Coaching Staff:  The 2017 season will be Chris Monfiletto's sixth as head coach of the Kenyon Lords. He owns a combined 16-34 record in his previous five seasons and has improved the Lords' win total by one in each of the past three seasons. His 6-4 mark in 2012 matched the program's best since 1984. Monfiletto has coached 28 All-North Coast Athletic Conference players, including quarterback Thomas Merkle, the 2016 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, receiver Brian Hunca, a 2016 All-Region honoree, and Kolin Sullivan, a two-time All-American linebacker. Also returning to the Kenyon coaching staff for the upcoming season are Meade Clendaniel (defensive coordinator), Keith Jones (offensive line), George Cooper (wide receivers) and Tom Lachendro (defensive line).

Last Season: The 2016 Lords kick-started their season with a 3-1 record. Early wins over Sewanee, Oberlin and Allegheny gave the team its best start since the 1984 campaign. Unfortunately, the Lords couldn't maintain that pace and closed out the year with six straight losses, a 3-7 overall record and an eighth-place 2-7 conference mark. The passing game highlighted the season. Led by Merkle and Hunca, the Lords set single-season records for passing completions and passing yards. The team's average of 292.8 passing yards per game ranked second best among all NCAC teams.

Team Makeup: This is an experienced team and one that's backed up by a freshman class that numbers 26. The overall roster size approaches the mid-70s and is one of the biggest teams the Lords have fielded in quite some time. The senior class has 13 members who have been with Coach Monfiletto for the duration. They know what to expect and are holding each other accountable. There are 46 letterwinners returning and that includes 13 starters. Eight starters return to the offense and five return to the defense.

Top Returnees: A look at the offense reveals plenty of promise as four linemen return. That group includes Chase Kirol, Parker Subia, Josh Walmer and A.J. Brennan. They'll protect Merkle, who shattered several Kenyon passing records as a freshman. John Clark is at fullback once again and Ian Bell, a senior, will headline the receiving corps. Brandon Byrd could also have an impact on offense, as he makes the switch from cornerback to receiver in his final season. Defensively, the Lords will get tons of leadership and production out of senior safety Curt Williams. Fellow seniors Quashae Hendryx and Jacob LaPoint are back on the defensive line, while junior Hayden Gaus will direct a revamped linebacker group.

Significant Losses: Hunca stands out as big loss for the Lords. The recent grad finished off his senior season with 99 catches for 1,283 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. His career marks of 241 catches and 3,294 receiving yards rank second all-time at Kenyon. The Lords lost another receiver in Jibri McLean, as well as offensive lineman Casey Cook. Defensively, the linebacker unit took a huge hit, losing Saxon Justice, Cody Keenan and Mike Gibbons to graduation. Those three accounted for a combined 252 tackles and 8.5 sacks last season. On the defensive line, starters Jamal Perkins and Joe Marabito are gone. Defensive back Jack Hanratty graduated, as did Szabi Simo, the team's placekicker and career leader with 77 PATs made.

Team Strength: Coach Monfiletto likes to point to leadership as a strength. He feels the senior class is strong and doing an excellent job of following through with the team's theme of CAS (Competition, Accountability and Self-Discipline). That approach, combined with a larger roster, has made practices more efficient and more productive. Come game time, look for the offensive line, which returns four starters, to be a big factor. They'll again protect another game-changer in Merkle, who broke several Kenyon records as a freshman quarterback last season. Bell and Byrd certainly have the potential to be impact players on the receiving end of Merkle's throws. Defensively, Williams is a leader and ball hawk in the secondary. Up front, the Lords will bank on a veteran, healthy front line of Hendryx, LaPoint and Trevor Brown.  

Potential Problem: The defense is going to be younger than the program is accustomed and the loss of three starting linebackers will be tough to overcome. Those three ranked among the team's top four tacklers in 2016. On the offensive side, balance could be an issue. The Lords threw for a ton of yards last season, but ranked last in the NCAC in rushing. Special teams will be looking for consistency, especially with the loss of Simo, a reliable kicker for the past few seasons.     

Schedule Check: The list of Kenyon's 2017 opponents will be the same as last year. The Lords, however, play their first three games on the road. That includes the season opener at Sewanee followed by the conference opener at Oberlin. Homecoming on September 23 won't be a breeze, as the Lords host national powerhouse Wittenberg, a team that made it to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Championship playoffs. Prior to that, the Lords play at Wabash, a team that's receiving votes in national preseason polls. Things ease up, just a bit, after that. Five of the last seven games are at home. In addition to hosting Wittenberg, the Lords will also entertain Ohio Wesleyan, Hiram, Wooster and DePauw at McBride Field. Keeping with tradition, the regular season will end with a rivalry game at Denison.