Another season of D3 college football is here, and the Wilkes University Colonels are part of the season opener this Thursday. The Colonels are opening up the 2025 season with the 29th annual Mayors Cup against King’s College.
This game has opened up the season for the Colonels since leaving the MAC Freedom conference for the Landmark Conference in 2023. The Colonels won the contest last season 43-28 at King’s.
The Colonels had 29 seniors graduate from last year’s class including some key starters such as QB Xavier Powell, RB Elijah Jules and DB Donell Mackey-Woodson. However, the colonels return a strong core of players on both sides of the ball.
Some notable names being LBs Tyler Wetzel and Tallen Murray, DB Rob Barbieri and Wide Receivers Juju Fears and Justin Moore. Nick Volpone also returns with 46 PATs made.
On top of these returning starters, the Colonels brought in a few transfers and close to 50 first year players. Some of these transfers and first year players will be important pieces for the team this year. Wilkes also has a new play caller as Kyle Dickerson who was the Special Teams Coordinator last season is now the Offensive Coordinator.
Although there are many new faces, most have been around the program already, knowing how important this game is for both the team and the rest of the season.
For the first year players and transfers who will be playing their first game in a Wilkes uniform, this game is a great start for their career playing for Wilkes University. The Colonels were projected to finish 3rd in the Landmark this season.
King’s College is coming off a very successful season finishing with a 10-2 record. The Monarch’s only losses last season were to Wilkes, and Salisbury in the 2nd round of the NCAA D3 playoffs. Kings losses QB Russel Minor-Shaw who threw for over 2,000 passing yards last season.
The Monarchs do return Running Back Brennan Robinson who ran for 837 rushing yards last season. King’s College is projected to tie for 1st place in the MAC this season with Delaware Valley.
The passing game will be key in this game for Wilkes as they return a great group of playmakers on offense. Guys such as Juju Fears, 5th Year Justin Moore, and Danny Pigga who will also be doing return duties for the Colonels.
Along with that, there will be a new face at QB. There has been competition between Senior Cooper King and Junior Anthony Torres. Whoever the signal caller will be, they will sure have a great group of receivers coming back to work with.
The run game will look a little different after only returning 2 starters up front on the offensive line and the loss of All Landmark and Third Team All-Region 2 RB Elijah Jules.
Defensively, the Colonels return a good amount of talent and will have to really hone in on stopping the run against the Monarchs as that will be their strong suit coming into 2025.
Kickoff is set for 7PM at Schmidt Stadium on Thursday for the 29th Annual Mayor’s Cup