2022 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team

The 2022 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first-year head coach G. J. Kinne in his only season.

On June 24, 2022, Incarnate Word announced that they would remain in the Southland Conference days before they were to transition to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Previously in November 2021, the program announced the move of the athletics to the WAC for the 2022 season.

Preseason

Preseason poll The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 20, 2022. The Cardinals were picked to finish second in the conference and received seven first-place votes.

Preseason All–Southland Teams The Southland Conference announced the 2022 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 13, 2022. UIW had a total of 16 players selected, the highest number in the Southland Conference.

Offense

1st Team Lindsey Scott Jr. – Quarterback, SR Taylor Grimes – Wide receiver, SR Nash Jones – Offensive lineman, JR

2nd Team Roger McCuller – Tight end/H-Back, RS-SR Darion Chafin – Wide receiver, RS-SR Reid Francis – Offensive lineman, SR Caleb Johnson – Offensive lineman, RS-SR Carson Mohr – Kicker, SR Keven Nguyen – Punter, RS-SR

Defense

1st Team Cameron Preston – Defensive lineman, RS-SR Kelechi Anyalebechi – Linebacker, RS-SR Kaleb Culp – Defensive back, JR

2nd Team Isaiah Paul – Linebacker, RS-JR Elliott Davison – Defensive back, JR Brandon Richard – Defensive back, SR Ce'Cori Tolds – Kick Returner, RS-SR

Schedule

‡The game vs. Nicholls was previously scheduled as a non-conference game, and was retained as such, even though both schools are still in the Southland Conference.

Personnel

Coaching staff Source: Name Position Alma materJoined staff G. J. Kinne Head coach Tulsa (2011) 2022 Clint Killough Associate head coach / wide receivers / recruiting coordinator Incarnate Word (2015) 2018 Mack Leftwich Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks UTEP (2017) 2018 Jordan Shoemaker Offensive Line / run game coordinator Houston (2011) 2018 Jonathan Patke Defensive coordinator / linebackers Stephen F. Austin (2008) 2022 Will Bryant Tight Ends & H-Backs / academic coordinator / High School Relations Texas Tech (2014) 2022 Kam Martin Running backs Auburn (2019) 2022 David Stuckman Cornerbacks Grambling (2012) 2022 Dexter McCoil Safeties / NFL & CFL liaison Tulsa (2012) 2022 Matthew Gregg Special teams coordinator / outside linebackers Southern Nazarene (2014) 2019 Landon Keopple Offensive quality control Tulsa (2006) 2022 Kevon Beckwith Run game coordinator / defensive line Louisiana (2015) 2022 Zack Lucas Director of football operations Oklahoma State (2010) 2022 Blair Cavanaugh Special teams analyst / the word coordinator Portland State (2016) 2022 Reggie Marshall Defensive quality control Southeastern Oklahoma (2018) 2022 Bret Huth Director of strength and conditioning John Carroll (2010) 2018 Augie Melendez, Jr. Head football athletic trainer Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (2017) 2017

Roster Source: 2022 Incarnate Word Cardinals footballQuarterback 1 Lindsey Scott Jr. (C) – senior (5'11, 212) 6 Steven Duncan – senior (6'6, 246) 7 Luke Gombert – junior (6'2, 186) 8 Kevin Yeager – senior (6'1, 195) 9 Kannon Williams – freshman (6'2, 220) Jalen Brown – sophomore (6'2, 225)

Running back 4 Isaiah Robinson – junior (6'2, 212) 5 Marcus Cooper – senior (5'8, 184) 8 Caleb Berry – sophomore (6'1, 225) 20 Brandon Zapata – senior (5'11, 199) 22 Jarrell Wiley – sophomore (5'10, 182) 24 Nick Meehan – sophomore (5'11, 193) 30 Dylan Nelson – freshman (5'10, 169) 38 Tyrese Brown – junior (5'11, 185)

Wide receiver 0 Darion Chafin – senior (6'3, 185) 2 CJ Hardy – senior (5'11, 200) 11 Ce'Cori Tolds – senior (5'10, 160) 13 Marquez Perez – junior (5'11, 191) 14 Emerson Haywood – junior (6'1, 163) 15 Jaelin Campbell – senior (6'1, 195) 16 Taylor Grimes – senior (5'11, 188) 17 DeKalon Taylor – freshman (5'9, 166) 18 Brandon Porter – senior (5'10, 165) 19 Baron Bradley – junior (6'1, 189) 21 Kole Wilson – freshman (5'9, 167) 81 Kailan Noseff – senior (6'3, 198) 82 Dayton Toney – sophomore (6'1, 188) 83 Jayden Jones – junior (6'2, 188) 84 Jalen Smothers – junior (5'10, 189) 89 Marcus Harmon – senior (5'10, 169)

Tight end / Fullback 3 Roger McCuller – ATH – senior (6'1, 214) 12 Seth Hayes – sophomore (6'4, 209) 34 Jeffrey Pearson – freshman (6'0, 205) 43 Mason Meyer – FB – senior (6'3, 265) 85 Christian Smith – sophomore (6'4, 215) 88 Jackson Lowe – junior (6'5, 237) Offensive line 51 Austin Yeager – freshman (6'6, 270) 55 Jimeto Obigbo – sophomore (6'4, 320) 57 Nick Sanchez – freshman (6'2, 310) 59 Jeremiah Richard – freshman (6'2, 213) 61 Aaron Martinez – junior (6'1, 295) 63 Stanley Mark – senior (6'3, 283) 64 Dorion Strawn – freshman (6'6, 317) 67 Emeka Obigbo – sophomore (6'5, 356) 68 Jhase Edwards – senior (6'3, 263) 70 Dayton Robinson – freshman (6'6, 320) 72 Reid Francis – senior (6'4, 306) 73 Caleb Flores –Freshman (6'4, 279) 74 Caleb Johnson – senior (6'6, 330) 75 Michael Vargas – junior (6'4, 309) 76 Nash Jones – junior (6'5, 312) 77 Jayden Borjas – senior (6'5, 228) 78 Austin DeArmond – freshman (6'4, 294) 79 Joseph Kimmey – senior (6'6, 302)

Defensive line 0 Olivier Charles–Pierre – DT – senior (6'1, 375) 6 Chris Whittaker – DE – senior (6'3, 230) 9 Zacchaeus McKinney – DE – senior (6'5, 252) 10 Mat Freeman – DE/LB – freshman (6'3, 230) 14 Steven Parker – DE – junior (6'4, 237) 27 DeVonte Wilson – DL – freshman (6'2, 196) 41 Darius Richmond – DT – senior (6'2, 270) 44 John Mathis – DT – sophomore (6'2, 265) 45 Jared Soyring – DT – senior (6'2, 281) 49 Edgerrin Williams – DE – junior (6'2, 250) 54 Jordan Bussey – DT – senior (6'0, 246) 90 Sam Latham – DE – senior (6'7, 260) 91 Lloyd Johnson – DT – freshman (6'2, 279) 93 Cameron Preston – DT – senior (6'1, 304) 94 Miles Adams – DE – junior (6'6, 243) 96 Josh Gonzalez – DT – freshman (6'3, 307) 99 Royce Wellington – DT – senior (6'1, 330)

Punter 10 Keven Nguyen – senior (5'10, 180) 48 Haden Tessier – K/P – freshman (5'9, 162) 49 Alec Schroeder – K/P – senior (6'0, 160) Linebacker 8 Kelechi Anyalebechi (C) – senior (6'0, 240) 21 Isaiah Paul – Junior (6'2, 232) 32 Darius Sanders – LB/S – sophomore (6'2, 199) 33 Tylan George – junior (5'10, 212) 34 Gerald Bowie III – senior (6'1, 247) 37 Kolton Scheppler – freshman (6'0, 237) 42 Tah Mac Bright – junior (6'2, 229) 46 Ricky Rich – sophomore (6'1, 212) 52 Greyson Calhoun – senior (6'2, 225)

Defensive back 1 Donte Thompson – CB – junior (5'11, 175) 2 Elliott Davison – S – junior (6'0, 179) 3 Micahh Smith – S – senior (6'0, 207) 4 Devan Barrett – CB – senior (6'0, 200) 5 Tiji Paul – CB – senior (5'10, 160) 7 Brandon Richard – S/LB – senior (5'11, 183) 12 Brian Mayes – CB – sophomore (6'1, 183) 13 Tre Richardson – S/LB – senior (6'2, 178) 16 Dante Heaggans – S – senior (6'1, 184) 18 Reese Watson – CB – senior (6'0, 185) 20 Kaleb Culp – S – junior (5'10, 186) 23 Shawn Holton – S – senior (5'10, 168) 25 Zamari Maxwell – CB – senior (6'1, 174) 26 Aaron Reynolds – S – senior (6'4, 201) 28 Jayden Staggers – CB – sophomore (5'11, 167) 29 Abdiel Richards – DB – senior (6'0, 189) 31 Preston Harris – DB/LB – freshman (6'0, 210) 36 Keenon Pitts – CB – junior (5'10, 169) 40 Khalil Warfield – S/LB – freshman (6'2, 193)

Kicker 50 Carson Mohr – senior (5'8, 146) 95 Tony Sterner – K/P – freshman (5'11, 161) 97 Luke Schabel – freshman (6'0, 187)

Long snapper 35 Chance Trentman–Rosas – senior (6'3, 212) 47 Elliot Desaloms – freshman (6'1, 206) 56 Joe Giordano – senior (5'11, 181)

Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Depth chart

Postseason honors The following Cardinals received postseason honors for the 2022 season:

Walter Payton Award QB Lindsey Scott Jr. – Graduate Senior

Associated Press FCS All–America First Team QB Lindsey Scott Jr. – Graduate Senior

Stats Perform FCS All–America First Team QB Lindsey Scott Jr. – Graduate Senior

Stats Perform FCS All–America Second Team WR Taylor Grimes – Senior LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Graduate Senior

Associated Press FCS All–America Third Team WR Taylor Grimes – Senior WR Darion Chafin – Graduate Senior OL Caleb Johnson – Graduate Senior LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Graduate Senior

Stats Perform FCS All–America Third Team WR Darion Chafin – Graduate Senior

Stats Perform FCS Freshman All–America Team PR Kole Wilson – Freshman

Southland Conference Player of the Year QB Lindsey Scott Jr. – Graduate Senior

Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Graduate Senior

All–Southland Conference First–Team QB Lindsey Scott, Jr. – Graduate Senior WR Taylor Grimes – Senior WR Darion Chafin – Graduate Senior OL Caleb Johnson – Graduate Senior OL Reid Francis – Senior DL Chris Whittaker – Graduate Senior DL Steven Parker – Senior LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Graduate Senior DB Donte Thompson – Junior

All–Southland Conference Second–Team RB Marcus Cooper – Graduate Senior OL Jimeto Obigbo – Sophomore OL Nash Jones – Junior DB Kaleb Culp – Junior

Game summaries

No. 9 Southern Illinois