JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps football program is set to begin the 2025 season with a 106-man roster, featuring both newcomers and several experienced veterans.
  
Brandon Lechtenberg will be entering his second year as Millsaps' head football coach after being named the 2024 Southern Athletic Association Football Coach of the Year last season, along with eight members of his coaching staff.

The staff includes defensive coordinator Julian Jean-Baptiste, offensive coordinator Armani Lonardo Ball, offensive line coach Chris Corrado, safeties coach/co-special teams coordinator Taylor Martin, running backs/tight ends/assistant head coach & co-special teams coordinator Ridge Murphy, cornerbacks/director of player personnel & recruiting Warren Zugbaum, linebackers coach Master Davis and wide receivers coach Roderick Gordon III.

On the offensive side of the ball, six quarterbacks will compete for a starting position ahead of the 2025 season.

Currently atop the depth chart is freshman Grant Bizjack in the mix with sophomore Ian Burleson and junior transfer Quez Goss.

Bizjack joined the team in the spring after quarterbacking at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club, Texas, just northwest of Dallas.

Burleson will be making his way back onto the field after throwing for 126 passing yards the previous year, including a longest pass of 44 yards, against Belhaven University on Sept. 5.

Appearing in five games as the backup during his freshman campaign, Burleson also threw an impressive 12-of-22 passes and a touchdown against Southwestern University, helping the Majors defeat the Pirates, 17–14 on Oct 19.

Looking to maintain the Majors' offensive threat, Southwest Mississippi Community College transfer Goss looks to continue his passion for football following a successful career with the Bears. In 2023, Goss appeared in seven games for SWMCC, throwing for 859 yards and six touchdowns, while completing 74-of-136 pass attempts.  
 
Other freshmen quarterback looking to make an impact will include Blake Beal, Cohen Peeples and Gerrell Perry.  

Taking pride in protecting the quarterback, senior offensive lineman Larry Francois III will return to lead his group after being named an All-SAA
Honorable Mention last season and starting all nine games for the Majors. 

Junior Erik Contreras, another offensive lineman to keep an eye on, also started in all nine games for the Majors last season. Contreras was a helping hand when it came to passing and running protection on the Majors' offense. He is listed on the team's starting center.  

Other veteran offensive linemen will include seniors Skyler Shank (eight appearances, five starts) and Nick Swanson (two appearances). Redshirt senior Teezy Bright returns after an early-season injury last year.

Junior Brendon Houston along with sophomores Jeb Sisk (six appearances, four starts), Aden Gaines (three appearances), Colin Varnado (two appearances), Ben Ragas (six appearances, five starts), and Ethan Schoen will see time in the trenches.

Freshmen offensive lineman listed on the two deep include depth core will include Karson Johnson-Harris, KJ Green and Reagan Touchstone. 
 
Sophomore Chase Jacobs will be returning to carry the load for the Majors from the backfield after appearing in all nine games with five starts.

Jacobs finished his freshman campaign with 391 yards, seven touchdowns, the longest gain of 46 yards, and 31 receiving yards.

On Oct. 26 Jacobs set a season high with 114 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns to help the Majors triumph over Hendrix, 27-26.

Other upperclassmen running backs will include junior redshirt Mitch Taylor and senior James Floyd.

Known as an excellent route runner and a reliable scoring threat in the end zone, junior Willie Elliott will return for his junior after being named to the 2024 All-SAA Honorable Mention Team last year.

Elliott finished 10th in the conference with 536 yards, sixth with 4.3 receptions per game, and seventh with 59.6 average yards per game.
 
Senior Blake Wiley, another deep threat for the Majors, will be returning to the wide receiver group as well.

Last season Wiley finished fourth on the team with 10.7 average yards per catch after appearing in six games.

In addition, sophomore Davis Dare will be heading back to the field. During the 2024 season, Dare appeared in all nine games while making eight starts as a freshman.

Dare finished with 71 receiving yards, 99 punt return yards and 127 yards off of kickoffs. On Oct. 19, Dare scored his first collegiate touchdown to help the Majors beat Southwestern, 17-14 in a thrilling road matchup.
 
The Majors also added Taj Colom II, a junior transfer from Coahoma Community College. Colom II appeared in four games for the Tigers, recording one touchdown, 15 receiving yards and 109 total all-purpose yards.

Expect additional contributions from sophomores Greg Donaldson and Isaiah Sinclair along with freshmen Corey Carr II and Derrick Tasby Jr. at wideout.
 
At the tight end position, senior Simon Provenzano will look to add more playing time after appearing in five games for the Majors last season. Freshmen Michael Griggs and Sean Wyers complete the tight end room.

On the defensive side of the ball, Millsaps was ranked fourth in the conference with seven fumble recoveries and tied for third with nine fumbles forced a year ago.

As a defensive threat to their opponents, the Majors accumulated a total of 668 tackles, 63.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 35 breakups. 

Senior Nehemiah Coalson, the wearer of the No. 11 jersey memorializing the late Juan Joseph, will be returning to the playing field after being named to the Majors' 2024 C Spire Conerly Trophy nominee. The award recognizes the state's most outstanding college football player. 
 
A member of the 2024 SAA All-First Team, Coalson was tied for second in the conference with 4.5 sacks, while also ranking second with 8.2 tackles per game.

The junior sat third with both 74 total tackles and 35 assisted tackles. His 39 solo stops were seventh in nine contests. He also made the D3football.com All-Region 3 Team as member of the Third Team Defense.  
 
Coalson was named SAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week on Oct. 21 after delivering a key fumble recovery and returning it for a touchdown in the Southwestern triumph.
  
Other defensive notables will include 2024 All-SAA Honorable Mention sophomore Myles Johnson and junior Nate Johnson.

Myles Johnson appeared in all nine games, where he started eight at defensive tackle.

His pressure helped the Majors generate 18 sacks and hold five opponents to 26 points or fewer. Individually, he recorded 22 tackles (12 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss (TFLs), 2.5 sacks (24th in the SAA), two forced fumbles (second in the SAA) and one pass breakup.
 
Nate Johnson impressed with nine starts at defensive end. His 32 tackles ranked sixth on the team.
 
Johnson was a ballhawk, adding eight quarterback hurries and blocking a crucial PAT against Hendrix on Oct. 26.

Sophomore W.H. Carver was a dual threat in special teams and on defensive. He ranks third with 308 return yards and 15 returns, which offered a healthy 20.5 yards per kickoff attempt.

As a corner back, the Memphis, Tenn., product was second across the conference with 12 pass breakups. He also amassed 26 tackles, 21 solo stops, 2.0 tackles for loss, grabbed an interception and also recovered a fumble in a win at Sewanee. This season he is listed as a defensive back and wideout option.
 
Senior Luke Bridges is another key player to watch. Last year, the defensive back ranked sixth on the team with 46 total tackles, including 29 solo and 17 assisted tackles.

The Walnut Hill, Fla., native completed his sophomore season with 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Other defensive players currently atop of the depth chart include senior Zabian Boutan, sophomores Ray Albright, Brewer Bailey, Elias Allen, Justin Smith and Mikey Strain.

Sophomore special teams specialist Connor Babin looks to continue kicking well for the Majors after being named SAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week twice last season.

During his junior year, Babin appeared in all nine games where he totaled 2,056 kickoff yards with a 54.1-yard average.

On Oct. 19, Babin propelled a season-high 46-yard field goal to help the Majors secure a 17-14 triumph over Southwestern.

Other top listed special team players will include senior long snapper Bruce Foster and freshman kicker and punter Jace Vasquez.
 
Expect junior Tameron Patterson, a Northeast Mississippi Community College transfer, and Dare to split return duties.
 
Millsaps will begin the 2025 season in the Riverside Rumble at Belhaven University on Thursday, Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with live video and live stats available at gomajors.com.

The 2025 schedule features four home games and season tickets will reserve chairback seating at midfield on the home sideline. 
 
Each chairback season ticket is available for purchase at $150. Tickets can be purchased online though Eventbrite here. Online customers will have the option to have their tickets delivered by mail or be held at will call. 
 
Chairback season tickets also include two tear-off passes, one beverage pass to be used at the beer garden or concession stand (soda, sports drink or water) and a second concession stand pass (Major dog, nachos or popcorn). A valid ID must be displayed at the beer garden for purchase. 
 
Season tickets can also be purchased, via cash or check, in person at the Millsaps College Athletics office. 
 
Without a season package, general admission cost for each home game will be $10 at the gate. Children eight years old and younger as well as Millsaps students and staff with a current Millsaps school ID will be admitted free. 
 
If you have a large group or charitable organization and would like more information on football season tickets, please call 601-974-1190.

2025 MILLSAPS COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
  

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	NOTES
Thursday, Sept. 4	at Belhaven	7 p.m.	Riverside Rumble
Saturday, Sept. 13	vs. Centenary	6 p.m.	Hall of Fame Game
Saturday, Sept. 20	at Hendrix	1 p.m.
BYE WEEK
Saturday, Oct. 4	at Centre	12 p.m. CT	SAA Opener
Saturday, Oct. 11	at Rhodes	1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 18	vs. Maryville	1 p.m.	Homecoming
Saturday, Oct. 25	at Berry	12 p.m. CT
Saturday, Nov. 1	vs. Southwestern	1 p.m.	Juan Joseph Memorial
Saturday, Nov. 8	at Trinity	1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15	vs. Sewanee	1 p.m.	Senior Day

 
 
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College football program follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook and visit gomajors.com.   
 
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.