MOUNT VERNON – Coach Dan Pifer enters Year 3 in the building process of Cornell's football program, and his second competition season on the sidelines.
 
All signs show the Rams are on track, evident by another large incoming recruiting class and a productive preseason.
 
"We're on pace," Pifer said. "We started camp on the right foot, had perfect attendance several days in a row. Usually those things transfer onto the football field. We're on track from a leadership standpoint. We've closed the gap this preseason. We're still so young, although I definitely believe we'll be a better team."
 
The Rams get tested right out of the chute with Saturday's season opener against rival Coe, projected third in the American Rivers Conference. The Bremner Cup kickoff is 1 p.m. at Clark Field in Cedar Rapids.
 
Cornell has nine Midwest Conference games to follow, starting with a road trip to Beloit Sept. 10. The Rams have home games against Ripon (Sept. 17), Lake Forest (Oct. 1), Monmouth (Oct. 22, Homecoming), Knox (Nov. 5) and Grinnell (Nov. 12). Cornell is on the road later in the season against Lawrence (Oct. 8), Chicago (Oct. 15) and Illinois College (Oct. 28).
 
The Rams finished 4-6 overall, 4-5 in the MWC last fall. Cornell is picked sixth out of 10 teams in the MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
The Rams aim to surpass those expectations with the return of 10 starters and an influx of youth on the 80-plus man roster. Eighty percent of the team's roster is comprised of first- and second-year players, including 37 freshmen.
 
"We've brought in two big classes in a row," Pifer said. "The talent is here. The biggest thing, it's helped us with competition at all positions. We have more depth. Guys can't take a day off."
 
A strength of the team lies up front with four returning starters on the offensive line in senior twin brothers Andrew and Matthew Corley, senior Nathan Phillips and junior Jacob Baggs. The four linemen have combined for 66 career starts.
 
Center Andrew Corley earned first team all-MWC and third team all-region honors last fall. At guard, Matthew Corley garnered all-conference recognition as a freshman. The Rams have solid depth on the line, which includes promising freshman Ivan Galvan (6-5, 285).
 
The Rams have a pair of front runners at the quarterback position in sophomores Jordan Modrynski and Denver Wilson to replace multi-year starter Isaak Hahn. Wilson saw action last fall, completing 58.8 percent of his passes for 326 yards.
 
A handful of candidates are in the mix at running back with juniors Daniel Abesames-Hammer (4.8 ypc), Isaiah Spencer, sophomores Tony Gomez (5.6 ypc), Romien Taguiam, Jordan Braud and emerging freshman Joel Lacy (6-0, 220).
 
Sophomore Trey Birdsong is a play-maker at receiver and in the return game. He accumulated 1,103 all-purpose yards last fall, catching 22 passes for 366 yards while averaging 20.9 yards per kickoff return. Senior Aaron Hailpern and sophomore Frederic Tavernier provide game experience to the receiving corps.
 
The Rams are a young group on the defensive side with only four starters back. Fifth-year linebacker Thomas Horne ranked second on the team with 46 tackles in 2021. Senior Landon Lockington posted 30 tackles as a regular starter on the defensive line.
 
The secondary returns starting experience from junior Sam Adams (36 tackles) and sophomore Anthony Hoffman (29 tackles). Sophomore Bruce Harris is among others who will add depth to the back end.
 
"Defensively, we're playing a brand new group of guys essentially," Pifer said. "We're definitely more athletic, just not real big right now. Consistency will be the key."
 
Cornell fields one of the MWC's top punters in Lockington, whose 37.6-yard career average ranks No. 3 on the program's all-time list. Junior Adam Mitchell converted 25-of-27 PAT kicks.
 
Cornell's diverse roster features players from 18 states, led by 17 Iowans. The Rams have nine players from Colorado and seven each from Illinois, Missouri, Nevada and Wisconsin.
 
"This is a fun team to coach. There's a good personality about them," Pifer said. "The guys are feeling more confident."