Kevin Krows/Millikin University

Football 8/31/2021 1:35:00 PM Bryan Marshall, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

Millikin Football Has High Expectations for 2021 Season

DECATUR, Illinois—Millikin Head Football Coach Dan Gritti returns an experienced core of players that includes 19 seniors with six players returning for their fifth season of competition. The veteran team has given Gritti high expectations for the 2021 season.

While the Big Blue missed competing in a full season in 2019 due to the pandemic, the short season last spring was very beneficial for the Big Blue football program in its preparation for the 2021 season.

"We looked at it as a 13-game season with the longest bye week in the history of football," said Gritti. "Success in the spring gave us a good idea of who we are as a football team and allowed us to get better for this season."

Millikin has veteran players on both sides of the football, but experience is most visible on offense.

"Experience on offense will pay dividends," adds Gritti. "Having a fifth-year quarterback and an offensive line that has played together for three years will be the strength of our team."

Cal Pohrte (New Lenox, Lincoln Way West H.S.) returns for his third season as at quarterback for the Big Blue. He has over 3,400 career passing yards with 33 touchdowns. He had 920 passing yards in the spring in three games. In 2019, Pohrte had 22 touchdowns and 2,351 yards, which was the four most passing yards in a season in school history. He threw for a school record 390 yards in the opening win over Hope College.
Pohrte will look to connect with two talented returning targets in preseason All-American senior Colton Lockwood (Decatur, Eisenhower H.S.). Lockwood had 390 yards in three games in the spring earned a spot on the d3football.com All-America Second Team. He had 524 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. Fifth year senior Patrick Cooper (Lockport, Lockport Township H.S.) returns with 788 career receiving yards.

Junior Marion McGhee (Murfreesboro, Tenn., Pearl-Conn H.S.) and sophomore Tyson Roedl (Waterloo, H.S.) should see plenty of action running the football. McGhee had 197 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the spring while Roedl gained 179 yards with one touchdown.

The line will be the strength of the offense with experience players returning to start and backup at all five positions. Three-year starters Brandt Williamson (Westville, H.S.) and Ken Williams (Bolingbrook, H.S.) return at tackle. Fifth year senior Sauvignon Hayes (McDonough, Ga., Ola H.S) and senior Alex Vogt (Warrenton, Mo., Warren Co. R-3 H.S.) are expected to start at guard. Senior Donrico Farmer (Florissant, Mo., Miller Career Academy) holds down the middle of the line at center.

The Big Blue defense has its share of experienced players especially in the front seven. Gritti believes the play of the front seven will determine how the Big Blue play defensively this season. Four of the top five players on the defensive line are seniors including Alexander Perkins (Chicago, Morgan Park H.S.), Gerald Lenior (St. Louis, Mo., Parkway Central H.S.), Chris Vogt (Warrenton, Mo., Warren County R-3 H.S.), and Jacob Meyer (Greencastle, Ind., H.S.). Sophomore Quinton Miller (Houston, Texas, Westbury H.S.) will also play a major role in the defense front.

Fifth year senior and three-year starter Jequan Harrell (Blue Island, Eisenhower H.S) leads the Big Blue linebackers. Harrell has 139 career tackles with 19.5 tackles for a loss. Senior Elisa Williams (St. Louis, Mo., Parkway North) and junior Andrew Smith (Country Club Hills, De La Salle H.S.) will start at the other linebacker spots.

The defensive backfield will count on several newcomers in 2021 but will be led by fifth year senior Tatum Teicher (Ballwin, Mo., Parkway West H.S.). Teicher has seen significant playing time in the last four seasons at Millikin with over 100 career tackles.

The Big Blue open the season on September 4 at Greenville University. After its bye week, Millikin will get underway with College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) action on September 18 at Augustana College. Millikin's home opener will be on September 25 against Carroll University at 6 p.m.

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