February 5, 2021 – Bradenton, FL –
Though the 2020 NAIA football season isn’t done yet, fans are already looking for next year and are curious to see what their team is going to look like next year. Some teams are contenders this year and can expect to be contenders next year as well. Others are either a few pieces away or need a complete overhaul of talent. Here are the top teams in each of these categories:
Contenders
- Morningside Mustangs: This isn’t a hot take, but that doesn’t make it inaccurate. The Mustangs have been the team to beat every year since 2011 when they first started their championship streak. Joe Dolincheck had another fantastic season with almost a 70% completion percentage, 28 touchdowns, and over 2,500 passing yards. Head Coach Steve Ryan will more than likely be coming back for a 21st season as head coach as well so not much change in terms of scheme either. This team has been at the top of the mountain for the better part of the last decade and nothing seems to be able to slow that down.
- Grandview Vikings: Not much to complain about in 2020 for the 13-1 Vikings who showed once again, they are the team to compete against Morningside. Anthony Turner and Johnny Sullivan were once again a premier wide receiver to quarterback combo in the league and the 2021 season should showcase that once again. The only thing this team could use more of is the running game. Devon Pressley just barely had 600 rushing yards for the season and if you play a team like the Mustangs, you are going to need to keep Dolincheck on the sideline. Obviously, the best way to do that is to control the clock with a solid running attack. This team is dangerous enough to go score for score with any team this year and with most of the team coming back in 2021, the same should be true next season.
Inbetweeners
- Mariam Knights: The Knights are still in contention for a title this year and a lot of that can be attributed to senior running back Charles Salary who absolutely went off this year cracking over 1,600 yards rushing in 2020 after being named NAIA National Football Player of the Year in 2019. That kind of football will definitely help this team in the playoffs this spring. You may be wondering why this team is here if they are competing for a championship as a number two seed this year. As mentioned before, Salary is a senior and led the next highest rusher on the team by over 1,100 yards. Those yards have to come from somewhere and quarterback Ethan Darter has no evidence of being able to make up those yards. Especially if his stats keep trending in the same direction considering he can barely complete 50% of his throws. This could be a final season on top if they don’t fill a few voids on offense before next year.
- Langston Lions: After an 8-2 season, the Lions have a lot to be pleased with heading into the offseason. They currently have (out of 95 NAIA teams) the 24th best defense and 33rd best offense. The Lions also were just coming off of three straight conference championships. The big recruiting need for this team for the offseason was an upgraded offensive line. Already having three accepted offers including from left tackle Kentario Davis, the line should be able to help keep their senior quarterback upright and should help the offense in general just by winning in the trenches.
Rebuilders
- Presentation Saints: This season is going to determine a lot for the future of this program. Head coach Steve Heimann is heading into year three and is looking to actually win more than one game. There is a monkey on his back and this year could be the last year to prove he can turn this program around. What they need are offensive pieces. For them, they need another receiver and they need to utilize the backs more often to set up the pass better than they were last year. If limited to no changes are made, the Saints will probably be on this list next year. Again as a rebuilder.
- Florida Memorial Lions: Although this team only played three games this season, that was more of a blessing than a curse. They have been in the basement of the conference for the past five or so years and after not much change in the team for 2020, that was going to remain the same no matter how many games they played. In the three games they did play, they lost 62-0, 42-6, and 56-7. The secondary needs some work to stop the big plays they gave up during those games, but they won’t be winning any games just scoring 7 points. A change at quarterback is definitely at the top of the list for the Lions this offseason.
