WICHITA, Kan. – Coming up with the proper number of superlatives to describe what we've recently witnessed of head coach Terry Harrison's Friends University Falcons can seem futile. Every season there's more firsts to add to the previous season's firsts, and this year's team will aim for a third straight KCAC championship along with all the other eye-popping numbers the 2026 campaign seems certain to include.
To unpack last season's run, the Falcons achieved the following:
* Led all four-year colleges in points per game (54.2 ppg)
* Won program record 12 games
* Captured second straight KCAC championship
* Advanced to the NAIA FCS quarterfinals for first time in school history
* Broke own NAIA single-season rushing record (5,979 rushing yards)
* Tied for first in the NAIA in sacks (41)
Now heading into the upcoming 2026 season, there's little reason to believe that the machine that Harrison has built won't continue to rack up wins, compete for championships and put up numbers that will be discussed long after the season concludes.
"We are excited to get back on the field in a competitive environment," said Harrison. "Our young men take great pride in competing for KCAC Championships and are going to give a third KCAC title in a row our best shot."
Whatever heights the Falcons manage to achieve this season will be behind a new signal caller, as K'Vonte Baker departs after setting his own modern-era single-season record of 30 rushing touchdowns and ending his career with a modern-era mark of 3,645 rushing yards while most importantly being at the helm of all the Falcons' historic victories.
Harrison says returning quarterback Walker Overman will get the starting nod, who fortunately received ample playing time last season due to the Falcons ability to maintain comfortable leads in the second half. Overman flashed breakaway rushing ability as a freshman out of Gunter, Texas, scoring four touchdowns that included a 64-yard scamper. DJ Dingle, a senior from Wichita, is also a welcomed returnee on the roster and rushed for 76 yards and one score last year after scoring a pair of touchdowns the previous season.
In his first year of starting, Overman will undoubtedly benefit from a pristine offensive line and a productive stable of running backs.
Returning to anchor the Falcons' offensive line is Kyree Watkins, who paved the way for the nation's all-time single-season rushing unit and was named the KCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year and earned a plethora of All-America honors for his efforts. The Falcons also bring back KCAC Preseason All-Bissell Division Team selection Connor Herman along the offensive line. Herman received ample playing time as a freshman last year and should continue to assert himself on one of the most dominant units in the nation.
"Kyree has been as successful as any offensive lineman in KCAC history as far as production," said Harrison. I am so grateful that he chose to play a fifth season! Connor actually rotated equally last year with Kel Stroud. He will just not rotate quite as much this season but will be a big part of what we will be able to do."
Highlighting the returning running back corps will be All-KCAC first-team performers E'derian Sykes and Nick Cordova. Sykes, also an honorable-mention VSN All-America selection, served up 971 rushing yards along and eight rushing touchdowns in 2025. Cordova was right behind with 908 yards on the ground and tied for second on the team with 10 scores. Also rushing for 10 touchdowns was Michael Lopez, who was an all-around force after accumulating 733 rushing yards while escaping for an 80-yard punt return touchdown to receive second-team All-KCAC honors as both a running back and on special teams. Providing the Falcons with supreme running back depth will be Evan Cantu (323 rushing yards, three TD's), Jud Cheatham (310 rushing yards), Elon Conley (275 rushing yards, three TD's) and Elias Pino (116 rushing yards). Pino is particularly intriguing, as he was limited to six games last season but was first-team All-KCAC selection the previous year.
"Our returning running back group features guys that have been very productive during their careers," Harrison noted. "We are going to lean heavily on them to get our offense going. We will be tied as a team in a lot of ways to their ability to produce yards/points."
With the flexbone offense the system of choice for the Falcons, they don't put the ball in the air a lot overall. But when they do expect returning All-KCAC second team performer Sam Becker to factor into the equation. Becker caught four passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in 2025, while Lopez also hauled in four receptions out of the backfield with two scores. DJ Pearson had three catches, with two of those receptions going for touchdowns and should also factor in this season for the Falcons.
Allowing the Falcons to play complimentary football with a high success rate was the Falcon defensive unit under former defensive coordinator Paul Kempf. Kempf stepped down from the role following the 2025 season, with former Falcon defensive back Nolan Ewing taking command of the unit as the program's new defensive coordinator.
"It's been fun to watch Nolan come back in a coaching role after coaching him as a player," said Harrison. "We will continue to do some of the things that we have always done but him and Coach (Mason) Murray will definitely add their own flavor to our defense."
The defensive unit will need to reload under Ewing, with all four first-team All-KCAC performers on defense either graduated or no longer with the team.
The cupboard is far from bare though, as second-team All-KCAC linebacker Tyson Wallace is back to patrol the field after producing a 2025 season that featured leading the team in tackles (66) and ranking second in tackles for loss (11.5). Third-team All-KCAC defensive back Wetu Kalomo also returns as a key member of the secondary. Kalomo had one interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in an impactful 2025 campaign.
Linebacker Cooper Skrobecki and a pair of defensive linemen in Tyler Lane and Leshaon Davis are also expected to play major roles on the Falcon defense following productive performances last year. Skrobecki had 49 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks, while Lane recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and Davis tallied 8.5 tackles behind the line and two sacks last season. Senior defensive back Brock Zerger (39 tackles, one interception) and junior linebacker Cale Milleson (23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss) will also be counted on to contribute to the Falcons' defensive efforts this season.
What is undoubtedly true, on both sides of the ball, is the opportunity for returners and newcomers alike to earn their role and make their mark on the team for the upcoming season.
"We are fortunate that our program has created an expectation of 'stick it out' and earn your way," said Harrison. "So we may not see any freshman newcomers contribute this season, but I definitely see some larger roles for some of our veterans that will be fun to watch. I would anticipate Elon (Conley), Walker (Overman), and Mikah Rocco to be a few of the guys that will have larger impacts on the game than last season. Having said that, there are always surprises and young men that take advantage of opportunities, so I am excited to see all of that unfold alongside the rest of the Friends community."
The 2026 season officially begins for Friends on Aug. 29 at Bethany College, with the home opener slated for the following Saturday (Sept. 5) against Avila University.
The Falcons, the 2024 KCAC Kessinger Division Champions and the 2025 KCAC Bissell Division champs, will officially open the Bissell Division schedule with an intriguing pair of matchups at McPherson College on Oct. 17 and at home vs Southwestern College the following Saturday (Oct. 24). McPherson finished last season ranked No. 22 in the final NAIA Top 25 Coaches' poll, one spot behind Southwestern, who occupied the 21st spot.
In the recently released KCAC Bissell Division Preseason Coaches' Poll, McPherson was picked first, one point and one spot ahead of Friends, while Friends was first and McPherson second in the KCAC media poll to add an extra layer of intrigue to the contest on Oct. 17.
"It's been awesome to see our conference get better and better," said Harrison. "It will be a tough season and I'm excited to see our kids respond to whatever adversity or success comes our way!"
