Following a 7-3 season in 2021, Concordia Football returned to the practice fields this spring with an eye on making another leap forward. A number of fifth-year players are back in the fold and the overall talent level excites Head Coach Patrick Daberkow.
The Concordia Football program announced the addition of Trent Laune to the coaching staff on Feb. 18, 2022. A Bulldog alum, Laune will serve as Special Teams Coordinator after nine seasons as a Defensive Coordinator at the NCAA Division III level.
The momentum from a 7-3 mark in 2021 has carried over into recruiting for the Concordia Football program. As of signing day, the Bulldogs have secured pledges from 39 class of 2022 student-athletes.
Lane Napier has garnered Honorary Captain status on the Omaha World-Herald's All-Midlands Team for the third time in his career while 11 Bulldogs have been recognized by the news outlet.
Additional postseason recognition has streamed in for accomplished linebacker Lane Napier, who has been chosen as an Associated Press First Team All-American and nominee for the 2021 Cliff Harris Award.
For the second year in a row, Concordia running back Jonah Weyand has been named to the Academic All-America® NAIA Football Team by CoSIDA. Weyand again led the Bulldogs in rushing while earning high marks as a student.
Over the past four seasons, Garrett Schardt has made his mark at Concordia with a series of big plays and tough grabs. The Davenport native and BDS alum will have the option of returning for a fifth season after an All-America 2021 season.
Based on performances that occurred in 2021, a number of Concordia standouts improved their positioning on program single season and career all-time lists. Notably, Lane Napier padded his school record tackle total.
Linebacker Lane Napier was honored with First Team All-America status by the American Football Coaches Association on Monday (Dec. 13). In addition, tight end Garrett Schardt garnered Honorable Mention All-America accolades.
All-American linebacker Lane Napier returned for a fifth year in 2021 and made good on his aspirations of helping Concordia Football win in a big way. Led by a stifling defense, the Bulldogs closed the campaign on a six-game win streak.
Typically by early August, a GPAC Football Media Day would have been staged. In lieu of that, we break down what things look like for Coach Daberkow's Bulldogs heading into preseason.
Before a home playoff game was made possible, the 2001 Concordia football team burst onto the national scene by upsetting eighth-ranked Sioux Falls in week two of that GPAC championship season.
Singing The Doxology in the postgame locker room is about as Concordia as ringing the bell after victories. It's a Bulldog Football tradition that dates back to at least the 1970s.
Former star quarterback Von Thomas now serves as Concordia's Multicultural Program Specialist and Assistant Director of Student Life. He fielded our questions in this Q&A.
As Sean Stewart said, "It's an honor and a privilege to be able to wear the Concordia University Bulldog jersey." We took a look back at the top Bulldogs by jersey number during the GPAC era (20 seasons).
One of the most fearsome linebackers in school history, Erik DeHaven represents what Concordia University football is all about. He starred for the 2001 championship team and is now a high school coach in Texas.
All-American linebacker Lane Napier fielded questions on a variety of topics in this Q&A. already racked up a program GPAC-era best 347 tackles and has been named a first team all-conference performer three times.
In the history of the program, Concordia football has produced six players that are known to have signed NFL contracts or to have been invited to NFL training camps.
In lieu of the normal spring practice season, head coach Patrick Daberkow is monitoring progress from afar. Prior to students being sent home, Daberkow observed a physically stronger, more veteran 2020 team.
As of Signing Day 2020, the Concordia football program has secured the pledges of 42 high school seniors from nine states around the country. The initial class includes 14 native Nebraskans.