Approximately 125 players will report Wednesday as the Chadron State College football team begins preparations for the new season. The first game will be in three weeks—on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla.
 
The players will have their pictures taken, fill out questionnaires and go over instructions from the NCAA on Wednesday before beginning practice Thursday. 
 
The preseason roster includes 41 lettermen and more than 50 freshmen. 
 
After graduating 14 seniors, both the offensive and defensive units have some vacancies. However, nearly half the starters are back on both sides of the ball and numerous others are returning who were in the primary rotations during the Eagles' 8-3 season that included a 7-2 record in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
"We have some big holes to fill, but expect to have lots of good competition for making the travel squad," said head coach Jay Long, who is beginning his fourth season at the helm. "We were pleased during the spring that so many young players demonstrated they will be ready to contribute this fall." 
 
Lots of attention will be given to the quarterback position following the graduation of four-year starter Jonn McLain. At the end of spring practice, sophomore Matt Vinson and redshirt freshman TD Stein had emerged as the primary contenders to take over the position, with senior Chris Conroy and sophomore Justyn Curtis also available.
 
Offensively, the Eagles must also replace first-team all-conference choices Mike Lorenzo at left guard and Sam Parker at center. The returning starters up front are tackles Daniel Sotelo and Palmer White and guard Darrien Oliver.  Lettermen Matt Barden, Draper Sullivan and Anthony Valdez and several redshirt freshmen will battle it out during the preseason to fill the two vacancies, according to Long, who coaches the offensive line.
 
Tailbacks Cody Paul and Derek Jackson give the ground game a bright outlook entering the preseason.  While alternating with Michael Madkins, who ran for 1,115 yards his senior season, they combined for a 6.6-yard average on 148 carries. 
 
The Eagles will be especially strong at receiver, where last year's pacesetters, Kyle Vinich and Danny O'Boyle return. Vinich had 63 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns while O'Boyle had 35 receptions for 566 yards and seven TDs.
 
Veterans Kyle Hooper and Zac Bargen also saw enough action to make 39 receptions between them.  Also, at the end of the spring offensive coordinator Chris Stein said an array of young receivers had demonstrated they are capable of providing excellent depth.
 
Just four fulltime defensive starters from last year—end Olufemi Aaron, inside linebacker Dylan Furrier and safeties Cole Montgomery and Ryan Wood—are back, but the Eagles are welcoming the return of Conor Casey, a two-year starter at cornerback who missed much of the 2014 season because of an injury.
 
Furrier led the Eagles in tackles with 117 and was second-team all-conference last fall, while Wood, a first-team all-RMAC choice, and Montgomery combined to intercept six passes and break up 14 more.
 
Defensive coordinator Jeff Larson gave numerous underclassmen considerable playing time last fall and believes with their experience and maturity the Eagles will be strong up front this fall.    
 
Emerging players include Collin Eisenman, who participated in 51 tackles while dividing his time between end and linebacker, and lineman Tyler Kiess, who was in on 35 stops. In addition, Mitch Collicott, Austin Powell and Tanner Wintholz, all participated in at least 15 tackles as redshirt freshmen.
 
Linebacker Clay Cundall also served notice that he plans to make his senior season special by making three quarterback sacks during the spring game.  
 
The secondary will miss four-year starter Lane Haller, but a boost is expected from Brian Wood, who appears to be about as physical as his Ryan, his identical twin brother.
 
The kicking game should be a plus again with the return of two juniors from the North Platte Valley—punter Zach Smith of Gering and placekicker Randy Wentz of Scottsbluff. Both have proven themselves the past two seasons. Last fall, Smith averaged 39.7 yards per punt and Wentz made 12 of 13 on field goal attempts.
 
The Eagles will have five one-a-day practices before they are allowed to have their first of three two-a-day sessions that will be allowed prior to the start of classes on Monday, Aug. 24.