MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's 2023 football team doubled its wins from the previous year, secured the program's first winning season in a decade and earned a top-three finish in the Midwest Conference.
 
Now, with 18 starters back and a roster tipping triple digits for the first time ever, the Rams are primed to take another jump forward in coach Dan Pifer's fifth year at the helm.
 
"There are a lot of positives in our program. But we still have to put the work in to get results," said Pifer, whose team finished 6-4 overall and 6-3 in the MWC a year ago.
 
"We have good kids and a good culture. We have a ton of older guys and that has definitely helped speed up the process in preseason camp. We're ahead of where we were last year."
 
The season kicks off Saturday, Sept. 7 against Coe for the 133rd meeting of the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi. Game time is 1 p.m. at Clark Field in Cedar Rapids.
 
The Rams start their nine-game MWC schedule Sept. 14 at Lawrence, followed by the home opener Sept. 21 with Lake Forest at Van Metre Field at Ash Park. Cornell also has home dates with Ripon (Oct. 5, Homecoming), Monmouth (Oct. 19), Knox (Nov. 2) and Grinnell (Nov. 16).  
 
Cornell went 5-2 in its final seven games last season, averaging 34.0 points during that span. The offense returns nine starters, led by a pair of second team all-MWC performers in fifth-year quarterback John Smith and senior running back Tony Gomez.
 
Smith passed for 2,180 yards – the third-highest single-season total in school history – and 19 touchdowns. Gomez carried the ball 196 times for 797 yards and 12 TDs. Gomez also earned first team all-MWC honors at punter, averaging 36.6 yards per attempt.  
 
Smith and Gomez are among 17 seniors on this year's team, which includes three fifth-year players.  
 
"Those guys have played a lot of football," Pifer said. "They've provided good leadership."
 
The offensive line returns four starters with juniors Nate Canals, Brett Pelfrey, Devin Quirarte and sophomore Nathan Frost. The group paved the way to 19 rushing TDs in 2023.
 
Junior Cole Reed heads the receiving corps after hauling in 53 passes for 532 yards and four TDs last year. Juniors Gavin Soukup (29 receptions, 242 yards), Rommel Pinner (9 receptions, 109 yards) and sophomore Logan Godfrey (120 receiving yards) bring back production on the outside. Sophomore Eric Walker is one of the league's top tight ends.
 
The Rams return a wealth of experience on the defensive side with six multi-year starters. Junior linebacker Luca Schoensee posted a team-high 98 tackles last season, gaining second team all-MWC recognition. Fifth-year Hunter Holt (47 tackles) and seniors Nicholas Sells (62 tackles) and RJ Sutton add to a veteran linebacking group.
 
Three-year starting safety Anthony Hoffman (47 tackles) heads the secondary, which includes key returners in senior Savian Perez, juniors Benny Fergot, Perry Wilson III and sophomore Linus Velder (6 pass breakups). The Rams are also stout on the defensive line with veterans Shawn Laikupu, Roman West, Trey Gohlmann, Mason Ciari and Morquavis Hall leading the way.
 
Sophomore Mitchell Frahm is back at kicker, converting 28-of-35 PATs last fall.  
 
Cornell's 100-man roster features 64 first- and second-year players, including 39 freshmen. The Rams have players representing 18 states, led by 23 Iowans.
 
The Rams are picked sixth in the MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll. They'll be out to prove they belong in the top half of the MWC.   
 
"We need to show that we can compete with the most physical teams on our schedule," Pifer said. "We can't waste any days or practices. We've seen the ups and downs. We need to continue to work and develop more consistency."