2022 NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Football program has hopes of making a bigger splash on the national radar in 2022. Following a successful 7-3 campaign in 2021, the Bulldogs picked up three points in the 2022 NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll (sponsored by FirstDown Playbook) and were listed among teams receiving votes. The first poll of 2022 was unveiled on Monday (Aug. 1) by the NAIA.
The official GPAC preseason poll has not yet been released. Based on the national poll, Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad is picked to finish fourth in the GPAC. Three GPAC schools appeared in the NAIA preseason top 25: No. 1 Morningside, No. 3 Northwestern and No. 21 Dordt.
Daberkow’s squad returns seven starters on offense and six on defense. The headlining returners include tight end Garrett Schardt and center Johnny Robinson III. Also on offense, the Bulldogs bring back quarterback DJ McGarvie, who threw for 19 touchdown passes last season. Defensively, lineman Jordan Kavulak tops the holdovers with his nine tackles for loss in 2021. The Concordia defense limited foes to averages of 19.3 points and 311.6 yards per game last season.
The 2022 slate will kick off at Doane on Sept. 3. The first home game is slated for Sept. 17 versus Hastings as part of homecoming weekend on campus.