ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a sport with as many moving parts and advanced schemes, concepts and plays like football, having continuity and cohesion is vital for success. When Concordia-St. Paul opens the 2017 football season with Day of Heroes on Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Minot State (TV: MidcoSN), the Golden Bears will trot out an offense that features 18 of 22 returners to the offensive two deep.

Further, all 11 listed starters return with significant playing experience and have come together under sixth year head coach Shannon Currier's positive culture, which is being implemented through the help of offensive team captains Matt Bjork, a senior tight end and Rich Kelly, a fourth year sophomore offensive lineman.

The most important position on the football field, quarterback, returns all three players to a position that saw a strong battle last fall and repeats with another competition for the starting and backup spots this year.

And while Currier, a former quarterback himself is confident in all three of the signal callers on the roster, he's been more concerned about building the pieces around the trio to ensure that whoever does emerge is ready to be successful in leading the team to new heights in 2017.

"Last year we weren't very explosive, we were young and inexperienced and the play on our offensive line was poor. We had good senior running backs, but otherwise experienced average play all around. We had two freshmen wide receivers starting and injuries further limited that group," said Currier.

He continued, "Our quarterbacks were in a new system and most importantly the play of the quarterback in general is enhanced when guys around them are better. Last year, we relied on Ron Johnson to make plays which is a hard task to take on, but we showed potential."

Currier was brought in for his second stint to lead the program in December, 2015 and had only had one spring, one summer and one fall camp to bring in recruits, implement his offense and evaluate the players to identify best roles for everyone.

Entering 2017, he's now added a full season of games to evaluate live-game performance, a full offseason of spring, a summer with double the number of players committed to training together and another fall camp.

"We expect to be more efficient this year with a better sense of urgency and being more detailed in what we're doing. Our passing game has better spacing and we're running things at a faster pace. We have quality depth and we aren't depending on any true freshmen to start, although the talent has some freshmen in the mix. We are firmer up front and we have a lot of players trending upward in this league and we hope that they emerge as some of the better players in this conference."

OFFENSIVE LINE
While the quarterback position features the single most important player on the field, the success of the position depends on those who protect him. Concordia brings a cohesive offensive line into the season that includes five players who have significant experience playing together.

It also features the best type of 'newcomer' in sophomore captain Rich Kelly, who comes back from a season lost to injury a year ago. He's now in his fourth year in the program, and still has three seasons to contribute.

"Getting Rich Kelly back is huge," stated Currier. "He was performing at our highest level in the spring (2016) when he tore his ACL. He worked hard to get back and this means a lot to him. He's pushing people and is a natural leader not only of the offensive line but the entire team."

He enters the year penciled in as the starting left guard with sophomore Ethan Aune opposite him as the right guard. Aune gained experience as a true freshmen in 2016, playing as a key reserve as part of the offensive line rotation.

"They are both athletic, physical and gain movement up front. We like our offensive line to be able to move around and utilize screens. They've got to be able to move and all five of our starting linemen are athletic with ability to spread the defense but also to use a power running offense."

Joining Kelly and Aune in the middle is sophomore Hunter Kauffman who moves to the center position after spending most of his time at right guard in 2016 in his redshirt freshman season, starting the final seven games at the spot.

"Hunter is one of the most intelligent centers I've coached," said Currier. "Hunter, along with the two guards give us an interior line that is actually capable of playing all five positions which gives us great versatility."

The two most experienced players up front are the tackles, third year starter Terrell Taylor on the right side and second year starter and third year key rotation player Ben Lawrence. They're bigger, stronger and more experienced.

"Ben is up over 280 pounds now and was a 235 pound tight end when I came in. His commitment has been phenomenal and as a returning All-Conference honorable mention performer is one of the better players in the league. Terrell and Ben are athletic tackles which is important in our scheme and we feel that we have one of the better tandems in the conference."

While the starters have the cohesion, leadership and experience to operate as a unit, Currier has been impressed with the depth on the line this fall and sees a number of players being able to contribute.

Behind Kauffman at center is Cleandre Robinson, a junior transfer from Iowa Central Community College. The interior backup guards are sophomores Tanner Haechten who started the first five games and six of the first seven as a true freshman at left guard and Tristan Whemas.

"Tanner is a key backup for us with playing experience. He's overcoming an offseason injury and worked hard to get back and is better than he was last year. Tristan started his career as a defensive lineman but has become one of the most improved players in our program with his position change to the offense. He has a positive attitude and was committed over the offseason and has planted himself in the mix. He's playing well and has good feet."

Redshirt freshman transfer Caleb Sheets has taken a spot as one of the backup tackles. The Minnesota native graduated from high school in Colorado and spent his true freshman season redshirting at CSU-Pueblo, a Division II program in the Rocky Mountain (RMAC) conference.

Other players to watch at the position, especially in the future are transfer Adam Heder from Minnesota Crookston and true freshmen Matthew Montgomery and Tyson Kauffman. "Montgomery has surpassed our expectations and is a tremendous leader and Tyson is overcoming some injuries but we really like his future, while Heder will bring us another veteran presence with college football experience."

The future is bright for this emerging group as all 16 players have the opportunity to return in 2017, as the only senior (Samuel Kessler) is expected to miss the season due to an injury early in fall camp.

TIGHT ENDS
Concordia's top returning starter at the tight end position, senior Matt Bjork, brings two key intangible ingredients to the offense: he's a former starting center and is a second year team captain.

His experience as a center provides a vital extension to the blocking prowess and cohesion of the offensive line and brings integral understanding of how blocking schemes come together, and his leadership as a second year captain only strengthens the bond of the offensive unit with a number of underclassmen thriving in their roles.

"Matt is a physical blocker and a key feature of our offense that we need to involve," said Currier. "Our tight ends are all key, physical blockers but will also be involved in our passing game. The physicality we have at this position will allow us to be in 12-personnell more often."

Joining Bjork is junior transfer John Damrow, who spent the first few years of his college football career with the Wisconsin Badgers.

"He's a big transfer with soft hands and with Justin Axelson and Joseph Tarwai we have more depth and physicality which helps us all across the front line with how we use our offensive line, tight end and h-backs."

RUNNING BACKS
The position on the team that took its biggest hit to graduation is also one of the more exciting positions on the team. Seniors Darius Chapes and Alex Carr combined to rush for over 2,000 yards and each had a 5.0 average per rush and brought a combined 400-plus yards receiving as impact transfers.

While Chapes and Carr continued to provide a versatile and quality 1-2 punch at the position in their senior campaigns, Darnell Rolle (known as "Bam-Bam") was emerging behind the scenes as he produced 109 rushing and 61 receiving yards with two total touchdowns (1 rush, 1 rec) as a true freshman.

He not only enters the 2017 season as the starting running back, but a focal point of the CSP offense.

"Bam-Bam has stepped it up with a great spring and offseason. He's gained size, going from 185 to 205 pounds and is one of the top leaders on our offense and is one of our best special teams players," said Currier. "He'll become one of the better backs in the league and I'm excited to feed him the ball. He's a great runner and as a team we need to be a good rushing offense, but he can also catch and block. He's a true four down back and with being a special teams standout, he's valuable football players."

Rolle, a Florida native, is joined in the backfield by two freshmen Floridians in Lajuan Preston and Shaq Johnson. "We were high on LP and Shaq in recruiting and they've each shown us even more since they arrived for fall camp. LP is a great athlete, a speedster with the toughness to run inside and block and will be a key special teams player. Shaq is another kid who is a heck of a blocker and can catch the ball in space."

Junior RaQuan Cunnigan is the most experienced player at the position and has a 5.0 career average on his 11 rushing attempts while freshman Ovie Embu has also made an impression. "RaQuan gives us a physical presence after a great offseason and Ovie has put himself in the mix due to his special teams performance this fall."

Currier concluded, "We will be versatile with our backs. They can move to the slot, run inside and block. They are total athletes, and with our mix we're not quite sure of our order or workload yet but we'll feed Bam-Bam and fill out the committee from there. We have five capable backs, and although we're not sure how many we'll travel their ability to impact on special teams makes the decision more interesting."

QUARTERBACKS
Concordia has a luxury with three returners at the quarterback position who have been in the program and all have had important in-game experiences.

Speaking just after returning from the scrimmage at Camp Ripley just past the midway point of fall camp, Currier had yet to name a starting quarterback and even hinted that all three players were still in the mix.

"We think Ron Johnson or Maxon Hutton will be the starter, but Trevor Tillett has kept himself in the mix as a quality player with experience and good leadership skills. The three player combo gives us something not many teams have and all three players are better, more urgent and understand the offense better than a year ago. Each possess different skillsets."

As of Saturday afternoon, a starter had still not been named publicly or behind the scenes as the players continued to impress Currier and quarterbacks coach Houston Jones.

Ron Johnson is the incumbent starter, coming in as a junior transfer in 2016 to start all 11 games. He passed for 2,115 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding six touchdowns with his feet and only throwing eight interceptions in a new-look, up-tempo offense that featured a number of first year starters including a mix of freshmen and transfers to the lineup.

"Ron is a playmaker with experience. In camp, when things are on the line he steps up and makes plays and produces in those scrimmage situations and has success moving our offense. He's improved as a player because of the competition and coach Jones has done a great job helping Ron improve with the fundamentals and he has a better knowledge of our offense than he did a year ago."

Last year's backup was Maxon Hutton who was in his redshirt freshman season. He's such a dynamic and powerful player that Currier and the offensive staff found a way to put get him game reps. He played in eight games, rushing the ball 18 times and attempting 12 passes. He showed his flair by bursting out for a 49 yard run against Wayne State.

"Maxon is a guy that can run and throw. He can do it all. He's a very good athlete," said Currier. "When he carries the ball, he looks like a deer running and he runs with physicality. Ron has the escapability but Maxon has physical, break-tackle ability and can run away. He keeps improving the more reps he gets."

Trevor Tillett enters his junior year and has seen game action in each of the last two seasons, attempting 157 passes in his career with four touchdowns and nearly 800 yards.

"Trevor has a great understanding of our offense and is one of our best leaders. He's capable of moving the offense and has valuable game experience," said Currier. "Our players look up to him and he gets the best out of his teammates."

WIDE RECEIVERS
Regardless of who emerges as the starting quarterback, there will be a stable of receivers looking to make plays in a variety of ways in the offense.

"It starts with Gus and Steed, two freshmen starters last year. They are better now, and continue to grow their understanding of our offense," said Currier. "Ben Weaver has done a great job with the group this fall in his first year as a position coach with us. We think every offensive position is better, although the running backs still have to prove it on the field."

The receivers are led by sophomore Marcus Gustaveson who led the team in receptions (41), yards (564) and touchdowns (5) as a true freshman a year ago. He had a pair of 100-yard performances including a 7-115 for two touchdowns against national power Minnesota Duluth, and 10-129 with a touchdown against league contender Augustana.

His offseason included an all-conference performance at the NSIC Championships at Sea Foam Stadium where he broke the school record in the shot put and also scored in the discus as he put together quite an impactful first year as a two-sport college athlete.

"He's one of the more physical players at the position in this league at 6-foot, 5-inches and 220 pounds and what really impresses us about Gus is he had his best track & field performance when it mattered the most. He had a great freshman year for us but he wasn't satisfied with the results and can do a lot more to step forward. He has a chance to become one of the best in the league. He creates mismatches and it's on us to get him the ball."

Starting opposite Gustaveson is sophomore Gabe Steed who drew five starts as a true freshman with all five starts coming in the last eight weeks. He finished the year fifth in receptions (16) and had 218 yards and a touchdown.

"Gabe does everything right and there's not a better kid in the program. He knows the offense, is a consistent pass catcher, is in the right place at the right time and executes his blocks. He's a great teammate and a quality leader."

The team's base offense includes a third wide receiver in the starting 11 with senior Deceon Schumann earning that nod midway through camp. A converted defensive back, Schumann impressed in his first year at the position in 2016 by finishing third on the team with 26 catches and fourth with 253 yards while adding a touchdown along with six rushing attempts for 23 yards and five kickoff returns for 114 yards (22.8).

The three backup receivers who should receive plenty of opportunities include seniors Elias Arlington and Willie Ross and junior Jake Tanner.

Of that group, Arlington was the impact player on last year's team with 14 catches for 254 yards to leads the team with an 18.1 average and long of 73 while adding 4-14 on the ground and 11-183 on kickoff returns (16.6).

"Elias is having a good camp, has a great attitude and continues to make plays. He's one of our most explosive players. Tanner is a playmaker: he's tough, gets open and catches the ball. He's respected by the offensive players and is a hard-working, blue collar player. And Willie Ross has really turned on the switch and had a great camp and offseason. He has size, catches the ball well and has put himself in the mix."

The position group only has one newcomer entering the mix, true freshman Jake Shepley, a 6-foot, 2-inch receiver from Burnsville.

"Shepley has impressed the fall and just goes up and catches balls. He has great hands and is an explosive player with good length."

If last year serves as an indicator, Currier's receivers will have plenty of chances up and down the group, including the running backs and tight ends as eight players had at least 11 receptions and 13 players caught at least two passes last year. The team's 15 passing touchdowns were spread out to 10 different targets which includes Gustaveson's five scores.