2024 Football Season Preview
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats completed their 2023 season with a mark of 11-2. It marked the second straight year Bethel won 11 games in a season. The Cats were 5-1 in league play with their only loss to Georgetown. That 52-24 loss was their only home loss of the season. Bethel beat Evangel 40-13 in the opening round of the NAIA Playoffs but fell to Keiser 56-14 in the quarterfinals. It was Bethel's seventh appearance in the NAIA FCS Playoffs.
The Wildcats finished seventh in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll.
The 2022 Wildcat squad became the first Bethel team in modern day program history to win 11 games in a season and be undefeated at that mark. The 2018 squad was 10-0 during the regular season. Bethel's longest winning streak prior to 2021 had been 10 in a row in 2007 and 2018.
Following seasons like 2022 and 2023 will be difficult but with talented returners and another outstanding off-season recruiting class expected to contribute, the 2024 squad appears to have an opportunity to be even better.
2023 Highlights:
Bethel University Offense
NATIONAL RANKINGS:
#2 PASSING YARDS (3,677)
#2 PASSING TOUCHDOWNS (39)
#3 TOTAL YARDS (5,771)
#3 TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS (73)
#4 TOTAL POINTS (545)
#4 1ST DOWNS (302)
#5 POINTS PER GAME (41.9)
#7 YARDS PER GAME (443.9)
#7 PASS YARDS PER GAME (282.8)
#8 3RD DOWN% (48%)
#11 REDZONE% (86%)
#13 YARDS PER RUSH (5.1)
#15 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS (25)
#20 RUSHING YARDS (2,094)
ACCOLADES:
1ST TEAM ALL AMERICAN WR- J.D. Dixon
2nd TEAM ALL -AMERICAN QB-Joaquin Collazo III
2nd TEAM ALL-AMERICAN DB – Demetrice Gilbert
MID-SOUTH OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR-Joaquin Collazo III
SEVEN MID-SOUTH ALL CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
MID- SOUTH ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR-Jay Bright
13 SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN
Key Losses
QB – Joaquin Collazo III
WR – JD Dixon
WR – Jalen Taylor
OL – Jackson Sarratt
RB – Martize Smith
Bethel University's J. D. Dixon was named to the first team. Joaquin Collazo III and Demetrice Gilbert were named to the second team.
Dixon leaves the program as the all-time leader in receiving yards with 3, 337. Dixon had 75 receptions this season which ranks number one in program history. His 1, 215 yards were the most ever in a season. His 19 touchdown receptions last year were the most in program history.
Collazo had 37 touchdown passes last season. That is a program record. The senior from Melbourne, Florida had 3, 359 passing yards which Is the most ever by a Wildcat signal caller in one year. He finished with 66 career touchdowns which is second all-time in program history.
Gilbert had 17 career interceptions which is the most in program history.
Key Returners
WR – Avont Burrus
OL – Logan Davis
OL – Jaden Taylor
OL – Dylan Morales
OL – Tyrell Winn
Key Newcomers
TE – Ivan Arroyo
WR – TeeJay Taylor
OL – Zion Bowens
QB – Ben Nixon
RB – Zavier Ali
Bethel University Defense
NATIONAL RANKINGS:
#2 TOTAL DEFENSE (219)
#2 TAKEAWAYS (30)
#3 POINTS PER GAME (12.6)
#3 INTERCEPTIONS (20)
#4 PASS DEFENSE (141)
#4 SACKS (37)
#7 RUSH DEFENSE (78)
ACCOLADES:
ALL AMERICAN DEFENSIVE BACK-Demetrice Gilbert
7 MID- SOUTH ALL CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Key Losses
DB – Brian Hughes
DB – Demetrice Gilbert
DL – Xavier King
LB – Darian Burns
DL – Jerwin Young
Key Returners
LB – Darrien Lewis
LB - Brody Franks
DB – Javonte Carter
DB – Jaylon Beasley
DL – Jamel Goulebourne
DB – Dee Hines
Key Newcomers
DB – Jazzir Merricks
LB – Omaurion Millsap
DL – Eric Chandler
DB – KJ Murden
BETHEL UNIVERSITY SPECIAL TEAMS
Key Losses
KR- Demetrice Gilbert
Key Returners
K- Andrew Welch
LS- Graham Lyell
2024 Bethel University Football Staff
Michael Jasper - Head Coach
Chris Springer - Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator
Jay Bright - Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator
Dustin Kincaid – Special Teams Coordinator/LB Coach/ DOFO
Terrell Jackson - Senior Defensive Analyst
M D Daniels- Pass Game Coordinator/ WR
Bryce Missey-Running Backs
Kiel Parkhurst- Offensive Line Assistant
A.B. Holloway- Defensive Assistant
Caleb Hall- Special Teams Assistant
Joaquin Collazo III – HB/TE
A G Alton-Football Operation Assistant
Carrie Staal- Marketing Content Director
Coach Michael Jasper (37-17) enters his sixth year as head coach of Bethel football in 2024-25. Coach Jasper also serves as associate athletic director of internal operations, a role he has held since 2022.
Coach Jasper commented, "I am thrilled to get back to work. After the spring we had, collectively making huge strides forward, I am ready to see what our guys can do in live action. This is a different, but equally talented, ball team that has really shown great maturity and commitment towards being great in all aspects. These guys are a special group on and off the field."