Roosevelt University

[RULAKERSFAN]

With Roosevelt set to join the GLIAC and Division 2, I figured to assess them as a college and what they were up to before undergoing this change.


Roosevelt University currently plays in the MSFA conference of the NAIA, which historically has been a top 3 NAIA conference for football year in and out. Roosevelt took over the Robert Morris Football team in March 2020 along with their football program. The Robert Morris football program has been around since 2011, competing in the same conference. In its program's history, the head coach has solely been Jared Williamson.


Since 2011

• 11 wins over ranked NAIA and NCAA opponents
• 115 All League Selections
• 6 All Americans
• 2x Coach Of The Year for MSFA
• 101 Academic All Conference Selections
• 59-52

This last season, Roosevelt was 7-3, with notable wins against Concordia Ann Arbor, Mayville State, and Missouri Baptist. Although Rosevelt has yet to release a 2023-2024 schedule, it was revealed that Roosevelt will be play NCAA D3 CCIW foe and the National Champions in North Central to open up the season. With the closing of Trinity International, Roosevelt will also play an additional out of conference opponent. Roosevelt will compete this season with an NAIA schedule before having a gliac schedule in 2024 and beyond if they receive NCAA approval.


So how does Roosevelt stack up against other GLIAC Football Schools?

• Roosevelt will be the only private school along with davenport
• Roosevelt will have the smallest student body for football schools at roughly 3,725 students
• Roosevelt has a $161 million endowment, GVSU has roughly $175 Million
• Roosevelt plays football at the Arlington Heights Campus, busing players from the Chicago Campus to the field.
• Roosevelt's Chicago Campus is a vertical campus in the south loop of chicago

So, does the Gliac make sense?

Quincy University and McKendree University previously were a part of the NAIA MSFA conference, they are now both middle of the road members of the GLVC. When Roosevelt was assessing what conferences to join, the GLVC and GLIAC both presented options. However, by joining the GLIAC, Roosevelt has similar travel times to the GLVC, and will also present themselves as “higher tier” option.

But does it make sense for the gliac?

The GLIAC as of now is top to bottom still the best division 2 conference, however in recent years member schools have been leaving to other conferences. This is a survival move for the gliac, with Grand Valley and Ferris most likely both exploring moves in the next 10 years to make a move to division one. By adding Roosevelt, the gliac is attempting to ensure their future by building a chicago pipeline. As ive been reading threads, many have been opposed to this but I have to ask why? The NAIA as a whole has struggled a bit as of late, but I will say the MSFA conference has top to bottom been one of the more successful conferences.

Future of the Gliac?

Make no mistake, this is a move for the future of the GLIAC. In my opinion, the GLIAC should work to add more schools to the conference. The Chicago and Michigan NAIAs of the MSFA do fill this role, with similar qualities of football. The next team I could see making a D2 move on the Chicago side would be St. Xavier University, as they have gone out and scheduled many d2 and d1 opponents the last few years. On the other side of the conference, many will point to concordia ann arbor but due to the recent money trouble I doubt the NCAA would approve them. However, a school such as an Indiana Wesleyan may be a fit as they currently serve roughly 13,000 students.


Did the gliac want to be forced to make these moves, no. However, they can provide a way to solve scheduling issues along with number of member schools.


So how has Roosevelt been preparing for this jump? Roosevelt has pulled in one of the bigger classes in the NAIA this season, with a focus on recruiting Illinois. The class was largely finished within 2 weeks of signing day, and many of the recruits had multiple offers. Along with this, there has seemed to be a shift to focusing on Junior College talent, with the NJCAA national champs merely less than an hour from campus. Not taking advantage of the college of dupage would be … well an interesting move. I expect that Roosevelt is putting the finishing touches here now on the class and shifitng towards spring ball.


2023 Signing Class Based on what I was able to pull off twitter, assume there are more commits that I could not find.

QB

• Adrien McVicar, Dekalb High School IL
• Michael McNally, Von Steuben High School IL
• Maximos General, College Of Dupage IL

RB/H/FB

• Joseph Leibrandt, Marengo Community High School IL
• Jarvis Davis, Dekalb High School IL
• Armani McFerren, Plainfield East High School *+WR*
• Chase Withrow, Jersey Community High School
• Jaden McGee, Neuqua Valley High School

TE

• Jacob Biddle, Santa Anna College

WR

• Ricky Hearn Jr, Peoria High School
• Joshua Rowe, Proviso East High School *+DB*
• Leon Kelsick, Morton High School *+RB*
• Jacob Zarek, McHenry High School
• Ricardo Macon, Monterey Peninsula College, Central Michigan University
• Mark Harris, Boylan Catholic High School *+FS*
• Jmar Johnson, Boylan Catholic High School *+DB/LB/TE*
• Trevon Sanders, Minnesota West Community College
• Johnie Robertson, Glenbard North High School

OL

• Dominic Bautista, Peoria High School, IL
• Joseph Vinson, Bloom Trail High School, IL
• Ramiro Valdivia, Elk Grove Village High School, IL
• Carter Gessner, Minooka High School, IL
• Drew Indestad, Lemont High School, IL
• Maxwell Linwell Lingenfelser, Warren Township High School, IL
• Anthony Hurndon, Waukegan Township High School, IL *+DL*
• Jonathan Smith, Michele Clark Prep Academic Prep High School, IL
• Caleb Stirbu, Niles North High School, IL
• Devaugn Demus, Minnesota West Community College

DL

• Zeke Brooks, West Aurora High School, IL *+LB*
• Landon Newby-Holesome, Peoria High School, IL *+FB*
• KJ McCollum, Simeon High School, IL
• Gian Herrera, Guildford (Rockfrod) High School, IL
• Ryan Hatter Jr, Livingstone College
• Major Bryant, Proviso West High School IL
• Jalen Ray, Saint Laurence High School IL
• Tejuan Smith, Peoria High School IL *+ATH*

LB

• Amiais Arce, Morton High School, IL *+DL*
• John Wyzykowski, Joliet West High School, IL
• Devean Shearer, Saint Charles East High School, IL *+S/RB*
• Zion Hodges, Grayslake North, IL *+H*
• Deamonte Arroyo, George Westinghouse College Prep IL
• Armani Blanton, Dekalb High School IL
• Ashton Gray, Dwight D. Eisenhower High School IL *+RB*

DB

• Jovic Ngoie, Champaign High School IL
• Andy Rodriguez Jr, Von Stueben High School IL
• Jarin Edwards, College of Dupage IL

LS

• Alex Bradley, Barrington High School IL

Based on the roster online, these will be the returners on top of these signings. The grad year is for the 2023-2024 school year. Note that this is not in account with student athletes whom quit or transfer out.


QB

• Luke Jessie JR
• Brendan Keane SO
• Benjamin Little JR
• Luke Wilson SR

RB/H/FB

• Manolo Acevedo SO
• Correyante Boyd JR
• Kenan Gaston SO
• Calvin Howse SO
• Julian Perez SR
• Tyler Tenner SR
• Jesse Villegas JR
• Jaborn Washington SO
• Davis Willis SO

WR

• Jerrell Calhoun SR
• Ethan Cano JR
• Zayvian Diaz SO
• Bobby Ervin SO
• Roderick Gaskins SR
• Jaydon Griffith SO
• Calvin Laqui SO
• Braden Lowery SR
• Isiah Nixon SO
• Kevonne Peterson SR
• Jaylen Scott SO
• Alex Tran JR
• Jarren Vanderberg SO
• Jett Watson SO
• Demarion Windfield SO
• Jason Wooten JR

TE

• Eric Gomez SO
• Michael Smith JR
• Diego Vela SO
• Troy White SR
• Jack Young JR SO

OL

• Jacob Black-Mishaan JR
• Logan Blake SO
• Zach Bluder SO
• Elijab Bobo JR
• Jasper Davidson JR
• Hayden Ferrigno SR
• Johnny Figueroa JR
• Jack Garfield SO
• Raytheon Hamblin SO
• Sheldon Kinzer SO
• Nathaniel Klingeman JR
• Gus Krnich JR
• Brennen Lehmkuhl JR
• Marlon Martinez SR
• Nicholas Mcgowan SO
• Mason Peebles SR
• Richard Rodriguez SO
• Ibrahim Soumahoro JR
• Giovanni Zaragoza SO

DL

• Eliud Acuna SO
• Mark Allen JR
• Jayden Alvarez JR
• Charlie Brooks SR
• Derrick Crump SR
• Jacobi Eatman SO
• Grant Jackson JR
• Omari Knight SO
• Damien McCraney SR
• Durell Moore SO
• Jordan Payne SR
• Ozell Richardson SR
• Giovanni Rodriguez SO
• Matthew Toriz SR
• Elijah Vinzant SR
• Kenneth Wallace SO
• Kha’naria Williams SR

LB

• Ladell Allen SO
• Xavier Alvarez SR
• Angelo Arnold SO
• Dominic Bills SO
• Thomas Curran SR
• Corties Draper SR
• Bennie Harris SR
• Charles Henderson SR
• Josh Higgs SO
• Nick Moreno SO
• Matthew Olivella JR
• Malik Poe-Roland SR
• Damion Rhoden JR
• Quendric Tientcheu SO
• Dennis Vasechko SO
• Christian Westbrook SR

DB

• Adyn Avina SO
• Alexander Bailey SO
• Jameel Biloche JR
• Trey Bishop SR
• Christopher Boose JR. SO
• Aldo Brown JR
• Anthony Brown SO
• Carlos Conley JR
• Colin Day SO
• Semaj Dinwiddie SO
• Peyton Falco JR
• Syrr Harrington SO
• David Horton SO
• Darien Jackson JR
• Jayshon Lemon SO
• Robert Moore SO
• Michael Newson JR
• Jalen Perkins JR
• Derek Perry JR
• Tony Pope SR
• Damani Reed SR
• Mahmoud Sammour JR
• Marvin Scott JR. SO
• Teshaun Sheppard SO
• Thomas Shorack JR
• Raymond Summers SO
• Labasse Traore SR
• Rashaun Wells JR

ST

• Andrew Bucaro SR
• Ryan Redman SR

[Thelakerman]

What really needs to happen is all the wannabe D1 schools that will never even sniff a a shot at the playoffs need to rethink their current position. Tim Selgo recently made such a comment on Facebook to that effect. There should be 5 NCAA Football Divisions…..D1 Power 5, D1 Subdivision ( MAC, N DAKOTA, ETC), D2 ,D3, and anyone left that is too small to compete at any of the aforementioned levels.

[Gliac_fan10]

Any word on how the NCAA application process is moving along? I know the deadline to formally submit an application was in February. I haven’t seen any news on their process since they first announced the plans almost a year ago. I’m assuming they got their ducks in a row and got their application in?

[chapmaja]

What really needs to happen is all the wannabe D1 schools that will never even sniff a a shot at the playoffs need to rethink their current position. Tim Selgo recently made such a comment on Facebook to that effect. There should be 5 NCAA Football Divisions…..D1 Power 5, D1 Subdivision ( MAC, N DAKOTA, ETC), D2 ,D3, and anyone left that is too small to compete at any of the aforementioned levels.

This will not happen. The money is simply too much at the D1 level for this to happen, even with the current expansion of the power conferences. Until the power 5 completely split from the NCAA (which won't happen), there is too much money involved for any school to move down.

[D2Ohio]

But does it make sense for the gliac?

The GLIAC as of now is top to bottom still the best division 2 conference, however in recent years member schools have been leaving to other conferences. This is a survival move for the gliac, with Grand Valley and Ferris most likely both exploring moves in the next 10 years to make a move to division one. By adding Roosevelt, the gliac is attempting to ensure their future by building a chicago pipeline. As ive been reading threads, many have been opposed to this but I have to ask why? The NAIA as a whole has struggled a bit as of late, but I will say the MSFA conference has top to bottom been one of the more successful conferences.

Future of the Gliac?

Make no mistake, this is a move for the future of the GLIAC. In my opinion, the GLIAC should work to add more schools to the conference. The Chicago and Michigan NAIAs of the MSFA do fill this role, with similar qualities of football. The next team I could see making a D2 move on the Chicago side would be St. Xavier University, as they have gone out and scheduled many d2 and d1 opponents the last few years. On the other side of the conference, many will point to concordia ann arbor but due to the recent money trouble I doubt the NCAA would approve them. However, a school such as an Indiana Wesleyan may be a fit as they currently serve roughly 13,000 students.

I would be concerned about adding from the NAIA of the MSFA east, would they jump ship after a few years like the previous members Tiffin, Findlay, Walsh, etc did to a conference of more like minded schools? And take Davenport with them to a new or established conference?

[bigmrg74]

I would be concerned about adding from the NAIA of the MSFA east, would they jump ship after a few years like the previous members Tiffin, Findlay, Walsh, etc did to a conference of more like minded schools? And take Davenport with them to a new or established conference?

That's always a possibility. But right now, adding them helps keeps some schools like Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan from folding due to lack of a viable conference. or other schools moving up before they have all of their ducks lined up and ready to go D1.

[D2Ohio]

That's always a possibility. But right now, adding them helps keeps some schools like Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan from folding due to lack of a viable conference. or other schools moving up before they have all of their ducks lined up and ready to go D1.

Good point for those that can and would move up, kick the can down the road helps all of them

[bigmrg74]

Good point for those that can and would move up, kick the can down the road helps all of them

Right, heck Finlandia University folded up shop earlier this year, so its not like Tech and NMU can go to them for easy non-conference games.

[bigmrg74]

Roosevelt lost 41-7 to North Central. Next up for the Delenos is the Seina heights at home.

[ctrabs74]

Roosevelt lost 41-7 to North Central. Next up for the Delenos is the Seina heights at home.

Yeah, that's not exactly an easy task to open the season against the defending D3 national champs.

[bigmrg74]

Roosevelt beat Siena Heights last week 38 - 10

[bigmrg74]

Roosevelt beats Madonna University 42-7 to move to 2 and 1 on the year.

[Gliac_fan10]

For what it’s worth, in the final S&P rankings for 23/24:

451: Wayne
475: Roosevelt
542: Northern

I think Roosevelt has a chance to be competitive with the teams at the bottom of the league at least. Their loses, North Central (200), Bethel (242), Indiana Wesleyan (338) and St. X (407) all finished ranked higher than Wayne and Northern. Wins vs St. Francis (466) and Olivet Naz (476) in the Wayne range, and adding in a win vs Sienna (526) gave them 3 wins over teams higher than Northern.

[Gliac_fan10]

For reference the rest of the Gliac finished:

- 157 - GV
- 159 - FS
- 289 - DU
- 320 - Tech
- 321 - SV

Of note/interesting:
- 153- Central Mich
- 156 - Harding
- 158 - Northern Iowa
- 192 - Kent State (lowest FBS)
- 200 - North Central (Highest D3)
- 242 - Bethel (Highest NAIA)
- 378 - The Citadel (Lowest FCS)
- 392 - Alma

- 8 D3/NAIA teams are ranked between Ferris and Davenport.

- 70 D3/NAIA are ranked above Wayne and 132 ranked above Northern