NAU reloaded from transfer portal, ready for 2023
Northern Arizona football coach Chris Ball believes his team is destined for a breakthrough "competing at a national level."
After finishing 3-8 last season, third to last in the Big Sky Conference (2-6), and Ball's 15-24 overall record since he was hired in 2019, the team has received 12 votes for the preseason FCS top 25 poll. Northern Arizona has benefited from reloading its roster via the transfer portal, and bringing in what Ball calls his "best freshman class we've ever had," and is pleased by his Flagstaffbased program's growth.
Here's what Ball had to say about his team's 2023 season outlook:
On changes NAU players, fans should expect on offense:
“It was some great additions. We have some guys who wanted to run the football more. Had some guys who did a really good job of running the ball in the past. Energetic guys that have been great for us this spring and this offseason.”
On player recruitment from transfer portal and incoming freshmen from within and outside Arizona:
"It’s our best freshmen class talentwise we’ve ever had. We’ve brought in 15 freshmen, all very talented. The portal has allowed us to recruit a better high school player because more people are using their scholarships in the portal. And as far as the portal, that’s the new thing for everybody. Everybody’s roster is different that it was last year because of the portal. We took only 21 portal kids compared to some schools that took close to 35, 40. We felt like we
could upgrade in the portal at certain positions. Upgrading our offensive and defensive line, we’re really deep at running back. So we’ve done a good job of getting the right guys in here to make us better, and that’s what’s nice about the portal: Getting a quick fix of guys who’ve played college football. If they look like a good fit for us characterwise, work ethic-wise, toughness-wise, and smart-wise, then we’ll take them."
On quarterbacks replacing R.J. Martinez, who transferred to Baylor:
"We’ve got Kai Millner transferring from Cal, Daniel Britt from Montana, then we got Angel Flores who was a First Team All-State from Casa Grande who’s a redshirt freshman, and we signed (American Leadership Academy-Gilbert product) Adam Damante who was an Arizona Offensive Player of the Year. We’re deep there, did a good
job of shoring up that position. These guys are all performing at a high level."
On how NAU reloaded on defensive backs in the transfer portal:
"We signed Mikale Greer, he was there this spring, (redshirt sophomore) transfer from San Jose State; Shawn Dorseau from East Carolina, (redshirt sophomore from Scottsdale Chaparral) Kamdan Hightower who was an AllAmerican last year coming back at safety; got (junior) Colby Humphrey coming back at cornerback, and (redshirt freshman) Ed Rhambo coming back at corner from Las Vegas. Guys that have been really doing well are Alex McLaughlin, who’s a freshman from Hamilton High School, and he’s doing an extremely good job. We got (redshirt senior) George Steele back, who was a really good player for us last year."
NAU football schedule
Sept. 2 at Arizona, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 at North Dakota, 1 p.m. Sept. 16 Utah Tech, 1 p.m.
Sept. 23 Montana, 1 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Sacramento State, 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at Weber State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 Portland State, 1 p.m.
Oct. 28 UC Davis, 1 p.m.
Nov. 4 at Montana State, noon Nov. 11 Northern Colorado, 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at Eastern Washington, 2 p.m.
On growth in the NAU program and areas he wants to continue developing entering his fifth year:
"The facilities have really grown. We’ve done a great job giving our kids resources to be successful. We just gotta win more games. I think that’s coming. But we’re really pleased where we’re at and the direction we’re headed. There were four games that we lost at the very end that we could’ve won, so we’re really close to blowing the lid off this thing, and competing at a national level."
On expectations for NAU's opener at Arizona after NAU won last matchup in 2021:
"Last time we played them, we snuck up on them. It was a great game, great win for us, obviously with them being a Power Five school and us being an FCS school. I don’t think we’re gonna sneak up on them this year. Our main concern right now every day is to be 100 percent better as a football team. They’re gonna be ready for us. They weren’t quite ready for us last time."