Kyle Shipp believes Arkansas Tech University has the human capital needed to turn the tide of its football program in 2024.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” said Shipp, who is entering his fifth season as ATU’s head coach. “We have a lot of guys coming back from last year and we have a big graduating class, especially compared to last year. We were able to add some good depth with our high school recruiting class and some transfers. We’re feeling pretty good right now. We need to stay healthy and continue to grow as a team, but this has a chance to be one of the most talented teams we’ve had in a long time.”

The Wonder Boys won five of their last seven games in 2023 and finished the season with an overall record of 5-6. It was the second consecutive 5-6 season for ATU.

Arkansas Tech will be seeking its first winning football season since 2017 this fall, and everyone in the football wing of the Hull Physical Education Building knows that achieving that goal starts with a better start to the season. The Wonder Boys have lost their first four games in 2023.

“The last few years we’ve come together and played as a team starting mid-season,” Shipp said. “If we can do that early and keep that momentum going, I think we could have a pretty cool year this year and people would be pretty happy with us.”

Arkansas Tech returns 18 of the 22 starting field players in the 2023 season finale. Those back for another year in green and gold include running back Deuce Wise, who led the team in rushing (444 yards) last season; wide receiver Caleb Tanis, who led the team in receiving last year (48 receptions, 533 yards, six touchdowns); defensive back Ben Stegall, ATU’s top tackler (66 tackles) in 2023; and defensive lineman Vershaud Richardson, who led the Wonder Boys in quarterback sacks (10.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5) last season.

There will be competition for the starting quarterback position in fall training camp. Taye Gatewood exhausted his eligibility when he threw for 2,015 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. Ethan Everson, Ethan Forrester, Hunter Loyd and Cedric Simmons are among those vying to succeed Gatewood.

Everson came from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, another member of the Great American Conference, and completed 137 of 256 passes for 1,529 yards and nine touchdowns in 22 games for the Rangers from 2021-2023.

Everson completed 12 of 19 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas Tech in 2022. In his final game with NWOSU, he threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on November 11, 2023. Everson joined the team shortly thereafter and landed at Arkansas Tech in time for spring practice in 2024.

Forrester is a transfer from Fort Hays State University, a member of the NCAA Division II. He appeared in nine games over two seasons as an active member of the Tigers’ roster and received four Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Academic Honor Roll honors.

Loyd appeared in four games and Simmons in two games as quarterback for the Wonder Boys in 2023.

Arkansas Tech has brought back kicker Austin Hosier (8-of-13 field goals; 24-of-27 touchdowns in 2023) among its specialists, but must find a successor to Aaron Winn at punter. Winn earned All-America honors as a senior in 2023 by leading NCAA Division II in punting average (45.1 yards per attempt).

Arkansas Tech’s new football student-athletes reported for fall camp on Thursday, August 8. The returning players were scheduled to join them two days later, with practice beginning on Sunday, August 11. Shipp expects about 125 Wonder Boys to report for the start of camp.

Arkansas Tech begins its 109th football season by playing Oklahoma Baptist University at 7 p.m. at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium in Russellville on Thursday, September 5.

“The biggest thing… and I’ve been telling our guys this from the spring to now… I don’t think it’s going to be a big talent issue,” Shipp said. “In years past, we haven’t been as talented as anybody else. I think we’re just as talented as a lot of other teams. It’s not going to be a talent issue. It’s going to be can we play as one as a football team. Can we care about each other more than our individual stats and things like that? I think that’s the key to everything about this team. Great teams care about each other. Great teams play for each other.”

Tech Tidbits is a column by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio commentator for ATU football and basketball.