CHADRON, Neb. – The Chadron State College offensive and defensive units had vastly different objectives when they launched spring practice in the last week of March.

Last year's team had 20 seniors, 17 of them from the offensive unit. The graduates included four starters in the line, a three-year stalwart at tight end and two of last year's three leading pass receivers. On the other hand, the defense is returning all but three of its 2024 starters.

Thus, the offense is undergoing a major rebuilding project, while the defense is concentrating on polishing its schemes, adding depth in places and building on last year's success.    

The Eagles had a 3-8 record last fall, losing five games by a touchdown or less, including one by a single point and two by three points. Many of the close games were thanks to the efforts of the Eagle defense. CSC finished second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in total defense, giving up just 288 yards per game, and was third in scoring defense, yielding only 19.3 points per game. 

"We're fortunate to have a good group coming back," said Defensive Coordinator Clint Sasse. "But we're not going to rest on our laurels. We'll keep trying to improve, and we've already made progress."

The defense did graduate two of its standouts from last fall. Defensive end Hunter O'Connor, a three-time RMAC First-Team honoree who set the CSC record for career sacks (35) and linebacker Xavier Harrell, who was the Eagles' second leading tackler with 66, including 6.5 for minus yardage, both exhausted their eligibility last season.

Sasse is confident sophomore Griffin Clubb will be a solid replacement for O'Connor and blend in well with highly-regarded returning starters Tanner True and William Stemler in the three-man front. 

Ryder True, Tanner's younger brother, and Darryl Williams are slated to provide support as edge rushers, while senior Andrew Calderon and sophomores Bo Douglass and Tucker McGinnis are prominent in the plans at nose tackle.    

Sasse is also confident the Eagles' linebacking corps that includes returning starters Reed Henkel and Logan O'Brien, along with sophomores such as Liam Blaser and Reese Jacobs who contributed as freshmen, will be excellent. Redshirt junior transfer Cooper Walton, who is joining the Eagles after three seasons with the University of Montana (DI FCS), could also contribute.

Last year's secondary was vastly improved, allowing 90 fewer yards a game through the air than the previous year. Its leader, senior Dax Yeradi, intercepted four passes to tie for the RMAC lead and earned First-Team All-RMAC and D2CCA First Team All-Region honors. Fellow returning safeties Tucker Peterson also picked off three passes and Sutton Pohlman contributed 48 tackles. 

Also returning are cornerbacks Omar Ali, who led the team with seven pass breakups, and Jadon Bowen, who swiped a pass in both of the Eagles' final two games last fall. Good help is expected from Ja'Far Bashir, an all-conference corner from Chabot Junior College in California. Sasse named Alijah Bruce, Eli Martinez and Gage Mintken as 2024 freshmen who redshirted last fall but are waiting in the wings in the secondary and are likely to be on special teams in 2025. 

In a nutshell, Offensive Coordinator Micah Smith said his unit's goal is to assemble an offensive line that can protect the quarterback and help the Eagles run the ball more effectively.    

Head Coach Jay Long, who also is the chief offensive line mentor, seems invigorated by the challenge. There are at least a dozen candidates for the playing time, with the lone returning starter being senior Levi Banuelos.

Seven redshirt freshmen could be in the mix: Wyatt Anderson, DeAndre Berry, Fletcher Black, Corben Holler, Matthew Jennings, Tristan Randall, and Gerardo Vazquez, Jr. Taking advantage of a rather recent rule change that allows freshmen to play in three games without losing a year of eligibility, five of the rookies started a game last fall and between 40 to 50 snaps under their belts. 

"We knew we would need these guys this fall and found a way to get them some experience last season without burning any eligibility," Long said. "This spring we're putting them in different combinations and moving to them to various positions, trying to find the best five. I anticipate they will still be competing for playing time when we open the season this fall. We should be improved in the line and have lots of depth." 

To make sure there will be plenty of competition, three transfers were added and joined at the start of the second semester: Dominic Castanon (from Fresno City Junior College), Jal Chan (from DIII La Verne) and Carlos Orea (from FCS Hampton and Santa Monica junior college).  Each was an all-conference choice at his former school.

The quarterback position is also getting a long look this spring.  Last year's starter, DJ Ralph, played well when he was healthy, but was limited to parts of six games. He completed 94 of 140 passes for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns and threw only three picks. Ralph required surgery on his ailing left shoulder before the season ended. He is still rehabilitating, but is expected to be at full strength this fall.    

Alongside Ralph, the Eagles' current quarterbacks are Aidan Thompson, a transfer from Oklahoma Baptist, where he threw for more than 2,400 yards the past three seasons, and Wyatt Sprague, who started one game as a true freshman for CSC last season. Like his offensive line classmates, Sprague appeared in three games last fall while preserving his four years of eligibility. 

Junior Jake Marschall is the most experienced of the CSC running backs. He has rushed 283 times for 1,208 yards the past two seasons.  Sophomore Isaac Jean-Pierre also saw action late last season as a freshman, collecting 113 yards on 33 carries, most of which came in CSC's last four games. 

Longtime standout receiver Tommy Thomas, who has caught 91 passes for 1,327 passes and 14 touchdowns the past two seasons, returns for his senior season in 2025. This year's receiving corps also will include Rollin George III, who had 21 receptions for 218 yards last fall. Versatile senior Preston Pearson, who has played various positions including quarterback, receiver, tight end and special teams for the Eagles over the years, will also be a factor.

Redshirt sophomore Chase Nelson came out of the backfield to catch 17 passes for more than a 10-yard average last fall and speedy Bakersfield College transfer Devon Sundgren is expected to be a good addition in the return game or as a receiver. 

With two of the best in the business returning for their final seasons, there's lots of confidence in the CSC kicking game. Punter Brodie Eisenbraun set the school single-season record for punting average at 43.3 yards per punt last fall, including 15 that were 50 yarders. Wilson Yee has booted 23 field goals the past two years, including five that were at least 52 yards long, including the school-record 61-yarder in 2023.   

The CSC coaches say the roster includes other promising players. 

"We'll know a lot more about them by the end of the spring," Long noted.  "We always find some diamonds in the rough."  

The Eagles' spring game is set for Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m.