In Travis Rundle's first season as Sewanee's football coach last year, the Tigers went 3-7, but the previous three years combined they were 3-27, with a 0-10 record in 2016.
The modest improvement in 2017 may make a significant leap in 2018, with only two starters having graduated from each side of the ball and each unit blessed with depth.
And every returner is stronger than he was a year ago, as well as much more knowledgeable about the schemes and terminologies Rundle and his staff have implemented.
"We've got a ton coming back, so hopefully we can make some noise. We're stronger, and we have a different level of confidence," Rundle said as preseason practice was about to begin.
He held to that assessment Thursday evening, saying, "Oh, yeah, we've been really sharp, especially the last couple of days. You can see a difference not only in how quickly we move through practice but in how the guys carry themselves."
The new season starts Saturday at noon EDT at Kenyon in Gambier, Ohio. The Lords went 0-10 last year, including a 45-20 loss at Sewanee in Rundle's first game, and are 1-8 against the Tigers in a series that began in 1946.
Sewanee plays the next three Saturdays at home on Hardee-McGee Field, the fourth-oldest NCAA field in the country.
Warren Matthews stands out as the only freshman starter on the Tigers' opening-game depth chart this year, as well as for the fact he's a 6-foot-4, 285-pound Division III defensive tackle.
"He's a tough man to move. He moved into a starting role pretty quick," Rundle said, recalling that Sewanee "had freshmen all over the field" last year. "He's really clogged things up in the middle for us, and he's only scratched the surface of what he can do."
Matthews is in a front seven that includes five senior starters.
Sophomore linebacker Pierce Johnson and the secondary starters all have experience, too, although only Thomas Richardson is a junior and the others are sophomores. William Phillips and Wesley Porter each had five of Sewanee's national-high 21 interceptions in 2017, when Phillips also excelled on punt and kickoff returns and was the Southern Athletic Association newcomer of the year. The other second-year back is Walker Weatherly, who rotated with then-senior Glenn Ireland at one of the corners and picked off two passes.
Senior linebackers Lee Menefee and Conoly Koontz totaled 95 and 73 tackles last year with 47 and 45 unassisted stops and 8.5 and nine tackles for loss, and Johnson had 40 solos, 74 in all and 4.5 for lost yardage. The senior defensive linemen are Tristan Fuller from Georgia state power Calhoun High School, Karim Antoine and Jo Jo Matlock.
The offense starts with a fourth-year starter at center, All-SAA John Gaither from Cleveland High, snapping to junior quarterback Alex Darras from Notre Dame. Darras began the 2017 season sharing time with Sam Hearn but had secured the role when he hurt his right knee in game seven, and now he's healthy again.
"I was a little limited in the spring but threw in some noncontact periods," Darras said Thursday, "and now I'm full go and the knee feels really good. I'm ready to hit the ground running."
He and Gaither both echoed Rundle in claiming that an offseason of extra time in the weight and video rooms has been obviously beneficial, along with more familiarity with the playbook.
"Everybody's stronger, and I think we're a lot better team than the previous year," Gaither said. "I think we've got a good chance to win all 10 games, or at least finish .500."
Warren Holland and sophomore backup Sam Everette both have experience at running back, and receivers Allan Puri, Allan Parrott and Micah Maes are proven receivers with explosive sophomore Cyrus McCullough among the No. 2s. Gaither is joined in the line by fellow seniors Travis Nadalini and Jack Spencer on the left side, juniors Christian Spencer and Sam Jackson on the right and senior Trey Claus at tight end.
Senior place-kicker Michael Jacobs and junior punter Ben Brown also are back.
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com.