SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University football coaching staff welcomes 117 players to camp this week as the Pirates prepare to open the 2023 season on September 2nd with an exhibition contest against Pacific Northwest Christian College.
Camp will begin on Thursday with fitness testing in the morning and the first official practice at 4:00 pm.
Whitworth has some questions to answer following a 6-4 season in 2022, which included a fourth-place finish (4-3) in the eight-team Northwest Conference. The Bucs posted their ninth consecutive winning season under head coach Rod Sandberg.
Whitworth welcomes back five starters on offense and six on defense. The offense returns most of the skill position players, while the defense returns an intact line, but few starters in the backfield.
There are six quarterbacks on the roster, three of whom have varsity playing experience. One is Ryan Blair (Jr.), who completed 115 of 155 passes (74.2%) for 1,191 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions in six games last season before suffering an injury. Because of injuries, Noah Stifle (Sr.) was the starter in Whitworth's win over Willamette last season as the fourth string QB. Austin Ewing is a graduate transfer from Southern Utah University who played in NCAA Div. I games in 2019 and 2021.
Whitworth returns its top three running backs from 2022, led by Solo Hines (Sr.) who ran for 388 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry with six touchdowns. Luis Salgado (So.) had significant impact as a first-year Pirate with 273 yards and 6.5 yards per carry with four touchdowns. Isaiah Jones (Jr.) picked up 191 yards and a score. Luke Roberts (Jr.) appeared in ten games last season as a back up running back and special teams player.
Similarly, the Bucs return four of their top pass catchers from last fall, led by wide receiver Riley Morrison (Sr.), who had 46 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Isaac Fields hauled in 38 passes for 367 yards and three scores. Wide receiver Evan Liggett (Sr.) caught 31 passes for 445 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. Dillon Kuk (Sr.), another wide receiver, had 26 receptions for 361 yards and a touchdown. Hines and Jones were both reliable options out of the backfield as well last fall.
It is up front where Whitworth needs to make the biggest changes. Patton Miller (Jr.) is the lone returning starter on the offensive line and is expected to anchor the group at center this season.
Dillon Helle (Jr.), Sam Teft (Jr.) and Kiefer Furness (Jr.) all have playing experience and figure to battle for starting roles this season. Nate Vasiloff (Sr.) is another veteran on the roster. In addition, Jake McCabe (Jr.) and Jake Trost (Jr.) have moved to offensive line from other positions and showed great promise in the spring.
Whitworth brought in 15 new linemen with the incoming class for 2023 who the coaches hope will provide depth this season and pay big dividends down the road.
Offensively, Fields was a second team All-Northwest Conference selection last season, while Hines and Kuk received honorable mention consideration.
The situation on defense is opposite of the offense with most of the experience returning on the line of scrimmage.
Tackles Justin Gies (Sr.) and Alex Smith (Jr.) started every game last season. Both finished with double digits in tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss by Smith. Nathan DePaolo (Jr.) also has playing experience at defensive tackle.
Injuries played havoc at defensive end last season, but JT Munoz took advantage of his opportunity to become a regular starter. Munoz tied for the team lead with 8.5 tackles for loss and led the Bucs with 5.5 sacks and earned second team All-NWC. Nathaniel Hummel (Jr.) started one game at the end of the season. Dylan Owen (Jr.) was a starter at the beginning of the season before suffering a season-ending injury in the fourth game.
Only one of three starters return at linebacker. That starter is Dylan Ventress (Sr.), who will be in the starting lineup for the third straight year and who led the Pirates with 88 tackles in 2022. He was a second team All-NWC selection.
Shane Modena (Sr.), Zach Brooks (Jr.) and Zach Loveless (Jr.) have the most playing experience as back up linebackers for Whitworth. Caleb Shawen (Jr.) and Daniel McKeirnan (Jr.) could also push for a starting spot and more playing time after earning their stripes as special team fixtures.
Tiliti Adams (Jr.) was a part-time starter at cornerback last season and will look to secure a full-time role this season. Joshua Lawson (Jr.) has the most playing experience of any other returnee at corner.
Both starting safeties graduated. But Atticus Templeton (Sr.) gained honorable mention All-NWC selection despite not starting a game at strong safety. He posted 29 tackles and two pass breakups.
Jacob Brandvold (Jr.) also has experience as a backup safety.
Whitworth will need to replace its kicker and punter from last season. Jarvis Natividad (Jr.) and Joshua Lawson have the most experience returning kicks.
Following the exhibition opener, Whitworth will have non-conference contests at Eastern Oregon (September 9th) and Chapman (September 16th).
The NWC schedule opens with a home game against Pacific Lutheran on September 30th. Other home conference contests include Puget Sound (Oct. 14), Pacific (Oct. 21) and George Fox (Nov. 4). Whitworth will play Willamette (Oct. 7), Lewis & Clark (Oct. 28) and Linfield (Nov. 11) on the road.
