Bolivar, Mo.- Excitement is the word to describe the Southwest Baptist football team as they head into the 2022 football season. They have a lot to be excited about as the Bearcats return with 17 starters, 8 on offense and 9 on defense. To top that, the NCAA Division II 2021 statistical leaders in total tackles and throwing yards per game return as Seniors for one final season, in Coleton Smith and Cooper Callis.
 
"Obviously, a lot of excitement for our players coming into this season, saw a lot of progress in our program last season. Especially in this offseason throughout spring ball and over the summer" said SBU Head Coach Robert Clardy.
 
The Bearcats first match is tonight at 6:00 PM as they take on University Texas Permian Basin who received votes in the preseason poll. These two matched up in Bolivar last season where the Bearcats fell just short 16-24.
 
"We are going to be battle tested early…Going to be a big challenge for us; obviously we are excited about it and ready to get going." -Head Coach Clardy
 
The Bearcats are returning to the field with one of the best offenses in the conference which is led by 2x GLVC Offensive Player of the Year, Cooper Callis. Callis is a Senior from Jackson, Missouri returning for his third and final season as a Bearcat. Last season he led the Nation in passing yards per game with an average of 337.45. In the 2021 season finale, Callis set four new program single season records for total passing yards (3,712), passing yards per game, passing touchdowns (35), and completion percentage (69.2%). He currently holds the SBU career record in completion percentage (68.0%).
 
"We just have a lot of confidence going into this year, we had a lot of confidence going into this offseason…Everything from last year gave us confidence, but we know we have a lot of work to do and still have work to do. It gave us motivation along with the confidence it gave us, this past season." -Senior Quarterback Cooper Callis.
 
The Bearcats have quite the defense returning with 9 starters coming back and the Nations #1 tackler from a year ago in Coleton Smith. Smith finished the 2021 season with 162 total tackles, 30 more than #2 in the Nation, while also breaking the SBU single season record. He was named D2CCA First Team All-Region and Second Team All-American. Smith is joined in the back field by returning defensive backs, Bryton Lewi, Brenden Smith, Jeremiah Scroggins, Kellen Curtis, and linebacker Aaron Harris. These 5 were SBU's top-5 tacklers from a year ago combining for a total of 180 solo tackles.
 
"We have a lot of talent returning on that side of the ball. Any time you have the Nation's leading tackler come back to lead that defense, it's always a great first step. There is a lot of excitement on that side of the ball, new leadership on that side of the ball from a defensive coordinator standpoint. I have two defensive coordinators that bring a lot of excitement and a lot of energy." -Coach Clardy
 
"There is a lot of excitement, we have a lot of returners coming back this season, a lot of unfinished business from last year, ready to get going." -Coach Clardy