Football 8/31/2016 9:14:00 AM

Big Blue Football Ready to Open 2016 Season

  The 2016 season marks the start of a new era for Big Blue football under first year head coach Dan Gritti. Gritti is looking to restore Millikin's winning tradition in football after spending the last five years resurrecting the football program at Rhodes College. At Rhodes, Gritti led the Lynx to its first conference championship in 26 years and posted back-to-back 8-2 seasons setting a new school record for wins over a two-year period. Coach Gritti believes he has the system in place to return Millikin to a competitive program in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).
          Coach Gritti spent his first seven months on the job assembling a staff and hitting the recruiting trail. He brought in two of his top assistants from Rhodes to help install his style of play with Brent Barnes serving as the Offensive Coordinator and David Szentesy as the Defensive Coordinator. Gritti promises Big Blue fans an aggressive high intensity style of play. On offense, expect the Big Blue to play at a fast pace trying to keep opposing defenses off guard. On defense, Millikin will look to make the most of its speed and athletic ability as they fly around the field attacking the opposition's ball carriers. Gritti states his team will play close attention to detail and utilize the best players on the team for each specific situation.
          The Big Blue returns 30 letter winners including six starters on offense and five on defense. Sophomore quarterback Nicco Stepina returns to run the offense after passing for 1,600 yards last season with 12 touchdowns. Stepina gives the Big Blue a potent weapon with his arm and his running ability. Freshman Keegan Smith has impressed the staff in the preseason and will likely be the number two quarterback.
          Millikin features several talented players battling for playing time at the skill positions. Sophomore Andre Colvin returns at running back. Colvin rushed for 360 yards as a freshman in a season limited by injuries. Sophomore Tay Contreras-Porch and freshman George Jimmerson, Jr. should also get a number of carries this season.
          Junior Cameron Mammen returns to lead the Big Blue wide receivers. Mammen showed his explosiveness and ability to make a big play last season when he had 30 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns. Several newcomers should be major factors this season led freshmen David Jackson, Kameryn Kuntu and Jordan Smith. Senior Avante Meriwether, junior Moses McConnell and freshman Alec Ballinger provide depth at receiver.
          Senior Jake Kotopka and sophomore Blake Patchett return at tight end. Transfer Luke McConnell has been impressive in the preseason after taking two years away from football to concentrate on his baseball career.
          The Big Blue return an experienced offensive line with four starters returning. Seniors Sean Nicholson and Glenn Morgan are expected to start for their third straight season. Junior Nick Perry and sophomore Connor Brewer return after breaking into the starting lineup in 2015. Senior Austin Brummett and sophomore Eric Ivery provide additional experience to the offensive line. Freshman Jackson Delfosse, Prinze Ellis-Vela and Nick Marion are all vying for playing time.
          Senior captains Travis Goveia and Mykal Neal are expected to lead the Millikin defensive side in 2016. Goveia is a force on the defensive line with 34.5 career tackles for a loss. Junior Isaiah Blumenshine and sophomores Jake Robinson and Graham Failor bring additional depth and athleticism to the unit.   Sophomores Rory Arnold and Alexzander Clark along with freshmen Davion Jefferson and Brandon Lewis should see action as well depending on game situations.
          Speed at linebacker is a key component of the Gritti/Szentesy coached defense. The Big Blue believe they have several players who fit that mold. The linebacker group is led by junior Nikia Averitte and senior Danny Beresky. Averitte, who as a freshman had 70 tackles, seven for a loss, one interception and three fumble recoveries, is looking to rebound after being limited to three games last season due to injury. Beresky had 26 tackles and two interceptions last season. Sophomores Caleb McConnell, Quintaz Wright, Isaiah Tate, Gabe Xayathone and freshman Matt Brown are all in the mix for playing time at linebacker. Tate recorded 56 tackles in 2015.
          Neal leads the defensive backfield after recording 162 tackles and five interceptions over the last three seasons. Two-year starter Demetreeus Loper is expected to return at one of the cornerback spots after recording 42 tackles with three interceptions and seven passes defended last season. A strong group of freshmen are battling for starting defensive backfield spots led by Darius Bryant, Bruce Busch, Daniel Jackson and Lashon Johnson. The unit is deep with junior Kyle McMahon, sophomore Joshua Scudder and freshmen Jordan Jamerson and Tyler Prunty all in the mix for playing time.
          Senior kicker Chayce Volpert returned to head the special teams for Millikin. Volpert earned CCIW All-Conference First Team honors last season connecting on 10-13 field goals and 20-21 points after touchdown. Sophomore Wyatt Fox returns to handle the Big Blue punting duties.
          Millikin opens the season on Sept. 3 at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois at 1 p.m. The Big Blue's home opener is Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

2016 Football Magazine

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Players Mentioned

#45 Rory Arnold: DL; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#5 Nikia Averitte: LB; 5' 11"; Junior

#97 Isaiah Blumenshine: DL; 6' 0"; Junior

#75 Connor Brewer: OL; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#76 Austin Brummett: OL; 6' 1"; Senior

#94 Alexzander Clark: DL; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#32 Andre Colvin: RB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Tay Contreras-Porch: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#51 Graham Failor: DL; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#26 Wyatt Fox: WR\P; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#11 Travis Goveia: DL; 6' 4"; Senior

#41 Jake Kotopka: TE; 6' 3"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#45 Rory Arnold
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: DL

#5 Nikia Averitte
: 5' 11"; Junior
: LB

#97 Isaiah Blumenshine
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DL

#75 Connor Brewer
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: OL

#76 Austin Brummett
: 6' 1"; Senior
: OL

#94 Alexzander Clark
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: DL

#32 Andre Colvin
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: RB

#4 Tay Contreras-Porch
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB

#51 Graham Failor
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DL

#26 Wyatt Fox
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: WR\P

#11 Travis Goveia
: 6' 4"; Senior
: DL

#41 Jake Kotopka
: 6' 3"; Senior
: TE