With the NCAA Division III season starting a week later than the other levels of college football, the 20th-ranked Hope College football team spent the opening weekend in observation mode.

Change in today's college football is a constant, and the Flying Dutchmen are contending with it, too, after a historic season of their own. Head coach Peter Stuursma said it was a productive weekend.

"We got a chance to experience a lot of football and watch what's going on: how teams adapt, how teams address sudden change, how teams address, so many new names and faces, everybody's doing it," Stuursma said. "We really feel like winning the day, winning the next play, having the opportunity to go practice today on a beautiful day is the only thing we can control. That's what we're really focused on.

"We have some big shoes to fill, but we've got people with big feet."

The approach is one Hope used last season to earn the first 10-0 regular season in program history, the 23rd MIAA championship, and the first NCAA Division III playoff victory. The Flying Dutchmen finished 11-1 after reaching the third round and losing to the eventual national champion, North Central College (Ill.).

Hope graduated a talented senior class, including two All-Americans. The Flying Dutchmen will be younger this season, with a roster of 125 that features 45 freshmen, 34 sophomores, 28 juniors, and 18 seniors.

"We need guys to step up, but if you look at the landscape of big-time college football, so does everyone else," Stuursma said. "Our young guys have to grow up fast, but I've been very impressed with how they've done over the fall camp phase. I love the way our guys committed to fall camp. I love the way they came in and worked. Now we're into the Game 1 phase."
 

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Peter Stuursma, ninth season        
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks: Andrew Hawken
Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers: Jacob Pardonnet        
Offensive Line and Recruiting Coordinator: Hunter Thompson
Cornerbacks and Special Teams Coordinator: Jinks Arnold
Wide Receivers: Matt Bird
Running Backs: Jim Caserta
H/Y: Drew Peterson
Defensive Line: Isaiah Hicks
Sam/Nickels: Brendann Brown
Safeties: KJ Landis
Assistant Coach: Ted Manning (defensive line)
Student Assistant Coach: Aden Smith
 

OFFENSE

On offense, the Flying Dutchmen will feature new starters in the backfield at quarterback and running back.

Junior transfer Alex Thole (Schoolcraft, Michigan / Schoolcraft) has been named the starting quarterback. The 5-10, 190-pound Thole saw limited action the past two seasons at Grand Valley State University and has had a terrific fall camp at Hope.

"Alex has really taken off. In fact, the last week or so in practice, he's really separated himself," Stuursma said. "He's doing a nice job of picking up things and guys are responding to that."

Thole will have a deep group of receivers, including four with at least 10 catches last season: 5-9 junior Jonny Rohen-Blanton (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford), 6-5 junior Eli VanderVeen (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville), 5-10 junior Trevor Griffiths (Stevensville, Mich. / Lakeshore) and 6-0 junior H-back Seth Luhmann (Rochester Hills, Michigan/ Stoney Creek. Luhmann earned All-MIAA Second Team accolades in 2024.

Sophomores Kal Motter (Lawton, Mich. / Lawton) and AJ Martel (Mason, Mich. / Mason) top the Week 1 depth chart at running back.

Hope will feature three new starting offensive linemen, including both tackles.

Senior center Rob MacAleese (Brownstown, Mich. / Oscar A. Carlson) and junior guard Timothy Clay (Byron Center, Mich. / Byron Center) are leaders up front.

"We have an unusual stat: 13 offensive linemen played over 100 snaps last year. That's pretty unique," Stuursma said. "We lost good players, including an All-American, but we have a good nucleus of guys who played a lot on the offensive line."

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

On defense, the Flying Dutchmen return two All-MIAA selections, first team and D3football All-Region Third Team cornerback Austin Harvey (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford HS) and All-MIAA Second Team defensive lineman Caleb Paarlberg (Caledonia, Mich. / Caledonia).

At defensive end, junior Tate Bezeau (Saline, Mich. / Saline) and sophomore transfer Christian Herrema (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford) are Week 1 starters. Sophomore Jake Punches (Farwell, Mich. / Clare) joins Paarlberg up front.

Seniors Micah Bush (Hudsonville, Mich. / Unity Christian), Colton Schreur (Wayland, Mich. / South Christian) and Byrce Debri (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt) will have expanded opportunities at the linebacker position.

Junior Lorenzo Vitti (Detroit, Mich. / Divine Child) and sophomore Jack Jacobs (East Lansing, Mich. / Lansing Catholic) join Harvey in the secondary. Senior Owen Graham (Caledonia, Mich. / Caledonia) and junior Tyson Mann (Byron Center, Mich. / Grandville) are among the top safeties.

"Our defensive line is back. Replacing an All-American and a four-year starter at linebacker is a huge thing, but on the back end, we return some corners," Stuursma said. "We lost a great group, but we're excited about the group we have."

On special teams, junior placekicker Caden Balkon (Byron Center, Mich. / Byron Center) returns to lead the unit.

SCHEDULE

The Flying Dutchmen's 2025 schedule features 10 games, with five at home at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium and five away.

Hope, which finished runner-up in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, opens the season with two road games: Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. Central at Loras College (Iowa), and Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. at Franklin College (Ind.). 

The home opener vs. Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio) on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. is part of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Weekend. It's also the annual Poster Giveaway Day.

Hope begins pursuit of an MIAA title repeat on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. against Alma at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.

The annual homecoming game is Saturday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. against Kalamazoo College and is part of the One Big Weekend celebration on campus.

The Flying Dutchmen also host Calvin University for the first time: Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. It's the second game in The Rivalry. Hope won last year's inaugural game, 38-7, at Grand Rapids Christian High School.