SHEPHERDTOWN, W.Va. – Ever the optimist, Shepherd University football coach Ernie McCook remained true to form on Saturday.
The eighth-year head coach had positives when talking about his Rams during the annual media day. But there’s optimism and then, there’s optimism.
In this case, the 2026 edition of Shepherd football seems to fall in the guarded category.
“We do have a lot of different challenges that we have to meet as a team,” McCook said. “I feel our coaches, our players, from the end of last season to where we are now, have done a tremendous job in building a roster that’s going to compete at a very high level.
“It’s not easy at the current climate of college football, but one thing I can assure you is that everybody involved in our program is committed to being the most competitive team we possibly can be. I’m really looking forward to that.”
Shepherd football is used to being successful, in fact it demands it. But, in the last few seasons, it’s been a little harder to reach.
The last time the Rams reached the NCAA Division II playoffs was 2023, but they were ousted in the first round after two consecutive years of reaching the national semifinals.
Then in 2024, Shepherd posted a 6-5 record and finished fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division. The Rams started that season at 4-1 and then lost four of the last six games, finishing 3-4 in league play.
Last season, the Rams lost their first four games but bounced back to win the last seven. In the process, they went 6-1 in the PSAC East to finish second, but didn’t make the playoffs.
And now, for 2026, Shepherd has been voted to finish third in the seven-team East Division. Shippensburg is picked to finish sixth.
Thus, Shepherd seems to be going back to the whiteboard.
“Our keys for our success this year are very clear,” McCook said. “We’re going to need our players that have played at a high level in the past to continue to play high level and get better. We’re going to need guys who are going be stepping up for the first time to be able to step up in key situations and perform.
“And we’re going to have to have a team that comes together in all three phases – offensively, defensively, and in special teams. You cannot win in this game of football, in the competitive conference that we have, just being good in one phase. We have to be very solid in all three.”
Shepherd spent spring practice and the summer laying that foundation. Now it’s time to build the house.
McCook introduced a number of players from all positions of this team who are on the forefront of turning the “keys for success.” They were mainstays who got things turned around in the last half of last season and the group to move things forward.
Topping the list were three returning All-PSAC East players – offensive lineman Josh Crummitt, receiver Kordell Batten and punter Daishaun Alexander.
But one of the most critical is the position that is always the focal point – quarterback.
Graduate student Michael Hardyway will be returning for his second season under center, after compiling 2,308 passing yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
“The things he’s doing allows our offense to be able to grow and continue to move forward,” McCook said. “Everything that’s going to happen for a football team’s going to go through the quarterback spot. If that spot plays well, we’re going to play well as a team. So, it puts the pressure on those guys.”
Backing up Hardyway is junior Ezra Bagent, the brother of Tyson Bagent, Shepherd’s all-time leading quarterback who now plays for the Chicago Bears.
“I think the development that Ezra Bagent has made from spring ball to fall camp has done a nice job of pushing Mike,” McCook said. “I think to have that competition there, to push him, will make each other better.
“As iron sharpens iron, so is one man sharpening another. And I think that’s case in point at that position. All right, we’ve got the returning starter there, and we’ve got a hungry guy behind him.”
The Rams will feature an entirely new backfield after the departures of leading rusher Jordan Barnett and Grant Swinehart.
“We lost two great running backs last year, but I think we’re better there,” McCook said.
McCook called Ian Mauldin “the leader right now,” but rates Jabril Daniels, Zion Grantham, Tijuan and Noel Mitchell, a converted defensive back, as backs who have different attributes that could add diversity in the running game.
They are bolstered by the fullback-tight end contingent which McCook said “is a position that is very near and dear to me.”
“It’s a key position to make our offense go,” he said. “Because we have to have the ability to have a physical run game and play downhill but also be able to throw out of that effectively to have a pass game. I’m really extremely excited about that group right now.”
Key players are Chayan Loun and Brian Jester, along with Morehead State transfer Troy Wilson and Dominic Busky.
And then there is a large contingent of receivers, led by Batten, Shepherd’s top returning receiver with 59 catches for 665 yards and five touchdowns last year. Other pass catchers are Jaden Ashby, Daryl Harper, Roman Pearson, Derrell Pierson, Yannick Siewe, Carrington Nickens-Yzer and Chase Soper. It is another group with diverse talents.
The lynchpin for the Rams is the offensive line.
“I really believe a football team can only go as far as O-line can push them,” McCook said.
Crummitt is the anchor of the line and was recently selected to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List, while Caleb Herb is slotted at a guard spot. Tackles are slated to be Ju’elz Stanley and Jayden Perez. EJ Hendrix, versatile Jake Mangano, Jack Bolton and Lucas Michael – a Williamsport graduate and fifth-year senior – are possible options in the trenches.
There are more puzzle pieces to lock in on defense.
“It’s been a lot of fun watching our defense develop over the spring and into our fall camp and the work that they’ve done,” McCook said. “And it all starts up front with our defensive line.”
The line is led by Vince Flook and Christian Slack, a “high energy overachieving guy that is going to give 110 percent with everything he does.” Freshman Justin McGill is also on the radar.
McCook is excited about the linebacking corps, consisting of Corey Lawrence, Tyvon Callaway-Toles and Noel Norman-Williams.
Another diverse group patrols the secondary led by Reggie Snowden, a receiver who switched to defensive back. Joining him are safeties Marcus Butler, Tyrin Chinn-Thompson, Amarian Manuel, Zach Ferguson and D’Myo Hunter.
Shepherd’s kicking game is set with returnees – Alexander is back to punt, while Max Barba is the placekicker and Brayden Bowers is the long snapper. Sam Collins is the ace in the hole who at any and all of the kicking disciplines.
It all allows McCook to remain optimistic.
“We have great representation of our program,” he said. “Guys that, I think, work extremely hard at everything they do and do a great job representing who we are. They’re great leaders in the locker room. They do a great job helping the young players develop. That’s going to be one of our keys this year – their leadership and how they help this team develop.”
