JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps football program is ready to kick off the 2024 season off with a 107-man roster led by key veterans and quality freshmen. Brandon Lechtenberg will be leading the charge as the new head coach and will be surrounded by seven members of his coaching staff.

Lechtenberg was a previous coach primarily on the defensive side of the ball at the University of Central Oklahoma, University of Incarnate Word, UT Martin, Millsaps College and Texas Christian University (TCU). 
 
From 2011-16, Lechtenberg was the Millsaps defensive coordinator. He helped the Majors win two SAA titles in 2012 and 2013, while leading the conference in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense in 2012. He also served as the football program's academic coordinator during his time in Jackson, Miss. This season the Majors can see a huge change in the football program's direction under Lechtenberg. 
 
Offensively the Majors will be returning an experienced squad at the offensive line position led by seniors Preston Hill and Peyton Parker, juniors Teezy Bright, Larry Francois III, Brendon Houston and Nick Swanson, sophomore Erik Contreras and William Maguire. Freshmen Ben Ragas and Jeb Sisk are also faces to watch. This group of men's will be the difference make on the team with blocking and protecting the quarterbacks on offense. Last season the Majors put up 2,614 offensive yards while scoring 18 touchdowns. 
 
The added depth to the roster as well sees seven freshmen quarterbacks battling for time under center. A pair of tight ends should spend time on the attack, including freshman Kaiden Reese and junior Simon Provenzano. Additionally, the running back room has new look with freshmen Hudson Byers and Chase Jacobs as well as sophomore Brydon Wesley-LaSarge among others. 
 
Appearing in all 10 games last season, junior Blake Wiley will be looking to carry the ball out the backfield while playing wide receiver as well. The transfer from Arkansas State quickly gained recognition on the field last season for his tremendous hard work. Wiley was third amongst the offense with 233 receiving yards. 
 
Senior Connor Ladner will also be looking to haul in passes as a wide receiver. The Diamondhead, Miss., native started in all 10 games for the Majors last season and finished second on the team with 22 receptions and 331 yards. Ladner tallied three touchdowns during his junior campaign. 
 
Freshman Davis Dare, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., will be looking to make an immediate impact on the team alongside returning sophomore Willie Elliott. Elliott appeared in eight games and grabbed 16 catches for 194 yards.

During the 2023 season the Majors threw for 2,008 passing yards while completing 14 touchdowns in the passing game. With the growth at the wide receiver and running back position, the Majors could possibly add more fire power. 
 
Anticipated on special teams is All-American senior punter Ethan Klapatch. Last season he tallied a career-high 2,289 punting yards and was second-best in NCAA Division III with an average of 45.78 yards per punt. He posted a long of 67 yards and had 13 kicks surpass 50 yards. 
 
Klapatch was named to the AFCA Division III Coaches' All-American Second Team, made the 2023 All-SAA First Team Defense, was a four-time D3football.com Special Team Athlete of the Week and earned SAA Football Player of the Week twice. 
 
Junior Bruce Foster will be tasked with long snapping to Klapatch and freshmen place kickers Connor Babin and Ty Miller. 
 
On the defensive side, the Majors will continue to make progress over last season. They were ranked fourth with nine forced fumbles last season in the SAA. 
 
Starting with the defensive line, junior Nicholas Eaton was a huge playmaker for the Majors during the 2023 season, he started all 10 games for the Majors and recorded 25 total tackles, three quarterback hurries, a forced a fumble and secured a fumble recovery. 

Classmate Braylon Wills, who was named All-SAA Honorable Mention, was prolific at getting into the backfield defensively in 2023. He tallied 8.0 tackles for loss, which ranked 17th most in the SAA. His tackles for loss pushed opponents back 32 yards.

The Moundville, Ala., product tallied 2.5 sacks, contributing to 18 yards for loss. He also forced two fumbles, tying with several players for fifth in the SAA ranks. Additionally, he totaled 26 tackles and added a pass breakup. 
 
Sophomore Jeremiah Hall also made the All-SAA Honorable Mention team on defense. He tallied the 25th-most tackles with 48 in his first collegiate season. His 31 solo stops sat 15th and his 4.8 tackles per game are 25th across the league as well.

A native of New Orleans, La., Hall also forced a fumble, tallied a safety and recorded three pass breakups at corner. He grabbed a game-sealing interception in a 14-8 win at Birmingham-Southern on Sept. 30.

Junior Nehemiah Coalson, was a key fixture on the Majors' defense a year ago. Coalson led the team with 59 tackles while adding three quarterback hurries, one interception and one breakup. He completed  his sophomore season with 10 starts and was 12th in the conference for tackles accumulated.

Senior Darren Labit was named the wearer of the No. 11 Juan Joseph jersey and will receive the Juan Joseph Memorial Award later in the season. During Labit's junior season, he started in all 10 games and made 22 total tackles, forced a fumble and blocked a kick as a strong safety. He was also on the 2023 Fall SAA All-Sportsmanship Team.

Other familiar names back on the defensive side include senior Bo Gilkison, juniors Creighton King, Matthew McDonald, Yahya Rashid and Gavin Williams, sophomores Luke Bridges, Nathan Johnson, Tre Jones, Jamison Rankins, with several freshmen and junior transfers looking to make an impact, among other returners.

Millsaps will begin the 2024 season in the Riverside Rumble against Belhaven on Thursday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Harper Davis Field with live video and live stats available at gomajors.com.

With six home games this season, chair-back season tickets are available at $175, and a general admission season tickets pass costs $50. Tickets can be purchased online though Eventbrite here. More ticket information can be found here as well.

2024 MILLSAPS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
 

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	NOTES
Thursday, Sept. 5	vs. Belhaven	7 p.m.	Riverside Rumble, Home Opener
Saturday, Sept. 14	vs. John Melvin	7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21	vs. Bridgewater	12 p.m.	2024 Millsaps College Hall of Fame
Saturday, Sept. 28	at Sewanee	12 p.m.	SAA Opener
Oct. 5 - Bye Week
Saturday, Oct. 12	vs. Centre	1:30 p.m.	Pink Out / Juan Joseph Memorial Award
Saturday, Oct. 19	at Southwestern	11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26	vs. Hendrix	2 p.m.	Homecoming
Saturday, Nov. 2	at Rhodes	3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9	at Berry	12 p.m. CT
Saturday, Nov. 16	vs. Trinity	1 p.m.	Senior Day

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the football program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.