It’s time to move on from Oklahoma State. Flush it.
Done?
Okay, lets get right when the University of Incarnate Word (UIW) comes to Brookings this Saturday! UIW (1-0) has risen over the last handful of years to become a perennial FCS contender out of the Southland. 2023 saw them go 9-2 and narrowly miss the FCS playoffs. They have become known for an explosive high-scoring offense but also some lackluster defense over the years. Their opening week victory over Northern Colorado showed a balanced offense an an opportunistic defense. They did bring in a boatload of 14 FBS transfers and another 7 players from the FCS level. This is something UIW has done over the past few years due to coaching changes.
UIW Offense
The Cardinal offense scored 33.6 ppg in 2023, rushing for 157 per game and passing for 323.1 as they played an up-tempo style of offense. They converted in the redzone 43.28% of the time, but scored in the redzone just 72.7% of the time (32/44) with 28 of those being touchdowns. Their offensive line only allowed 14 sacks on the season.
The offense is triggered by #10 Zach Calzada (6-4, 200) who started 10 games in 2021 at Texas A&M including a memorable upset over Alabama, before transferring to Auburn and finally ending up at UIW. Last year he completed 66.43% of his passes for 2,598 yards and 19 TDs to just 9 interceptions. He is not a huge threat with his feet but isn’t a statue either. He had 169 yards gross rushing in 2023. Last week against Northern Colorado with virtually a whole new array of pass catchers he went 21 of 35 for 205 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. He is a big time quarterback and the Jackrabbit secondary will have to prove that they better than they showed in week 1.
The running game UIW features a two headed monster that has a thunder and lightning feel to it. #4 Isaiah Robinson (6-0, 215) and #3 Dekalon Taylor (5-9, 165) are that duo. Robinson had 56 attempts in 2023 for 261 yards (4.4 ypc) and 2 TD. Taylor has served as an excellent punt and kick returner the last two years and has earned numerous accolades for his play on special teams. In week 1, this duo was really balanced with both rushing for 29 yards but Taylor showed his explosiveness with 2 TD runs and a long of 27 yards. #0 Lontrell Turner (5-11, 180) also showed out with 5 carries for 49 yards and a long of 26.
The receiving corp for Calzada and the Cardinals is completely new and rebuilt. In week one, #6 Jalen Walthall (6-2, 180) went off for 5 receptions for 103 yards and 1 TD including a long of 46 yards. Over 2 years and 16 games at Hawaii, Walthall hauled in 37 receptions for 458 yards and 2 TDs. He looked like a complete receiver to me against UNC and not just a deep threat. The second leading receiver against UNC was #9 Roy Alexander (5-10, 200) and he had 6 receptions for 64 yards. Alexander actually transferred in from UAlbany where he had 102 receptions for 1,314 yards, and 7 TDs spread across three seasons. He played against the Jacks last December and had 5 receptions for 21 yards. He plays bigger than he is listed in my opinion. #11 Josh Lorick (6-0, 170) hauled in 5 receptions for 17 yards after transferring in from El Camino College. He had an excellent two seasons at the JUCO where he recorded 84 receptions for 1,288 yards, and 13 receiving touchdowns. With a week one stat line like this, it is clear that UIW wants to get him the ball and see if he can make some magic on bubble screens and similar type of plays. #1 Mason Pierce (5-6, 185) joins the Cardinals after 1 season at Marshall and 3 seasons at McNeese. His season at Marshall may have been disappointing but he was excellent at McNeese as both a wide receiver and punt returner. At McNeese he had 78 receptions for 1,000 yards, and 5 TDs across 3 seasons. He had 3 receptions for 7 yards against UNC in week 1. Eastern Washington transfer #2 Anthony Stell (5-11, 185) did not see any receptions in week 1 but had 64 receptions for 768 yards and 6 TDs across 4 years at EWU. Another interesting player is #13 Jaren Mitchell (5-10, 180) who has spent time at Northwestern State and Northern Colorado. He is now in his 7th year of college as his first season at UNC was in 2018. Across his two stops he has 103 receptions for 1,157 yards, and 4 TDs.
UIW does have two big tight ends that see the field in #89 Logan Compton (6-4, 245) and #18 Jackson Lowe (6-5, 240). Compton, a Houston transfer, did have 1 reception in week one which was good for a 13 yard TD reception. He looked pretty smooth on the play so I’m interested to see if there are additional opportunities for him.
On the offensive line, the Cardinals are big and are older but don’t have a ton of starting experience. From left to right they go #75 Rasheed Jackson (6-7, 320, SO), #70 Traveon Newsome (6-2, 350, GR), #60 Mason Williams (6-3, 295, GR), #77 Jaden Borjas (6-5, 295), and #72 Nolan Hay (6-4, 300). Jackson saw action as a sub in year one. Newsome appeared in 16 games in his 4 years at Southern University. Williams had an All-Ivy League season in 2022 at Harvard, his first as a starter, before spending his first year of grad school at Western Kentucky where he did not play. Borjas is now in his 6th season at UIW where he has provided depth and started the first 6 games of 2023 before losing the season to injury. Hay spent his previous two season at Houston Christian and appeared in 18 games with 7 starts. #73 Caleb Flores (6-4, 279) battled Borjas for the RG spot and filled in for him in 2023 but I think Borjas started against UNC but it was challenging to tell on the ESPN+ game feed and the participation notes do not show starters. This group did pave the way for 203 rushing yards and only allowed 1 sack vs. UNC so they are quickly jelling as a new look group.
UIW Defense
UIW plays a stifling 4-3 defense and in week one, outside of a big run, really dominated and forced 3 timely turnovers just when it felt like UNC was putting it together. In 2023 they allowed 19.5 ppg, 141 ypg rushing and 157.2 ypg passing. They had just 18 sacks but forced 11 interceptions and recovered 5 fumbles. Opponents only converted on 30% of their 3rd down opportunities. Opponents reached the redzone just 26 times and scored touchdowns on just 42% of their visits there. They forced their opponents to punt 61 times in 2023. For reference, the Jacks for 72 punts but it was in 5 more games.
Three contributing defensive ends from 2023 return in #15 Marcus Brown (6-4, 245) and #44 Devin Grant (6-3, 225) after having solid first seasons for the Cardinals. Brown transferred in from Howard prior to 2023 and had 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 3 QBH. Grant transferred in from Colorado and had 13 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. #0 Declan Williams (6-2, 245) transfers in from Delaware where he had a solid two seasons on special teams and at linebacker for the Blue Hens. These three contributed 9 total tackles and Grant added a TFL and a QBH. On the interior #8 Chase Carter (6-4, 255), a 2022 transfer from Michigan St. and a Minnehaha Academy graduate out of the Twin Cities and he totaled 20 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3 sacks, and 3 QBH. In week 1 against UNC, he had 3 stops. He is joined by #99 Josh Gonzalez (6-2, 310) and #41 Terrell Elliott (6-2, 300). Gonzalez had 16 total tackles, 1 TFL, .5 sack, and 1 QBH in 2023. Elliott joins the program from Garden City Community College where he played in 20 games totaling 40 tackles and 6.5 sacks over two years. In week one, Gonzalez had 5 tackles and a TFL while Elliott had 1 tackle. #10 John Mathis (6-2, 265) returns after a solid 2023 when he totaled 25 tackles with 5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 QBH. In week 1 he had 3 total tackles. #90 Myron Warren (6-2, 245) provides good depth after transferring in from Texas State where he collected 10 tackles across 11 games.
The UIW linebacker room is really loaded with talent! The leader of the group is Will linebacker, #11 Tylan Foster (5-11, 225) who led the team in tackles in 2023 with 84 total. He also had 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 PBU and 3 QBH. In week 1, he had 9 tackles. He is joined by #12 Mister Williams (6-0, 245). Williams transferred from Colorado prior to 2023 and he enjoyed a solid season for UIW racking up 31 total tackles 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 QBH. He had 5 tackles, a QBH, a fumble recovery and an interception against UNC! Next to him at the STAR position is either multi-year starter #1 Darius Sanders (6-2, 199) or SIU transfer #13 Dune Smith (5-10, 197). Sanders was injured for part of 2023 but has 42 career tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 3 passes defended during his time at UIW. Last week he had had 4 stops. Smith had a solid season at SIU after starting his career at Pitt. Smith had 64 tackles, 4 sacks, and 9 TFL last season. In week 1 he had 2 tackles and a sack for UIW.
The secondary showed out in week 1, limiting UNC to just 146 yards passing. Cornerback #7 Kendrick Stone (6-2, 190) started his career at Iowa Western CC and had a good season in 2022 for UIW before missing all of 2023. In week 1, he had 9 total tackles and 1 INT. Opposite him is #18 D’Arius Carmouche (6-0, 165) who appeared in just 5 games in 2023 but had 4 total tackles against UNC. Central Oklahoma transfer #14 Emmonte Davis (6-3, 180), redshirt freshman #24 Barry Dillon (6-1, 175), and Wisconsin transfer #21 AJ Tisdell (5-11, 195) provide depth at the position. Davis had 3 INTs, 51 total tackles, and 12 passes defended in 2 years at UCO. Tisdell was a former 3 star recruit but never appeared in a game for the Badgers but had 4 total tackles against UNC.
The safety group features #3 Mason Chambers (6-0, 210) who was the seconding leading tackler on the 2023 squad after transferring over from Iowa State. He had 68 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, and 1 forced fumble in 2023. Last week he had 8 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups. Next to him is #6 Ronald Wilson (5-10, 220) who led the team in interceptions in 2023 after transferring in from New Mexico. Last year he total 35 stops with 4 PBUs. In week 1, Wilson had just 1 tackle. #16 Matt Kordas (6-1, 190) provides some experienced depth after spending the last two years at Iowa Western CC and prior to that a year at Bowling Green. The Jacks did show some interest in Kordas, an Illinois prep, when he was in high school.
Special Teams
The special teams play of UIW against UNC was okay after installing all new players. #27 Ryan Shamburger (6-2, 195) transfers in from Minnesota and he had a really good week 1 when he punted 6 times, landing 5 inside the 20. The average of 38.5 yards is deceiving because of where UIW was punting from but his long of 45 shows that he can boom the ball if needed.
#46 Brack Peacock (5-6, 165) missed a 50 yard field goal attempt but made all of his extra point attempts. #48 Julian Lee handled the kickoff duties a majority of the time and had a 58 yard average as it appeared UIW was attempting to pin their opponents inside the 25.
#3 DeKalon Taylor and #1 Mason Pierce are both listed as the punt and kick returners and they both have been excellent at this in their career. Taylor had nearly a 10 yard return average on 21 punt return attempts in 2023 and a 20 yard average on 19 kick return attempts. At McNeese, Pierce had 53 kick return attempts for 1,179 yards (22.2 avg) with 2 TDs across 4 seasons. For punt returns, he has 29 attempts for 158 yards (5.4 avg) and a long of 50 yards.
Prediction
The Jackrabbits need to get right after an up and down showing against Oklahoma State. UIW started slow against Northern Colorado but eventually seemed to wear the Bears down. I think the Jacks will be able to run the ball this week as that was something that UNC did have some luck with. I like the Jackrabbit defense to contain the UIW skill and the defensive line in particular to have an impact after they were muted vs. an EXCELLENT OK state offensive line.
Jackrabbits 38- Cardinals 17
Go Jacks!
Matt
