By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Competing in what is arguably the premier conference in NCAA Division II, Washburn University football coach Zach Watkins knows that nothing will come easy this fall.
Zach Watkins officially begins Year 2 as Washburn's head football coach on Monday when the Ichabods report for the opening of fall camp. [File photo/TSN]
But Watkins feels like there's already been a big jump in comfort level across the board as he and his staff open Year 2 at the Ichabod helm.
"All the things that we're doing now, it's not the first time we've done them,'' said Watkins, whose team will report for fall camp Monday. "Last year, from when we got the job through our first season, was the first time we did everything as a staff, as a program, these players, so now it's not the first time anymore.
"There's also a sense of urgency that the Year 2 jump has got to happen through this summer, in this fall, and that's just improving all the processes we do to make sure we have a much more successful season.''
The Ichabods are coming off a 3-8 season (2-7 in the MIAA), but five of Washburn's losses were by seven or fewer points, including an overtime defeat.
"We've talked about that with our team,'' said Watkins, a former All-American linebacker and a member of the Washburn Hall of Fame. "Year 1 you have those losses. Year 2 you hope those turn into close wins and Year 3, 4, 5 then it turns the other way. I think we're doing everything right to make sure that happens.
"The MIAA is the gauntlet that it is, so you have to play well each week to win those close games.''
Watkins said that the Ichabods have done everything he could ask over the offeason to get ready for the upcoming campaign.
"January, when we started meetings for the 2026 team, we laid out what it's going to take to win and the summer's the most important part of that,'' Watkins said.
"The guys bought into that. We had some freshmen join us, new transfers, and this summer will put us in a much better position moving forward to the season.''
Washburn, picked eighth in both the MIAA Preseason Football Coaches and Media Polls, will build around 12 returning starters and 55 lettermen this fall.
Junior linebacker JC Heim, a Washburn Rural product, led the MIAA and finished second in the nation last fall with 142 tackles, earning second-team All-MIAA honors.
Senior offensive lineman Jakobe Harmon and sophomore tight end Henry Mohrman both received All-MIAA honorable mention a year ago while sophomore quarterback Logan Madden completed 116 of 202 pass attempts for 1,155 yards and eight touchdowns.
Other returning starters on offense include senior tight end Ty Weber, junior offensive lineman Zach Cook and sophomore offensive lineman Gabriel Henriques while senior defensive end Caden Rhamy, junior defensive end Elijah Clark-Boyd and junior defensive tackle Al-Mani Jimerson join Heim as returning starters on defense.
The Ichabods will open the 2026 season on Aug. 29, going on the road to face former MIAA foe Truman State (6 p.m.). The Ichabods will make their home debut on Sept. 5 at Yager Stadium with a non-conference tilt against Colorado School of Mines (12 p.m.).
