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Rebuilding the RiverHawks in 2021
(Credit: BVMSports/NSU Athletics)

Rebuilding the RiverHawks in 2021

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (BVM) – Northeastern State University is home of RiverHawks Football. Doc Wadley Stadium, named in honor of former head football coach D. M. ‘Doc’ Wadley, is home of the RiverHawks. The RiverHawks have a long history of football, dating back to 1909. In 2012, NSU became a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). They compete in the NCAA Division II.  As members of the NAIA, the RiverHawks held the title of Conference Champion 21 times and appeared in four NAIA football championship games in 1995, 1994, 1980, and 1958. The current generation of RiverHawks have a legacy to uphold.

Head Coach J. J. Eckert is working to rebuild the RiverHawks football program. He took over the football program in 2019. Coach Eckert’s first year with the RiverHawks was a tough, winless season, and it was followed by the muted COVID year. This year, Coach Eckert and Defensive Coordinator Michael Conrad, are starting from scratch. Without a depth chart, every spot is up for grabs. The players have been in training camp competing for their places on the roster.

The 2021 roster of players has still not been finalized for the upcoming season. However, there are some players locked into their positions. The team announced its 2021 captains: Cornerback Bryce Brown, Defensive Lineman Damani Carter, Punter Tim Davis, Receiver Mark Wheeland, and Offensive Lineman Madison Wrather.

The RiverHawks will be led on the field by Freshman Quarterback Grant Elerick. A Stroud, Oklahoma native, Elerick has a strong arm. His high school career stats are impressive. He threw for 2700 yards and 38 touchdowns during the 2018 season. He was named District A7 MVP after winning District Championship as a high school senior.

In addition to receiver Mark Wheeland, two wide receivers, Dashawn Williams and Malik Antwine, are potential targets for Elerick to throw to this fall. Dashawn Williams is a Houston, Texas native who transferred to NSU after playing two seasons at Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas. He was named a Southwest Junior College Football Conference honorable mention in 2019. Malik Antwine is a freshman wide receiver. He played for his local high school team in Benton, Louisiana. Standing at 6’1”, Elerick should be able to easily spot this receiver downfield.

Bryce Brown and Blake Corn are two returning players that you can expect to see on the field playing defense for the RiverHawks. Brown transferred to NSU from Oklahoma State University after playing for three seasons for the Cowboys. According to a recent Tahlequah Daily Press article Brown said, “I think we’re going to have a strong defense this year.”

Blake Corn is a hometown player for the RiverHawks. Corn was a standout in the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association All-State game in July 2020. After the COVID-19 delays, the players were ready to get back on the field. According to Byron Beers’ article for the Tahlequah Daily Press Corn said, “We’ve had a lot of energy, pursuit’s pretty good. We’re still working on stuff like missed assignments, so we’ve got a lot of work still to do.”

One of Coach Eckert’s goals is to transform the NSU game day atmosphere from a typical, ordinary football game into an event. He has been instrumental in creating the Landing for tailgaters to enjoy. The Landing is the new tailgating area for Gable Field, named for former NSU President George Warren Gable. The players and the athletic department are working hard to make Coach Eckert’s vision of success for the 2021 season a reality.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.