Ohio Wesleyan University and head coach Tom Watts will look to an abundance of playmakers on both sides of the ball and some outstanding senior leadership to lead the way as the Battling Bishops chase their second North Coast Athletic Conference championship in 3 seasons.

"I think most people will look at us as a young team," Watts said, "but I feel this team has worked extremely hard, not only to get stronger but to become a great team.

"Our goals never change -- we still want to compete for the NCAC championship -- but we want to win the day, and worry about one game at a time."

On offense, the Bishops will look to a more balanced attack after ranking among the nation's top 10 in passing in each of the last 2 seasons.

Seniors Calvin Cagney (Indialantic, Fla./Melbourne) and Erik Wall (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) return at tight end. Cagney was a first-team All-Ohio and second-team All-NCAC pick last year after ranking second in the league in receptions, while Wall was fourth in the team with 40 catches.

At wide receiver, sophomores Adrian Bishop (San Diego, Calif./Madison), Ross Hickenbottom (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem), Tim Shadoan (Dublin/Scioto), and Eugene Coleman (Northfield/Nordonia) all return. Senior Tyler McIntosh (Columbus/Hilliard Darby), a transfer from Ohio State, and freshman Ian Williams (Naples, Fla./Collier) also look to make an impact.

"Tight end is our most productive position with two big-time playmakers," Watts said, "while wide receiver is probably our deepest position."

Senior Kevin Herman (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) is back at running back after leading the team in rushing for the third consecutive season. He was an honorable mention All-NCAC pick in 2013.  Sophomore Kylan Baker (Cleveland/The Hun School (N.J.)) is back, and freshmen Daryian Davies (Delaware/Olentangy Liberty), Dante' McGee (Flint, Mich./Grand Blanc), and TraVon Wilkes (Akron/Buchtel) also will be heard from.

Two starters return on the line, senior center Joey Reinhardt (Wheelersburg) and senior tackle Vincent Marquez (Stockton, Calif./St. Mary's).  Sophomores Chris Grissom (Loveland) and Brooks Gilmore (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) should move into starting roles this season, and freshman Alex Sigg (New Canaan, Conn.) should complete the starting line.

Gone is quarterback Mason Espinosa, who set Ohio Wesleyan and NCAC career records for passing and total offense.

"We had a strong class of quarterbacks last year to learn behind Mason," Watts said.

Sophomores Dominick Orsini (Massillon/Archbishop Hoban) and Cheyne Lacanaria (Farmington, Mich./Brother Rice) are 1-2 on the depth chart. Junior Phil Brusk (Westlake) and sophomore Rich Poutier (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) also are in the picture, along with freshman Dylan Leffingwell (Vincent/Warren), a transfer from Ohio University, and freshman Brian Berry (Parma/Valley Forge).

"Having extra practices as a result of our trip to Italy (in May) has allowed us to develop our young offense," Watts said. "We're very young in some positions but we're excited about our big playmakers."

On defense, junior Dom Wilson (Houston, Texas/Cypress Woods) is back to anchor the line from his nose guard position. Wilson tied for sixth in the NCAC in sacks last season with 7½.  Junior Jeff Burkett (Norwalk) also will see time at nose guard.

Senior Chase Workman (Wheelersburg) and sophomore Gary Brodek (Parma/Valley Forge) move into the starting spots at defensive end, with junior Cameron Pappa (Gilroy, Calif./Kings Academy) and freshman Jermaine Frazer-Phillips (New London, Conn./Suffield Academy) also slated to see action.

At defensive tackle, sophomores Solomon Shepherd (New Lebanon/Dixie) and Beau Michel (Seffner, Fla./Armwood) return.

The Bishops return a trio of seniors at linebacker in Morgan McBride (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X), Sean Miliner (Dayton/Wayne), and Chris Mondon (Mansfield/Lexington).

Sophomore Keaton Leppla (Millersburg/West Holmes) was impressive last season and will see considerable playing time, and classmates Deion Centeno (San Diego, Calif./Madison) and Brad Dotson (Piqua) also are in the mix.

Sophomore Eric Beale (Delaware/Hayes) returns at one cornerback, while sophomore Anthony Bryant (San Diego, Calif./Madison), who earned increased playing time as the season progressed last year, takes over at the other.  Senior Josh Townsend (Fort Worth, Texas/Azle) and freshman Jerry Harper (Vista, Calif./Santa Fe Christian) also will see time at cornerback.

Junior Roemello Cook (Akron/Buchtel) moves from cornerback to man the strong safety position, along with sophomore Justen Copley (Wooster/Triway), while junior Zane Kieffer (Findlay/Van Buren) moves to the free safety spot, with sophomore Brandon Frase (Cuyahoga Falls) and freshman Ben Rubel (Toledo/St. John's) also vying for playing time.

"We had to fill some holes because of graduation, but we feel this is a defense built on speed and aggressiveness," Watts said. "They're all students of the game and we expect them to bring that 'Red and Black Attack' mentality."

On special teams, senior Miles MacKenzie (Denver, Colo./East) returns at placekicker and punter. He battled through an injury-riddled 2013 season, still ranking third in the NCAC in kick scoring, and looks to recapture his form of 2012, when he led NCAA Division III players in field goals and ranked third in the nation in kick scoring.

Herman is back as the punt returner after ranking second in the league in punt return yardage last year, while Shadoan and Kieffer each ranked among the NCAC's top 10 in kick returns in 2013. Harper also could make an impact in the Bishop return game.