Wheeling, W. Va. - On Wednesday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) continued their virtual MEC Football media day and it was Wheeling's turn to take the spotlight. Head Coach Zac Bruney previewed the 2025 Football season in a pre-recorded interview that was shared across the MEC Social Media Channels. Bruney expressed excitement for the 2025 season and is ready to get his team back out on the field come August 28th when they take on Clarion.
"We are excited to be back on campus," said Bruney. "The competition in our conference top to bottom is really strong, so we know we will have our work cut out for us in practice each and every week. Now that we have three non-conference games as well, our 11 game NCAA Division II schedule looks to be very tough."
After outlining the tough schedule that the team will face during the year, Bruney went on to express his excitement for each position group on the field. Up first was the Cardinal offense, led by a veteran offensive lineman group. The Cardinals are returning five players who have all played several snaps with the team over the last few seasons and are looking to pave the way for the Cardinal running game. Behind them, the Cardinals have a couple of veteran position groups from the Quarterbacks and Running Backs. Landon Lutz returns as the team's primary quarterback, while Steven Mitchell and Dawaun Green each join him in the backfield.
"Offensively it starts up front," said Bruney. "We return four full-time starters and there is a battle for that final guard spot. Quarterback wise, Landon Lutz returns now and he has started games for us in both 2023 & 2024 and he gets the chance to be QB 1 this season. The running back room that I have more involvement with as a position coach we have three returning players who are looking to make an impact."
The youngest group on offense will be the wide receiver corps, who lost the team's top three pass catchers from a season ago. Wheeling has some veteran players returning to that group, including Colin Oberdick, Will James, and Alex Godavitarne, who will look to lead the way on the field. The team also welcomes in new fresh talent who will be looking to make their presence known on the field.
"The wide receiver room graduated the three top pass catchers," said Bruney. "We just have to develop depth there, but we have some veteran guys. Hilton McClain, Colin Oberdick, Jordan Kaiser as a redshirt freshman, those guys have been in our program, but now they have to take the proverbial next step up for us. At tight end, Alex Godavitarne and Landyn Hores both played a significant role at the tight end position."
After previewing the offense, Bruney moved on to a defensive unit that is looking to be a strong suit for the team throughout the 2025 season. Like the offense, the defense starts up front with a veteran group of Defensive lineman, including Marcell Chapman and Dion McIntosh among others. The other veteran group on that side of the ball is the defensive secondary who will look to limit the opposition's passing game. Bruney highlighted a lot of guys who can play several different positions and will look to impact the team.
"On the defensive line we have Marcell Chapman and Tyriek Scrivner on the outside and Nikale Martin, Jacob Bostick, and Dion McIntosh kind of holding down the middle," said Bruney. "These guys have been in our program and have played a lot of football for us. When you move back to the secondary, James Walker is coming back off an injury playing corner, and Leonard Sherrod and Cam Reynolds played in a significant role at safety for us."
The youngest group on the defensive side of the ball will be the inside and outside linebacker group, which will be led by a mix of veteran utility players and newcomers looking to make an impact. The Cardinals will be shuffling around some players from last season's team, and giving them a chance to make an impact in the middle of the Cardinal's defense.
"The outside linebacker position was played by Carter Blake last year, but he is moving to more of an inside role this year," said Bruney. "The most veteran guy in the outside linebacker, inside linebacker room is Keenan Johnson who is a graduate student. He has played nickle, strong safety, and bandit safety for us and he has been a very versatile, swiss army knife type of guy."
The Wheeling University Football team kicks off the 2025 season on Thursday, August 28th, when they hit the road to face Clarion at 6 PM.
