2024 Football Season Preview

For the first time in 11 years, the Hope College football team is waiting until September 7 to kick off the season.

Anticipation, fueled by work through fall camp, has been building, head coach Peter Stuursma said.

The Flying Dutchmen, who were picked second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, are looking to improve on an 8-2 season in 2023, including a runner-up mark of 5-1 in league play.

"We're ready to go," Stuursma said. "A lot of excitement has been generated in camp. As a staff, we're very excited about this team, the leadership we've seen, and the energy the guys have brought to camp. This is a fun time of the year."

2024 Schedule

The Flying Dutchmen kick off the season with three non-league games, beginning with Loras College (Iowa) on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium. It's an Orange Out, with fans encouraged to wear orange to support Hope.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. the Flying Dutchmen host Franklin College (Indiana). It is Youth Day with a free team poster giveaway.

Hope concludes non-league play on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1:30 p.m. with the MIAA/Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Crossover at Rose Hulman (Indiana).

The Flying Dutchmen open MIAA play on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. at defending league champion Alma College.

Hope will play six more MIAA games, including the Purple Community Game benefiting Van Andel Institute's medical research and science education efforts on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. against Trine University.

The Flying Dutchmen will host Adrian College for One Big Weekend (homecoming) on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m.

The first game against Calvin University is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Peter Stuursma '93, eighth season (54-17, 36-8 MIAA)
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach: Andrew Hawken
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach: Jacob Pardonnet: '18
Offensive line coach and recruiting Coordinator: Hunter Thompson
Defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator: Jinks Arnold
Running backs coach: Jim Caserta
H-backs and tight ends coach: Dave Lidgard '83
Wide receivers coach: Matt Bird
Assistant offensive line coach: Jake VanderVeen '18
Defensive line coach: Cal Pimpleton '24
Safeties coach: KJ Landis
Assistant defensive line coach: Ted Manning
Student assistant coaches: Zay Hicks, Luke Mandsager, Ty Rynbrandt

Stuursma has guided the Flying Dutchmen to five seasons with at least eight wins, including nine during the 2019 season. Hope finished with a winning record in every season during Stuursma's tenure.

2024 Roster

The Flying Dutchmen bring back seven starters on offense and five on defense.

Senior Dylan Clem (Stevensville, Michigan / Lakeshore HS) headlines the Flying Dutchmen's offensive starters and is a 2024 D3football.com Preseason All-American. An All-American and All-MIAA selection in 2023, Clem is moving back to right tackle after playing right guard last season.

Clem (6-3, 291) is joined up front by fifth-year senior left tackle Luke Marsh (Montague, Michigan / Montague). Marsh (6-6, 312) was an All-MIAA selection last season.

"I believe Luke could have been a preseason All-American like Dylan," Stuursma said. "Both are strong and bring a level of toughness to our entire offensive line."

Senior Connor Bovia (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center) also returns up front. Bovia (6-2, 251) swapped guard position and will line up next to Clem.

Hope looks to utilize the skills of two quarterbacks this season: senior Ben Wellman (Bloomington, Illinois / Bloomington) and sophomore Zach Trainor (Milford, Michigan / Walled Lake Western). Both took significant snaps last season.

"We feel like we have a two-headed monster with our quarterbacks," Stuursma said. "Both Zach and Ben can play every snap, every other snap, every other series, quarters or halves."

Trainor and Wellman will throw to targets such as fifth-year senior wide receiver Grant Holtzer (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos), and sophomores Jonny Rohen-Blanton (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) and Eli VanderVeen (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).

Holtzer (6-6, 2-2) posted career-highs last season in receiving yards with 827, receptions with 33 and touchdown catches with eight.

Senior Chance Strickland (Mason, Michigan / Mason) is back at running back after recording a league-best and career-high 16 rushing touchdowns in 2023. Strickland (6-2, 225) registered career-bests in rushing yards with 1,165 and rushing attempts with 168.

Senior Tyler Amos (Portage, Michigan / Portage Northern) will receive carries while also handling kickoff and punt returns. Amos (5-9, 185) is a transfer from NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State University.

Defensively, linebacker is a strength for the Flying Dutchmen this season after injuries hampered them at the position last season, Stuursma said.

Senior Cole Luhmann (Rochester, Michigan / Stoney Creek) is a returning All-MIAA selection. Luhmann (6-0, 220) has recorded 50-plus tackles the past two seasons.

Senior Andrew Debri (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt) returns to the field after missing last season due to injury. DeBri (5-11, 202) finished with 65 tackles during the 2022 season and 44 in 2021.

The defensive line features three returning starters: senior Oatis Ackermann (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids), junior Caleb Paarlberg (Alto, Michigan / Caledonia) and junior Liam Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights).

Ackermann (6-2, 246) registered career-highs last season in tackles with 45 and sacks with 6 ½. Danitz (6-4, 230) topped Hope with eight sacks. Paarlberg (6-1, 270) posted a career-best 2 ½ sacks.

"They play fast. They play hard. That's a very hard group to defend," Stuursma said. "Then, we have depth there with guys who played a ton there."

The secondary will be led by senior safety Sam Cochran (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East). Cochran (6-3, 201) totaled a career-best 24 tackles last season and a career-high four interceptions in 2022.

Other key veterans include senior safety Tyler Stezowski (Holland, Michigan / Hamilton) and fifth-year defensive back Trevor Hansen (Wyoming, Michigan / South Christian).

Sophomore defensive back Lorenzo Vitti (Dearborn, Michigan / Divine Child) will start after transferring from the Naval Academy.

On special teams, junior Caden Balkon (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center) will handle place kicking duties and senior Peter Costa (Macomb, Michigan / Dakota) will punt.

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Players Mentioned

#29 Luke Mandsager: LB; 5' 9"; Sophomore; Business

#14 Ty Rynbrandt: QB; 6' 4"; Junior; Social Studies Composite

#83 Oatis Ackermann: DL; 6' 2"; Senior; Communication

#30 Caden Balkon: K/P; 5' 11"; Junior; Political Science

#68 Connor Bovia: OL; 6' 2"; Senior; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

#70 Dylan Clem: OL; 6' 3"; Fifth Year; Civil Engineering

#4 Sam Cochran: S; 6' 3"; Senior; Business

#98 Peter Costa: K/P; 5' 11"; Senior; Exercise Science

#0 Liam Danitz: DL; 6' 4"; Junior; Kinesiology

#45 Andrew Debri: LB; 5' 11"; Senior; Biology

Players Mentioned

#29 Luke Mandsager
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; Business
: LB

#14 Ty Rynbrandt
: 6' 4"; Junior; Social Studies Composite
: QB

#83 Oatis Ackermann
: 6' 2"; Senior; Communication
: DL

#30 Caden Balkon
: 5' 11"; Junior; Political Science
: K/P

#68 Connor Bovia
: 6' 2"; Senior; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
: OL

#70 Dylan Clem
: 6' 3"; Fifth Year; Civil Engineering
: OL

#4 Sam Cochran
: 6' 3"; Senior; Business
: S

#98 Peter Costa
: 5' 11"; Senior; Exercise Science
: K/P

#0 Liam Danitz
: 6' 4"; Junior; Kinesiology
: DL

#45 Andrew Debri
: 5' 11"; Senior; Biology
: LB