NMMI Sports Press

The expression says that while offense wins games, defense wins championships – which could bode well for this year's 2017 Bronco football team.

After sending 27 graduates on to play at four- schools last year — including standout quarterback Jordan Ta'amu who finished second in the NJCAA for TD passes and third in the nation for passing yardage last season before signing to play for Ole Miss — this year's sophomore class is heavy on defense.

"We've returned a lot of guys who played a lot of snaps," said sixth-year head coach Joe Forchtner. "Even though a lot of them weren't starters, they were still splitting the reps, 50-50 or 60-40 with the starters. And for us that's big. Because here, we don't get a lot of transfers. We've got to win with sophomores. And the years that we've been good it's been a really sophomore-heavy team. So defensively in the backfield, those guys knows the calls. They know how to make the calls. We've got several returning cornerbacks on the defense right now. Right now, they're pretty solid."

Those defensive returners with time on the field include Laquan Lewis-Hicks (8 games played, 25 tackles, 12 assists); Joe Clark (8-19-11); Donald Mensah (8-16-7); Leonard Sagapolutele (9-16-17); James Brown (7-14-4); Dustyn Hart (9-9-9); Matz Peters (7-10-8); Ben Avery (7- 6-3); Jonari Brown (4-7-2); L.J. Te'o (4-4-3) and Walter Wilkerson (3-1-0).

Offensively, Forchtner is pleased with the returning receivers: Andre Bodison (22 receptions for 306 yards), Bryndan McCoy (21-317), Cam Saunders (12-243), Azavion Smith (2-7); and with the returning running backs: Jalen Jackson (36 rushes for 207 yards); Taquan Pratt (23-50); and Raekwon Webb (11-35).

But coach 'Fort', as his players call him, is definitely pleased with the new freshmen recruits, on both sides of the ball.

"I think this is one of the more athletic classes that we've signed and right now it's just about getting them to learn the steps so that they can play as fast as they are," the coach said. "When guys are thinking out there on the field they tend to not play as fast as they are. I think we signed a good class. I couldn't be more pleased with what we signed. It's just getting them game ready."

Question marks include the offensive line and quarterback positions.

"We only had one offensive lineman who played last year. But this is probably the best O-line group we've signed and they're coming along. Again, we've got to get them game ready.

The QB battle is between four newcomers: 6-foot-4 sophomore transfer Brandon Perdue, from Valley, Calif; 6-2 freshman Bryce Martin, Tampa, Fla.; 6-1 freshman Cody Frampton, Lehi, Utah; and 6-2 freshman Monterius Turner, Florence, Ala.

"Competition for the top QB slot has been pretty thick. I still don't know who it's going to be," the coach said. "Those guys are battling it out every day. I like them all. They're all good players. It's just not as clear cut as it was last year."

Forcthner and the rest of his coaching staff — offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Drew Thatcher (sixth season); offensive line coach Robert Rodriguez (second); defensive line coach Kurt Taufa'asau (second); and new to NMMI wide receivers coach Chase Kyser; linebacker coach Xavier Garcia; and defensive coach Jay Wilson — will get to see how it all gels Aug. 26, when they face Air Force Prep in Colorado, the first of only two non-conference games on the schedule.

After that it, it doesn't get any easier, as it's all Southwest Junior College Football Conference games, beginning in Miami, Okla. Sept. 2 vs. NE Oklahoma A&M before coming home Sept. 9 against Cisco College.

As the Institute found out last year in their first SWJCFC season, it's a seven-week grind, against some of the top-ranked teams in the country.

That anyone can beat anyone else is obvious from last year's standings, in which only Trinity Valley had an almost unblemished record, going 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the SWJCFC. Except for winless Cisco, everyone else had three or four wins in conference, making for a tight finish.

"Good teams, top to bottom," Forchtner said. "There's no games there that you can go in and circle win, loss, win, win, win, win, win, win. I think anybody can beat anybody. I think we can beat anybody on any given week. I also think if we don't show up, we can lose against any team in this conference."

But if it all comes together under the sophomore leadership, the Broncos could battle their way to the top of the tough-as-nails conference.