The Davenport University football team will be entering its 10th season in 2025 and has quickly made a name for itself. Over the past three years, the Panthers have accumulated 23 wins, including three straight winning seasons under head coach Sparky McEwen. McEwen is back for his ninth year on the sidelines and has built a consistent winner. The Panthers are predicted to finish fourth in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, but they have their sights set on pushing for a conference championship.

The Panthers finished with a 7-4 record last season, with three of those losses coming against nationally-ranked teams no lower than No. 11 in the polls at the time of the game. After a pair of road wins over Thomas More and Bowie State to start the season, Davenport fell by a single point (32-31) to No. 11 Central Missouri and Harlon Hill winner Zach Zebrowski. The Panther defense once again put up great numbers and limited Grand Valley State and Ferris State to 24 points in their matchups.

The Panthers will be ushering in a healthy number of newcomers with 38 transfers set to join the program. Davenport has 48 returning letterwinners and lost 37 letterwinners. They also return 17 starters, while losing 20 different starters, including offense, defense, and special teams.

The quarterback spot will be a strength, according to McEwen. Highly-touted D'Wan Mathis is back after appearing in seven games in his first season at DU. Mathis made his first start against Wayne State on Oct. 19, 2024, but due to injury, he missed the rest of the season. He was beginning to show signs of progression after going 14-of-21 for 171 yards and two scores at Michigan Tech on Oct. 12. He completed 5-of-8 passes for 94 yards and a score before the season-ending injury. He finished the season with 580 passing yards and a 59.2 percent completion percentage. He also ran for 112 yards and another touchdown. VandenHout appeared in five of the final six games and earned two starts against Northern Michigan (Nov. 9) and Ferris State (Nov. 16). He earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors in the win over NMU with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while also throwing for 156 yards and two more touchdowns. He then completed 19 passes for 170 yards in the season finale at FSU.

The running back position leaves a big hole with the departures of Myren Harris and Caleef Jenkins. Harris, a two-time GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year, led the conference in rushing each of the last two seasons and is Davenport's all-time rushing yards leader. Jenkins, a bulldozer between the tackles, was limited to three games in 2024, but still is the all-time rushing touchdown leader at DU (18). Cephus Harris, the younger brother of Myren and current defensive back Myles, is a transfer from Youngstown State. D'Marco Singleton joins the Panthers after appearing in 29 games previously at Wayne State.

The wide receiving room was bolstered by the addition of Keonta Nixon and the return of Demetrius Garrett. Nixon, a transfer from Roosevelt, was named First Team All-GLIAC in 2024 after leading the league with 98.6 receiving yards per game. He also led the GLIAC with 21.1 yards per reception for the Lakers, who were playing their first season of NCAA Division II football. Garrett was out of the year in game two at Bowie State, but is looking to make an impact in 2025. He has 38 catches for 493 yards and four touchdowns as a Panther. Clint Walker at tight end is another player to watch as Davenport will try and integrate more pass-catching opportunities in their offense for the big target (6-3, 240) out of Goshen, Indiana.

The offensive line has one of the best first units in the conference. DU returns four starters up front with the likes of Zach Slapnicker, Nevin Summerfield, Adam Sarjo, and Armony Baskin. This veteran quartet combined for 27 starts last season for an offense that averaged 23.4 points and 325.1 yards per game. The offensive line in total allowed just 22 sacks in 2024, including just seven through the first five games.

The defensive line will miss the production of Geemontae Peck, who finished third on the team in tackles and was second on the team with 4.5 sacks. Deeb Alawan was also very efficient in his one season at DU, leading the team with 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Austin Stief is primed for a breakout campaign on the edge. Stief played in all 11 games last season and finished with 36 tackles and eight tackles for loss. On the interior, look for increased production from Jaremey McQueen (12 tackles in 2024), Kennedy Nelson (18 tackles in 2024), and the return of a healthy Jamon Gibson. Gibson was banged up last preseason camp and missed all of 2024.

The linebackers return a solid pair who ranked in the top six in total tackles last season. Latrell Scott was second on the squad with 55 tackles and played in all 11 games. He had 31 solo stops to go with 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Jamar Mills appeared in eight games and was still sixth on the team with 41 tackles. Mills had one sack for a loss of nine yards and a pass breakup.

The defensive secondary will be without All-American Cam Grodhaus, who tore through the GLIAC in his lone season after transferring from Lake Erie. Grodhaus completed the season with a GLIAC-leading 94 tackles and set the single-game record at DU with 25 against Northern Michigan on Nov. 9. The team also lost Justin White and Christian Jones, who ranked fourth and fifth in total tackles a year ago. This year's mix includes Diamond Evans, Xavier Marquez, and Myles Harris. Evans played in nine games in 2024 and finished with 22 tackles and seven pass breakups. Marquez played in just one game against Central Missouri, but finished with nine tackles, including two tackles for loss. Marquez did play in all 10 games during the 2023 season and finished third on the team with 43 tackles. Harris played in eight games and compiled 15 tackles and a fumble recovery.

The special teams unit will greatly miss the consistency of Brandon Gielow. The three-time All-GLIAC performer is the school's all-time leading scorer with 188 points. He connected on 12-of-16 field goals and 31-of-31 extra points in 2024. There is currently a very competitive camp battle between a host of newcomers to handle the primary kicking duties. Alec Wojahn has the punting duties secured after averaging 38.7 yards per attempt as a freshman in 2024. Wojahn had a long of 51 yards and 10 punts inside the 20-yard line.

The Panthers will be tested right away in 2025 with three straight road games to open the season. First up is the week zero contest at Gannon on Aug. 30 in Erie, Pa. Then, a formidable opponent in Truman State, who is predicted to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The team will have a week off to prepare for that matchup on Sept. 13 in Kirksville, Mo. The GLIAC opener is in the Superior Dome on Sept. 20 against Northern Michigan. The home opener is a rare night game against Lincoln (Calif.) on Thursday, Sept. 25, beginning at 7:30 PM. This year's homecoming game is slated for Oct. 11 at 2:00 PM against Michigan Tech. If the Panthers can navigate the early part of their schedule, the final four games will all be at home against Roosevelt, Saginaw Valley State, Northern Michigan (non-conference), and Ferris State in the Calder City Classic.