It has been 16 long months since the last time a Stetson football team took to the field of competition – 476 days.
 
The Hatters will end that streak on Saturday when they open their six-game spring season at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium against Pioneer Football League foe Davidson. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
A limited number of fans will be allowed into the game this weekend with Previous year season ticket holders, faculty, staff and students receiving priority.
 
A limited number of single game tickets have been made available on GoHatters.com. All fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance because there is no guarantee of availability for walk-up tickets.
 
All faculty, staff and student tickets will be available on game day at the south ticket booth. Faculty and staff can show a valid Stetson ID to receive a discounted ticket. Stetson students will be able to show their ID for a free ticket at the south ticket booth.
 
Saturday's game will also be available on ESPN+ with Messod Bendayan and Victor Anderson calling the action. Kenny Schierlinger will also have an audio call of the game on the Stetson Athletics YouTube Channel.
 
Hatters coach Roger Hughes knows the biggest challenge his team will face on Saturday is its own emotions.
 
"It has been 16 months since we have played a game and our kids are really excited about getting the chance," Hughes said. "Our kids have that energy building right now toward that game and that is good. Davidson has already played a game and knocked off the rust. My biggest fear is getting everyone up to game speed.
 
"Davidson went up against a very good scholarship program in Elon so they are not only used to game speed, but that have seen scholarship game speed. Hopefully, we can hang in there with them until we can get adjusted to the speed of the game and get the reality check that we are really playing a game now, it is not just practice. I am anxious to see how we are going to do. I don't know how we are going to do, but I am anxious to see it."
 
Davidson opened its season back on February 20 at No. 21 Elon, taking the Phoenix to the final minute of play before falling 26-23. Stetson leads the all-time series with the Wildcats 6-5, but Davidson took a decisive 42-14 win the last time the teams met, on November 16, 2019.
 
"Their offense keeps you off the field," Hughes said. "In the first quarter against Elon, each team had the ball once. They take all 40 seconds for every play – they are very methodical. We have to execute on first down on both sides of the ball. We have to get them off track and we have to stay on track.
 
"On paper, I think these are two of the better teams in the PFL and it is going to be fun to see how we do. Them having already played is a big advantage because they are already at game speed. I have to hope our guys have a quick learning curve and get there very fast."
 
With such a long gap between games, and with so much change to the roster during that time – the Hatters have 50 players who have never played in a game for Stetson – here is a scouting report on the team heading into the spring season.
 

Offense

 
The strength of the offense for Stetson, under the leadership of coordinator Stan Clayton, is a veteran offensive line. All five positions up front have veteran starters in place with seniors Brad Alexander and Alex Brown at the guard spots and senior Nick Plunkett at right tackle. Redshirt sophomores Billy Corte and Antonio Derry return as starters at left tackle and center, respectively.
 
In addition to the starting five, redshirt senior Jordan Halfinds, redshirt juniors Andrew Nadolski and Thomas Connors and redshirt sophomore Steven Godwin all have experience. Newcomers who could contribute include redshirt freshman James Rhodes and true freshmen Connor Lenczden and Jake Bius.
 
The primary concern going into the season is the conditioning of Alexander, who missed a good part of training camp after tweaking a knee.
 
"Brad Alexander is just getting back from a knee strain," Hughes said. "He has practiced all week and we'll see how he does before we determine his availability for Saturday. I don't know how his conditioning is right now.
 
"Alex Brown is one of our captains and he anchors the whole thing. Alex is a do everything right all the time type of guy. He does everything with a lot of effort and he shoots alligators, so I don't mess with him very much."
 
Beyond the offensive line, there are a lot of new faces and first-time starters on the offense. That all starts at quarterback where redshirt junior Alex Piccirilli steps in to run the offense. At 6-4 and 226 pounds, Piccirilli is bigger and stronger than previous Stetson quarterbacks. Throw in that he is one of the fastest players on the roster, and he gives the Hatters a weapon that opposing defenses will have to account for on every snap.
 
"He is bigger than the guys we have had," Hughes said. "He is stronger than the guys we have had, and he is faster than the guys we have had. What I have seen is that his accuracy throwing the ball has gotten better as he has developed more confidence in the guys he is throwing to. The timing between a quarterback and receivers takes time to develop and we lost all of that time last spring and over the summer when you normally develop that."
 
In the five games he played in as a backup in 2019, Piccirilli completed 16-of-31 pass attempts for 248 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. His lone TD pass came in the game against Davidson when he hooked up with Justin Curtis for a 49-yard score. He also ran the ball 23 times for 218 yards and three scores, including runs of 65 and 45 yards.
 
"One thing that Alex does, when he misses a pass where it is his fault, he is really hard on himself," Hughes said. "He has to make sure he has the shortest memory in the world and go play the next play. What you did on the last play doesn't matter, it is what you do on the next play that matters most. He has the ability to create a lot of things. Hopefully, our line will play well enough where they will have to blitz and we'll be able to take advantage of some of the places that are left open."
 
Keeping Piccirilli healthy will be a key for Stetson to have success because depth at quarterback is a concern. Redshirt freshman Donovan Tabon is the only other quarterback on the active roster so, if injuries or other issues strike at that position, receivers Curtis and Connor Becker might be next in line.
 
On the subject of receiver, Curtis is the top returning producer and one of only six returners to have ever caught a pass for Stetson. Curtis was second on the team with 28 receptions in 2019, but has been slowed in preseason work by a toe injury. He and sophomore Quinton Lane will the primary targets at one receiver spot while Becker, a sophomore, and freshmen Deven Thompson will be on the other side.
 
Inside, at the slot/H-back/tight end positions are a combination of young players with one veteran. Jalen Mason, who sat out the 2019 season as a transfer from Jacksonville, will be in the slot, but can also operate out of the backfield as a former running back. Graduate student Jeremiah Nails will also alternate between all three spots with sophomore Michael Carley and redshirt freshman Brady Rhodes also in the mix.
 
"I think we have the ability to really confuse defensive coordinators because of our ability to vary personnel and line up in different formations," Hughes said. "We have guys like Carley who can line up at tight end, in the wing or in the slot because he has the body to do that. Jeremiah is the same, so we have the ability to mix things up. It is going to be interesting to see how we do.
 
"We are much longer at receiver than we have ever been and we like our young receivers. Connor Becker is another guy is really long and made some catches last year. We like those receivers a lot and the chemistry between those guys and Pic is improving all the time and we hope it continues to improve as this season goes along."
 
Like at quarterback, the running back position is a little thin to start the year with 2019 PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year Jalen Leary out for the opener. The Hatters will also be without Samford transfer Moise Satine this spring after he suffered an injury. That will leave Jacksonville transfer Jordan Younge-Humphrey to carry the load early. The sophomore will get some help from redshirt sophomore Juan "Olu" Wilson, who will make his Stetson debut in the opening game.
 
"Jordan has good balance, good vision and he cuts really well," Hughes said. "He can also catch the ball. He and Jalen are almost mirror images of each other, Jalen is just a little quicker. We think Jordan is going to be a big contributor this year.
 
"No one has worked hard than Juan Wilson has. He has been working out at the Edmunds Center, in the parking lot, anywhere he could find to work, since this whole thing started. He is the first member of his family to attend college and, when he first got here, he didn't know if he belonged or even if he deserved to be here. He really struggled both on the field and academically. Since that time, I have really seen his confidence grow. The more he practices the better he is getting. I am excited to see what he is able to do on Saturday and I think he will be ready."
 

Defense

 
Like on the offensive side of the ball, the strength of the defense is at the line of scrimmage where veterans Greg Moore and Fermon Reid, both redshirt junior, lead a deep unit. Even with the loss of defensive end Bryson Richards, who is out for the spring with a knee injury, the front line is three deep all the way across.
 
One big addition to the unit has been graduate transfer Nolan DeFranco. A native of Winter Park, he came to Stetson after four years at the University of North Carolina. At 6-6 and 263, DeFranco brings size and speed to pair with the physicality of Moore and Reid.
 
"He is fast for a guy that size," Hughes said. "When you look at our defensive line, we probably have the most depth we have ever had there. Besides Fermon Reid, Greg Moore and DeFranco, we have Jeffrey Lu and Ed Hernandez who can step in at nose guard and there is not much of a drop off. Jack Benzija is another tall, 6-6 or 6-7, kid who is really coming into his own. We also have Josh Hughes, and I wish I had 100 Josh Hughes. He was a grayshirt who came in here from the start and did everything we told him to, has worked his butt off and is as tough as nails."
 
The linebacker corps is also deep, but has just one returning player from 2019 with experience – outside linebacker Hunter Stephens. That doesn't mean there is a lack of experience because the 2019 PFL Defensive Freshman of the Year, Ethan Hull, came into the program from Jacksonville and has made an immediate impact.
 
"We had six captains and then JJ Henderson decided to transfer for graduate school at Indiana State," Hughes said. "Halfway through fall camp, the coaches and the other captains came to me to say we need to make Ethan a captain. I went to him to ask what he thought, and he said he didn't think he had been here long enough to earn that kind of honor. He didn't think he deserved it. That is just who he is. I told him that he really does deserve it because he was doing such a really good job as a leader. So, we appointed him as a captain, and that gives you a sense of the kind of character he has."
 
Hull had 84 tackles at JU in 2019, including 15 at Marist. He was also an Academic All-PFL selection. He joins with Stephens, the leading returning tackler for the Hatters with 48, to anchor the middle of the defense.
 
Another newcomer to the defense, Majeste' Hansberry, has the potential to be another impact player at outside linebacker. The transfer from Fort Valley State led the Wildcats with 89 tackles in 2019. Unfortunately, Hasberry is out for the opener due to an injury.
 
So the third linebacker will likely be redshirt freshman Tallin Coates, with Connor Wilson, who switched over from fullback, and true freshman Kyle Shaouni also likely to see playing time.
 
"Kyle Shaouni is a guy who has really come on. He is really quick and is an ROTC guy," Hughes said. "Tallin Coates is almost 6-4 now and has really had a great winter camp. He is going to really be a good player. We have used him coming off the edge and we have used him to blitz inside. He is fast enough to bang on a tight end and cover him man-to-man down the field if needed. We are really pleased, not only with our depth on the front, but with the depth at linebacker."
 
The secondary for Stetson is also deep with a good bit of experience. The development of sophomore Rassie Littlejohn at free safety allowed the Hatters to move playmaker Dwight Lawrence to one of the Dawg Safety spots, the same spot that earned Donald Payne multiple All-America honors. Sophomore Davion Maxwell will be at the other Dawg Safety with sophomore Jaylon Johnson and redshirt junior Nate Cureton holding down the corners.
 
The secondary has been bolstered by an influx of talented, but unproven, players. Sophomores Bryson Wilcox and Justin Roberson got a taste in 2019 and Alex Alteus has opened eyes since arriving from UNC Pembroke. Freshmen Jordan Williams, Alex Villas, Cody Hopkins, Jaytwon Peoples, Ben Blair and Micah Adams have all also shown the ability to contribute.
 
"Rassie Littlejohn has really played well and Micah Adams has come in as one of those freshmen who really benefitted from the fact that we didn't play in the fall," Hughes said. "Dwight is really playing well, and Justin Roberson will be his backup and he has had a great camp. What Dwight has is great instincts and we need his athleticism and leadership on the field.
 
"Jordan Williams may not be here for the first game because his sister just passed away from Covid, so he is home taking care of his family, as he should be. On the other side we have Davion Maxwell and Ben Blair, and both of those guys have been playing really well. I'll tell you another guy is Andy Petit-Homme, who has done a great job on special teams, but he is also a dawg safety."
 

Special Teams

 
Jaylon Johnson set program records for both punt return and kickoff return yards in a season in 2019 and will be the primary kick and punt returner again this spring. Justin Curtis will also be on kickoff returns and Hopkins, a freshman, may get a chance as well.
 
The changes for this spring on special teams are everywhere except the return game.
 
Jonny Messina, the all-time leading scorer at Stetson, is playing at Maine after spending the fall at Boise State. Punter Matias Gasc is at Miami as a grad transfer. Snapper Colin Wray is out for the spring with back problems and Gaven DeFilippo, who doubled as quarterback and holder, has graduated.
 
Throw in the loss of Richards and the big-play guy on the punt and kickoff coverage teams, and there are a lot of holes to fill.
 
Junior Brady Lawrence, who has handled kickoffs for the last two seasons, is back in that role. He is also in the conversation for field goals, especially from distance, and is the backup punter.
 
Redshirt freshman Cameron Gillis will handle PATs and short field goals to start the year because he has shown more consistent accuracy. Michael Wojciechowski, all of 5-7 and 167 pounds, will handle long snapping duties with Hunter Smallback snapping for PATs and field goals. The new punter, Jacksonville transfer Matt Clements, will double as the holder.
 
A native of Australia, who can use both the traditional technique for punts as well as the rugby style, Clements adds flavor to the Stetson roster.
 
"A lot of people have character on this team, he is a character," Hughes said. "He is older than the rest of the guys, and he always wants to run the fake and always wants to be the guy calling the shots. He has done a good job as the holder on PATs and field goals, but also as the leader of the punt team. We trust him and I am anxious to see how he does when the game gets going. He is probably more comfortable with the rugby style, so that is probably what we will emphasize initially. He is a really good athlete and can really run. If he gets an opportunity, and the other team doesn't stay to make sure he kicks it, he is fast and will take off."
 

Coaching staff

 
The offensive staff remained almost unchanged, with Russell Jackson stepping up from an analyst spot to take over coaching tight ends while also serving in the roles of recruiting coordinator and director of operations. Clayton, quarterbacks coach Scott Sallach, receivers coach Kyle Faxlanger and running backs coach Harry Richards all return.
 
On the defensive side, long-time coordinator Brian Young departed for Georgia Southern, but was replaced by one of his mentors in that role, Steve Davis. Jeremy Perkovich returns to coach the defensive line and Jonathan Johnson, after two years away, returned to the staff to coach linebackers. The lone newcomer is William Henry, who coaches defensive backs.
 
"Brian learned the defense from Steve," Hughes said of his defensive coordinator. "Steve has changed a little of the terminology and he has done some things to make the defense simpler. I know we are more versatile on the defensive front. We can play with three, four or five defensive linemen, but the way we get to it makes it easier for the kids to deal with. We should be able to keep guys fresh in there by substituting guys without much drop off."
 
Hughes said the time before the first game of the year is always butterfly inducing because you never know what might happen.
 
"When I stop getting nervous before games I need to get out," Hughes said. "When you are the head coach, you are a fireman, so you spend all day putting out fires. Going into games, you spend more time thinking about all the things that can go wrong rather than all the things that can go right. Unfortunately, that is what makes this game unique and when you don't know how people are going to react it can be nerve-racking."
 
The Hatters will get a chance to show if they are ready on Saturday afternoon. There will likely be plenty of butterflies, after all, it has only been 476 days since the team last played.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.