COMMERCE – Six hundred and thirty-five days since falling to top-seeded Minnesota State in the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs, the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team returns to the gridiron this week at Colorado State-Pueblo. Coach David Bailiff enters his second season of competition at the helm of the football program and has set lofty goals for this year.
 
"We have a lot of talented young men, they are working hard and we are dreaming big," said Bailiff on the team's outlook for the 2021 season.
 
IT HAS BEEN A WHILE
Outside of the two World Wars, the Lions end the longest drought between games in program history when they take the field against Colorado State-Pueblo on September 2. In the last full season before the COVID-19 pandemic, A&M-Commerce went 11-3, finishing second in the Lone Star Conference and advancing to the regional final for the second time in three years.
 
"It has been a long time coming. This entire football team, athletic trainers, university, president, athletic director, everybody is really excited that we're finally here after what we all survived a year ago," said Bailiff.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
Despite the long offseason in the middle of a pandemic, the Lions retained every coach from the 2019 season and nearly all the underclassmen opted to return.
 
"We did not lose a coach. We have had great continuity there. The players know our style and there have been no surprises there," said Bailiff.
 
A&M-Commerce has 29 student-athletes on the roster who have already received their undergraduate degrees, many of whom are returning for their fifth or even sixth year. The 29 student-athletes with a degree are tied for the most on a roster this year with the University of Illinois among all levels of college football according to the National Football Foundation.
 
"There are not going to be a lot of new names that people have to learn. Everybody elected to return and have formed a special bond with each other," added Bailiff.
 
TALENTED CROP OF NEWCOMERS
Joining the squad this fall are 31 student-athletes who have transferred into A&M-Commerce. Sixteen of them come from the Division I level, including 11 from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Five of the 11 transfers from the FBS hail from Power Five schools.
 
"A lot of the transfers have made a difference. Especially in the defensive line, tight end, and quarterback," said Bailiff. "The majority of the transfers are really going to help this football team."
 
For a freshman to crack the 60-person travel squad is tough in any year, but it is especially tougher with every student-athlete who was on a roster last year being granted another year of eligibility and the large amount of transfers coming into the program.
 
Among the few freshmen that are expected to see action right-away are wide receiver Orvis Fowler (Houston - Waltrip) and offensive lineman McKenzie Agnello (Copperas Cove). Quarterback Brock Nellor (Mt. Vernon) has made great strides during fall camp and could push to be the signal caller for the Lions in the future. "He has a live arm and makes great decisions," said Bailiff.
 
"It is one of those years with the sixth-year kids. It is much harder to get on the bus this year as a freshman than any other time," added Bailiff.
 
SEASONED VETERANS
The returning student-athletes for the Lions continued to practice despite no outside competition throughout the 2020-21 academic year and are ready to go against another team.
 
"We have not played in two years, but we have trained hard for a year. We had two scrimmages where there was improvement after each one," said Bailiff.
 
With an experienced roster, the coaching staff worked on creating situational awareness with the team and making sure that the Lions are not hurting themselves.
 
"Early in the year, you lose more games than you win because you beat yourself by penalties, that is what we have been working on improving," said Bailiff.
 
TOUGH SLATE TO START
The Lions are not backing down from challenging some of the best in Division II to start the season. Two of the first three games come against top 12 teams in the nation in No. 12 Colorado-State Pueblo and No. 1 West Florida. The strong non-conference schedule is just the appetizer for the Lone Star Conference schedule, perennially regarded as one of the toughest conferences in Division II.
 
"We are excited about the schedule, said Bailiff. "We have got to be a veteran team week one, we do not have an easy game. We need to be a veteran team from the start and not beat ourselves."
 
THE FRONT SEVEN
Coming back in the front seven for the Lions are defensive linemen Elijah Earls (San Antonio - Stevens), Jaylon Hodge (Fort Bend Travis) and Devin Beamon (North Forney) as well as linebacker Xavier Morris (Converse - Judson). The defensive group under defensive coordinator Xavier Adibi recorded 3.38 sacks per game, which was eighth in the nation in 2019.
 
Transfers joining the front seven on defense include Celestin Haba (Columbia, S.C.) from Scottsdale Community College, Anthony Hayes (Panama City, Fla.) from Southwest Mississippi Community College, Darvis Holmes (Hinesville, Ga.) from Fullerton College, Cedrick Wilcox III (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) from Jacksonville, Peter Kazibwe (Colchester, Conn.) from Fullerton College and Austin Smith (Buford, Ga.) from Tennessee.
 
"They are all going to be really good players, fast and aggressive," said Bailiff. "Feel good about our depth there and the transfers have done exceptionally well for us so far."
 
THE BACK FOUR
The secondary group returning for the Lions include LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Dominique Ramsey (Converse - Judson) as well as Kader Kohou (Euless - Trinity) and Alex Shillow (Pflugerville). Joining the group is transfer D'Angelo Ellis (Cy Ridge) from Rice.
 
"We mostly return all the names that everyone is familiar with," said Bailiff.
 
THE UN-SUNG HEROES
The Lions enter the season with nine offensive linemen that Bailiff believes are capable of being starters. The group is led by reigning LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year, Amon Simon (Humble - Atascocita). Also returning along the offensive line are Christian Hernandez (Frisco - Lone Star), Travis Dafft (Prosper), Richard West (San Antonio - East Central).
 
The Lions are also expecting big things from transfers Anthonie Thomas (Houston - Madison) from Kilgore College and Stephan Zabie (Austin - Westlake) from Trinity Valley Community College.
 
Jo-Bentley Keilani (Tacoma, Wash.), a transfer from Mt. SAC College and Rehoboth Chibesa (Little Elm) a transfer from Cisco College also add depth to the offensive line.
 
EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS
There are four running backs on the Lions' travel roster, all four are in their fifth or sixth year in college. The backfield includes Antonio Leali'ie'e (Copperas Cove), Carandal Hale (Greenville), E.J. Thompson (Cy Ranch), and track All-American J.T. Smith (Klein Oak). 
 
Among the receiving corps, returners Chance Cooper (Leander - Rouse) and Matt Childers (Henderson) lead a group of talented wide receivers including transfers Kenedy Snell (Waxahachie) from TCU and Kevin Ledee (Cy Ridge) from Tulane.
 
Bailiff anticipates transfers Dante Vandenberg (Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) from Northern Iowa and Chris Dascher (Boca Raton, Fla.) from Florida Tech to be impactful right away.
 
THE SIGNAL CALLER
Going into the season, Jaiave Magalei (Tacoma, Wash.), a transfer from Louisiana, and Eric Rodriguez (Fort Bend Travis) are battling it out for the starting quarterback spot. Lone Star Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Miklo Smalls (Plano - East) is rehabbing a knee injury and is expected to return to the team later in the year.
 
"We have enough talent around the quarterback, so all we need from the quarterback is to just manage the game, take care of the ball. He doesn't need to win the game for us, just use the talent around him," said Bailiff.
 
MR. RELIABLE
Jake Viquez (Rockwall) returns to handle kickoffs and field goals. He went 15 for 21 from field goal attempts and earned second team all-LSC honors. He averaged 54.9 kickoff yards in 81 attempts.
 
"He is very talented kid. He looks like he has a hand on his foot, we put the ball where we want it. He's extended his range and has the ability to do all the kicks that Coach (Jack) Welch wants him to do," said Bailiff.
 
BATTLE AMONG THE PUNTERS
Emmanuel Adagbon (Mesquite - Horn) and Mitchell McGarry (Gregory-Portland) battled it out for the punting job throughout fall camp. McGarry is in his first year of college competition, Adagbon appeared in one game as a freshman in 2019.
 
"They are battling it out and we feel comfortable with either of them," said Bailiff.
 
ALL-AMERICAN RETURNER
Ramsey earned All-America status as a returner in 2019, totaling 814 return yards and two touchdowns.
 
"The players in our punt team are working their tail off, because they know that Dominique can take one back. Most people try not to punt to him, but he still goes there and gets it. He's an All-American for a reason," said Bailiff.
 
Kohou and Ellis are also anticipated to help out in the return game as well.
 
"We are very comfortable in our returners."
 
Bailiff and the coaching staff are looking forward to this week's matchup against Colorado-State Pueblo and get the season started. Kickoff for the game at the ThunderWolves is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
"We are extremely pleased where we are as a team right now. Wednesday, we get on a plane to Colorado Springs and bus down to Pueblo, looking forward to it," concluded Bailiff.