Twenty-nine lettermen, including 13 starters, return from last year’s team that won its first six games and climbed to as high as #10 in the national rankings before losing three straight to Pittsburg State, Emporia State and Northwest Missouri. Those three teams were a combined 31-5, with Northwest Missouri winning an undefeated national championship.

Running Backs

Fritz’s offense relies on a strong running game and the Mules have no shortage of talent in the backfield. Last year’s rushing leader, Dexter Ford (5-11, 220), returns for his senior season after gaining 875 yards (third in the MIAA) and scoring 11 touchdowns. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and had four 100-yard games. His 875 yards were the best by a Mules’ back since 1993 and the seventh-best season total in Mules’ history. Backing up Ford will be junior Jason Graham (5-11, 215) and senior William League (5-10, 220). They combined for 412 yards last season in limited action. The fullbacks, who primarily are blockers in the Mules’ system, will be new. Listed first on the depth chart after spring practice was junior Nick Goos (5-11, 225), who was redshirted last season after transferring from Waldorf (Iowa) Community College. Behind Goos is sophomore Rick Moyer (6-1, 240), who was switched from linebacker after lettering last season as a freshman.

Quarterbacks

This position figures to be in capable hands, regardless of who winds up starting. Senior Ryan Koob (6-0, 180) returns after starting all but one game a year ago. He arrived in training camp less than two weeks before the season opener last season and won the starting job. He completed 56.2% of his passes (82-146) for 1,127 yards and nine touchdowns, but also had 11 interceptions. Following an impressive spring practice, junior newcomer John Holmes (6-1, 185) actually was listed ahead of Koob on the preseason depth chart. Holmes passed for 2,547 yards and 21 touchdowns last season while leading Northwest Mississippi Community College to a 9-3 record and #11 ranking in the national junior college poll.

Wide Receivers

Proving that good things do come in small packages, the Mules’ top wide receivers figure to be sophomore Kevin Nickerson (5-8, 175), senior Greg Schmidt (5-8, 175) and junior Orlando Dunn (5-9, 175). Nickerson, who earned co-MIAA freshman of the year honors last season, caught 25 passes for 285 yards and also rushed for 166 yards. He proved to be an exciting kick returner as well, returning three kicks for touchdowns and leading the Mules in all-purpose yardage (119.2 per game). Schmidt, who was the MIAA long jump champion in track and field last spring, caught 15 passes for 299 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. Dunn teamed up with Holmes at Northwest Mississippi to catch 50 passes for 636 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Offensive Line

Seniors Brian Kietzmann (6-1, 265) and Jason Hennigh (6-2, 275) and sophomore John Young (6-2, 300) return as starters from last season. Kietzmann stepped in at center last year when starter Brent Gilbert was injured in game three and lost for the rest of the season. Hennigh started every game at right guard, while Young became a starter at left tackle when Jeff Davis was switched to guard. New to the offensive line will be red-shirt freshman Andy Minford (6-2, 295) at left guard and red-shirt junior Dan Maguire (6-5, 290) at right tackle. Red-shirt sophomore Sean Hamlin (6-3, 250), who saw limited duty last year, is listed as the Mules’ starter at tight end. Sophomore Jerry Schwartz (6-2, 295), who lettered as a freshman last season, and red-shirt freshman James Hill (6-1, 295) figure to be the top backups in the offensive line.

Kickers

Freshman Ryan Ashcraft (6-3, 175) is the heir apparent to four-year regular Shane Meyer as the Mules’ placekicker. Ashcraft was a second-team all-state selection at Raytown South High School. Meyer finished his career as the Mules’ career leader in scoring, field goals and PATs after leading the team in scoring each of the past four years. Senior Lee DuBois (5-11, 195) returns for his third season as the Mules' punter after averaging 37.4 yards per punt a year ago to rank fifth in the MIAA.

Defensive Line/Linebackers

Six all-MIAA performers, including first-teamers Kenneth Bouie and Craig Koontz, are gone from last year’s unit which wound up ranked 17^th in Division II in total defense. Red-shirt junior Wright Thompson (6-4, 235) and sophomore Tim Urich (6-0, 250), both of whom logged considerable playing time last season in reserve roles, figure to anchor half of the defensive line. Expected to join them up front are red-shirt freshman Bill Brown (6-2, 255) and junior newcomer Colston Weatherington (6-5, 265). Weatherington had 68 tackles and 13 sacks for Northwest Mississippi Community College and was the defensive MVP in the Mineral Water Bowl last season. At the linebacker posts, senior RheQuan Robinson (6-2, 230) and junior Herman Lyons (6-1, 215) are returning starters, with Robinson moving to the middle to fill Bouie’s position. Junior Jed Leeper (6-2, 210) and red-shirt sophomore Andy Sims (5-10, 200), both of whom lettered last year in reserve roles, will contend for the other outside linebacker position.

Defensive Backs