Emporia State football started training camp Monday on the grass fields just northeast of Welch Stadium as installation continues of the brand new FieldTurf for Blackcreek Diesel Field. Progress was delayed on the turf by storms last week. Still, head coach Garin Higgins is happy to have the upgrade almost complete.
The Hornets welcome in 39 new players to camp this year including 26 true freshmen and 13 transfers. Strength & Conditioning coach Tyler Kitzman says the early focus will be to teach new players about handling the longer days and multiple sessions of camp.
The Hornets are looking to bounce back after a 5-6 season in 2025 in which they went 4-5 in MIAA play and finished in sixth place in the conference standings. ESU returns graduate quarterback Ben Harris who led the league in most major passing statistics before his season ended prematurely due to a torn pectoral muscle. The Hornets are the only team to return a First Team All-MIAA player on both sides of the ball with Malik O’Atis returning on offense at receiver, and Landon Boss coming back at linebacker after being named a consensus All-American and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. ESU is also getting back former All-MIAA player Trenden Collins who missed last season with a calf injury after playing just one full game. He’s excited to be back.
Among the veterans returning is defensive back Tyler Schultze whose 14 pass breakups a year ago rank second in program history. He, a Second Team All-MIAA player a season ago, along with Boss, were named preseason All-Americans by the CFBNetwork. Boss was a finalist for the Ken B. Jones Award as the male MIAA Student Athlete of the Year after leading the MIAA is sacks and tackles for loss. Experience returns for the Hornets along the line as well with senior Trevion Mitchell back off a Third-Team All-MIAA campaign in 2025. Coach Higgins says the players have been the driving force for the program in the offseason.
The Hornets open up the season on Thursday, August 27 on the road at Minot State for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff. Coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9. Training camp reports continue for the next three weeks on the entire KVOE network of stations including at 4:00 p.m. on Country 101.7, 4:30 p.m. on 1400 AM & 96.9 FM KVOE, and at 5:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
