RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Thursday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2024 football preseason coaches poll. Harding, the 2023 NCAA Division II national champions, received 10 of the 11 available first-place votes.
The Bisons secured the program’s and the conference’s first football national title as they produced only the eighth 15-0 season in the 50-year history of Division II history. Their 38-7 victory against Colorado School of Mines represented the second-largest margin in the final since 1998. They set a Division II record for rushing yards in a season with 6,160.
For 2024, Harding brings back 11 of their 2023 All-GAC selections and 13 starters overall. The Bisons’ top six rushers return, headlined by First-Team honorees Blake Delacruz and Braden Jay. Delacruz tallied 1,508 yards and 21 touchdowns while Jay gained 1,075 yards – on just 86 carries. Delacruz set the record for rush yards in the Division II Championship-game with 212. Jay added 161 yards and three scores. Quarterback Cole Keylon scored 15 rushing touchdowns and threw for eight – against only one interception.
While the Bison lose First-Team All-American and GAC Defensive Player of the Year Nathaniel Wallace, they bring back seven starters – six of of whom earned All-GAC honors – from a unit that ranked second nationally in scoring defense and interceptions, third in rushing defense, fourth in turnovers forced and fifth in total defense. Wesley Coleman, Ty Dugger, Clark Griffin and Dre Hall made the First Team while Kyle McDonald and Gage Price landed on the Second Team.
Ouachita Baptist and Southern Arkansas each picked up one first-place vote with the Tigers claiming the second position the poll and the Muleriders garnering third. The Tigers won nine games for the sixth-straight season. They bring back five of their six First-Team All-GAC selections in running back Kendel Givens, wide receiver Connor Flannigan, safety Josiah Johnson, return specialist Carter McElhany and special teams performer Brock Baker. Givens matched Delacruz with 21 rushing touchdowns, the second-best tally in Division II. McElhany added the GAC’s Freshman of the Year honor. He ranked 13th in the nation in kickoff return average. Flannigan caught 73 receptions for 948 yards and six touchdowns. Johnson, a Second-Team AP All-American, collected 90 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
Fueled by a win in the final Farmer’s Bank & Trust Live United Bowl, the Muleriders achieved their first 10-win season since 1952. Their offense ranked fifth in the country and their rushing attack ranked third. Colton Grier, Jariq Scales and Melvin Smith, Jr. all made the All-GAC First Team. Scales recorded his third-straight 1,000-yard rushing season as he tallied 1,189 yards with a career-high 15 touchdowns. Smith, Jr., an AFCA First Team All-American, ranked second nationally in passes defended at 24. He collected four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the bowl win. Grier anchored the offensive line from his left tackle spot.
Henderson State earned fourth place in the vote. In June, Scott Maxfield announced his retirement after 18 seasons at the helm. He guided the Reddies to four appearances in the NCAA playoffs and he won four conference championships. Greg Holsworth, the program’s defensive coordinator since 2017 ascends to the head coach position. His first team features a pair of 2023 All-GAC First-Team performers in tight end Cayden Davis and linebacker Gary Lewis. Davis caught 19 passes for 365 yards with three touchdowns. Lewis notched 7.5 sacks to become an AFCA Second Team All-American. Quarterback Andrew Edwards led the GAC in passing yards, 2,979; passing touchdowns, 28; and touchdowns responsible for, 39.
Southeastern Oklahoma State took fifth, followed by Arkansas Tech. In his first season back with the Savage Storm, Bo Atterberry’s team went 5-6. DJ Brown made the All-GAC Second Team after running for 671 yards and scoring six total touchdowns. Tech’s Caleb Tanis led the team with 48 receptions, 533 yards and six touchdowns.
Oklahoma Baptist claimed seventh with Arkansas-Monticello in eighth and East Central in ninth. The Bison won five more games in 2023 than in 2022. Linebacker Scooter Baker returns after registering the third-most tackles in the country, 121, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. The Weevils
Southern Nazarene placed 10th as Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the voting. The Crimson Storm secured the program’s first bowl appearance behind GAC Player of the Year and Harlon Hill finalist Gage Porter. The Bulldogs feature a new head coach in Andrew Rice. He comes to the Bulldogs after a two-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Southern Arkansas. The Rangers added long-time coach Jerry Glanville to their staff as defensive coordinator.
The regular season begins in five weeks with all 12 teams opening on Thursday, September 5. The Bisons open at home against the Crimson Storm. Ouachita Baptist hosts SWOSU with the Paul Sharp Cup on the line. The Muleriders visit the Savage Storm; Henderson State travels to East Central; the Wonder Boys welcome in Oklahoma Baptist and the Rangers head to Arkansas-Monticello.
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