Hot on the heels of the team’s first Div. I playoff victory, the Wildcats and fourth-year head coach Keith Patterson’s goals stay the same: go undefeated at home, win the conference championship and go on to play for a national championship.
“They never change,” Patterson said.
The 2024 season was one of the best in program history for the Wildcats. The team went 9-5, won the United Athletic Conference with a 7-1 record, lost just one game at Wildcat Stadium and won its first Div. I playoff game against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks.
“The playoff win was huge for this program and for the city of Abilene,” said linebacker Will Shaffer. “We’ve got a taste of what it takes to get to the playoffs. Now we need to just continue to work to stay there and keep going round after round.”
Shaffer, redshirt senior from Tempe, Arizona, led the defense in 2024 with 123 total tackles and secured a victory on Oct. 5 for the Wildcats with an interception off University of Central Arkansas quarterback Will McElvain.
Following the most successful season of his career, Shaffer is determined to continue his growth alongside his teammates as they prepare for the 2025 season.
“I’m just trying to do everything I can to stack days and be a leader for this team,” Shaffer said. “We just take each day one day at a time… Just keep doing what we’re doing to keep galvanizing this football team and this defense.”
The Wildcats’ season ended on Dec. 7 with a loss to the eventual FCS Champions, North Dakota State University, by a score of 51-31. Since the loss, the team has undergone several key changes, including an overhaul of the offense. Quarterback Maverick McIvor transferred to Western Kentucky University, leading rusher Sam Hicks graduated, and leading receiver Blayne Taylor signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Additionally, the Wildcats graduated offensive linemen Jacob Thielen, Alan Hatten and Carson Walker, while Tay Yanta and Trent Pullen transferred to the University of North Texas and University of Memphis, respectively.
In 2025, the team will have a new look on offense under Offensive Coordinator Graham Harrell. Harrell, a College Football Hall of Famer, will take over for Rick Bowie, who accepted the offensive coordinator position at WKU. Harrell, while recognizing the significance of experience and games played as a team, is confident in the chemistry and talent of this year’s roster.
“You can’t replace the amount of reps and what that gives you as a unit,” said Harrell. “But as camp has gone on, I think that we’ve seen the group really grow… We have a talented group, just an inexperienced and talented group.”
The new-look offense under Harrell will have a new quarterback that is still to-be-announced. Transfers Stone Earle, redshirt senior from Marshall University, Cade Fennegan, redshirt senior from Brigham Young University, and John David Black, redshirt freshman from East Carolina University, join Quayde Hawkins, redshirt senior from Troy University, in the potential quarterback pool.
“We have some talent in that room,” Harrell said. “They’re all four very, very different people and very different players… They all bring something different to the table, but I think they all have the ability to play at this level and can be really special at this level.”
The Wildcats will start the season on the road when they take on the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In week two, the Wildcats will welcome Stephen F. Austin University to Abilene as they take on the former Southland Conference rival. Week three, the Wildcats will travel to Amon G. Carter Stadium and face the TCU Horned Frogs at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Tulsa and TCU will be the two FBS opponents the Wildcats face in addition to three pre-season ranked FCS opponents and two others that are receiving votes: Southern Utah University and Eastern Kentucky University.
After the road game against TCU, the Wildcats will begin UAC play against Austin Peay State University in Abilene. After just one UAC contest, the Wildcats will get back on the road and take on the pre-season No. 5 FCS-ranked University of Incarnate Word Cardinals. After the Sept. 27 showdown, the Wildcats will play every game in conference with four of the seven remaining games on the road, including a battle in the final week of the regular season with UCA on Nov. 22.
“This is by far from top to bottom the best coaching staff I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Patterson said. “We’re all on the same page, no hidden agendas, and everyone understands who we are and here’s where we’re headed.”
