MARIETTA, Ohio — Following several successful seasons, the Marietta College football team experienced a minor setback in 2025 due to nagging injuries and a heavy reliance on younger players. Despite key graduation losses, the core roster returns with valuable experience and strong motivation. Leading the program forward is former Marietta College standout and longtime assistant Tom Hinkle, who becomes the 31st head coach in school history.
 
As the program's first alumnus head coach since the 1940s, Hinkle is eager to lead a roster that combines returning key contributors with promising first-year talent. Though the road ahead is challenging, Hinkle remains highly confident in achieving swift success.
 
"Last season we were a pretty young football team," said Hinkle. "We lost some really good players, but the majority of our team is coming back and looking to improve from where they left off. If we can build off the young mistakes from those first-year starters, we are going to surprise a lot of people."
 
Addressing the offensive outlook, Hinkle quickly resolved the burning question on everyone's mind: who among the talented quarterback group would start in week one? The starting role goes to Joe Tenta (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage). After stepping in for the injured Antwon Johnson (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) last season, Tenta delivered a strong performance, completing 55 percent of his passes for nearly 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns.
 
"It was a tight battle throughout the spring and early fall camp, but Joe has been playing at a high level and has found more of a rhythm behind the center," said Hinkle of the quarterback situation. "Antwon is an incredible athlete, and you will still hear his name called out frequently."
 
Joining Tenta in the backfield are talented returners Benny Lewis (Jacksonville, Fla./Baker County) and Zion Jackson-Wilborn (Whitehall, Ohio/Reynoldsburg). Last season, Lewis played in all 10 games for the Pioneers, rushing for 533 yards and six touchdowns, a performance that ranked tenth in the OAC. Jackson-Wilborn, while battling injuries, has averaged four yards per carry and recorded eight touchdowns over his Pioneer career, making him a key contributor as he looks ahead to 2026.
 
Despite losing key wide receivers from last season, Hinkle is eager to see the return of talented players in 2026. Junior Dalton Miller (Grove City, Ohio/Bishop Ready) leads the group after a standout year featuring three four-reception games and an average of nearly 14 yards per catch. "Dalton has had one of the best off-seasons I've ever seen from a wide receiver," Hinkle said. "He will be one of our top targets this fall, alongside Louis Goodnow (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown), Chrys Taylor (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Pickerington Central), Isaiah Mitchell (Heath, Ohio/Lakewood), and Zavier Lindsay (Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln), among others."
 
The tight end group will return everyone from last season. The top guys back include Matthew Krutowskis (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville), who led the group with seven catches, Gavin Blind (Dover, Ohio/Dover), and Payton Newman (Ringgold, Ga./Heritage). "Not only can these guys block, but they are a threat in the passing game as well," said the first-year head coach.
 
Three of the five starting offensive linemen are back this season, with Gunner Fox (New Concord, Ohio/John Glenn), Steven Rhodes III (Proctorville, Ohio/Fairland), and Nate Curry (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) reclaiming their spots. Devin Ansell (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Pickerington Central), Ben Morris (Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln), and Ron Bricker (Wooster, Ohio/Triway) are among those competing for the remaining starting positions. "These guys have seen the field and will now see their roles expand," Hinkle said. "They have shown the ability to move people up front, and they are all fierce competitors."
 
Defensively, Hinkle is eager to watch the development of the defensive line, describing them as "one of the most exciting groups returning from last year." The returning group comprising Harper Scott (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine), Bryant Young (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North), Tony Karp (Rootstown, Ohio/Rootstown), PJ Julious Jr., Ethan Crock (Caldwell, Ohio/Caldwell), Taahir Sabree (Columbia, S.C./Airport), and E.J. Dawson (McKees Rocks, Pa./Nazareth Prep) has been "causing havoc" throughout camp, according to Hinkle. Praising his talented group, Hinkle remarked, "I would not be surprised if a few of these guys were honored at the end of the season as some of the top pass rushers in the league."
 
The defensive backfield returns a strong core of experienced leaders, highlighted by two upperclassmen who earned All-OAC honors last year. Juniors Drew Neal (Massillon, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic) and Leo Grandizio (Garrettsville, Ohio/Garfield) were both selected to the All-OAC second team. Neal ranked fifth in the conference after recording 73 tackles, while Grandizio finished third in the OAC with 10 pass breakups and added three interceptions. Joining Neal and Grandizio in the secondary are Lukas Ratliff (New Lexington, Ohio/New Lexington), Ray Kelley (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier), and Jonah Asebrook (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), who stepped into a starting role during the second half of last season.
 
At linebacker, Taison Starr (Barnesville, Ohio/Barnesville) and Zaiden Huck (Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye) are stepping up to replace key departures. "These guys have great natural instincts and have had a great off season," Hinkle noted. "I can't wait to watch this entire unit compete."
 
The kicking game will feature sophomore James Cornwell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) handling the place-kicking duties and senior Nathaniel Demuth (New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia), last year's starting kicker, now taking on the punting duties for the Pioneers. "The specialist group will look to build off the momentum of last fall," said Hinkle. "James won the kicking job halfway through the season last year and has been very consistent through the spring and camp practices. Nathaniel has made the change to punting very easily and can really boot the ball. They do a great job locking into their craft and I'm looking forward to seeing them succeed this fall."
 
Hinkle has not only done a great job of recruiting, he has also put together, in his estimation, one of the best coaching staffs in the country. "This staff works tirelessly to put our team in the best positions to win," said Hinkle. "I can't wait to see all of their hard work behind the scenes pay off. Big things are in store for Marietta College Football in 2026. Make sure to tune in, because we will be bringing the hammer."
 
Marietta opens the season at Don Drumm Stadium against Westminster College for a special Thursday (Sept. 3) night contest, scheduled for 7 p.m. kickoff.  The Pioneers remain at home to battle conference foes Ohio Northern (Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.) and Capital (Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m.).
 
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.