Football | 8/11/2026 8:00:00 AM

August 11, 2026- Emporia State returns four players that started at least nine games last year and a total of five with starting experience. The Hornets led the MIAA and were 25th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed and were second in sacks allowed per game having allowed just 14 sacks in 453 drop backs last season. Last year they allowed 24 sacks in 511 drop backs.
 
Trevion Mitchell was named Third Team All-MIAA last season. He earned the Squarehead Award four times last season, including against Washburn where he graded at 90% and had seven knockdowns. He finished the season with 44 knockdowns including 7.5 in the season opener against Minot State. He is in his fifth year and has started 34 straight games for Emporia State.
 
Brody Lietz is in his fifth year with the Hornets and has 17 starts in his career. He had 51.5 knockdowns from his center position including a career high 12.5 against Central Missouri. He was a three-time winner of the Squarehead Award last season.
 
Dalton Owen is in his fifth season at Emporia State and had 61.5 knockdowns last year. He started all 11 games last season with a career high 12.5 knockdowns at Central Missouri
 
Kyle Zimmerman started nine games last year as a red-shirt freshman. He had 25.5 knockdowns on the season.
 
Levi Cooley had two starts last season and finished with 15 knockdowns. He had 5.5 knockdowns against Missouri Western. He is in his fourth year at Emporia State.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
There are three seniors, six juniors, three sophomore, five redshirt freshman and five true freshman listed among the 22 offensive linemen.
18 of the 22 offensive linemen are home grown, having come to Emporia State as freshmen with seven in at least their fourth year at ESU.
Nine of the offensive linemen are from Kansas, five are from Oklahoma, five are from Texas, two are from Missouri and one is from Florida.

OFFENSIVE LINE

55	Bryson Rolle	OL	6-1	271	R-Jr.	St Louis, MO	DeSmet Jesuit HS	Illinois College
56	Bradley Bond	OL	6-5	293	R-Jr.	Goddard, KS	Goddard HS
57	Aydan Spiers	OL	6-6	289	R-Fr.	Douglass, KS	Kapaun Mt. Carmel HS
58	Caden Ricke	OL	6-2	292	R-So.	Catoosa, OK	Lincoln Christian HS
60	Nick Cravaritis	OL	6-6	300	R-Jr.	Katy, TX	Katy HS
63	Brody Lietz	OL	6-2	287	R-Sr.	Topeka, KS	Rossville HS
65	Jaden Garcia	OL	6-1	291	R-Fr.	Fort Scot, KS	Fort Scott HS
66	Jacob Pequeno	OL	6-1	276	R-Fr.	Dallas, TX	Parish Episcopal School	Arkansas State
68	Tycen Biering	OL	6-3	301	Jr.	Goddard, KS	Goddard Eisenhower HS	Hutchinson CC
70	Levi Cooley	OL	6-4	295	R-Jr.	Bonner Springs, KS	Basehor-Linwood HS
71	Brayden Wallace	OL	6-5	287	R-So.	Jacksonville Beach, FL	Fletcher HS	Davenport
72	Trevion Mitchell	OL	6-4	287	R-Sr.	Mesquite, TX	West Mesquite HS
73	Dalton Owen	OL	6-3	291	R-Sr.	Concordia, KS	Concordia HS
74	Beau Redwood	OL	6-2	269	R-Fr.	Sapulpa, OK	Sapulpa HS
75	Keyapha Harris	OL	6-3	291	R-Fr.	Fort Worth, TX	Crowley HS
77	Jacob Carver	OL	6-2	290	R-Jr.	Rossville, KS	Rossville HS
78	Kyle Zimmerman	OL	6-4	296	R-So.	McKinney, TX	McKinney Boyd HS
	Brady Alonzo	OL	6-4	273	Fr.	Chanute, KS	Chanute HS
	Josiah Barley	OL	6-3	289	Fr.	Miami, OK	Miami HS
	Phillip Fields	OL	6-2	275	Fr.	Blue Springs, MO	Blue Springs HS
	Elie Joseph	OL	6-3	259	Fr.	Norman, OK	Norman HS
	Tristan Thompson	OL	6-7	285	Fr.	Kansas, OK	Kansas HS

Offensive tackle Trevion Mitchell, center Brody Lietz, guard Dalton Owen and tackle Kyle Zimmerman along with offensive line coach/offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Vincent Cashdollar  and head coach Garin Higgins will be available on Tuesday, August 11 in the interview tent at Welch Stadium.
This is the seventh part of an eight-part series of position previews for the Emporia State football team. Yesterday the running backs and S-backs were featured and tomorrow the specialists will be at the podium.