2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

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]

2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
2021 record5–6 (2–2 WAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJosh Lamberson (5th season)
Defensive coordinatorTremaine Jackson (5th season)
Home stadiumAnthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
(Capacity: 12,000)
2021 Western Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Sam Houston State $^  5 –0   11 –1  
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^  4 –1   8 –4  
Abilene Christian  2 –2   5 –6  
Tarleton State*  2 –3   6 –5  
Dixie State*  0 –3   1 –10  
Lamar  0 –4   1 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – Ineligible for FCS playoffs due to transition from Division II
Rankings from STATS Poll
2021 WAC–ASUN Challenge football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Sam Houston State $^  6 –0   11 –1  
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^  4 –2   8 –4  
Eastern Kentucky  4 –2   7 –4  
Central Arkansas  3 –3   5 –6  
Jacksonville State  3 –3   5 –6  
Abilene Christian  1 –5   5 –6  
Lamar  0 –6   1 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

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 State, 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]

Previous season
Main article: 2020 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

The Wildcats finished the 2020–21 season with a 1–5 overall record.

Preseason

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)
1Sam Houston State20 (5)
2Stephen F. Austin16 (1)
3Tarleton State11
4Lamar8
5Abilene Christian5
  • 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)
1Sam Houston State49 (7)
2Central Arkansas40
3Jacksonville State37
4Stephen F. Austin27
5Eastern Kentucky20
6Abilene Christian15
7Lamar8

Recruits

Transfers
NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrev. school
Trey Adams#5LB5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)190 pounds (86 kg)Redshirt SophomoreCorvallis, OregonNorthern Colorado
Alex Spadone#7WR6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)216 pounds (98 kg)Redshirt JuniorHouston, TexasSan Diego
Triston Anderson#12CB6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 pounds (88 kg)Redshirt FreshmanRockwall, TexasArkansas State
Roland Williams III#15DB5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)180 pounds (82 kg)Redshirt JuniorArlington, TennesseeRichmond
Mike Garrett Jr.#29DB6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)187 pounds (85 kg)Redshirt JuniorMagnolia, TexasTulsa
John Brannon#43LB6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)233 pounds (106 kg)SeniorProsper, TexasTexas State
Kaleb Chester#58OL6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)271 pounds (123 kg)SophomoreGrayson, GeorgiaLenoir–Rhyne
Derek Simmons#73OL6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)311 pounds (141 kg)Redshirt FreshmanJacksonville, FloridaTusculum
Reese Moore#74OL6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)273 pounds (124 kg)Redshirt FreshmanSeminole, TexasTexas
Derek Simmons#99DL6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)245 pounds (111 kg)Redshirt FreshmanBakersfield, CaliforniaFresno State
Tyran Calloway#DT5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)249 pounds (113 kg)JuniorFort Worth, TexasHoward 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
NamePositionAlma materJoined Staff
Adam DorrelHead CoachNorthwest Missouri State (1998)2016
Josh LambersonOffensive Coordinator / QuarterbacksNorthwest Missouri State (2005)2016
Clint BrownDefensive Coordinator
James CurleeWide ReceiversHastings College (2016)2017
Travis DixonCornerbacksUNLV (2010)2020
Zach WilliamsSafeties / Co-Recruiting Coordinator
Bryce BaccariniRunning Backs / Fullbacks / Co-Recruiting Coordinator
Travis BritzDefensive LineKansas State (2017)2020
Cody ScribnerDefensive LineCentral Missouri (2010)2020
Drew LiddleOffensive LineKansas State (2014)2021
Dimitri DonaldTight EndsWest Texas A&M (2015)2021

Depth chart

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 46:00 p.m.at SMU*
ESPN+L 9–5623,373
September 116:00 p.m.Louisiana College*
ESPN+W 62–78,117
September 186:00 p.m.Texas–Permian Basin*
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+W 34–99,018
September 256:00 p.m.at Lamar*
ESPN+W 56–05,411
October 26:00 p.m.Central Arkansas
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)
ESPN+L 21–426,602
October 95:00 p.m.at Eastern Kentucky
ESPN+L 15–308,659
October 163:00 p.m.Lamar
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+W 24–1710,121
October 304:00 p.m.at Stephen F. Austin
ESPN+L 27–419,817
November 61:00 p.m.at Jacksonville State
ESPN+L 25–40 14,143
November 131:00 p.m.Tarleton State
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+W 29–36,213
November 201:00 p.m.No. 1 Sam Houston State
  • Wildcat Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
ESPN+L 9–354,421
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[5][6]

Game summaries

SMU

2021 SMU Mustangs football team

Abilene Christian at SMU
1 234Total
Wildcats 0 360 9
• Mustangs 7 28147 56
  • Date: September 4
  • Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium
    Dallas, TX
  • Game start: 6:06 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:21
  • Game attendance: 23,373
  • Game weather: 95 °F (35 °C), Wind: SE 7mph, Sunny
  • Referee: Tim Rich; Michael Prowell (Umpire); Adam Loudin (Linesman); Lance Thompson (Line judge); Victor Firth (Back judge); Glen Wilson (Field judge); Eric Hartman (Side judge)
  • Television network: ESPN+

This was the first meeting between those two teams.

References
  1. Hadfield, Ron. "Wildcats fall to record-setting SMU passing attack". Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid". Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  3. "WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. "AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  5. "2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Schedule". ACUSports.com.
  6. "2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.
  7. "ABILENE CHRISTIAN (0-1 , 0-0) -VS- SMU (1-0 , 0-0)".
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