Under first-year head coach Larry Wilson, the Waynesburg University football team is entering its 122^nd season. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 4-6 season that resulted in the university parting ways with former head coach, Dr. Cornelius Coleman. However, with new voices on the coaching staff, the team is looking to show improvement.

Wilson will serve as head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Other additions to the staff include first-year defensive coordinator, Matt Tobey. Tobey spent the last two seasons working with the linebackers as a graduate assistant at East Stroudsburg. He shined on the field for PennWest California, being named to the All-PSAC West first team following his senior season.

“Matt Tobey was raised in a defensive system I believed in,” Wilson said.

Another year of football means another preseason poll. In last season’s version of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) preseason poll, voted on by head coaches, sports information directors and media members, the Yellow Jackets were predicted to finish sixth in the end of season standings. They ended up in fifth place, tied with Case Western Reserve and Allegheny, as all three teams finished with a 4-4 record in the PAC. This season, members of the conference ranked Waynesburg seventh in the poll, predicting a bit of a drop off under new management.

THE OFFENSE

At PAC Media Day, Wilson was asked what everyone could expect from the Waynesburg offense.

“We’re kind of a west coast air raid kind of offense,” Wilson said. “We’re going to be about putting kids in the right positions. If we gotta get under center, we’re going to get under center, if that gives us our best opportunity.”

Opportunity is a word that Wilson used a lot at Media Day.

“The first thing that drew me to Waynesburg and potentially being the head coach here was opportunity,” Wilson said.

Wilson was looking for an opportunity and believes Waynesburg is the right place. An exciting thing to hear from your new head coach.

“What he’s bringing to the table is nothing that I’ve ever been a part of,” graduate student center Kory Ansell said. “We’re gonna be gritty and we’re gonna get on you fast.”

MEET THE JACKETS

The 2026 squad will have a familiar face under center as junior Luke Hudson returns as the starting quarterback. In his first season splitting snaps with Thomas Burke III, Hudson threw for 1,459 yards, seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions on a 65% completion percentage.

Hudson won’t be the only familiar face donning the burnt orange in 2026. After a spectacular 2024 season in which he led the PAC in rushing yards with 1,225, Zayne Cawley fell victim to a lingering injury that sidelined him for a good portion of the 2025 campaign.

“I did get injured in the third game last year,” Cawley said. “I always believe God has a bigger plan and that’s why I am back this year.”

However, Cawley didn’t look like he was slowing down as he posted over 300 rushing yards to go along with five touchdowns in just three games. Cawley will look to pick up where he left off.

“I expect to run the ball to the best of my ability and benefit the offense in any way I can,” Cawley said.

Joining Cawley in the backfield will be senior Carson Shriver, who took a majority of the carries last season following Cawley’s injury. Shriver totaled 810 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground last year while hauling in 18 catches on his way to receiving All-PAC second team honors. Cawley and Shriver will be the one-two punch that the Yellow Jackets rely on heavily this season.

Not only will Hudson be handing off the ball to players he is familiar with; he will also be looking for them through the air. Juniors Isaiah Fields, Colton Lee, Zachary Johnson and Michael Wines all return.

The big surprise return is senior Tyler Richmond. Richmond, who seemingly transferred to Division II Slippery Rock University during the offseason, has made his way back to Waynesburg. He led the Yellow Jackets with 556 receiving yards along with three touchdowns.

“Coach Larry said he was all in on bringing me back,” Richmond said. “It made me feel at home and I have all my friends here, so it made that decision really easy for me.”

Richmond may not see the field too often in the first couple weeks as he is still getting adjusted after just transferring back. However, he is too important of a weapon to keep his reps limited for too long.

“Coach Larry brings a ton to the offense,” Richmond said.  “I think we can really excel on that side of the ball this year.”

The offensive line has four new starters in 2026. Kory Ansell mans the middle at center, just like he did last year. The new left side of the line will include junior Lucan DeLoatch at tackle and sophomore Dalton Anderson or junior Jimmy St. John at guard. Seniors Boastas Kwabiah and Jaylen Perry will take up the right side of the line at guard and tackle.

The Waynesburg defense was in the middle of the pack last season, allowing around 35 points per game while still forcing 13 fumbles. Although there are many returning players on the defense, there are many guys getting their first real chance to impact this football team.

The returning players on defense who played a big role last year include Isshak Adam, John Johnson III, Ewing Jameson and Marcus Crum Jr., Joanes Polynice and Tyler Curry. The defense also brought back junior Vinnie Heller, a defensive back who made an impact during his freshman season, appearing in all 10 games, before sitting out last year.

Some of the new starters include freshman edge rushers, Jumah Byrd, and Ladanian McNeal. Sophomores AJ Jenkins and Tony Cipoletti will both take starting positions in the secondary, while juniors like Keith Wright Jr and Precious Jinyemeima also get a chance to show out with the starters.

“We’re gonna do what we do, and we’re going to move the program forward,” Wilson said. “I do know this, that we have to build some belief back in Waynesburg, and I can feel it coming.”

The Yellow Jackets season begins tomorrow at John F. Wiley Stadium when they take on Capital University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.