220) (FB+)
  •  36 Rece Stafford – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'0, 231) (FB+)
  •  43 Easton Myrick – Redshirt.svg freshman (5'11, 195) (FB+)
  •   Jailen Dixon – freshman (6'3, 202)
  •   Jamal Stephens – freshman (5'8, 185)

Wide receiver

  •  5 Darius Lewis – Redshirt.svg freshman (5'8, 163)
  •  6 Taelyn Williams – Redshirt.svg junior (6'2, 169)
  •  7 Alex Spadone – Redshirt.svg junior (6'2, 216)
  •  8 Kobe Clark – junior (5'11, 180)
  •  9 Davion Johnson – Redshirt.svg sophomore (5'8, 163)
  •  13 Jordan Brooks-Wess – Redshirt.svg sophomore (5'10, 164)
  •  16 Denver Holman – Redshirt.svg freshman (5'10, 179)
  •  19 Dax Neece – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 206)
  •  80 Jackson Young – freshman (5'11, 183)
  •  82 Cooper McCasland – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'1, 188)
  •  87 Andrew Edwards – freshman (6'0, 178)
  •   Tanner Bowman – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 185)
  •   Matthew Bynum – freshman (5'11, 160)
  •   Solomon Cole – freshman (5'10, 165)
  •   Jack Frazier – freshman (6'2, 192)
  •   Kendall Jimerson – Redshirt.svg freshman (5'10, 185)

Tight ends

  •  81 Noah Caldwell – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'6, 245)
  •  83 Colt Cooper – freshman (6'4, 240)
  •  84 Grant Miles – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'5, 252)
  •  85 Andrew Stripling – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'5, 219)
  •  86 Remington Lutz – Redshirt.svg junior (6'6, 241)

Long snappers

  •  46 Dustin Inness – Redshirt.svg sophomore (5'11, 189)
  •  54 David Stone – Redshirt.svg senior (6'0, 213)
  •  60 Cade Lippincott – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'0, 213)
 

Offensive lineman

  •  51 Collin James – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'4, 273)
  •  55 Alan Hatten – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 300)
  •  56 Truett Knox – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'2, 287)
  •  57 Jaron Marshall – Redshirt.svg junior (6'3, 291)
  •  58 Kaleb Chester – sophomore (6'0, 271)
  •  59 Jacob Thielen – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'4, 292)
  •  61 Mitchell Melrose – junior (6'6, 286)
  •  62 Jackson Andrews – freshman (6'2, 300)
  •  63 Peyten Girty – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 280)
  •  65 CJ Zotz – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'4, 292)
  •  66 Dylan Howerton – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'5, 273)
  •  67 Wyatt Tate – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'6, 290)
  •  69 Bronson Warner – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 310)
  •  73 Derek Simmons – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'5, 311)
  •  74 Reese Moore – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'6, 273)
  •  76 Zach Terry – senior (6'6, 280)
  •  78 Ty Smith – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'6, 296)
  •   Cohen Carpenter – freshman (6'3, 290)
  •   Brad Robinson – freshman (6'2, 260)
  •   Tai Sewell – freshman (6'5, 305)

Defensive lineman

  •  40 Dre Jones – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'4, 277)
  •  41 Tyrin Bradley – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'4, 242)
  •  45 Jordan Paup – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'5, 250)
  •  49 Dennis Herrold – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'4, 235)
  •  50 Damion Hart – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 235)
  •  89 Cameron Byrom – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'5, 249)
  •  90 Kadron Johnson – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'4, 249)
  •  91 Garviea Freeny – Redshirt.svg junior (6'3, 235)
  •  92 Quent Titre – Redshirt.svg junior (6'2, 286)
  •  93 Landon Eades – freshman (6'3, 283)
  •  94 Osaretin Obadeyi – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'5, 239)
  •  95 Jack Schultz – Redshirt.svg junior (6'0, 280)
  •  96 Isaiah Pedack – freshman (6'3, 255)
  •  97 William Morgan – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'3, 292)
  •  99 Colby Warkentin – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'6, 245)
  •   Tyran Calloway – junior (5'11, 249)
  •   Tanner Rambeau – freshman (6'4, 270)
 

Linebacker

  •  5 Trey Adams – Redshirt.svg sophomore (5'10, 190)
  •  9 Chike Nwankwo – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'2, 224)
  •  30 Tory Hargrove – Redshirt.svg junior (5'11, 210)
  •  32 Joshua James – Redshirt.svg junior (6'0, 228)
  •  33 Greg Green – Redshirt.svg junior (5'10, 217)
  •  35 Ethan Taite – freshman (6'3, 205)
  •  42 Hunter Kier – Redshirt.svg senior (5'11, 217)
  •  43 John Brannon – senior (6'2, 233)
  •  46 Cirby Coheley – freshman (6'4, 206)
  •  47 Derrick Parker – freshman (6'1, 206)
  •  52 Abe Schwinn – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'3, 219)
  •  53 Zeke Lott – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'1, 205)
  •   Diego Diaz – freshman (5'10, 208)
  •   Dilaver Ibrahimi – freshman (5'10, 206)
  •   Kyle Pointer – freshman (6'3, 213)

Defensive backs

  •  1 Shelby Washington – Redshirt.svg junior (6'1, 190)
  •  2 Christopher Satterfield – Redshirt.svg freshman (5'10, 190)
  •  3 Ryan Stapp – Redshirt.svg sophomore (6'0, 170)
  •  7 Elijah Moffett – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'2, 195)
  •  12 Triston Anderson – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'2, 195)
  •  15 Roland Williams III – Redshirt.svg junior (5'11, 180)
  •  17 Dishon Hall II – sophomore (6'3, 195)
  •  22 Koy Richardson – Redshirt.svg senior (5'11, 178)
  •  23 Kameron Stokes – Redshirt.svg freshman (6'0, 203)
  •  24 Luke Dillingham – Freshman (6'2, 198)
  •  26 Brian Bullock – Redshirt.svg Junior (6'0, 198)
  •  29 Mike Garrett Jr. – Redshirt.svg Junior (6'1, 187)
  •  31 Keegan Tharp – Redshirt.svg Freshman (6'2, 198)
  •  39 Anthony Egbo, Jr. – Redshirt.svg Sophomore (5'8, 180)
  •   Jeremy Gonzales – Freshman (5'7, 165)
  •   Jamal Marshall – Freshman (6'0, 186)
  •   Quintin Montgomery – Sophomore (5'11, 183)
  •   Casen Olsen – Freshman (6'1, 189)
  •   Landon Reynolds – Redshirt.svg Freshman (5'8, 185)
  •   Manny Ruiz – Freshman (5'8, 163)

Placekickers

  •  37 Blair Zepeda – Redshirt.svg Sophomore (5'11, 205)
  •  85 Oscar Hernandez – Redshirt.svg Sophomore (5'11, 197)

Punter

  •  88 Will Fargason – Redshirt.svg Freshman (6'2, 204)
  •  88 Brock Thompson – Redshirt.svg Freshman (5'11, 161)

Coaching staff

NamePositionAlma materJoined Staff
Adam Dorrel Head Coach Northwest Missouri State (1998)2016
Josh Lamberson Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Northwest Missouri State (2005)2016
Clint BrownDefensive Coordinator
James CurleeWide Receivers Hastings College (2016)2017
Travis DixonCornerbacks UNLV (2010)2020
Zach WilliamsSafeties / Co-Recruiting Coordinator
Bryce BaccariniRunning Backs / Fullbacks / Co-Recruiting Coordinator
Travis BritzDefensive Line Kansas State (2017)2020
Cody ScribnerDefensive Line Central Missouri (2010)2020
Drew LiddleOffensive Line Kansas State (2014)2021
Dimitri DonaldTight Ends West Texas A&M (2015)2021

Depth chart

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 46:00 p.m.at SMU * ESPN+ L 9–5623,373
September 116:00 p.m. Louisiana College *ESPN+W 62–78,117
September 186:00 p.m. Texas–Permian Basin *
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+W 34–99,018
September 256:00 p.m.at Lamar *ESPN+W 56–05,411
October 26:00 p.m. Central Arkansas
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)
ESPN+L 21–426,602
October 95:00 p.m.at Eastern Kentucky
ESPN+L 15–308,659
October 163:00 p.m.LamarDagger-14-plain.png
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+W 24–1710,121
October 304:00 p.m.at Stephen F. Austin ESPN+L 27–419,817
November 61:00 p.m.at Jacksonville State ESPN+L 25–40 14,143
November 131:00 p.m. Tarleton State
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+W 29–36,213
November 201:00 p.m.No. 1 Sam Houston
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+L 9–354,421
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[5] [6]

Game summaries

at SMU

Abilene Christian at SMU
Team1234Total
Wildcats03609
Mustangs72814756
  • Date: September 4
  • Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium
    University Park, TX
  • Game start: 6:06 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 21 minutes
  • Game attendance: 23,373
  • Game weather: Temperature: 95 °F (35 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 7 MPH
  • Referee: Tim Rich
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play–by–play), Stanford Routt (analyst) and Morgan Uber (sideline)
      
StatisticsACUSMU
First downs1427
Total yards332490
Rushing yards119171
Passing yards213319
Turnovers41
Time of possession28:2231:38
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Abilene ChristianPassingStone Earle13/28, 160 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingPeyton Mansell2 carries, 33 yards
ReceivingKobe Clark6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
SMUPassing Tanner Mordecai 24/30, 317 yards, 7 TD
Rushing Ulysses Bentley IV 10 carries, 48 yards
Receiving Danny Gray 4 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TD

Louisiana College

1234Total
LC Wildcats07007
ACU Wildcats271471462

UT Permian Basin

1234Total
Falcons30069
Wildcats0270734

at Lamar

1234Total
Wildcats141421756
Cardinals00000

Statistics

StatisticsAbilene ChristianLamar
First downs2210
Total yards461136
Rushing yards27498
Passing yards18738
Turnovers02
Time of possession29:1330:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Abilene ChristianPassingStone Earl13/18, 187 yards, long 32 yards, 3 TDs
RushingPeyton Mansell6 carries, 107 yards, long 62 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKobe Clark4 catches, 50 yards, long 16 yards, 1 TD
LamarPassingJalen Dummett4/7, 38 yards, long 14 yards
RushingHunter Batten7 carries, 29 yards, long 11 yards
ReceivingKirkland Banks2 catches, 15 yards, long 10 yards

Central Arkansas

1234Total
Bears014141442
Wildcats7140021

at Eastern Kentucky

1234Total
Wildcats070815
Colonels10173030

Lamar

1234Total
Cardinals0170017
Wildcats777324

Statistics

StatisticsLamarAbilene Christian
First downs1421
Total yards364466
Rushing yards158208
Passing yards206258
Turnovers01
Time of possession29:3530:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LamarPassingMike Chandler9/17, 206 yds, 1 TD
RushingJames Jones9 carries, 81 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingNathan Gaskamp1 reception, 80 yards, 1 TD
Abilene ChristianPassingPeyton Mansell10/18, 135 yds
RushingPeyton Mansell18 carries, 106 yds, 2 TD
ReceivingDavion Johnson6 receptions, 82 yds

at SFA

1234Total
Wildcats3371427
Lumberjacks31714741

at Jacksonville State

1234Total
Wildcats0107825
Gamecocks14671340

Tarleton

1234Total
Texans30003
Wildcats31001629

No. 1 Sam Houston

1234Total
No. 1 Bearkats14147035
Wildcats03609

References

  1. Hadfield, Ron. "Wildcats fall to record-setting SMU passing attack" . Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  2. "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid". Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  3. "WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. "AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  5. "2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Schedule". ACUSports.com.
  6. "2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.