The 2021 Ohio Wesleyan football team finished a game away from a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference championship, and head coach Tom Watts and the Battling Bishops look to return to conference title contention in 2022.

"We're younger but just as talented as last year's team," Watts said.  "We need to do the little things right and navigate through the first game, which can be a challenge with a younger team, but this team has worked really hard and the chemistry is really good."

The Bishops return an outstanding defensive line, anchored by a pair of all-conference players.

Junior end Marquel Henry (Dayton/Chaminade Julienne) led the NCAC in tackles for loss and shared the league lead in sacks on the way to first-team all-conference recognition in 2021.  Junior tackle Travis Sanders (Mount Gilead/Thomas Worthington) ranked among the league leaders in both sacks and tackles for loss and was an honorable mention all-conference pick.

Sophomore tackle Terrell Burton II (Reynoldsburg) also is a returning starter, and sophomore end Tyler Yanka (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) moves up to a starting spot this season.

Junior end Riley Louck (North Lewisburg/Triad) and junior end Tommy Brunty (Barberton) also return, and freshman end Nick Missler (Bellevue), an all-district selection in high school, and freshman end Tim Root (North Royalton) will contribute.

At linebacker, senior Trevar Meese (Wooster) and senior Ethan Brooker (Waverly) are back at one outside spot, with Meese ranking fifth on the team in tackles in 2021.  Junior Alhaji Sidibe (Columbus/Beechcroft) takes over in the middle, and sophomore Seth Anderson (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) moves into the other outside position.  Senior Gavin Krska (Barberton) and sophomore Bryar Ramey (Polk/Mapleton) return in the middle and outside positions respectively.

Senior Ian Riddle (Perrysburg), an All-NCAC choice in 2019, and sophomore Isaiah Radcliff (Ostrander/Richwood North Union) are returning starters at cornerback, with junior Tyler Neal (Massillon/Canton Central Catholic) and sophomore Gavin Wilson (Centerburg) also back.  

Senior Jake DelCampo (Northville, Mich.) takes over at strong safety, and sophomore Drew Thornton (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) moves into the free safety spot, with senior Nick Cianciola (Massillon/Canton Central Catholic) and sophomore Moses Romero (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) ready to contribute, along with sophomore Sammy Stoner (Dublin/Jerome) and sophomore Anthony Tressler-Hughes (Delaware/Buckeye Valley).

An experienced line will be the foundation of the Ohio Wesleyan offense, with junior guard Sean Kessel (North Olmsted/Lutheran West) and junior tackle Brandon Planey (Mount Gilead/Galion Northmor) returning starters.  Senior center Connor Volpe (New Canaan, Conn.), junior tackle Jalen Buffington (Cleveland/Ginn Academy), and junior guard Brock Beier (Bellevue) are set to move up into starting spots.  Versatile senior Ben Warden (Marysville), junior tackle Dillon Shelton (Solon); freshman center Duston Sanders (Mount Gilead/Galion Northmor), a third-team All-Ohio pick in high school; freshman guard Blake Dichler (Creston/Norwayne), an all-county honoree in high school; freshman guard Andrew Bentz (Marysville); and freshman tackle J.D. Wallace (Cincinnati/LaSalle) all will contribute on the line.

The quarterback spot is up for grabs.  Junior Austin Womack (Hurricane, W.Va.) and junior Kaden Buza (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) each have starting experience, and sophomore Zack Leonard (Niles/McKinley) also is in the mix.

They will be throwing to a group of receivers led by junior Jakii Alston (Pickerington/Central) and senior Caden Calhoun (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe), a transfer from Ohio Dominican.

Freshman Josh Hurst (Port Clinton) won All-Ohio honors in high school and freshman J.T. James (Hurricane, W.Va.) was an honorable mention all-state selection in high school.  

Senior Walker James (Hurricane, W.Va.) moves outside from a tight end spot, while freshman Evan Dunham (Ann Arbor, Mich./Skyline); freshman Daniel Morra (Franklin, Tenn./Battle Ground Academy), an all-region pick in high school; freshman Tyler Webb (Port Clinton), an all-conference selection as a wide receiver in high school; and freshman Jason Harris (Delaware/Olentangy Berlin), an all-district choice in high school; also look to make an impact.

Sophomore running back Jackson Gifford (Ross/Hamilton Ross) is the team's top returning rusher.  Senior Cam Jones (Cleveland/Shaker Heights), junior Jahi Broussard-Nash (Delaware/Hayes), and freshman Devon Haley (Granville), an All-Ohio selection in high school, will give the Bishops different looks out of the backfield.

On special teams, junior Gabriel Chlebowski (Toledo/St. John's) looks to take over as the placekicker and punter.  Alston and Thornton will handle the returns.

Ohio Wesleyan opens its season on Sept. 3 against Otterbein and continues with a non-conference game at Illinois Wesleyan.  The NCAC schedule kicks off on Sept. 24 at Kenyon, and includes contests against defending champion DePauw on Oct. 22 amd co-2021 runner-up Wittenberg on Nov. 5.