ST. PAUL, Minn. – This Saturday at 6 p.m., the Golden Bears will kickoff the 2024 campaign at Harms-Eischeid Stadium at Upper Iowa (0-1) in a non-conference contest on the road.
 
This is the third and final installment of a three-part season preview series, as part one (overview & special teams) was released on Monday and part two (defense) was released on Tuesday.
 
The Peacocks opened the season last Thursday night in Division II's week zero, falling on the road at a Division I opponent 40-7 at Butler University in Indianapolis. The Peacocks, entering their second year as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), were picked seventh of nine teams in the GLVC Preseason Poll. Last year, UIU was 3-8 overall, going 1-6 in their first year as members of the GLVC to tie for seventh in last year's eight-team league. They return 19 starters.
 
Meanwhile, the Golden Bears return 17 starters from a team that also finished 3-8 overall and 2-8 in the NSIC while being picked 10^th in the 13-team NSIC. Last year, Concordia scored a 43-20 season-opening win at home over Upper Iowa to improve to 12-4 in the all-time series with the Peacocks including an 8-1 home record. CSP will travel to UIU for the seventh time in the all-time series where the teams have split the previous six meetings.
 
In last year's opener, CSP running backs Jaylin Richardson (16-108) and Daniel Hornacek (10-100) each topped 100 yards on the ground, combining for three rushing touchdowns led by Richardson's two while quarterback Conner Cordts completed 21-30 for 191 yards and two touchdowns, adding 5-42 rushing and another score as CSP rushed for 281 yards at 7.8 per carry while holding UIU to 73 rushing yards at 2.8 per rush. Cordts wasn't sacked and didn't turn the ball over while CSP had a pair of sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery defensively.

WAUER SELECTED TO WEAR #26 IN MEMORY OF BILLY BROWN, JR
Junior linebacker Richard Wauer was selected to represent the football program's cherished jersey number 26 to honor the memory of Billy Brown, Jr., a linebacker who graduated from CSP in May of 2018. Billy passed away in 2018 shortly after graduating while working out near his home in the Twin Cities that summer. Head coach Shannon Currier has opted to honor Brown by selecting a player who fits Billy's work ethic and commitment to the program to wear the number each season.

Wauer, formerly #9, is athletically a junior and originally from Muskego, Wisconsin. He will be in his fifth year as a Golden Bear, with his debut season canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020, and was redshirted in 2021. He's been a two-year starting linebacker in 2022 and 2023 and a CSC Academic All-District Team student-athlete. An eight-time team captain in 2023, Wauer played in 10 games with three starts while working through injuries. He had his breakout season in 2022, starting nine times and playing all 11 games with 54 tackles to finish third on the team In 21 career games, he's made 88 tackles, 4.5 for loss and added a fumble recovery.

He has earned his degree in biochemistry adn now is pursuing an MBA in healthcare management, and intends to pursue further education in medical school after his football playing career with a goal of becoming a surgeon or anesthesiologist.

"As we mature as people and recognize what's most important in our life, in the end it's about the relationships you have and the impact that you've made," reflected Coach Currier. "After Billy's passing, I learned of his tremendous impact on other people through conversations with players and coaches and sometimes we don't always know that in the moment, but players made it apparent that Billy invested in their lives."

He continued, "After his passing, we recognize a special person in our program to honor Billy and keep his legacy alive. We select a player who has impact here to continue the tradition of what Billy started. I'm optimistic, but I feel like Richard Wauer is one of the best leaders I've ever been around. His commitment to his teammates, the team, overall growth, and his academics are all really remarkable. Reflecting back, when we recruited him in talking with Richard and his mom at a booth at GameWorks in Mall of America, I knew he was a special leader right away and that's a big reason we offered him. He brings a leadership component to our program."

"We are blessed to have Richard come back for another year after considering med school. He's picked up right where he left off with his leadership and overall impact. So many have benefited from Richard's actions and speaking. When people recognize their true purpose, there is a higher level of motivation, and when it's bigger than themselves it's powerful. We want our players to experience those same callings, to gain that desire to impact others in a positive way, and it all comes full circle to what Billy did in his time here at CSP."

Past players selected to wear Brown's #26:
2018: Brandon Russell (23 to 26)
2019: Jackson Dobbs (98 to 26)
2020: season cancelation
2021: Dalton Smerchek (32 to 26)
2022: Davaris Cheeks (14 to 26)
2023: Davaris Cheeks
2024: Richard Wauer (9 to 26)

GOLDEN BEARS NAME OPENING WEEK GAME CAPTAINS
CSP head coach Shannon Currier and the Golden Bear coaching staff have continued the program's tradition of selecting rotating weekly game captains for the sixth year in a row. Captains are selected by the coaching staff based on performance on the field and as a leader in practice and day-to-day activities.

The 2024 season opening game captains are senior offensive guard Taylon Hensley and senior running back Jaylin Richardson on the offense, while the defense is represented by senior safety Cyrus McClure and junior linebacker Richard Wauer.

MEET THE BEARS: OFFENSIVE PREVIEW
Concordia enters the season with a high level of continuity among its offensive returners, starting up front with four returning starters to the offensive line while the skill position returns nearly all of its production from 2024 with 96 percent of its total offensive output (all but 156 rushing/receiving yards), led by 100 percent of its passing output, 98 percent (all but 39 yards) of its rushing yardage and 90 percent of receptions for 94 percent of receiving yards.
 
The 2023 Golden Bears improved a number of offensive metrics, leading to 6.3 more points per game, two more first downs per game, 35 more rushing yards per game, eight more field goals made on the year, a more than five percent increase in third down conversions, a 22 percent increase in fourth down conversions, an improvement from 13-24 in the red zone in 2022 to 33-40 in scoring chances in the red zone in 2023 including more than doubling red zone touchdowns from 10 to 24.
 
With experience, veteran leadership, and another year of players developing in the program's strength & conditioning program, similar improvements on offense combined with similar improvements featured in Tuesday's defensive preview can vault the squad into an NSIC contender.
                                      
MEET THE BEARS: OFFENSIVE LINE
 
On the offensive line, the Golden Bears lose one starter, talented tackle Jake Edwards who was able to snag an NFL rookie minicamp invite with the New Orleans Saints following an All-NSIC First Team performance in 2023.
 
But the consistency and continuity of the offensive line unit provide the Golden Bears with three other linemen with starting experience from the 2023 season in addition to the four returning full-time starters.
 
"The offensive line is a position group who has continued to do things well all-around in our program. We have a lot of returning starters and leadership in the unit and we feel it's a strength of our offense," said head coach Shannon Currier.
 
The tackles will be led by brothers Robby Carrillo and Austin Carrillo, with Robby a returning starter while Austin has amassed game experience with 12 games across the previous two years.
 
"It's neat to have brothers playing our left and right tackle positions, their family is all-in and the brothers have grown a lot on and off the field. They are both big, strong, athletic and have the desire to be their best which only continues to grow. We are looking forward to seeing them become two of the top tackles in the league. We also have CJ Picazo at the position with a ton of experience, so we have three guys with experience that we feel good about."
 
The position is also bolstered by the emergence of sophomore Evan Scott who is continuing to be a factor up front.
 
Moving to the interior of the line with the guards, Currier notes, "We have a lot of depth here and it starts with one of our top leaders Taylon Hensley while Jac Carver handles the other guard position and also brings exceptional leadership. The position group also features Caden Nolte and Sam Yager, while CJ Picazo will mix-in at guard with his experience and versatility."
 
Picazo's versatility has been an asset to CSP, not only is able to handle multiple positions on the line, he has also spent time as a blocking tight end and is one of the top throwers for the track & field program.
 
Moving to the middle and the center position, Caydon Christensen handles the position while also taking care of short-snapping responsibilities on the field goal and PAT units.
 
"Caydon is one of the top centers in the league and becoming a real top-flight offensive lineman. He's really transformed his body and become a team leader in the last year. He had a strong sophomore campaign and I'm excited to see him become one of the top centers."
 
The center position also features experience from sophomore backup Peyton Nawrocki who played in a pair of contests in 2023, along with the addition of Nolte, a junior transfer from Iowa Central Community College and a Chatfield, Minnesota native who Currier notes as a "great addition."
 
MEET THE BEARS: TIGHT END
While steady performing Grant Miles departs as a one-year graduate transfer in 2023, the Golden Bears continue to improve at the position with the recovery of injured transfer Russell Corrigan who had a season-ending injury early in 2023 fall camp in his first few days with the program, while incumbents junior Jacob Cannon and sophomores EJ Stoffel and Skylar Sanders continue to ascend and incoming junior transfer James Wade from West Georgia bolsters the depth while increasing the talent level even further.
 
"This group is as strong as we've had at the position in my time here," stated Currier. "We have five guys all doing a good job and our top guys are continuing to get even better. Jacob Cannon has had a phenomenal camp, Russ (Corrigan) is coming back at full speed, EJ is an athletic and physical player and with James Wade we now feel we have the guys who can help us spend even more time in 12 personnel. Add Skylar Sanders to the mix and we feel our mix of players at the position gives us another blocker and special teams standout. I'm looking forward to this group becoming what we think they can be, it's a group that needs to know a lot about the offense, they make a lot of adjustments to help the offense function and they have to know more than anyone else among our offensive position groups."
 
Cannon has played nine games the past two seasons, securing three catches for 44 yards with a long of 23 last season, Stoffel played in all 11 games last year with four catches for 44 yards and a long of 39, and Sanders played in 10 of 11 games last year.
 
MEET THE BEARS: WIDE RECEIVERS
The wide receiver group brings it's top-three performers back from last year in seniors Drew Enke and Peter Udoibok and junior Troy Ellison. Ellison led the team in receptions (51), receiving yards (479) and added two receiving touchdowns but was second on the team with four total touchdowns, adding a pair of rushing scores with 74 rushing yards at 7.4 per carry. Enke was second on the team with 28 catches for 425 yards and 15.2 per catch and Udoibok led the team with a 19.9 average per catch on 18 catches for 358 yards with a team-high three receiving touchdowns.
 
"We have some really good top-level wide receivers and are looking to enhance our depth. The trio (Enke, Udoibok, Ellison) is as good as there is in the league: Enke has had his best fall camp in his time here and he's going to dominate. Peter and Troy are explosive players to give us a well-rounded trio," said Currier. He continued, "Other guys who round out a growing position group include Carter Ryan coming back from injury, explosive true freshmen Jay Hardy and EJ Previlma, while Adrian Adams and Julius Reynolds give us much-needed experience and Ricky Dixon had a solid first year with us last year. Combine these receivers with Brock Thornton, who is arguably the top blocker at the position."
 
MEET THE BEARS: RUNNING BACKS
In the mix as one of the top running backs in the Northern Sun, senior Jaylin Richardson is a returning All-NSIC First Team performer, rushing for 942 yards at 5.0 per carry while adding 27-234 as a receiver and a team-leading eight combined touchdowns in 2023.
 
"This is the best running back group we've had in some time and it's led by one of the best in Division II in Jaylin Richardson who is in great shape and had a phenomenal camp," said Currier. "Our offense will be centered around these guys, and it's a deep and talented group around Jaylin. Danny's (Hornacek) year last season speaks for itself, we brought in Jaylon Washington from Iowa Central and he's been great this fall and is an all-around back. We also return physical runner James Evans IV, Cameron Ludeman and Logan Eisle."
 
The group also features more new faces along with Washington, "Joel Lacy, Eddie Lacy's (Green Bay Packers) cousin, comes to us from Ellsworth Community College and is a big back and shows flashes of Eddie's style, we have true freshman Nasir McKenzie who will challenge for game reps, and also have newcomers like Lex Korti, Parkees Harris and Steve Young."
 
He continued, "The whole group, really, is solid. We have 11 running backs, all of them are capable. We'll push into more two-back formations because of our depth and quality of the position group."
 
Hornacek had a breakout sophomore season, rushing for 383 yards at 7.1 per carry and adding 10-81 as a receiver while scoring three rushing touchdowns.
 
Originally from St. Paul, Washington was an All-Region performer for Iowa Central, helping the Tritons to a 7-4 season and a Game One Bowl win. He rushed for 301 yards, averaging 4.9 per carry and had 13-153 receiving.
 
Evans IV played in all 11 games in 2023, earning nine carries for 32 yards and had a pair of touchdowns.
 
MEET THE BEARS: QUARTERBACKS
The Golden Bears head into the 2024 season with three-year starting quarterback Conner Cordts leading the position group. Cordts has played in 28 games the past three seasons and is among the top-35 career passers in NSIC history with 4,561 passing yards in NSIC contests (excludes non-conference games).
 
In his three previous seasons, Cordts has compiled 4,752 career passing yards, a 27-19 TD-INT ratio and 521 rushing yards with five touchdowns for 5,273 yards of total offense.
 
Behind Cordts in 2023, redshirt freshmen Reed Styer and Jackson Compton were able to garner their first taste of live action, combining for 92 passing yards and 37 rushing yards as they head into their sophomore seasons.
 
The Golden Bears feature increasing depth and competition at the position, however.
 
"First off, we added some competition to the group with Luke Gombert transferring from Incarnate Word, along with two quality true freshmen in Logan Butler and Chase Pemberton. It's a great group of six, all are good quarterbacks with different strengths."
 
He continued, "And for the fourth year in a row, Conner takes the top spot. He's been the most consistent performer during fall camp, his leadership has ascended to another level with vocal leadership at its best since he's been here. He's more aggressive and confident and it's been great to see this fall camp. He's earned the trust and confidence from his teammates based on his fall camp performance."
 
Currier expanded on the group at large, "From there, we've seen flashes from all of our QBs. Reed has had a good camp, Jackson is an explosive athlete who had a strong finish to camp and they are our top-three entering the season. Luke continues to get better as he learns the offense, while Chase and Logan have so much to work with from their skillset that we've really been impressed with the entire group."
 
"Our goal is a 60 percent completion percentage in games. Through fall camp, our quarterbacks are completing 67 percent of their live reps as a group," he concluded.