WAVERLY, Iowa—The Wartburg football team opens the 2022 season on the road against Monmouth Saturday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.

Last Season
The Knights went 7-3 overall and 6-2 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) games under first-year head coach Chris Winter. Wartburg had 10 players named All-Conference, which included First-team honors for Hunter Clasen and Antonio Santillan.

In addition, Santillan, Ethan Lape, Eli Barrett, and JoJo McNair were all tabbed All-Region by D3football.com.

Season Preview
Wartburg returns 14 starters and six All-Conference selections.

"We have a hungry group," said head coach Chris Winter at the annual Media Day. "We feel we were a play or two away from being a playoff team last year."

"You're going to see our front seven on defense be dominant, as all seven starters returner," he said. Those include Santillan, a preseason All-American selection by D3football.com, Owen Grover, Jordan Downing, Freddie Hosch, Donaven Juarez, Riley Konrardy, and Nate Link. Four of those are fifth-year players.

Winter sees the strength of the offense being in the backfield. "We have a stable of running backs," he noted. Clasen headlines that group and led the A-R-C in yards/rush last fall. Ben Bryant was an All-Conference as a return specialist and looks to contribute more on offense this year.

Nile McLaughlin will be the starting quarterback for the Knights. "He's really blossomed into what we thought he'd be after seeing time in the backup role in past seasons," noted Winter. "He's a very smart quarterback and can sling it really well."

The offensive line will be anchored by two fifth-year guys in Sam Reyes and Robert Kruse. Three players have been moved from the defensive line to add more athleticism to this group.

The top wide receiver returns in Drake George. The tight ends and kicking group are being developed due to graduations from those positions.



The Orange and Black will host UW-Stout in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. Wartburg is 13-0 in night home openers in the Walston-Hoover Stadium era (since 2001).