The names change each year. The goal remains the same.
"Our goal always has been and always will be to win a championship," said seventh-year head coach Sherard Poteete, who also begins his 13th season with the program. "Expectations are always high, which is the way you want it as a coach and player."
The Cardinals have become one of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference's most consistent programs in recent years. They have:
- Posted five straight winning seasons.
- Won a regular season conference title with an unbeaten 7-0 record in 2022.
- Recorded a combined 12-2 ledger in league games the past two seasons.
- Regularly appeared in the NJCAA rankings the last two seasons, reaching as high as No. 4.
Poteete, the fifth-winningest coach in school history, has reason for high hopes as the season approaches. Yes, there are some question marks, but he believes the roster has been replenished with the right combination of transfers and incoming high school recruits.
"We like the roster we have assembled," Poteete said. "We did a really good job identifying areas we needed to address and then finding the right players."
As fall workouts near, the roster currently boasts 14 transfers, including five from Power 5 conferences. The list incudes WR Jacob Page (6-2, 180, Colorado), OL Brione Ramsey-Brooks (6-4, 415, TCU), LB Eric Fields III (6-1,190, Nebraska), DB Chase Biddle (6-0, 205, TCU) and LB S'Maje Burrell (6-0, 220, Texas).
The Cardinals also picked up QB Champ Harris (6-2, 210), who started six games for Army last season.
Poteete does not shy away from his expectations for the entire group of transfers.
"We expect them, all of them, to come in and contribute," Poteete said. "They are all at least two years into their careers and know what is expected."
The Cardinals went 7-3 last season, finishing second in the SWJCFC with a 5-2 mark. They return three offensive and two defensive starters among 20 lettermen.
Returning on the offensive side are OL Daniel Hernandez (6-4, 310) and Benneth Nnanna (6-4, 275) and WR Jaquan Lowman (6-0, 170).
Poteete believes with two starters back and a healthy number of talented newcomers, the OL group has the potential be a team strength.
"We need to find some tackles, but our interior guys are strong," Poteete said. "This is real big group, and our expectations are high."
By far, the deepest group on offense is at wide receiver. Poteete said this is no accident.
"We had some deficiencies and were without depth at the position last year," Poteete said. "We are very excited about the talent we have assembled and the competition it is going to produce."
At quarterback, the Cardinals will have a newcomer in Diego Tello. The 6-2, 195-pounder can hardly be considered a rookie. He spent at year at UTSA before transferring to the Cardinals last year and redshirting.
"Diego had a strong spring," Poteete said. "He is mature beyond his years, has a big arm, is athletic and can buy time in the pocket with his legs."
Sophomores Rashawn Mumphrey (6-3, 210) and Duce Hart (5-8, 170) are expected to shoulder the load in the backfield while a talented group of newcomers learn the ropes. Hart, by way of Malakoff, is a transfer from Northwestern State.
Defensively, DB Larell Howling (6-0, 190) and LB Noah Flemmings figure to be the leaders, both coming off stellar seasons as freshmen.
Poteete said those two position groups combined would play a key role in how successful the season can be.
"We have to have the back seven play at the high level we have come to expect through the years," Poteete said. "We are talented and have potential up front, but not a lot of game experience.
"The secondary has been our most consistent group the past several years and we are very excited about how good our linebackers have a chance to be."
The defense will be led by a new coordinator, but certainly not new to the program. Blake Bryan takes over as he starts his 13th season with the program.
"Blake will do a really good job," Poteete said. "The players enjoy playing for him and our style will not change. We are still going to play physical, fast and get after the quarterback."
As for the Saturdays ahead in the SWJCFC, Poteete is fully aware of what is waiting.
"I know I say it every year, but when you play in our league you have to be prepared both physically and mentally each week," Poteete said. "There are no weeks off."
DEFENSE
Ends
Returning Starters: None
Players To Watch: LeKell McGowan, Ivan Pena
Top Newcomers: Tavion Atkinson, Doc Renberg
Position Coach: Tyrell Thompson (1st season)
Poteete Says: "We are really young here with no returning starters. We do feel with the group we have we are longer, leaner and faster off the edge."
Tackles
Returning Starters: None
Players To Watch: Marcus Baysden
Top Newcomers: Perry Cole Jr.
Position Coach: Tyrell Thompson (1st season)
Poteete Says: "Very young here. Baysden is the only player in the group with any reps last year. A lot of potential, though."
Linebackers
Returning Starters: Noah Flemmings
Players To Watch: Paul Singleton III
Top Newcomers: Donovan Malone, Seth Harden, S'Maje Burrell, Eric Fields III
Position Coach: Blake Bryan (13th season)
Poteete Says: "Excited to have Flemmings return. Singleton was a redshirt last year and in the program. Newcomers are a good group and can run and cover a lot of ground."
Secondary
Returning Starters: Larell Howling
Players To Watch: Jerrick Harper, Sean Conner, Ja'Mareion Gipson
Top Newcomers: Joseph Acala, Noah Baker, Chase Biddle
Position Coach: Darrius White (3rd season)
Poteete Says: "Deep, young, talented group. This position has been our most consistent the past seven years and expect the same this year."
OFFENSE
Line
Returning Starters: Daniel Hernandez, Benneth Nnanna
Players To Watch: Ryan Webb, Sabastian Carter
Top Newcomers: Jayden Davis, Kison Shepard, Trajon Townsend
Position Coach: Tyler Uselton (6th season)
Poteete Says: "We definitely have size. Strong on the interior. Need to find some to step forward at the tackle position."
Wide Receivers
Returning Starters: Jaquan Lowman
Players To Watch: Lamar Kerby, Keith Wheeler
Top Newcomers: David Watson, Chauncey Hogg
Position Coach: Josh Johnson (2nd season)
Poteete Says: "Real excited about this group. There will be lots of competition for playing time. Definitely will be more productive here than a year ago."
Tight Ends
Returning Starters: None
Players To Watch: Montrell Smith, Devin Martin
Top Newcomers: Jadin Hambrick
Position Coach: Leonard Hunt (5th season)
Poteete Says: "Added a lot of size here Smith has the ability to do a little bit of everything."
Running Backs
Returning Starters: None
Players To Watch: Rashawn Mumphrey, Duce Hart
Top Newcomers: Rayshaun King, Jamary Williams, Chase Ramirez
Position Coach: Leonard Hunt (5th season)
Poteete Says: "There is a lot of potential here, just not a lot of game experience."
Quarterbacks
Returning Starters: None
Players To Watch: Diego Tello
Top Newcomers: Champ Harris, Jadyn Collins
Position Coach: Sherard Poteete (13th season)
Poteete Says: "Diego came to us last year from UTSA and is now a third-year player. He has a good arm and the ability to buy time. Champ started six games for Army."
Specialists
Returning Starters: None
Players To Watch: Pedro Altamirano (K)
Top Newcomers: Gavin Smith (LS)
Position Coach: Sherard Poteete (13th season)
Poteete Says: "We are in good shape at long snapper, but everything else is pretty wide open at this point. Without question this is our biggest question mark."
