Buena Vista University Beavers
	Head Coach: Jay Anderson (Ninth year at Buena Vista, 33-47 overall [8 years]) 2013 Record: 4-6 overall, 4-3 IIAC (tie-third) Starters Returning/Lost:  9/2 offense, 6/5 defense, 1/0 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  27/12 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 4 (1978) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result): 2 (1986; lost to Central 37-0 in first round)

 
Buena Vista returns 15 starters and 27 letter winners from last season’s 4-6 team that finished in a four-way tie for third in the Conference with a 4-3 record. The Beavers, who return four all-conference players at skill positions on offense, ranked fifth in the league in total offense at 346.9 yards per game relying heavily on the league's third-ranked passing offense (232.9 ypg). Senior quarterback Bobby Brown, a second-team all-conference pick, completed 161 of 328 passes last year for 2,307 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He ranked third in passing average (230.7 ypg) and total offense (241.0 ypg) and seventh in pass efficiency (120.2). Brown also ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Four of five starting offensive linemen return, which should buy Brown more time in the pocket and help the team cut down on the 23 sacks allowed a year ago – a figure that ranked third-worst of the eight IIAC schools.
 
Joining Brown in the backfield is senior running back Dylan Barrett. Barrett, a second-team all-IIAC pick as a returner in 2012, rushed for 714 yards on 172 carries and three touchdowns in only eight games. He ranked third in the conference in rushing at 89.2 yards per game and sixth in all-purpose yards at 96.0 yards per game.
 
Brown's two primary targets from a year ago also return – senior tight end Adam Cave and junior wide receiver Jalen Henningsen. Cave, a first-team all-conference selection, hauled in a team-high 51 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the conference in receptions per game (5.1 rpg) and sixth in receiving yards per game (60.2 ypg). Henningsen, named to the all-IIAC second team last year, caught 43 passes for a team-high 748 yards – an average of 17.4 yards per catch. He also returned three punts for an 8.7-yard average and two kickoffs for a 17.5 per-kick average. Heningsen ranked third in the league in receiving yards per game (74.8), tied for sixth in receptions per game (4.3) and was 10th in all-purpose yards (87.9 ypg).
 
The Beavers will be looking for improvement from a defensive unit that ranked sixth in the league in total defense at 398.5 yards per game. Defensively, Buena Vista will be led by a pair of seniors and a junior. Junior strong safety Kyle Arnold ranked second on the team and 11th in the conference in tackles with 74. He also had 3.0 tackles for loss, one sack, broke up six passes and forced a fumble.
 
Senior linebacker Derek Schwartz was fifth on the team with 60 tackles while also posting three tackles for loss and one interception. Senior defensive end Matt Schmidt posted 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
 
On special teams, sophomore Tyler Stolen returns. Stolen, who earned first-team all-IIAC honors at both punter and placekicker last season, converted 24 of 25 PATs and a league-leading 11 field goals for 57 points. He ranked third among kickers and sixth overall in scoring. Stolen hit a season-long 46-yard field goal against Concordia-Moorhead, nailed three kicks against Luther and hit a game-winning 25-yard field goal in the final minute of Buena Vista's 29-28 win over Dubuque in the season finale. As a punter, Stolen averaged a league-high 40.3 yards per punt. Of his 44 toal punts, 11 landed inside the 20-yard line and seven went for touchbacks. He had at least one punt of 40 yards or more in nine of 10 games, including a career-long of 62 yards against the Spartans.
 
Buena Vista head coach Jay Anderson says, “We have a good core of players returning on offense. Defensively, we will have some guys that played last year step into starting roles. The conference race should be fun to watch this fall.”
 
 
 

Central College Dutch
	Head Coach: Jeff McMartin (11th year at Central, 79-27 overall [10 years]) 2013 Record: 6-4 overall, 4-3 IIAC (tie-third) Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4 offense, 3/8 defense, 3/1 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  37/29 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 30 (2009) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result): 20 (2009; lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor 42-40 in first round)

 
Central returns 13 starters and 37 letter winners from last season’s 6-4 team that tied for third place in the Iowa Conference with a 4-3 record. The 2013 Dutch offense ranked only seventh in the IIAC in total offense (301.1 ypg) but return three of five starters on the offensive line including senior right guard Ryan Collins. As a unit, Central allowed 19 sacks.
 
Collins & Co. will be charged with opening holes for senior running back Josh Osborn. Osborn, a first-team all-conference pick last season, ranked second in the conference in rushing with 936 yards on 185 carries and six touchdowns. He also ranked third in all-purpose yards (131.8 ypg), fifth in scoring (5.4 ppg), and ninth in total offense.
 
Senior wide receiver Brendon Boerm will be a target for senior quarterback Aaron Eisler. Boerm made 43 catches for 378 yards and four touchdowns, ranking sixth in the league in receptions per game (4.3) and 10th in in receiving yards per game (37.8). Eisler threw for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, ranking fifth in the league in passing yards and total offense (150.3 ypg).
 
Central returns only three starters from a defensive unit that led the Iowa Conference in nearly every major category a year ago – scoring defense (13.1 ppg), total defense (277.7 ypg), rushing defense (112.9 ypg), pass defense (164.8 ypg) and pass defense efficiency (94.3). The group also ranked second among IIAC schools in sacks with 28.
 
Senior linebacker Mitch Schroeder played in only nine games a year ago, but led the team in tackles with 79 while adding 7.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one pass break-up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He ranked fourth among IIAC players in tackles and 20th in tackles for loss.
 
Senior defensive back Eric Larson and senior free safety Jake Edleman will anchor the defensive backfield. Larson, a two-time all-conference pick who also earned second-team all-region honors last season, ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 52 with 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 12 pass break-ups and a forced fumble. He ranked second in the league with 14th passes defended and 36th in tackles. Edleman, a 2013 second-team all-conference selection, was sixth on the team with 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three inteceptions and two pass break-ups. He has led or shared the conference lead in interceptions (league games only) the past two seasons.
 
Senior placekicker Kevin Sheldon earned first team all-conference honors for the third year in a row after ranking sixth in the IIAC (and second among kickers) in points scored. He converted 29 of 30 PATs and was 10-of-15 on field goals for 59 points.
 
Central head coach Jeff McMartin says, “A number of teams return some outstanding players. Central looks to to have an balance between returning starters and newcomers. The 2014 season will be exciting.”
 

Coe College Kohawks
	Head Coach: Steve Staker (Seventh year at Coe, 46-18 overall [6 years] 2013 Record: 7-3 overall, 4-3 IIAC (tie-third) Starters Returning/Lost:  4/7 offense, 1/10 defense, 0/2 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 27/26 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 4 (2012) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result): 8 (2012; lost to Elmhurst 27-24 in first round)

 
Coe returns five starters and 27 letter winners from last season’s 7-3 team that tied for third in the conference with a 4-3 reord. There has been significant turnover on both sides of the ball, however, meaning that a much different team will take the field in 2014. Senior left tackle Lathan Bass, a first-team all-conference pick last season, will anchor a rebuilt Kohawk offensive line and will be primarily responsible for protecting the backside of junior quarterback Josh Rekers.
 
Rekers played in 10 games a year ago, completing 153 of 266 pass attempts for 1,872 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranked fourth in the conference in passing average (187.2 ypg), total offense (180.9 ypg) and pass effiicency (129.5).
 
Junior wide receiver Elijah Phillips played in nine games last season, pulling in 35 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns, ranking second on the team in catches and yards. He'll be joined by Nick Lenstra. A year ago, Lenstra ranked third on the team with 18 catches for 272 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. He also returned seven kickoffs, averaging 27.7 yards per return.

Senior linebacker Gaetano Tarantino is the only returning starter on a Kohawk defense that ranked second behind Central last season in scoring defense (16.0 ppg) and pass defense (167.9 ypg). Of the team's top 10 tacklers from last season, only two return – Tarantino and fell senior linebacker Mitch Berendes. Tarantino ranked second on the team with 63 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, six pass break-ups and and two forced fumbles. He ranked 20th among IIAC defensive players tackles.
 
Supporting Tarantino will be Berendes and senior defensive tackle Matt Schmitz. Berendes was sixth on the team with 47 tackles while adding 2.5 tackles for loss. Schmitz played in nine games, making 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also broke up one pass and recovered a fumble.
 
“Coe will have a lot of question marks with only two starters returning on defense and four on offense. Our expectations are to get better every day and week,” says Coe head coach Steve Staker. “The conference race I believe is also a question mark. At lot of teams lost key players. I'm going with Wartburg just because they are the defending champions. BV might be the darkhorse if they can get off on a winning note.”
 

University of Dubuque Spartans
	Head Coach: Stan Zweifel (Sixth year at Dubuque, 60-49-2 [11 years]) 2013 Record: 5-5 overall, 4-3 IIAC (tie-third) Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4 offense, 10/3 defense, 1/1 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  28/16 Iowa Conference Titles (Last):  7 (2011) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result):  3 (2011; lost to North Central [Ill.], 59-13, in first round)

 
Dubuque returns 18 starters and 28 letter winners from last year’s 5-5 squad that finished in a four-way tie for third with a 4-3 mark. Senior offensive linemen Dominique Ravenell and Chris Scott return to anchor a line that helped Dubuque lead the conference in scoring offense (34.9 ppg), total offense (439.8 ypg), and passing offense (313.7 ypg). Offensive line play will be key early on as the Spartans try to settle on a replacement at quarterback for the graduated Bryan Bradshaw.
 
Dubuque's new signal caller will be helped out immensely by the presence of senior wide receiver Tyler Rutenbeck. Rutenbeck, a senior who received all-America honors from the Associated Press, AFCA and D3football.com last season, pulled in 68 passes for 1,269 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, leading the Iowa Conference in all three categories. He also led the IIAC in scoring (13.2 ppg) and all-purpose yards (149.6 ypg) when his 12 kickoff returns for 227 yards are figured in.
 
Also figuring into the offense will be senior tight ends Lee Jones and Tyler Dobratz. Jones, an all-IIAC honorable mention last season, ranked fourth on the team with 30 catches for 317 yards and a touchdown. Dobratz caught 13 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
 
For a team that has excelled offensively the past few seasons, this year's Dubuque team may start with defense. With eight starters back from last season and two others who started in 2012, the Spartans will look to improve on a group that ranked third against the pass (195.6 ypg), sixth against the run (137.9 ypg) and fifth overall (333.5 ypg).
 
Up front, juniors Zack Marotta and Eric Peterson return from a unit that ranked second in the IIAC in turnover margin (+8) and third in sacks with 23. Marotta posted 32 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. He also broke up a pass and recovered a fumble. Peterson made 18 tackles and 5.0 tackles and tied for the team lead with 5.0 sacks. He tied for fifth in the conference in sacks.
 
The linebacking corps will be led by juniors Blaine Snitker and Trevor Stauner. Snitker, a first-team all-conference pick, led the team with 92 tackles, posting 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and two pass break-ups. He averaged 9.2 tackles per game to lead the conference and tied for ninth in tackles for loss. Stauner ranked third on the team in tackles with 64 whille also posting 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, one interception, two pass break-ups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
 
Another strength of the Spartans will be their depth in the defensive backfield. Senior defensive back Vincent Whipple, a second-team all-conference pick last season, ranked second on the team in tackles with 73. He added 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception, four pass break-ups and a forced fumble. Whipple ranked 12th in the conference in tackles. Also back are junior Reggie Cole and senior Dylan Ramsey. Cole, a second-team all-league selection, posted 39 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, two interceptions and nine pass break-ups. He ranked third in the conference in passes defended with 11 – 1.1 per game. Ramsey missed last year due to an injury but earned all-IIAC honorable mention honors in 2012 after posting 57 tackles and tying for second among league players in passes defended (10).

Junior placekicker Curtis Prull also returns after finishing 2013 a perfect 45-of-45 on extra points and 6-of-10 on field goals for 63 points. He was the league's top scoring kicker and ranked third overall. Three of his six field goals came against Central and he converted a season-long 40-yarder against Wisconsin-Platteville.
 
Dubuque head coach Stan Zweifel says, "The 2014 season will be a very competitive one in the IIAC, although Wartburg will be my pick as the favorite. I think five teams have a legitimate shot to win the championship. How fast we develop our quarterback play and our depth issues will dictate whether we will be contending for the league title.”
 
 
 

Loras College Duhawks
	Head Coach: Steve Helminiak (Second year at Loras, 15-35 overall [6 years]) 2013 Record: 1-9 overall, 0-7 IIAC (eighth) Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4 offense, 9/2 defense, 0/2 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  43 / 38 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 0 (n/a) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result): 0 (n/a)

Loras returns 16 starters and 43 letter winners from last season’s 1-9 team that finished eighth in the Conference with an 0-7 record. The Duhawks return nine on defense, led by a trio of senior safeties – Dave Pirkle, Tucker Brady and Mike Canevello. Pirkle, an all-IIAC honorable mention in 2012, ranked third on the team with 54 tackles. He also posted 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and six pass break-ups. He ranked 32nd among IIAC players in tackles and 11th in passes defended. Pirkle also averaged 20.0 yards on 16 kickoff returns. Brady played in six games, registering 22 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Canevello was limited to two games but made eight tackles and had two of Loras' seven interceptions last season.
 
Junior linebacker Logan Kuehl ranked second on the team in tackles with 80 stops, making 1.5 tackle for loss, one pass break-up and one fumble recovery. Senior defensive end Will Tumberger was fourth on the team with 48 tackles while posting team-highs with 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He ranked 10th in the league in sacks and ninth in tackles for loss.
 
Seven starters return on offense, led by junior running back Nate Carrier. Carrier, a first-team all-conference pick after leading the conference rushing in 2012, rushed for 629 yards and all three of Loras' rushing touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 43 yards. Carrier finished seventh in the conference in rushing.
 
Senior wide receiver Nate Even was limited to four games last season, but still tied for second on the team with 13 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Tom Zoeckler played in all 10 games, making six catches for 52 yards.

Sophomore returner/wide receiver Danny Willis was Loras' primary kick returner last season. Willis, who earned second-team all-conference honors for his efforts, returned seven punts, averaging 9.1 yards per return, and 32 kickoffs for a 16.9 yard-per-return average. Willis also hauled in five passes for 39 yards.
 
Loras head coach Steve Helminiak says, “We are excited to get the season underway and competing in the always tough and competitive Iowa Conference.”
 
 

Luther College Norse
	Head Coach:  Aaron Hafner (Second year at Luther, 2-8 overall [1 year]) 2013 Record:  2-8 overall, 1-6 IIAC (seventh) Starters Returning/Lost:  6/5 offense, 5/6 defense, 2/0 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  28/21 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 11 (1978) NCAA Postseason Appearances (Last/Result): 2 (1970; to Capital [Ohio] 34-21 in Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)

 
Luther returns 13 starters and 28 letter winners from last season’s 2-8 team that finished seventh in the Conference with a 1-6 record. The Norse return six starters for an option offense that averaged a league-leading 273.1 yards per game on the ground last season. The team's top three rushers are back, led by senior Josh Vos. Vos, a second-team all-IIAC pick, ran for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns to rank fourth in the conference in rushing and second in scoring (7.8 ppg). He added three catches for 24 yards to rank eighth in the league in all-purpose (91.2 ypg).
 
Senior quarterback J.J. Sirios, who was a coaches' honorable mention as a kick returner in 2012, played in seven games last year, running for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, he completed 17 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Joining Vos and Sirios in the backfield will be senior Alex Hain. Hain ranked third on the team with 327 yards and one touchdown on 50 carries. He was also the team's number two receiver last season, making seven catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Making holes for Vos, Sirios and Hain will be an offensive line led by senior left guard Ryan Harrod. The Norse allowed only eight sacks a year ago.
 
The Norse will be led defensively by linebackers Matt Larson and Aric Elton. Larson, a senior, posted a team-leading 91 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and two pass break-ups. He ranked third in the conference, averaging 9.1 stops per game. Elton, a 2013 all-IIAC honorable mention, was second with 82 stops, including 8.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, three pass break-ups and a forced fumble. He ranked seventh in the conference in tackles and 14th in tackles for loss.
 
Senior defensive end Dan Wheelock was fourth with 50 tackles and matched Elton and Keaton Palo for team-high honors with 8.0 tackles for loss. He also added 2.5 sacks.
 
In the defensive backfield, junior defensive back Cody Berger returns. He played in all 10 games, making 33 stops with a team-high three interceptions. Berger broke up three other passes and recovered a fumble.

On special teams, senior placekicker Blane Maher converted 21 of 27 extra points a year ago while averaging 50.7 yards per kickoff.

Luther head coach Aaron Hafner says, "We should be improved in many aspects of our football program. Our players and coaches have worked extremely hard in the last year to improve our culture, strength and speed. We are extremely excited about our leadership and the focus of our team.

“The Iowa Conference will be extremely competitive from top to bottom. Each week will present new challenges that will require complete focus each Saturday afternoon. There are five to six teams that could win the IIAC if things fall their way. Each of those teams return some great athletes that will have huge impacts on the outcomes. Staying healthy and winning games on the road will be the keys for the team that comes out on top.”
 
 

Simpson College Storm
	Head Coach: Jim Glogowski (Seventh year at Simpson, 30-30 overall [6 years]) 2013 Record: 7-3, 5-2 IIAC (second) Starters Returning/Lost:  5/6 offense, 4/7 defense, 2/2 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  42/23 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 12 (1997) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result): 6 (2003; lost to St. Norbert 26-20 [2OT] in first round)

 
Simpson returns 11 starters and 42 letter winners from last season’s 7-3 team that finished second in the Conference with a 5-2 record. One of the first orders of business for the Storm will be to settle on replacements for dual-theat quarterback Taylor Nelson, last year's IIAC Offensive Player of the Year, and all-conference receiver/returner Brad Vogel. One positive to that process will be the return of four starters on the offensive line, which should give the new signal caller additional time in the pocket. Leading that group will be junior Corey Meyer, a second-team all-conference pick last year. Meyer started seven games.
 
Also assisting in that transition will be senior running back Ethan Calvert. Calvert rushed for 130 yards and one touchdown a year ago and hauled in five passes for 23 yards.
 
Senior wide receiver Nate Connealy, a 2013 coaches' honorable mention, is the team's top returning receiver. He caught 32 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Walker Holland, another senior wide-out, hauled in 16 paddes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Storm will look to a trio of seniors to rally a defense that ranked seventh in the conference overall last season, giving up an average of 412.2 yards per game. Up front, that mantle will be assumed by senior captains Clay Finley and Alex Severn. Finley, a defensive end who earned second-team all-conference honors last season, registered 31 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and four pass break-ups. He ranked seventh in the league in both sacks and tackles for loss. Severn, a defensive tackle, played in all 10 games last season. He ranked sixth on the team with 35 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also broke up a pass.
 
Senior outside linebacker Brandon Abernathy is the team's top returning tackler. Last season, he was second on the squad – and 17th in the conference – in tackles with 65 while also making 8.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack.

Simpson will also benefit from the return of senior placekicker/punter Logan Klein. Klein punted 46 times, averaging 35.4 yards per kick with long of 55 yards and 18 kicks inside the 20. He also made four of five PAT attempts and averaged 57.8 yards per kickoff.
 
Simpson head coach Jim Glogowski says, “I expect our team to compete week in and week out. I really like the way this year's group has approached the offseason. The league once again looks to be wide open and could go down to the final weekend. I am looking forward to kicking things off on September 6th.”
 

Wartburg College Knights

Head Coach: Rick Wills (16th year at Wartburg, 128-34 overall [15 years]) 2013 Record: 9-3 overall, 6-1 IIAC (champion) Starters Returning/Lost:  10/1 offense, 7/4 defense, 2/0 special teams Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  35/19 Iowa Conference Titles (Last): 13 (2013) NCAA Playoff Appearances (Last/Result): 10 (2013; defeated Illinois Wesleyan 41-7 in first round; lost to Bethel [Minn.] 34-27 in second round)

Wartburg returns 19 starters and 35 letter winners from last season’s 9-3 team that won the program's 13th Iowa Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. With 10 starters returning on offense alone, the Knights should have little trouble maintaining the balanced attack (48.7% run, 51.3% pass) that ranked second in rushing offense (194.3 ypg), third in total offense (398.7 ypg) and scoring offense (31.0 ppg) and fifth in passing offense (204.3 ypg).
 
Junior Logan Schrader split time at quarterback last season with senior Taylor Jacobsmeier, but now has the job all to himself with Jacobsmeier's shift to wide receiver full time. He threw for 1,346 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago, completing 56.8 percent (117-206) of his passes. Schrader also ran for 446 yards and four scores. He ranked sixth in the conference in total offense (149.3 ypg) and passing average (112.2 ypg).
 
Protecting Schrader will be seniors Chris Brinkmeier and Casey Krull. Brinkmeier was a first-team all-league pick who earned second team D3football.com all-region honors a year ago. Krull earned second-team all-IIAC honors from the coaches last year. The pair anchor a line that ranked second to Luther in fewest sacks allowed with 16, albeit with a decidedly less run-heavy offense.
 
Joining Schrader in the backfield will be junior Brandon Domeyer. Domeyer, an all-IIAC second-teamer last year, ran for 918 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 76.5 yards per game. He also caught 19 passes for 155 yards and another touchdown. Domeyer ranked sixth in the league in rushing, fifth in scoring (6.0 ppg) and ninth in all-purpose yards (89.4 ypg).
 
Jacobsmeier and fellow senior Donald Miller will be a pair of targets for Schrader on the perimeter. Miller earned second team all-conference honors after hauling in 46 passes for 649 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranked seventh in the league in yards per game (54.1 ypg) and ninth in receptions (3.8). Miller aveaged 20.7 yards per kickoff return. The versatile Jacobsmeier, who received all-IIAC honorable mention last season, appeared all over the stat sheet in 2013, throwing for 978 yardss and 11 touchdowns, finishing second on the team in rushing with 567 yards and four touchdowns on 100 carries and hauling in 19 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. In the NCAA Division III Championship second-round match-up against Bethel (Minn.), he caught nine passes for 50 yards.
 
The defense, which ranked third in the league overall (398.7 ypg) and second against the run (121.8 ypg) will be led up front by senior defensive lineman Miguel Lozan. Lozan posted 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, broke up a pass and forced a fumble.
 
The linebacking corps will be led by senior linebacker Drew Kooi. Kooi ranked third on the team with 86 tackles, adding 5.5 tackles for loss, one pass break-up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He ranked 13th in the conference in tackles.
 
Senior defensive back Spencer Capitani, a first-team all-IIAC pick last year who earned third team D3fooball.com all-region honors, ranked fifth on the team with 67 tackles. He added 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.  He ranked eighth in in the conference in passes defended, 14th in sacks, 19th in tackles for loss and 30th in overall tackles. Capitani was also Wartburg's primary kick returner, averaging 5.5 yards per punt return and 20.6 yards per kickoff return.
 
Junior punter Grant Zimmerman, a two-time all-conference selection, also returns after averaging 36.9 yards per punt last year. He recorded a long of 64 yards and dropped 21 inside his opponents' 20-yard line.
 
Wartburg head coach Rick Willis says, “We are excited about the opportunities and challenges of the 2014 season.”