From left: Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, North Carolina’s Kaimon Rucker, Texas’s Quinn Ewers, Michigan’s Donovan Edwards, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka (AP Images)
The 2024 school soccer season is underway, marking the primary yr for the brand new 12-team playoff format. There are 134 groups within the Soccer Bowl Subdivision that might be preventing for these spots, however solely 12 will get in.
Lots of the tons of of gamers on these groups should not solely unbelievable athletes, they’re additionally followers of Christ. There’s no approach to record all of them, however listed here are 15 (in no specific order) to observe this season.
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Quinn Ewers, Texas quarterback
The No. 4 Texas Longhorns are coming into their first season as members of the SEC, they usually have an skilled quarterback in junior Quinn Ewers to steer them by way of the transition. Ewers was a preseason second-team All-SEC choice and is projected to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy award. He’s additionally a possible top-10 choose within the 2025 NFL Draft. Ewers threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore, serving to lead Texas to a 12-2 document and a win over Oklahoma State within the Large 12 Championship Sport earlier than shedding to Washington within the Sugar Bowl. Texas will look to compete for an SEC title and attain the expanded playoff. “God is so good,” Ewers said after final season’s win over Alabama. “I can’t say that sufficient, how a lot God has put me by way of. He’s made me so sturdy.”
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State broad receiver
A key piece to No. 2 Ohio State’s success this season might be broad receiver Emeka Egbuka, who returns because the crew’s high pass-catching goal. He was named an AP preseason first-team All-American and is a possible first-round choose within the 2025 NFL Draft, however extra importantly he’s additionally a Christ-follower. He was amongst many Buckeyes gamers who lately held a faith event on campus the place gamers shared their testimonies and many individuals have been baptized in entrance of tons of of individuals. “The world didn’t give me this pleasure, the world can’t take it away. I had this new feeling in my coronary heart that the Holy Spirit implanted into me,” Egbuka said at the event. “And so since then, it was actually a radical change for me. I began strolling extra obediently with God. I began looking for Him day after day.”
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina defensive finish
On the watch record for the Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Lombardi Award, the LOTT Influence Trophy and the Wuerffel Trophy, Kaimon Rucker enters his closing collegiate season as one of many leaders on the Tar Heel protection after racking up 56 whole tackles and eight.5 sacks final season. He was baptized in April, and declares in his Instagram bio that he’s “fulfilling the aim Jesus has for me.” Rucker has used social media to put up brief movies by which he teaches a couple of portion of the Bible. “Though He is aware of that you simply’re grateful for right this moment, despite the fact that He is aware of you’re grateful for the little issues that occur in your life — the nice, the dangerous, the ugly — He nonetheless desires you to offer thanks, it doesn’t matter what it’s,” he said in one video.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama quarterback
Alabama can have a brand new head coach for the primary time since 2007 after Nick Saban’s retirement, however the Crimson Tide will return its beginning quarterback, and Jalen Milroe hopes to steer the tradition-rich program again to a nationwide championship. A preseason third-team All-SEC choice, Milroe threw for two,834 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023, serving to lead Alabama to a win within the SEC Championship Sport over No. 1 Georgia, earlier than a Rose Bowl loss to eventual nationwide champion Michigan. “I’ll say this, I get my power from my Lord and Savior,” Milroe told the media last season. “I truthfully say that, and I give up my throne to Him, and I do know that I can lean on Him irrespective of the circumstance. I truthfully say I put my belief in Him it doesn’t matter what.”
Donovan Edwards, Michigan working again
As Michigan hopes to repeat as Large Ten and nationwide champions this season, working again Donovan Edwards figures to be a giant piece. The senior has been a key cog within the Michigan offense since he was a freshman, however he’s performed behind Blake Corum the previous two seasons. Edwards would be the lead again in 2024. He capped off his junior season with two touchdowns within the national championship game. “It’s not troublesome for me to reward God and to offer Him glory,” he said in December 2023, “as a result of He’s at all times been there for me when every little thing was excessive, so I’d be doing a shame to God if I wasn’t praising Him when every little thing was low.”
Garrett Nussmeier, Louisiana State quarterback
A former four-star prospect, Garrett Nussmeier may’ve transferred to be a starter elsewhere however as a substitute stayed in Baton Rouge to again up 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. “Once I was making my choice out of highschool of the place to go to highschool, I felt like there was lots of prayer concerned, and God introduced me to LSU for a cause,” Nussmeier said. “I didn’t really feel prefer it was my time to only pack up and depart. I felt prefer it was my responsibility to only maintain my head down and belief in His timing and simply work. I do know God’s timing is at all times proper.” At age 22, he’ll get his likelihood to start out for the Tigers this season after having solely ever began final season’s ReliaQuest Bowl victory in opposition to Wisconsin. He’s appeared in 18 whole video games with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Tim Keenan, Alabama defensive deal with
Tim Keenan III redshirted his first yr in Tuscaloosa and noticed nothing however mop-up responsibility in his second, after which an issue turned clear: his weight. He weighed 343 kilos on the time and he knew that to have an opportunity to play meant he needed to get into higher form. He vowed to “do it with God.” He started studying God’s Phrase, praying extra persistently, listening to Gospel music earlier than exercises, and he began a crew Bible examine — along with beginning all 14 of ‘Bama’s video games in 2023. “I simply attempt to work as exhausting as doable to honor God,” Keenan said last year, “and to point out Him how grateful I’m with my play.”
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State working again
One other participant who figures to steer the Buckeyes into nationwide title rivalry is working again TreVeyon Henderson. The senior led the crew in speeding as a freshman with 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns, however accidents reduce his 2022 season brief. He returned in 2023 to once more lead the Buckeyes in speeding, racking up 926 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 video games. And he was additionally a giant a part of the current on-campus faith event at Ohio State. “Jesus — He’s my every little thing, man,” Henderson stated lately on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “After my foot damage in my sophomore yr, I made that call to offer my life to the Lord. … Ever since I gave my life to Him, man, He’s modified my life.”
“Ever since I gave my life to Him, He’s modified my life.”
At this time on the pod, we speak to @OhioStateFB working again @TreVeyonH4 about returning to school, taking part in for Jesus, and extra!https://t.co/YP2r0yRmbs pic.twitter.com/oNF5r2HJOc
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) August 27, 2024
Cade Klubnik, Clemson quarterback
Since late in his freshman season, Clemson has been Cade Clubnik’s crew. He took over within the 2022 ACC Championship Sport, led the Tigers to a 39-10 win, then bought his first begin in opposition to Tennessee within the Orange Bowl, throwing for 320 yards in a 31-14 loss. As a sophomore, Klubnik threw for two,844 yards and 19 touchdowns whereas speeding for 182 yards and 4 touchdowns. After 4 playoff appearances in 5 years, Clemson has missed the school soccer playoff the previous 4 years, and Klubnik might be appeared to for main the Tigers again. “Nothing in my life will ever examine to how vital and the way, simply, unbelievable God is in my life,” Klubnik said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in 2023. “I’ve been grateful to have simply nice experiences within the sport of soccer all through my life to date, however not a kind of have come near the wonderful issues that God has finished in my life.”
Nathan Carter, Michigan State working again
Nathan Carter proved to be one of many high working backs within the Large Ten in 2023, speeding for 798 yards and 4 touchdowns. After spending his first two seasons on the College of Connecticut, the redshirt junior will look to assist the Spartans rebound after a 4-8 season final yr. “[Faith is] the hope that all of us want, and but, everyone seems to be trying to find it,” Carter said last year. “We’re all trying to find goal. We’re all trying to find one thing to meet us, one thing to maintain us. So it’s a present that I consider God has given me to have the ability to use my phrases and have the ability to use my platform to have the ability to glorify Him and to unfold His title.”
“My life is price nothing to me if I don’t share the Gospel.”
At this time we’re joined by Michigan State working again Nathan Carter, who talks about being a follower of Jesus versus a fan of Jesus.@_natecarter5 https://t.co/X17s8uYGmw pic.twitter.com/KIpFJgPtYr
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) November 22, 2023
Will Rogers, Washington quarterback
After 4 years at Mississippi State, Will Rogers takes over because the beginning quarterback for Washington beneath new head coach Jedd Fisch. Rogers has already made 40 collegiate begins, together with his greatest season coming as a sophomore in 2021, when he threw for 4,739 yards and 36 touchdowns. His junior marketing campaign noticed him throw for 3,974 yards and 35 touchdowns, and an damage restricted him to only eight video games final yr. About his religion in God, Rogers said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in 2023, “He’s modified my life in an amazing means, not simply with soccer and the issues I do on the soccer discipline, however simply in life on the whole. I feel I’ve a fairly good grasp and fairly good understanding that, you understand, what I’m doing on the sphere is in the end for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Danny Okoye, Oklahoma edge rusher
Expertise could also be what separates some elite groups from others in school soccer, however the Sooners hope to have an effect freshman this season in Danny Okoye. A consensus four-star prospect, he was ranked because the No. 1 recruit within the state of Oklahoma by ESPN, On3 and Rivals, and chosen to play within the 2023 U.S. Military Bowl. He then enrolled at Oklahoma in January and turned heads throughout spring practices, when head coach Brent Venables said, “His expertise is freakish.” Later within the spring, Okoye shared on social media that he was baptized.
I did one thing… pic.twitter.com/4UR1yKV25X
— Danny “🅿️hantom” Okoye (@itsdanielokoye) May 22, 2024
Taylen Inexperienced, Arkansas quarterback
Following three seasons at Boise State, Taylen Inexperienced takes over because the Razorbacks beginning quarterback this season. As a sophomore, he threw for two,042 yards and 14 touchdowns, and as a junior threw for 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns. He additionally does injury together with his legs, compiling 588 speeding yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022, then 436 speeding yards and 9 touchdowns in 2023. “He’s every little thing to me,” Green said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast about his religion in God. “I begin my day with Him and I’m simply blessed to have a household that taught me to at all times maintain Him first.”
Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern linebacker
An All-Solar Belt Convention first-teamer and honorable point out on Phil Steele’s All-American groups final yr, Marques Watson-Trent led Georgia Southern in tackles with 122, and in addition contributed 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was named to the convention’s preseason first-team protection forward of the 2024 season, as he’ll anchor a protection that appears to assist the Eagles enhance on a 6-7 document from final season. “Any time I get an opportunity to speak about Jesus, I get excited,” Watson-Trent said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in Could. “I feel that’s every little thing for me. For me, He’s actually fact. He’s fact in a world stuffed with lies. He’s my means of understanding, He’s my fact, He’s the sunshine that I observe any time I’ve questions on life, as a result of life is tough and it’s stuffed with questions. He’s at all times the reply.”
Dylan Raiola, Nebraska quarterback
Because the No. 1 quarterback recruit for 2024, Dylan Raiola initially dedicated to Ohio State in Could 2022, however then dedicated to Georgia in Could 2023. Nevertheless, his first snaps as a university soccer participant might be for Nebraska, the place he flipped to in December. His dad, Dominic, performed for Nebraska from 1997 to 2000, and Dylan’s uncle, Donovan, is the Huskers’ offensive line coach. The true freshman gained the beginning QB job final week. “With out God, I wouldn’t have the ability to do something I do now,” Raiola said in March 2022, a number of months after getting baptized. “He’s gifted me with abilities and skills. I feel if I don’t use them within the right means, that’s not honoring God. That’s my before everything ‘why.’”
I DECIDED🙏🏽 Greatest choice of my life, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, I’m Forgiven! #AboutThatAction #Wayfinder #REALMen https://t.co/xIhQEFtnNe
— Dylan Raiola (@RaiolaDylan) October 30, 2021
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