MIAA Preview: Pittsburg State

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Pittsburg State coach Tom Anthony speaks at MIAA Media Day last month in Topeka.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Pittsburg State Gorillas have won at least a share of the MIAA championship in three of the last four seasons. Doing so again in 2026 could be a challenge for Tom Anthony and the Gorillas with just eight starters returning this season.

“We’re super excited about this year after coming off of a solid season,” Anthony said. “But I think internally, if you came into our building or our locker room, there’s probably a little bit of a letdown. You know for us, I think the ultimate goal every year is to win a national championship, and we don’t shy away from that.”

The biggest and most important question for Pitt State comes at the quarterback position. The Gorillas lost 2025 quarterback Jackson Berry to the transfer portal but bring a veteran group into the 2026 season.

Redshirt senior Jake Wolff, redshirt junior Carson Trimble, redshirt sophomore Ethan Hansen, and redshirt freshman Bobby Bacon make up the quarterback room this season.

“The competition has been great from the spring all the way through the summer, and they’ve done nothing but elevate their game,” tight end Luke Niggemann said. “Those guys love each other like brothers, and they want to see each other succeed, which is really special. No doubt that whoever is playing for us on Saturdays, they’re going to be in a great spot to make plays for us.”

Helping whoever the quarterback is come late August will be transfer running back Diego Cearns. The redshirt junior finished with 788 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season at Emporia State.

Cearns and Dylan Van will likely be responsible for replacing the production of Zahmari Palode-Gary and Cleo Chandler Jr. Palode-Gary led the MIAA with 964 rushing yards in 2025, while Chandler Jr. finished eighth in the conference with 571 yards.

“We were able to kind of rebuild our running back room,” Anthony said. “Got a phenomenal running back out of Emporia in Diego Cearns who was an all-conference running back last year. Dylan Van is a guy that took a lot of snaps for us in that room. So again, whoever the quarterback ends up being, I think that is going to take a lot of burden and pressure off of that guy.”

Also helping ease that pressure will be the wide receiver room led by redshirt seniors Kuron Parchmon and Greyson Holbert. Parchmon finished seventh in the conference with 39 receptions for 603 yards and a First-Team All-MIAA selection.

Holbert led the team in receptions last season with 59 for 586 yards. From there, the wide receiver room is an unproven group. Sophomore Damien Long II had the most receptions of the remaining receivers, hauling in 12 passes last season.

Niggeman was named Third-Team All-MIAA last season at the tight end position. The junior did a little bit of everything last year, carrying the ball 28 times for 124 yards and three scores. Niggeman also threw two passes, caught nine and even punted the ball once.

Outside of quarterback, the biggest question mark offensively comes along the offensive line. Redshirt senior Peko Leasiolagi is the lone starter returning from last year with the team losing three all-conference linemen from 2025.

There are the same questions for a defense that finished second in the MIAA in points allowed last year. The biggest losses come in the secondary and along the defensive line.

Safety Jordan Rogers capped his Pitt State career with a first-team All-America season, recording 85 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, five pass breakups and four forced fumbles. His five interceptions helped him finish his career with 15 picks, leaving a significant hole in the secondary.

Defensive lineman Jeremy Sharp also departed after earning All-America recognition. Sharp finished 2025 with 36 tackles, a team-best 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, providing a disruptive presence from the interior of the defensive line.

Pittsburg State does, however, return one of its most experienced defensive linemen in Ely Wilcox. The redshirt senior started all 13 games in 2025 and finished with 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

The defensive front will need additional players to step forward alongside Wilcox. Bryce Johnson returns at defensive end as a redshirt senior, while the roster also includes younger defensive linemen such as Elijah Morton, Kiros Martin and Derek McGlothlin.

Senior linebacker Zach Coenen said the success of the defense will depend on the first two levels.

“I think we’ve talked about it a little bit, but the front seven,” Coenen said. “The guys that we’re bringing back and how much they’ve improved — I think it’s really going to surprise some people.”

The secondary could provide the most experience for the defense. Aabiyas Wakes returns as a redshirt senior cornerback, while Mario Menghini, Micah Geary and Quintin Kirby give Pitt State experienced options at safety. Quincy Miner also returns after seeing significant action as a sophomore.

The Gorillas will need that experience to help compensate for the departure of Rogers and other veteran defensive backs.

“We’ve had a lot of guys in the secondary and other places that have kind of been waiting their turn,” Coenen said. “I know everyone is familiar with Jordan Rogers and how good a player he was, but we’ve got guys that have been waiting and chomping at the bit to get those reps.”

Pitt State will open the season at home against defending national champion Ferris State on Aug. 27. The Gorillas will hose Emporia State week two before taking the long trip to West Alabama on Sept. 12.

“Just taking the next step to win a national championship,” Niggeman said. “Conference championships are great — we’ll take those. But national championships is where we want to be and we’re going to do everything in our power to get there.”