JACKSON, Miss. —The Millsaps College football team looks to continue their winning tradition, featuring a 129-man roster of 69 newcomers, 60 key veterans, two transfers, and a graduate student ready to win a conference championship and place their names on the All-Conference list at the end of the 2026 season.

The Millsaps College football team will be led by the 2024 Southern Athletic Coach of the Year Brandon Lechtenberg and his 10 assistant coaches: Julian Jean-Baptiste (Defensive Coordinator), Armani Lonardo Ball (Offensive Coordinator), Chris Corrado (Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line Coach), Taylor Martin (Co-Defensive Coordinator / Corners Coach), Roderick Gordon III (Wide Receivers Coach), Robert Baxley (Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach), Mason Wyllis (Director of Player Personnel / Safeties Coach), Master Davis (Defensive Analyst), Anthony Brunette (Running Backs / Tight Ends Coach), and Zach Cotten (Student Assistant).

The Majors tied for fourth in the 2026 Southern Athletic Association Preseason Poll, while sophomore Grant Bizjack, graduate Zabian Boutan, and senior Erik Contreras were all named on the 2026 C Spire Conerly Trophy Preseason Watch List.

During the 2025-26 season, the Millsaps football team finished third as a team with 25 total touchdowns while being first with the fewest interceptions, and third with 1,867 rushing yards offensively. On the defense, the Majors finished second in the league with 16 interceptions, second with nine forced fumbles, and third with six forced fumbles.

The offensive room will consist of four quarterbacks, Bizjack, senior Quez Goss, sophomore Blake Beal, and freshman Carl Reed Jr. The Majors will be returning to take back the sword from Belhaven while continuing to break records in the Millsaps College football record book with a championship mindset.

Bizjack totaled five SAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week accolades while also becoming a 2025 C Spire Conerly Trophy nominee in just his first collegiate season.

The Trophy Club, Texas, native stepped up as a young leader immediately by appearing in nine games while recording 21 touchdowns, boasting 2,243 passing yards, and 161 pass completions to flex his ability of what he can do on the field. He also finished his stellar season third in the Millsaps College football single-season record book with 309.2 total yards per game, adding additional accomplishments to his resume.

Goss, a quarterback who fits the Majors' run and passing game, appeared in six games while powering his way through defenders with 10 rushing attempts for 82 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. When on the field, he has the ability to make defenders miss tackles while plowing his way into end zone.

Coming out the backfield will feature 11 running backs that include seniors Tameron Patterson and Mitch Taylor; sophomore Mason Bean, and freshmen Jeremiah Brooks, Jitt Carr, Kevin Rogers II, Jacob Pompa, Kyle Capers, Mark Rhodes, Cole Garner, and DeAndree Franklin. 

With tremendous speed, Patterson has shown what he is capable of accomplishing as the Majors' starting running back. The Corinth, Miss., native appeared in all 10 games last season.

Patterson was named to the 2025 All-SAA Honorable Mention Team after scoring five rushing touchdowns, while registering 461 rushing yards and 476 rushing yards gained.

Gaining more playing time during the 2025 season, Taylor appeared in eight games, boasting 33 rushing attempts, 168 rushing net yards, and 170 rushing yards gained. A player fans want to keep an eye on as he looks to have a standout season on the gridiron. 

A total of six players will compete at the tight end position: junior Joel Vaughn II, sophomore Michael Griggs, and freshmen AJ Price, Kam Moody, Caden Nash, and DJ Ybarra.

Focusing on his offensive playbook and preparing himself for a spectacular season, Griggs will open his second year as a starting tight end to open against Belhaven University on Sept. 3.

Learning the tight end position after transferring from a running back from the prior year, Vaughn II will look to continue to help build the Majors offense as a veteran on the team. His hard work recently paid off inside the classroom after receiving the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship.

The offensive lineman will consist of 18 players: senior Erik Contreras, juniors Ben Ragas, Colin Varnado, Jeb Sisk, Aiden Gaines, sophomores Jackson Simpkins, Regan Touchstone, Kamden Dyess, Joshua Beychok, Kendrell Green, Dwight Wooten, Karson Johnson-Harris, and freshmen Sam Fetner, Jordell Baise, Wyatt Perritt, Many Heymann, and Andre Campbell.

Contreras will continue protecting the Majors run and passing game as a starting center. His leadership and commitment to the game of football earned his name on the 2026 C Spire Conerly Trophy Preseason Watch List, and he was a 2025 All-SAA Honorable Mention.

Last year Contreras guided the Majors to a 6-4 overall regular-season record while helping the team finish third as an offense. Super excited to see what Contreras will do this season as he looks to build his all-conference status.

Touchstone will be leading at left tackles, Ragas at left guard, Green at right guard, and Gaines at right tackle. Throughout the 2025-26 season, this group helped the Majors accumulate 211 first downs, 91 rushing first downs, and 103 passing first downs on the field.

There will be 22 wide receivers on the Millsaps College football roster: senior Willie Elliott, junior transfer Sean Johnson, juniors Davis Dare, Isaiah Sinclair, and Joshua Tew; and sophomores Derrick Tasby Jr., Cornelious Dates, and Armani Zamora.

Freshmen Zayden Reed, Amari Smith, Lance McGowen, Aaden Johnson, Cale Alexander, Rylan Mayeux, Tray Willis, Nate Trahan, Ja' Kevion Towns, Israel Johnson, Marquis Knight, Johnny McCarty, and Joseph Gautreau add to the core.

Tasby Jr. earned 2025 All-SAA Honorable Mention status in just his first collegiate season last year. The Fort Worth, Texas, native appeared in all 10 games, where he recorded 336 receiving yards while catching three touchdown passes.

Named on the 2024 All-SAA Honorable Mention squad, Elliott will be returning back to the field as one of the Majors leading wide receivers. Elliott dominated his junior campaign with two touchdowns. On Sept. 20 he recorded 79 receiving yards, including a 44-yard reception and a touchdown to help the Majors defeat Hendrix College, 41-19, in Conway, Ark.

Sean Johnson is transferring from Sewanee after placing his name on the 2025 All-SAA Honorable Mention list. During the 2025 season, Johnson played in all 10 games while making nine starts for the Tigers.

Johnson recorded 41 receptions for 589 yards with three touchdowns, while averaging 58.9 yards per game. He boasted two touchdowns against Rhodes College on Oct. 25.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Majors finished second in the conference with 16 interceptions and tied second as a runner-up with nine forced fumbles. Senior Nate Johnson will start as a left defensive end, with freshman Jaiden Collier sharing reps on the field behind Johnson as well.

Johnson appeared in all 10 games while making nine starts for the Majors and becoming an SAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week throughout the 2025 season.

The 2024 All-SAA Honorable Mention totaled 37 tackles (21 solo, 16 assists), five solo tackles for loss and two assisted tackles for loss, while adding one sack for three yards.

Johnson posted a season-high seven tackles vs. Sewanee on Nov. 15 while also adding two tackles for loss for four yards, one sack for three yards, one forced fumble, and one interception returned 20 yards (long 20) to help the Majors defeat the Tigers, 34-20.

Junior Decorian Warren will be leading at nose guard after seeing nine games of action where he accumulated five solo tackles and one assisted tackle. Warren also logged a season-high two quarterback hurries against Centenary College on Sept. 13. 

Leading at defensive tackle will be junior Myles Johnson. The Maurice, La., product earned 2025 All-SAA Second Team Defense honors and was named the D3football.com Team of the Week Defensive Tackle on Sept. 23, 2025. He played in all 10 games, making nine starts, and recorded 31 tackles (20 solo, 11 assisted), including seven tackles for loss totaling 31 yards. Johnson also added three sacks for 21 yards, one pass breakup, and tied for the team lead with three quarterback hurries.

Stopping opponents immediately in their tracks, Boutan will be starting as defensive end. His ability to get past offensive players will be a huge threat to the Majors' defensive tempo. 

Boutan will wear No. 11 in honor of Juan Jospeh this season. The graduate student was named to the 2025 All-SAA Second Team Defense after appearing in all 10 games during the 2025 season and making nine starts for the Majors.

He led the conference with six sacks and finished second on the team with 54 total tackles, including 29 solo tackles and 25 assisted tackles. He also recorded three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.

Boutan tallied two sacks against Sewanee on Nov. 15 and recorded seven tackles against Centre College on Oct. 4.

At the end of the season, he was selected as a 2025 Gagliardi Trophy nominee in recognition of his outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, and leadership.

Senior Jamison Rankins and junior Mikey Strain both will be leading the Majors as starting linebackers. Junior Kyle Veal Jr. and sophomore Ben Barron will be receiving playing time as well.

Veal Jr. is also a member of the Millsaps College baseball team. During the 2025 season, Veal Jr. appeared in nine games and made six starts for the Majors, totaling 26 tackles (11 solo, 15 assists), including two tackles for loss for eight yards and one sack for seven yards.

Rankins did not appear in any games during the 2025 season but has the ability to keep the Majors on top as a defense. 

Strain appeared in nine games, making four starts, and dominated the football field with 15 assisted tackles, five solo tackles, and three pass breakups.

The nickel spot will feature junior Cole Williams, who appeared in nine games, recording eight solo tackles and 15 assisted tackles. Defensive backs will be led by junior starters W.H. Carver, Justin Smith, and Elias Allen, and redshirt sophomore Brewer Bailey.

The special teams unit will be starting punter and sophomore Jace Vasquez, who appeared in all 10 games during the 2025 season.

Vasquez recorded 38 punts for 1,430 net punt yards, including five punts inside the 20-yard line, four touchbacks, and four punts of more than 50 yards. On September 20, he booted two punts for more than 50 yards to help the Majors defeat Hendrix College, 41–19.

Place kickers will be led by junior Connor Babin. During the 2025 season, Babin was named to the All-SAA First Team Offense and the D3football.com All-Region 3 Second Team Offense after leading the conference with nine made field goals on 12 attempts.

Starting all 10 games for the Majors, Babin recorded a 75.0 percent field goal percentage, which ranked first in the conference and 27th in the NCAA Division III national rankings.

On kickoffs, Babin recorded 63 kicks for 3,721 total yards, averaging 59.1 yards per kickoff and producing 24 touchbacks. He finished the season with 48 PAT attempts and 41 PATs made, ranking second and tied for third, respectively, in Millsaps' single-season football record book.

He also ranks fifth in field goals attempted (12) and sixth in field goals made (nine), and his 44-yard field goal is tied for fifth in program history.

Long snappers will consist of sophomore Landon McGrath taking charge and Davis Dare as a special teams returner. 

Dare appeared in all 10 games, making eight starts, and led the team with 18 punt returns for 240 yards, including a season-long 37-yard return. He also recorded five receptions for 75 yards and two receiving touchdowns, highlighted by a season-long 65-yard reception as a wide receiver.

He added seven kick returns for 136 yards, including a season-long 37-yard return. He posted a season-high 70 punt return yards, including a season-best 32-yard return, at Rhodes College on Oct. 11, while also recording season highs of two receptions and 31 receiving yards with a touchdown.

Millsaps will open their 10-game slate, which features six home contests, hosting Belhaven University in the Riverside Rumble on Thursday, September 3, at 7 p.m. The Majors will look to repeat their success at home against the Blazers, following a 2024 triumph.

2026 Millsaps College Majors Football Schedule

Home games in ALL CAPS
 
 
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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.