BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – After an incredible 2020 season, the No. 10 Olivet Nazarene University football team is geared up and ready to go for the 2021 season. Reigning Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest Head Coach of the Year Eric Hehman returns some key starters and welcomes some good and young talent.
TAKE A LOOK BACK
The Tigers went 8-1 last season en route to a MSFA Midwest championship and a berth to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Championships. The Tigers posted an 8-0 record during the regular season, which is the best in program history, before falling to Baker University in the Opening Round of the NAIA Football Championships.
THE SCHEDULE
ONU will play an 11-game schedule which will feature 6 home games and 5 away games. The Tigers open at home on Saturday, September 4 at 1 p.m. against the Saints of Siena Heights. After a bye week, and a road game at Indiana Wesleyan, Hehman and the Tigers welcome the Trojans of Taylor University on Saturday, September 25 at 6 p.m. After back-to-back road trips visiting Judson and Saint Xavier, the Tigers come home and play two straight home games against Saint Ambrose and Missouri Baptist, for Homecoming. After visiting the University of St. Francis, ONU wraps up their regular season with two more home games against Trinity International and Roosevelt.
THE ROSTER
ONU returns some talented starters on both sides of the ball and on special teams. On the offensive side of the ball, David Hutton returns to run the offense under center. Last season, Hutton was awarded the MSFA Midwest Offensive Player of the Year distinction and was a first-team all-conference selection. The Tiger quarterback passed for 2,191 yards, which was fifth in the NAIA, and notched 24 touchdowns. Another key offensive returner is Jalen Dunnigan. Dunnigan was awarded the first-team all-conference nod for the wide receiver position and a second-team selection for his work on special teams. Last season, the Tiger wide out led the team with 532 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Following Dunnigan is Scotty Graziano. Graziano, a second-team all-conference selection, marked 502 receiving yards and scored 4 touchdowns. Rounding out the top offensive returners is Aaje Grayson. The New York City native was selected as a second-team all-conference honoree a year ago and led the Tigers with 91 carries for 585 yards and 7 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jason Freeman returns for his sophomore season. Last season, Freeman was selected as the MSFA Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection. Freeman led the Tigers with 80 total tackles and was fourth with 11.5 tackles-for-loss. The Tigers also return Grant Manke. Manke was second on the team with 4.5 sacks, while marking 9 tackles-for-loss, and was tabbed as a second-team all-conference selection. ONU also returns the secondary core of Patryk Ryczek, Lance Walker, Damien Savage, and Princeton Harris. Harris earned a first-team all-conference nod while Ryczek and Walker earned all-conference second-team and honorable mention accolades. The group of four combined for 133 total tackles, 6 interceptions, and 35 pass breakups.
On special teams, Bryce Deguira returns for the Tigers. Deguira, last season, led the Tigers and the NAIA with 15 field goals and scoring 9.2 points per game. The Tiger kicker was second in the NAIA with 83 total points and 1.7 field goals per game.
ONU's HEAD COACH
Coach Eric Hehman returns for his sixth season at the helm with an overall record of 30-23. The Tiger head coach is one win away from tying current Director of Athletics Mike Conway for second all-time in career wins.
Please visit onutigers.com for the most up-to-date information and to watch your Tigers take to the field this Fall.
--ONU—
*Contact; Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu