WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University football team last year posted a winning season for the first time since the 2013 championship season and are poised to run things back this season.
GU entered training camp with the most returning players they have had in nine seasons as they welcomed an energetic and focused group of freshmen and transfers to round out this year's team. The Bison are hungry for this season as they realize two of their three losses last year were by three points or less and came down to the final seconds where a play here or there could've had them sitting at 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
The Bison return a lot of experience on both sides of the ball as they have great leadership from each unit. GU will look to mix things up on offense and defense as it prepares for an interesting slate of games this fall.
Gallaudet will also be paying homage to its past in 2022 as the Bison host its first football reunion during the opening weekend as former players return to Kendall Green to support the Bison. GU will also honor the Dirty 30 team as it celebrates their 50th anniversary during that first weekend in September.
Below is a breakdown of the 2022 Gallaudet football team.
2021 REVIEW
Record: 5-3
ECFC Record: 3-3
Highlights: 11 All-ECFC honors, 12 All-Academic selections, three National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society selections, one CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree.
TOP RETURNERS
Offense
Mikka Harvey (Prince Frederick, Md.), So., Slot
Harvey finished the 2021 season with 388 rushing yards, the second most on the team, and scored seven touchdowns as he landed on the 2021 ECFC First Team Offense. He ran for a career-high 100 yards on six carries in a 49-42 win over Greensboro. Harvey played in eight games with six starts.
Nicholas Maccini (Bullhead City, Ariz.), Sr., Quarterback
Maccini will get the starting nod under center in 2022 after spending a year backing up Timel Benton. Maccini saw limited action in 2021 as he played in four games but has stepped up in the off-season and has shown his worth during training camp.
Joseph Mendis (Brook Park, Ohio), Sr., Superback
The four-year letterwinner is a leader in classroom and on the field for the Bison. Mendis is a three-time ECFC All-Academic honoree and selected twice by CoSIDA to its Academic All-District First Team for District 2. Mendis finished the 2021 season with 219 rushing yards and four touchdowns as he scored three times in the final four games of the season. He was selected to the 2021 ECFC First Team Offense.
John Scarboro (Austin, Texas), So., Offensive Line
Scarboro was one of GU's anchors on the offensive line last season as the Bison rushing attack finished fourth in NCAA Division III for rushing offense with a 322.4 yards per game average. The Bison offensive line was honored by D3football.com Team of the Week last October 5. Scarboro started all eight games during his rookie campaign and landed on the ECFC Honorable Mention list. He also earned All-Academic honors for his success in the classroom.
Defense
Stefan Anderson (Little Falls, Minn.), Sr., Linebacker
Anderson is a two-time all-conference honoree as he landed on the 2021 ECFC First Team Defense as he finished second on the team with 67 tackles (40 solo) to go with two tackles for a loss of four yards and one sack. Anderson has made two appearances on the ECFC Academic Honor Roll the last two years.
Rodney Burford Jr. (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Sr., Linebacker
Burford is one of the energetic leaders on the Bison football team and brings the swagger and provides the spark on defense for the buff and blue. Last season, he tallied 33 tackles (18 solo) and was second on the team with nine tackles for a loss of 42 yards and 3.5 sacks for a loss of 28 yards. He defended and broke up two passes and had three quarterback hurries to go with one forced fumble. Burford and the Bison defense are on a mission in 2022.
Jacob Hartman (Petersburg, W.Va.), So., Linebacker
Hartman had quite the debut for the Bison as he led the team in tackles (70), solo tackles (40), tackles for loss (14.5 for 52 yards), sacks (5.5 for 30 yards), forced fumbles (two), two pass breakups in eight games played. Hartman also recorded one interception returned for 66 yards and a touchdown. Hartman was named to the ECFC First Team Defense and was twice picked as the ECFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was selected by D3football.com All-Region 1 Defense Third Team.
Laron Thomas (Orlando, Fla.), Sr., Safety
Thomas was third on the team with 42 tackles last season as he recorded 31 solo tackles and made one interception and returned it 16 yards. Thomas was one of GU's top shutdown players in the secondary as he defended four passes and broke up three in eight games started.
Special Teams
Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.), So., Return Specialist
Washington finished third on the Bison for all-purpose yards with 567 and was honored by the ECFC as its Second Team Defense return specialist last season. Washington caught a team-high 17 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns as he started all eight games.
Jonathon Waterman (Sebastian, Fla.), Jr., Kicker/Punter
Waterman made 4 of 8 field goals and was nearly perfect on point after attempts (24-for-25) last season as he tallied 36 points. His career-long field goal came on the road at SUNY Maritime when he blasted a 42-yard field goal in the 23-9 victory. Waterman will handle all kicking duties this season.
QUOTING COACH
“This has been one of the best training camps in all of my time coaching here. We are fortunate to return over 60 percent of our team from last year. That has played a major role with developing the new team members. The team chemistry is off the charts, we are having a lot of fun and we can't wait to get this season underway.” Chuck Goldstein, Gallaudet University football head coach
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Season/Home Opener: vs. Waynesburg (Sat., Sept. 3, 1 p.m.)
Conference Opener: at Keystone (Sat., Oct. 1, Noon)
Homecoming: vs. SUNY Maritime (Sat., Oct. 22, 1 p.m.)
Senior Day: vs. Anna Maria (Sat., Oct. 29, Noon)
Gallaudet has a nine-game slate in 2022 with five home games at Hotchkiss Field. The Bison will play three non-conference games in September. GU will kick things off with a home game on Saturday, Sept. 3, against Waynesburg University as part of Gallaudet Football Reunion Weekend. The Bison remain at home the following weekend when Greensboro College comes to town. Gallaudet will hit the road for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 17, at University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, to close out the opening month. The month of October starts the six-game Eastern Collegiate Football Conference slate. GU will travel to Keystone College (Oct. 1) before hosting Castleton University (Oct. 8). GU heads back to the New England region the following week to take on Dean College (Oct. 15) before returning to D.C. for the final two home games of the 2022 season. GU will host SUNY Maritime College (Oct. 22) on Homecoming weekend and then face Anna Maria College, the defending conference champions, on Oct. 29 for Senior Day. The Bison will close out the regular-season schedule on the road at Alfred State College (Nov. 5) to begin the month of November.
BISON HOME GAMES
Sept. 3 vs. Waynesburg, 1 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Greensboro, 1 p.m.
Oct. 8 vs. Castleton, Noon
Oct. 22 vs. SUNY Maritime, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 29 vs. Anna Maria, Noon (Senior Day)
