Alamosa, Colo. – As fall camp wraps up for the Adams State football team this week, the Grizzlies have welcomed seven new coaches and a roster featuring 60 new players. The team is preparing to kick off its season next week against Western New Mexico.
Looking Back
Adams State finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 3-8, including a 2-7 mark in RMAC conference play.
The Grizzlies began their season on a high note, securing a 35-16 victory over Lincoln University—their first season-opening win since 2014. After a Homecoming win against Fort Lewis, they improved to 2-2 on the season. Adams State scored 187 total points over the course of the season, averaged 157.55 passing yards per game, and generated 267.3 total yards of offense per game. This season, the team is looking to leverage the transfer players they acquired during the off season.
The Schedule
Playing in a historically competitive conference, the Grizzlies will face two NCAA Division II playoff teams, including the national runner-up, Colorado School of Mines. Both teams enter the 2024 season ranked in the top 25 of the AFCA coaches' preseason poll.
Outside of conference play, the Grizzlies will also face NCAA Division II Playoff team Texas-Permian Basin, who is currently ranked 21st in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Adams State opted out of participating in the newly approved Week 0 for football, and will instead open their season on Saturday, Sept. 7, against Western New Mexico.
After their home opener, the Grizzlies will host CSU-Pueblo for Homecoming on Sept. 28, followed by Colorado Mesa on Oct. 12, Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 19, Fort Lewis for the Hall of Fame Game on Nov. 2, and South Dakota Mines on Senior Day, Nov. 16.
On the road, Adams State will face Texas-Permian Basin on Sept. 14, Western Colorado on Sept. 21 to begin RMAC play, Chadron State on Oct. 5, New Mexico Highlands on Oct. 26, and will close out their away games against Black Hills State on Nov. 9.
All regular-season games will be streamed live for free on the RMAC Network, with the exception of the Texas-Permian Basin game, as they are a member of the Lone Star Conference. For information on how to purchase a live stream of the Sept. 14 game, visit https://lonestarconferencenetwork.com/utpb/.
Captains
The 2024 team captains were announced this week: Daylen Boddie, Matagi Dupont, Traivian Denetso, and Christian Toelei'u. "All four of these young men have shown great leadership qualities throughout the spring and fall and have been working hard in our program," said head coach Jarrell Harrison.
Daylen Boddie (R-Senior, Running Back, 5-10, 205 lbs, Bloomington, Ill./Iowa Central CC)
"Daylen has been a great example of leadership in his three years in our program. We are looking forward to his senior year," said Jarrell Harrison.
Matagi Dupont (Senior, Offensive Line, 6-1, 320 lbs, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii/Saint Louis HS)
"Matagi has been a player in this program since 2020 his years of experience on and off the field benefits his teammates whether it's his example or his words," said HC Jarrell Harrison
Traivian Denetso (Senior, Defensive Back, 6-0, 185 lbs, Tucson, Ariz./Canyon del Oro HS)
"Trey is a great young man that has been in our program for four years, he started as a walk-on and has now been a three year starter for us," said Jarrell Harrison.
Christian Toelei'u (Senior, Linebacker, 6-0, 235 lbs, Pago Pago, American Samoa/SW Oklahoma State)
"Chrisitian is a tireless leader, who brings passion and energy to the game and his teammates and coaches. His energy is infectious and will translate to success on the field for him," said Head Coach Jarrell Harrison.
Players to Watch
Defense
Devonté Matthew (Senior, Linebacker, 6-3, 240 lbs, San Jose Calif./College of San Mateo)
Labarrio Mays II (R-Fresh., Defensive Line, 6-2, 240 lbs, Las Vegas, NV./Desert Pines HS)
Seth Lewalker-Boise (Junior, Defensive Line, 6-4, 320 lbs, Houston, Texas/Dougherty HS)
Seth Shaw (Soph., Defensive Back, 5-7, 175 lbs, Imperial, Calif./Imperial HS)
Offense
Kevin Johnson (Senior, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 205 lbs, Indio, Calif./College of the Desert)
Aaron Johnson (Junior, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 180 lbs, North Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial HS)
Daylen Boddie (R-Senior, Running Back, 5-10, 205 lbs, Bloomington, Ill./Iowa Central CC)
Nance Cabasag (Soph., Offensive Line, 6-4, 280 lbs, Las Vegas, Nev./Sierra Vista HS)
Coaching Changes
With only head coach Jarrell Harrison and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Adrian Riley returning from the 2023 staff, there are plenty of new but recognizable faces on the sideline this year.
The new additions include Jeff Fantuzzi, run game coordinator/offensive line coach; Henry Flickinger, special teams coordinator/linebacker coach; AJ Harris, wide receivers coach; Eric Daniels, safeties assistant coach; Demari Reynolds, cornerback graduate assistant; Daniel Rowlett, tight ends graduate assistant; and Ziere Banner, running backs graduate assistant.
Fantuzzi joined the Grizzlies in early 2024. He came to Adams from Northern Michigan University, where he served as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from January 2023 to January 2024. During his time at NMU, Fantuzzi was responsible for a recruiting class of more than 50 student-athletes and led the offensive line to be ranked in the top three in the GLIAC in yards per carry and fewest sacks allowed.
Flickinger comes to Adams State after serving as the linebackers coach at Western New Mexico University. Prior to his time at Western New Mexico, he spent three years at Presentation College (NAIA), where he coached outside linebackers for two seasons and was the defensive backs/punt coordinator for one season.
Harris arrives at Adams State after spending the past few months working as a wide receivers trainer for Next Level Athletix, training both at the facility and at camps across the Chicagoland area.
Daniels comes to Adams State from Western Colorado University, where he served as a defensive assistant working with the defensive backs. During his time at Western Colorado, the team went 10-2 and made the playoffs. Daniels helped produce one first-team All-Conference cornerback and one second-team All-Conference safety. He is a former grad transfer student-athlete at Adams State, where he played football and earned a master's degree in sports leadership.
Reynolds returns to Adams State after spending the last eight years coaching at the high school level. Most recently, he was the head football coach/offensive coordinator for John F. Kennedy High School in Denver. An Adams State graduate, Reynolds was a four-year student-athlete on the ASU football team from 2013 to 2016.
Rowlett comes to Adams State from New Mexico Highlands, where he spent six months as the tight ends coach after completing his playing career at McPherson College. During his two-year career at McPherson, Rowlett played fullback and tight end and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Banner returns to Adams State where he played Wide Receiver with the grizzlies from 2016 to 2019. He started his playing career at UTEP. He spent some time after 2019 personal training young athletes in the San Luis Valley area. Adams State will be Banner's first college football coaching gig.
