2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team
American college football season
The 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference . The Wildcats were led by fifth-year head coach Adam Dorrel and played their home games at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium , Abilene , Texas . The Wildcats played their 100th season in 2021.[ 1]
The Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference announced the formation of the WAC-ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar , Sam Houston , and Stephen F. Austin ) and Central Arkansas , Eastern Kentucky , and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.[ 2]
Preseason
Preseason polls
WAC Poll
The Western Athletic Conference coaches released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the conference.[ 3]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Sam Houston
20 (5)
2
Stephen F. Austin
16 (1)
3
Tarleton State
11
4
Lamar
8
5
Abilene Christian
5
Note: Dixie State is not included since they are not playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts. Dixie State players are eligible for individual rewards.
AQ7 Poll
The AQ7 coaches also released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Wildcats were picked to finish sixth in the ASUN-WAC Challenge.[ 4]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Sam Houston
49 (7)
2
Central Arkansas
40
3
Jacksonville State
37
4
Stephen F. Austin
27
5
Eastern Kentucky
20
6
Abilene Christian
15
7
Lamar
8
Recruits
College recruiting information (2021)
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
40‡
Commit date
Hayden Anderson QB
Keller, Texas
Keller High School
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
-
Jul 24, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A
Tyrin Bradley DE
Lubbock, Texas
Monterey High School (Lubbock, Texas)
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
-
Dec 11, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 73
Cirby Coheley LB
Iowa Park, Texas
Iowa Park High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
-
Jul 13, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A
Colt Cooper TE
Quinlan, Texas
Ford High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
230 lb (100 kg)
-
Jun 30, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A
Luke Dillingham S
Brock, Texas
Brock High School (Texas)
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
-
Star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Kyle Pointer LB
Queen Creek, Arizona
Queen Creek High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
-
Star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Jar'Quae Walton RB
Waco, Texas
La Vega High School
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
-
Dec 13, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A
Jackson Andrews OL
Schertz, Texas
Samuel Clemens High School (Schertz)
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
295 lb (134 kg)
-
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A
Landon Eades DT
Boerne, Texas
Samuel V. Champion High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
280 lb (130 kg)
-
Star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Isaiah Pedack DT
Dallas, Texas
Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas)
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
250 lb (110 kg)
-
Star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Ethan Taite OLB
Frisco, Texas
Independence High School (Frisco, Texas)
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
-
Star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
Transfers
Name
No.
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Prev. school
Trey Adams
#5
LB
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
190 pounds (86 kg)
Redshirt Sophomore
Corvallis, Oregon
Northern Colorado
Alex Spadone
#7
WR
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
216 pounds (98 kg)
Redshirt Junior
Houston, Texas
San Diego
Triston Anderson
#12
CB
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
195 pounds (88 kg)
Redshirt Freshman
Rockwall, Texas
Arkansas State
Roland Williams III
#15
DB
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
180 pounds (82 kg)
Redshirt Junior
Arlington, Tennessee
Richmond
Anthony Smith
#20
RB
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
195 pounds (88 kg)
Redshirt Sophomore
Fort Worth, Texas
Texas State
Mike Garrett Jr.
#29
DB
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
187 pounds (85 kg)
Redshirt Junior
Magnolia, Texas
Tulsa
John Brannon
#43
LB
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
233 pounds (106 kg)
Senior
Prosper, Texas
Texas State
Kaleb Chester
#58
OL
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
271 pounds (123 kg)
Sophomore
Grayson, Georgia
Lenoir–Rhyne
Derek Simmons
#73
OL
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
311 pounds (141 kg)
Redshirt Freshman
Jacksonville, Florida
Tusculum
Reese Moore
#74
OL
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
273 pounds (124 kg)
Redshirt Freshman
Seminole, Texas
Texas
Derek Simmons
#99
DL
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
245 pounds (111 kg)
Redshirt Freshman
Bakersfield, California
Fresno State
Tyran Calloway
#
DT
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
249 pounds (113 kg)
Junior
Fort Worth, Texas
Howard Payne
Personnel
Roster
2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
Quarterback
2 Peyton Mansell – sophomore (6'2, 213)
3 Stone Earle – freshman (6'2, 203)
4 Sema'J Davis – senior (6'1, 191)
12 Hayden Anderson – freshman (6'1, 173)
Trevor Baker – freshman (6'3, 186)
Carson Cross – freshman (6'2, 185)
Jace Robinson – freshman (6'0, 190)
Running backs
14 Quae Walton – freshman (5'10, 166)
20 Anthony Smith – sophomore (5'11, 209)
21 Jermiah Dobbins – freshman (5'11, 195)
24 Tyrese White – senior (5'10, 202)
31 Robert McKnight – senior (5'10, 186)
34 Charlie Moore – freshman (5'11, 220) (FB+)
36 Rece Stafford – freshman (6'0, 231) (FB+)
43 Easton Myrick – freshman (5'11, 195) (FB+)
Jailen Dixon – freshman (6'3, 202)
Jamal Stephens – freshman (5'8, 185)
Wide receiver
5 Darius Lewis – freshman (5'8, 163)
6 Taelyn Williams – junior (6'2, 169)
7 Alex Spadone – junior (6'2, 216)
8 Kobe Clark – junior (5'11, 180)
9 Davion Johnson – sophomore (5'8, 163)
13 Jordan Brooks-Wess – sophomore (5'10, 164)
16 Denver Holman – freshman (5'10, 179)
19 Dax Neece – freshman (6'3, 206)
80 Jackson Young – freshman (5'11, 183)
82 Cooper McCasland – freshman (6'1, 188)
87 Andrew Edwards – freshman (6'0, 178)
Tanner Bowman – freshman (6'3, 185)
Matthew Bynum – freshman (5'11, 160)
Solomon Cole – freshman (5'10, 165)
Jack Frazier – freshman (6'2, 192)
Kendall Jimerson – freshman (5'10, 185)
Tight ends
81 Noah Caldwell – freshman (6'6, 245)
83 Colt Cooper – freshman (6'4, 240)
84 Grant Miles – sophomore (6'5, 252)
85 Andrew Stripling – freshman (6'5, 219)
86 Remington Lutz – junior (6'6, 241)
Long snappers
46 Dustin Inness – sophomore (5'11, 189)
54 David Stone – senior (6'0, 213)
60 Cade Lippincott – freshman (6'0, 213)
Offensive lineman
51 Collin James – freshman (6'4, 273)
55 Alan Hatten – freshman (6'3, 300)
56 Truett Knox – freshman (6'2, 287)
57 Jaron Marshall – junior (6'3, 291)
58 Kaleb Chester – sophomore (6'0, 271)
59 Jacob Thielen – freshman (6'4, 292)
61 Mitchell Melrose – junior (6'6, 286)
62 Jackson Andrews – freshman (6'2, 300)
63 Peyten Girty – freshman (6'3, 280)
65 CJ Zotz – freshman (6'4, 292)
66 Dylan Howerton – freshman (6'5, 273)
67 Wyatt Tate – freshman (6'6, 290)
69 Bronson Warner – freshman (6'3, 310)
73 Derek Simmons – freshman (6'5, 311)
74 Reese Moore – freshman (6'6, 273)
76 Zach Terry – senior (6'6, 280)
78 Ty Smith – freshman (6'6, 296)
Cohen Carpenter – freshman (6'3, 290)
Brad Robinson – freshman (6'2, 260)
Tai Sewell – freshman (6'5, 305)
Defensive lineman
40 Dre Jones – sophomore (6'4, 277)
41 Tyrin Bradley – sophomore (6'4, 242)
45 Jordan Paup – freshman (6'5, 250)
49 Dennis Herrold – freshman (6'4, 235)
50 Damion Hart – freshman (6'3, 235)
89 Cameron Byrom – freshman (6'5, 249)
90 Kadron Johnson – sophomore (6'4, 249)
91 Garviea Freeny – junior (6'3, 235)
92 Quent Titre – junior (6'2, 286)
93 Landon Eades – freshman (6'3, 283)
94 Osaretin Obadeyi – sophomore (6'5, 239)
95 Jack Schultz – junior (6'0, 280)
96 Isaiah Pedack – freshman (6'3, 255)
97 William Morgan – sophomore (6'3, 292)
99 Colby Warkentin – freshman (6'6, 245)
Tyran Calloway – junior (5'11, 249)
Tanner Rambeau – freshman (6'4, 270)
Linebacker
5 Trey Adams – sophomore (5'10, 190)
9 Chike Nwankwo – sophomore (6'2, 224)
30 Tory Hargrove – junior (5'11, 210)
32 Joshua James – junior (6'0, 228)
33 Greg Green – junior (5'10, 217)
35 Ethan Taite – freshman (6'3, 205)
42 Hunter Kier – senior (5'11, 217)
43 John Brannon – senior (6'2, 233)
46 Cirby Coheley – freshman (6'4, 206)
47 Derrick Parker – freshman (6'1, 206)
52 Abe Schwinn – freshman (6'3, 219)
53 Zeke Lott – freshman (6'1, 205)
Diego Diaz – freshman (5'10, 208)
Dilaver Ibrahimi – freshman (5'10, 206)
Kyle Pointer – freshman (6'3, 213)
Defensive backs
1 Shelby Washington – junior (6'1, 190)
2 Christopher Satterfield – freshman (5'10, 190)
3 Ryan Stapp – sophomore (6'0, 170)
7 Elijah Moffett – freshman (6'2, 195)
12 Triston Anderson – freshman (6'2, 195)
15 Roland Williams III – junior (5'11, 180)
17 Dishon Hall II – sophomore (6'3, 195)
22 Koy Richardson – senior (5'11, 178)
23 Kameron Stokes – freshman (6'0, 203)
24 Luke Dillingham – Freshman (6'2, 198)
26 Brian Bullock – Junior (6'0, 198)
29 Mike Garrett Jr. – Junior (6'1, 187)
31 Keegan Tharp – Freshman (6'2, 198)
39 Anthony Egbo, Jr. – Sophomore (5'8, 180)
Jeremy Gonzales – Freshman (5'7, 165)
Jamal Marshall – Freshman (6'0, 186)
Quintin Montgomery – Sophomore (5'11, 183)
Casen Olsen – Freshman (6'1, 189)
Landon Reynolds – Freshman (5'8, 185)
Manny Ruiz – Freshman (5'8, 163)
Placekickers
37 Blair Zepeda – Sophomore (5'11, 205)
85 Oscar Hernandez – Sophomore (5'11, 197)
Punter
88 Will Fargason – Freshman (6'2, 204)
88 Brock Thompson – Freshman (5'11, 161)
Coaching staff
Depth chart
Defense
FS
Bryan Bullock
Koy Richardson
WLB
MLB
SLB
⋅
Hunter Kier
⋅
John Brannon
Chike Nwanko
⋅
SS
Elijah Moffett
Koy Richardson
DE
DT
DT
DE
Garviea Freeny
Will Morgan
Quent Titre
Jordan Paup
Osaretin Obadeyi
Dre Jones
Jack Schultz
Kadron Johnson
CB
Triston Anderson
Roland Williams III
Offense
WR
Alex Spadone
Dax Neece
WR
Kobe Clark
Jordan Brooks-Wess
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
Reese Moore
Truett Knox
Collin James
Jacob Thielen
Derek Simmons
Dylan Howerton
Alan Hatten
Peyton Girty
Bronson Warner
Wyatt Tate
TE
Remington Lutz
Grant Miles
WR
Darius Lewis
Davion Johnson
QB
Stone Earle
Peyton Mansell
Special teams
PK Blair Zepeda
PK Oscar Hernandez
P Logan Burke
P Will Fargason
KR Jordan Brooks-Wess
PR Jordan Brooks-Wess
LS David Stone
H Logan Burke
RB
Jermiah Dobbins
Tyrese White
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 4 6:00 p.m. at SMU * ESPN+ L 9–5623,373
September 11 6:00 p.m. Louisiana College * ESPN+ W 62–78,117
September 18 6:00 p.m. Texas–Permian Basin * Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX ESPN+ W 34–99,018
September 25 6:00 p.m. at Lamar * ESPN+ W 56–05,411
October 2 6:00 p.m. Central Arkansas Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge) ESPN+ L 21–426,602
October 9 5:00 p.m. at Eastern Kentucky ESPN+ L 15–308,659
October 16 3:00 p.m. Lamar Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX ESPN+ W 24–1710,121
October 30 4:00 p.m. at Stephen F. Austin ESPN+ L 27–419,817
November 6 1:00 p.m. at Jacksonville State ESPN+ L 25–40 14,143
November 13 1:00 p.m. Tarleton State Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX ESPN+ W 29–36,213
November 20 1:00 p.m. No. 1 Sam Houston Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX ESPN+ L 9–354,421
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[ 5] [ 6]
Game summaries
at SMU
Abilene Christian at SMU
1
2 3 4 Total
Wildcats
0
3 6 0
9
• Mustangs
7
28 14 7
56
Date: September 4Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, TX Game start: 6:06 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 21 minutesGame attendance: 23,373Game weather: Temperature: 95 °F (35 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 7 MPH Referee: Tim RichTV announcers (ESPN+ ): Ted Emrich (play–by–play), Stanford Routt (analyst) and Morgan Uber (sideline)
Scoring summary 1 11:19 SMU Grant Calcaterra 21–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(3 plays, 44 yards, 1:04) SMU 7–0
2 10:55 SMU Grant Calcaterra 8–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(11 plays, 68 yards, 4:51) SMU 14–0
07:41 SMU Danny Gray 30–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(5 plays, 64 yards, 1:47) SMU 21–0
05:01 SMU Danny Gray 27–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(4 plays, 31 yards, 1:16) SMU 28–0
03:06 ACU Blair Zepeda 47–yard field goal(5 plays, 60 yards, 1:50) SMU 28–3
00:29 SMU Rashee Rice 30–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(8 plays, 75 yards, 2:37) SMU 35–3
3 10:33 SMU Nolan Matthews 8–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(9 plays, 65 yards, 4:27) SMU 42–3
04:38 ACU Kobe Clark 11–yard pass from Stone Earle (pass failed)(16 plays, 75 yards, 5:55) SMU 42–9
00:46 SMU Nolan Matthews 31–yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Blake Mazza kick)(9 plays, 75 yards, 3:52) SMU 49–9
4 11:44 SMU Brandon Epton Jr. 2–yard run (Brendan Hall kick)(1 play, 2 yards, 0:04) SMU 56–9
Pregame line
Over/under
SMU –32
66[ 7]
Statistics
ACU
SMU
First downs
14
27
Total yards
332
490
Rushing yards
119
171
Passing yards
213
319
Turnovers
4
1
Time of possession
28:22
31:38
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Abilene Christian
Passing
Stone Earle
13/28, 160 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Peyton Mansell
2 carries, 33 yards
Receiving
Kobe Clark
6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
SMU
Passing
Tanner Mordecai
24/30, 317 yards, 7 TD
Rushing
Ulysses Bentley IV
10 carries, 48 yards
Receiving
Danny Gray
4 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TD
Louisiana College
1
2
3
4
Total
LC Wildcats
0
7
0
0
7
ACU Wildcats
27
14
7
14
62
UT Permian Basin
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
3
0
0
6
9
Wildcats
0
27
0
7
34
at Lamar
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
14
14
21
7
56
Cardinals
0
0
0
0
0
Statistics
Statistics
Abilene Christian
Lamar
First downs
22
10
Total yards
461
136
Rushing yards
274
98
Passing yards
187
38
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
29:13
30:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Abilene Christian
Passing
Stone Earl
13/18, 187 yards, long 32 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing
Peyton Mansell
6 carries, 107 yards, long 62 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Kobe Clark
4 catches, 50 yards, long 16 yards, 1 TD
Lamar
Passing
Jalen Dummett
4/7, 38 yards, long 14 yards
Rushing
Hunter Batten
7 carries, 29 yards, long 11 yards
Receiving
Kirkland Banks
2 catches, 15 yards, long 10 yards
Central Arkansas
1
2
3
4
Total
Bears
0
14
14
14
42
Wildcats
7
14
0
0
21
at Eastern Kentucky
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
7
0
8
15
Colonels
10
17
3
0
30
Lamar
1
2
3
4
Total
Cardinals
0
17
0
0
17
Wildcats
7
7
7
3
24
Statistics
Statistics
Lamar
Abilene Christian
First downs
14
21
Total yards
364
466
Rushing yards
158
208
Passing yards
206
258
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
29:35
30:25
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Lamar
Passing
Mike Chandler
9/17, 206 yds, 1 TD
Rushing
James Jones
9 carries, 81 yds, 1 TD
Receiving
Nathan Gaskamp
1 reception, 80 yards, 1 TD
Abilene Christian
Passing
Peyton Mansell
10/18, 135 yds
Rushing
Peyton Mansell
18 carries, 106 yds, 2 TD
Receiving
Davion Johnson
6 receptions, 82 yds
at SFA
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
3
3
7
14
27
Lumberjacks
3
17
14
7
41
at Jacksonville State
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
10
7
8
25
Gamecocks
14
6
7
13
40
Tarleton
1
2
3
4
Total
Texans
3
0
0
0
3
Wildcats
3
10
0
16
29
No. 1 Sam Houston
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 1 Bearkats
14
14
7
0
35
Wildcats
0
3
6
0
9
References
^ Hadfield, Ron. "Wildcats fall to record-setting SMU passing attack" . Retrieved September 14, 2021 .
^ "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid" . Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021 .
^ "WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites" . Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021 .
^ "AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite" . Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021 .
^ "2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Schedule" . ACUSports.com .
^ "2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Schedule" . FBSchedules.com .
^ "Abilene Christian Wildcats vs SMU Mustangs" . Odds Shark . Retrieved September 17, 2021 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold