NAIA Football Preview: The Sun Conference

NAIA Football Preview: The Sun Conference

August 9, 2024

Reigning NAIA football national champion Keiser University is the favorite to win the 2024 Sun Conference, but it won't be easy. St. Thomas University has a lot to say about that, and a few others are starting to fall in line. Don't think the Seahawks will just walk through the competition this year.

Ave Maria is coming off a 4-6 season after going 7-3 in 2022. Bryan Stiemke led the AMU offense with 144.9 yards per game and 11 touchdowns. He helped the Gyrnes score 22.6 points per game on offense. The problem is that with a great running game, the defense has to be ready to step up. Last year, Ave Maria's defense allowed 32.7 points per game and gave up 73, 54, 40 and 34 points in the final four games of the season. The Gyrnes will need to perform in the second half of the season.

Florida Memorial returns a total of 13 starters from a 7-4 team last season. The Lions' only losses in 2023 conference play were to eventual postseason qualifiers STU and Keiser. QB Cedquan Smith is back to lead the offense with running backs Walter Wilbon and George Young averaging 37.1 points per game. The problem was the Lions allowing 31.3 points per game. The defense appears to be improving as it returns six starters including DaeShawn Davis at LB and Phil Roundtree on the defensive line.

Keiser (Florida) reached the top of the NAIA last season and won its first-ever national championship. Ten starters will return in 2024 when Myles Russ takes the reins as head coach of the Seahawks. The offense will be bolstered by first-team All-American Jaden Meizinger, who rushed for 1,643 yards and 23 touchdowns last season and dropped the ball just once on 260 carries. D'Andre Golden also returns at tight end after being named an All-American and being Keiser's best player last season with 610 yards and seven touchdowns. The quarterback spot could face competition this fall with the graduation of last year's starter Bryce Veasley. Justin Wake, who played in the national championship game after Veasley was injured, has graduated and taken on a new role as KU's running backs coach. On defense, the Seahawks return defensive back Kensly Johnson, who contributed 24 tackles and 12 pass breakups last year. On the defensive line, Christian Ware returns after a stellar freshman season with 31 tackles, 3 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Notably, the Seahawks' schedule this year includes games against North Greenville and Newberry College of DIII, which is a departure from their previous matchups with DII/FCS teams.

St. Thomas took a step forward to the NAIA Championship Series and win a first-round game in 2023. With a total of 14 returning starters, the Bobcats have their eyes on the conference title. The offense has plenty of big-name returners, but at the top of the list is RB Rontavious Farmer, who averaged 136.4 yards per game with 26 TDs. QB Keely Watson is back as the Bobcats' signal caller and will be protected by Axell Jeanty on the offensive line. Wide receivers David Hayes and Khalitri Zow will be the main targets for Watson as STU looks to stretch the field for their running game. On defense, seven starters return from a team that allowed just 307 yards and 18.7 points per game. LB Kendall Wilson, DL Nick Engler and DB Armond Anderson will look to tighten their grip on the Sun Conference offense this season in an effort to get to the top.

Southeastern is the program that has been overlooked in the Sun Conference the last two seasons. Something tells me they like that. With 17 returning starters from their 5-5 team last season, the Fire can no longer hide in the middle of the league. QB Henry Austad returns to lead the offense along with RB Josiah Neos and WRs Dominic Larry and Desi Lester. Neos had 780 yards and nine TDs last season while Larry had 277 yards receiving. On defense, the Fire will rely on the experience of the defensive line. DE Thomas Ibrahim, DT Carlos Giardino and DT Chris Sharpe return, with Giardino leading the group with 37 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 TFL. Aaron Walton and Joseph Bonga are back as DBs to improve on last season's 192.8 yards per game in the passing game.

Thomas (Ga.) is a young, unique program that finished its first season 1-8. The Nighthawks averaged 17.4 points per game on offense while allowing 38.8 on defense. Their loan win last season came against Warner University, where they ran for 168 yards and threw for 145 yards without losing the ball. That's the kind of thing Thomas needs to build on as they head into 2024. Thomas has not submitted a prospectus.

Warner (Florida) was 4-6 last season and wants to be more consistent in 2024. The 4-6 was an improvement, but in reality, this team could have been 6-4. In total, nine starters return, with the strongest group playing on the offensive line. Justin Butts and Eric Gonzalez will anchor the OL, and RB Jaylen Thompson also returns. On defense, DL Ethan Anderson, DB Kelson Meance and LBs Gerral Blue and Damien Riewold return. Those guys, along with several rookies, will have to find a way to improve on the 43.3 points per game they allowed last year.

Webber International (Florida) is the old hand in the league. That's weird for me because I started VSN when they were a new program and the only NAIA team in Florida. The Warriors return 14 starters, including eight on offense. QBs Trent Grotjan and Blake Birchler are back, as is leading rusher Terry Weems. Antonio Dawson returns as a WR after rushing for 173 yards and 2 TDs in 2023. On defense, it's Tyron Washington and Josiah Everett on the D-line along with LBs Kaden Morrell and Jalan Williams. The secondary returns Derek Percivalle and Tre Mobley. Williams led the Warriors last season with 51 tackles and forced two fumbles.

Jason Dannelly's Sun Conference Preseason Rankings

  1. Emperor
  2. St. Thomas
  3. southeast
  4. Hail Mary
  5. Florida Memorial
  6. Webber International
  7. Warner
  8. Thomas

Full schedule of the 2024 Sun Conference

Date Home Guest Time/Score Location
24.08.24 Webber International Fort Lauderdale 1:30 p.m. Legion Field – Lake Wales, FL
30.8.24 Thomas University Bluefield College To be announced Veterans Memorial Stadium – Thomasville, GA
31.08.24 St. Thomas University Fort Lauderdale 12:00 pm AutoNation Field – Miami Gardens, FL
31.08.24 Stetson University Hail Mary 18:00 hrs Spec Martin Memorial Stadium – Deland, FL
31.08.24 Southeastern University Faulkner University 19:00 Victory Field – Lakeland, FL
05.09.24 North Greenville (SC) Keiser University 19:00 Younts Stadium – North Greenville, SC
07.09.24 Florida Memorial Edward Waters (Florida) To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
07.09.24 St. Thomas University Louisiana Christianity 11:00 am AutoNation Field – Miami Gardens, FL
07.09.24 Union Commonwealth University Thomas University 13:00 Williamson Stadium – Barbourville, KY
07.09.24 Webber International Campbellsville University 1:30 p.m. Legion Field – Lake Wales, FL
07.09.24 Stetson University Warner University 18:00 hrs Spec Martin Memorial Stadium – Deland, FL
14.9.24 Saint Xavier University St. Thomas University To be announced Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field – Chicago, Illinois
14.9.24 Florida Memorial Clark Atlanta University To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
14.9.24 Thomas University Bethel University 11:00 am Veterans Memorial Stadium – Thomasville, GA
14.9.24 Shorter University (Ga.) Webber International 13:00 Barron Stadium – Rome, GA
14.9.24 Southeastern University Reinhardt University 19:00 Victory Field – Lakeland, FL
14.9.24 Newberry College Keiser University 19:00 Setzler Field – Newberry, SC
14.9.24 Hail Mary Fort Lauderdale 19:00 Gyrene Field – Ave Maria, FL
21.9.24 Cumberland University (TN) Florida Memorial To be announced Nokes-Lasater Field – Lebanon, Tennessee
21.9.24 Dayton University Hail Mary 12:00 pm Welcome Stadium – Dayton, Ohio
21.9.24 Lincoln University Webber International 13:00 Oakland, California
21.9.24 Warner University Shorter University (Ga.) 18:00 hrs Tye Athletic Field – Lake Wales, FL
21.9.24 Keiser University Fort Lauderdale 18:00 hrs Keiser Multi-Purpose Field – West Palm Beach, FL
28.9.24 Florida Memorial St. Thomas University To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
28.9.24 Webber International Hail Mary 12:00 pm Legion Field – Lake Wales, FL
28.9.24 Thomas University Keiser University 18:00 hrs Veterans Memorial Stadium – Thomasville, GA
28.9.24 Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale 19:00 Victory Field – Lakeland, FL
5.10.24 St. Thomas University Keiser University 18:00 hrs AutoNation Field – Miami Gardens, FL
5.10.24 Warner University Florida Memorial 18:00 hrs Tye Athletic Field – Lake Wales, FL
5.10.24 Southeastern University Webber International 19:00 Victory Field – Lakeland, FL
5.10.24 Hail Mary Thomas University 19:00 Gyrene Field – Ave Maria, FL
12.10.24 Florida Memorial Southeastern University To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
12.10.24 Thomas University Webber International To be announced Veterans Memorial Stadium – Thomasville, GA
12.10.24 Keiser University Warner University 18:00 hrs Keiser Multi-Purpose Field – West Palm Beach, FL
19.10.24 Webber International Florida Memorial To be announced Legion Field – Lake Wales, FL
19.10.24 Southeastern University Keiser University 18:00 hrs Victory Field – Lakeland, FL
19.10.24 Warner University Thomas University 18:00 hrs Tye Athletic Field – Lake Wales, FL
19.10.24 Hail Mary St. Thomas University 19:00 Gyrene Field – Ave Maria, FL
26.10.24 Warner University Southeastern University 18:00 hrs Tye Athletic Field – Lake Wales, FL
26.10.24 St. Thomas University Webber International 18:00 hrs AutoNation Field – Miami Gardens, FL
26.10.24 Florida Memorial Hail Mary To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
24.11.2018 Florida Memorial Thomas University To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
24.11.2018 Keiser University Florida Memorial To be announced Keiser Multi-Purpose Field – West Palm Beach, FL
24.11.2018 Southeastern University St. Thomas University 16:00 Victory Field – Lakeland, FL
24.11.2018 Webber International Keiser University 18:00 hrs Legion Field – Lake Wales, FL
24.11.2018 Hail Mary Warner University 19:00 Gyrene Field – Ave Maria, FL
24.09.11 Thomas University St. Thomas University 16:00 Veterans Memorial Stadium – Thomasville, GA
24.09.11 Warner University Webber International 18:00 hrs Tye Athletic Field – Lake Wales, FL
24.09.11 Hail Mary Southeastern University 19:00 Gyrene Field – Ave Maria, FL
16.11.24 hrs Florida Memorial Lincoln University To be announced Betty T. Ferguson Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
16.11.24 hrs St. Thomas University Warner University 12:00 pm AutoNation Field – Miami Gardens, FL
16.11.24 hrs Thomas University Southeastern University To be announced Veterans Memorial Stadium – Thomasville, GA
16.11.24 hrs Keiser University Hail Mary 19:30 Keiser Multi-Purpose Field – West Palm Beach, FL