The Wilmington College football team travels to Wooster, Ohio for the first game of their 2024 season 2 p.m. Saturday on the Wooster campus. The Quakers beat the Fighting Scots in last year’s contest, 63-43, at Townsend Field.

A Look Back

The Quakers won three of their first four games during the 2023 season, but lost six in a row to end the year 3-7. Wilmington has won just thre game in three of its last five seasons.

Key Pieces Lost

The Quakers had six players earn All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors last season, but unfortunately only two of those players are on the team in 2024.

Derek Larimer and Nehemiah Jenkins were the two biggest losses on offense for Wilmington. Larimer had a historically good senior season for the Quakers. He broke the single-season program record for passing touchdowns (34), by throwing 36 touchdowns in 2023 for Wilmington. He also tied the OAC single game record with nine touchdown passes against Muskingum University. Overall, Larimer was 198-345 for 2,482 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Jenkins had 218 carries for Wilmington and rushed for 979 yards. He had four games with 118 or more rushing yards and scored four touchdowns. The other All-Conference players they lost were left tackle Steven Salyer and utility player Kaleb Easley.

Key Pieces Returning

The two biggest players back on the team in 2024 for the Quakers are a pair of wide receivers in Lathan Jones and Saa’lih Muhammed. Jones was named Second Team All-Region and First Team All-OAC last season. He had a phenomenal campaign that saw him catch 51 passes for 971 yards and 13 touchdowns. Jones had 145 or more receiving yards in four games, including an eight catch 239-yard performance at Baldwin Wallace University. He caught multiple touchdown passes in four games during the season.

Muhammed was a Second Team All-Conference performer and caught 39 passes for 518 yards and five touchdowns last season for Wilmington. He had two games with 136 yards or more, including one two touchdown game at Muskingum University.

Quarterbacks

With the loss of Larimer, the Quakers turn to a junior out of Bayfield, Colo. in Isaac Ross to run the offense. Ross has had very limited playing time thus far in his career, having only three pass attempts to his name. However, Quakers first year head coach Kevin Burke is confident in Ross’s ability. “We have been very impressed with Isaac. He has a natural football mind, he processes information very quickly, and he has done a great job since we first started working with him in the spring. We are excited to see what he does for us this year,” said Burke.

The two other quarterbacks this season for the Quakers are freshmen Miles Hostetler and Isaiah Henderson.

Running Backs and Full Backs

Wilmington has a pair of experienced running backs this fall in senior Nathan Throckmorton and junior Demarco Owens. Throckmorton played in nine games last season and had 60 carries for 298 yards and three touchdowns while Owens played seven games, running the ball 37 times for 134 yards.

However, the Quakers will use a number of running backs this season. Look out for junior college transfer Caleb Gardner. During the 2023 season for the Antelope Valley College Marauders in Lancaster, California, Gardner ran the ball 128 times for 433 yards and one touchdown.

Freshmen Kai Smith and Brandon Lackey-Gragston will also look to make an impact running the ball. The Quakers fullbacks this season will be freshman Austin Huff and sophomore Tyler Barth, who will also serve as the team’s short snapper.

Wide Receivers

“Our receiving core is probably the deepest position on the team. We actually have close to double digits as far as guys that we think are ready to play and make an impact,” said Burke. Of course, as mentioned, the two biggest threats for Wilmington are Lathan Jones and Saa’lih Muhammed.

Other guys to watch for from the wide receiver position are De’Anta Sanon, Demyran Joy, and Joseph Spann. “Sanon brings a lot of speed and athleticism to the table, Joy has the ability to put his foot in the ground and change direction quickly, and Spann is a big target that can do a lot of great things,” said Burke.

Sanon and Spann bring game experience for the Quakers, while Joy was known for his returning skills last season. This is one of the groups that the coaches are most excited to see in action.

Tight Ends

Ashton Griffith looks to get the most time for Wilmington at the tight end position, but converted running back Dallas Rawlings will also get some reps for the Quakers this season.

“We moved Dallas from the backfield, Dallas volunteered to go play tight end, which just shows how selfless of a player he is and is the type of player we want our program to be known for” Burke stated.

Offensive Line

The Quakers lost a lot from the offensive line last season, and don’t have any full-time returning starters outside of Max Ansteatt, who played all 10 games last season for the Quakers.

Andrew Thompson played six games last year and Dylan Alltop appeared in four games, but outside of those three, this will be a completely new look unit for Wilmington in 2024. Rounding out the five players up front for Wilmington will be Levi Houser and Tony Crane.

“Despite their relative youth and inexperience, we are excited about their development,” said Burke. “The guys have been meshing well during preseason, and this a group we look forward to see get better and better as the year goes on.”

Defensive Line

The Quakers return a pair of key players from last year’s defensive line in senior Noah Perry and junior Luke Wroten. Perry led the Quakers last year with 2.5 sacks and was third on the team with five tackles for loss. Overall, he had 28 total tackles for Wilmington. Wroten recorded 32 total tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

This Quakers unit will roll through a lot of players, according to Coach Burke and Defensive Coordinator Mark Murnyack. Other players that will look to make impacts on the defensive line for Wilmington are sophomores Kellen Strayer and Bryce Hodapp, along with freshman Michael Williams Jr.

Inside Linebackers

The leader of the linebackers this season is Jake Sheriff, who was the fourth leading tackler on last year’s Wilmington squad. Sheriff also serves as the team’s long snapper. “We are extremely excited that Jake decided to come back and fulfill his last year of eligibility, he is a great leader,” said Burke. Sheriff made 55 total tackles last year and was second on the team with 36 tackle assists. He was tied for second on the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Clinton-Massie graduate Gavan Hunter will be a starter for the first time this season, and Adrian College transfer MarKhi Moore along with senior Jack Sandberg will round out the inside linebacking crew for the Quakers.

Outside Linebackers

Coach Murnyack and Burke emphasized how this core is youthful and that we will “see some fresh faces.” A pair of transfers in Iverson McElwee and Jayden Fulsom will see some serious minutes for the Quakers, along with senior Curtis Spangler.

Spangler played in six games for Wilmington last season and made six tackles. Fulsom made 75 total tackles in 21 games for Feather River College in Quincy, California.

Cornerbacks

A pair of Sams in senior Sam Harding and sophomore Samuel Brooks look to lead this unit for the Quakers this season along with freshman Elisha Aryee and sophomore Maurice Fluker.

Harding and Fluker both saw some time for Wilmington last season but will look to make much bigger impacts for the team this season.

Safeties

This is one of the more experienced crews for Wilmington this season, with seniors Quentin Davis and Na’Zere Neal leading the way along with sophomore Nathan Nemeth.

Davis and Nemeth both played in all 10 games, while Neal appeared in nine games last season for the Quakers. This trio combined to make 102 tackles, break up five passes, and record three interceptions last season. The relative newcomer to the group will be senior Rocco Romeo, who made three tackles in four games last season for Wilmington.

Kickers

Senior Connor Bucksath will handle the field goal and extra point duties this season for Wilmington, while sophomore Avery Ernst will be handling kickoffs. Another name to watch for is freshman Ean McGuiness, another CMHS product, who impressed in preseason camp.

Punters

Freshman Jace Thuma will handle most of the punting for the Quakers, but Ernst will also be available for punts if needed.

Kick/Punt Returners

Along with his tasks as a wide receiver, Demryan Joy will be the Quakers starting punt and kick returner this season. He had four returns last season for 35 yards. Darryl Story will also look to return some punts, while De’Anta Sanon will be back with Joy on kick returns.

From Coach Burke

“Our goal for the season is to keep getting better in every meeting, every practice, and every game. It’s the Go Green philosophy, we just want to be better today than we were yesterday.”

What to Watch For

Wilmington has its home opener 1:30 p.m. Sept. 14 against Baldwin Wallace.

Their homecoming game sees the Fighting Muskies of Muskingum University come to town for a 3 p.m. Sept. 21 kickoff. Other games to keep an eye on are a home battle with Otterbein University Oct. 19 and the 2024 finale Nov. 16 at Capital University.