EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University football team returns to competition after another successful season in 2022 as the Colonels finished 7-3 overall and 5-3 in their final season in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). Wilkes ushers in a new era as the Colonels join the Landmark Conference, which begins its first season of play this year. Head coach Jonathan Drach, now in his sixth year at the helm of the program, welcomes back a plethora of starters including a load of talent on both sides of the football in 2023. The Colonels open the season with a familiar foe, King's College, hosting the 27^th annual Mayor's Cup game at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, September 2 at 12:00 p.m.
 
The schedule doesn't get any easier with the transition to the Landmark as Wilkes will face new conference opponents in Juniata College (Homecoming), Susquehanna University, Catholic University (Senior Day) and Moravian University. Lycoming College made the move to the Landmark with Wilkes keeping the old MAC rivalry alive and Keystone College made the transition moving to the new conference as an affiliate member in football.
 
In the non-conference portion of the schedule, Wilkes will play two teams that earned ECAC Bowl berths a season ago in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and SUNY Brockport. The Colonels also start a series with St. John Fisher, a member of the Empire Eight conference.
 
On offense Wilkes returns several key performers in skill positions as well as depth and experience up front on the line. "Our motto hasn't changed too much from the last few years, we just need to continue to improve and remain driven day in and day out whether it's at practice or in game situations," said Drach.
 
Most of the skilled players return on offense along with four of five starters on the offensive line for a team that ranked first in scoring offense a season ago (28.5 ppg).
 
Running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-MAC, and First Team All-Region after compiling 1,004 rushing yards on the year and 13 rushing touchdowns, where he led the MAC in both categories, with his rushing making him 32nd in the nation. Jules figures to play another major role in the Colonels offense in 2023. Also back adding depth to the position are Walter Lewis (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) (31 carries/144 yards/two touchdowns) and Ben Contella (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) (24 carries/11 yards).
 
At quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) was recognized on the Honorable Mention Team after starting the first six games before an injury ended his season early. Rodriguez finished his year with 1,390 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns with zero interceptions. Rodriguez will have plenty of weapons to choose from on the outside as Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg), Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) and Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) all return with big-play abilities. The trio combined for 51 receptions for 832 yards and six touchdowns last season. At tight end, Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) is back after a solid year of blocking and catching the football finishing with nine receptions for 87 yards and two scores.
 
Center Billy Anderson (Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel Area) is back anchoring the Colonel offensive line after being named Third Team All-Region by D3football.com and First Team All-MAC. Other returning starters joining Anderson include Anthony Messina (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) (LT), Aidan Palochik (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) (LG) and Mauro Guarino (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) (RG) while Billy Searle (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) (RT) enters the starting lineup after seeing significant time as a reserve last year.
 
"We have been relying heavily on our team captains through camp this season as we have a lot of leaders on this squad," said Drach. Most of our guys have been here for some time and are experienced on how we play football at Wilkes," he added.
 
 
Defensively, Wilkes returns all but one starter including three all-conference players from a season ago for second-year coordinator Anthony Trotta.
 
Defensive back Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Christ the King) will lead the Colonel secondary as he tied for first on the team and fourth in the MAC with three interceptions on the year. He also had four pass breakups and was tied for sixth on the team with 41 tackles. Experience is the name of the game at the corners as seniors John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) and Jeremie Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) anchor down opposing top wide outs. Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph's by the Sea) and Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) both return and can cover in the field as well as join the box and help stop the run.
 
Defensive tackle Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) was recognized as an Honorable Mention selection after finishing his junior season with a team-leading and career-high 10 sacks, which ranked him third in the MAC. His 15 tackles-for-loss also was fifth in the conference. He was third on the team with 58 total tackles. The defensive line should continue to cause problems for opposing offenses as Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian) and Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall) are back after combining for 95 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
 
Linebacker Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) earned Honorable Mention status as he led the Colonels with 87 total tackles on the year, finishing third in the MAC. He had five-plus tackles in every game he played in, with four of those games earning 10+ tackles. De'Von James (Mount Holly Springs, PA/Boiling Springs), who finished second on the squad with 66 stops, joins Holcomb in the middle level of the defense having the ability to cover tight ends and receivers as well.
 
"I'm excited about the competition that the Landmark Conference will offer us," noted Drach. There are a lot of good teams in this league and I'm interested to follow league play throughout the season," he added.
 
On special teams, All-Conference punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) is back after leading the conference with a 38.6 punting average including two over 50 yards and six that went inside the 20 yard-line. Orlando will also take care of kick-off duties this season. Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) is back and will serve as the place-kicker for extra points and field goals.
 
"It's going to be a fun year," explained Drach. "We expect to compete at a high level throughout the season with an end goal of a conference championship and postseason berth".