|
|
ROCHESTER — Minnesota West Community & Technical College football opens the season this Saturday, Aug. 30.
And the Bluejays have been picked to finish third in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference’s preseason poll.
Head coaches from all the member schools cast ballots, sharing their thoughts on the 2025 season.
Minnesota West Community & Technical College. (Contributed graphic)
Minnesota West will play NJCAA Division III national champion College of DuPage (Ill.) at 1 p.m. Saturday from Trojan Field in Worthington.
Jermaine Smith, the ex-Green Bay Packer, begins his second season as Minnesota West’s head coach.
Minnesota West first-year head coach Jermaine Smith (left) has produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds in junior college football history. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Former Pipestone Area Schools offensive coordinator Ryan Koopman will be quarterback coach/special teams coordinator again.
Timothy Mack, Tyrie Mack, Blake Tucker, Christian McCora and Dominic Hogan round out the coaching staff.
North Dakota State College of Science is the favorite to win the MCAC with Rochester C&TC second.
Minnesota West put together a phenomenal 2024 season, but ineligibility issues resulted in the forfeiture of multiple games.
Rounding out the poll, Minnesota North-Mesabi Range (Virginia) was picked fourth, Central Lakes College (Brainerd) fifth, Minnesota State (Fergus Falls) sixth and Minnesota North-Vermilion (Ely).
North Dakota State College of Science has, arguably, the best offensive line in the country at the NJCAA Division III level. The Wildcats finished with a 9-2 record.
College of DuPage defeated Louisburg (N.C.), 31-14, for the national title last December.
The Bluejays return plenty of talent including wide receiver Mario Fluker, Brice Nutall and Justin Spears, and cornerback Dooley Williams.
The team also features middle linebacker Matthew Remakel and starting left guard Codin Bullerman — both of whom played locally at Adrian-Ellsworth.
Former player Ashton Sandbulte, a Luverne High product, is now playing for Dakota State University in Madison, S.D.
Former Pipestone Area Schools’ offensive coordinator Ryan Koopman has found a home coaching junior college football at Minnesota West. Koopman works with quarterbacks and teaches the special teams units. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)