Top NAIA Football Matchups of Week 8
This is Justin Berendzen from Draft Diamonds here with my top NAIA matchups of week 8 below you will find a list of games and the teams and players playing in these matchups.
Friends University (KS) at Southwestern College (KS)
Gonna be a battle in Kansas for this one.The Moundbuilders have junior wide receiver Matthew Holthusen who has 522 receiving yards and 7 touchdown receptions this season. Friends defense is led by senior defensive back Braden Gordon who has 4 PBUs and 2 interceptions this year. Offensively for the Falcons they have junior athlete K’vonte Baker who has 474 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns in 2024. Southwestern’s defense contains senior defensive lineman Jacardon Hardemon who holds 6 !/2 TFLS and 5 1/2 sacks in the season.
Campbellsville University (KY) at Lindsey Wilson College (KY)
Intriguing Mid-South matchup here. Lindsey Wilson is led offensively by junior running back David Gardner Jr who has 449 rushing yards and 7 touchdown rushes this year. Defensively for the Tigers they have senior defensive back Paul Maxwell who has 4 PBUs in 2024. Anchoring the Campbellsville offensive line is senior offensive lineman Cade Crume who is an intriguing offensive lineman at the NAIA level. Up against Crume will be grad defensive lineman Sam Taylor who has 5 1/2 TFLs and 3 !/2 sacks in 2024.
Georgetown College (KY) at Cumberland University (TN)
Tigers at the Phoenix in this one. Cumberland offensively is led by redshirt senior running back Jeremiah Bryant who has 427 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns this season. The Tigers defense has senior linebacker Chad Holleran who has 38 tackles, 1 1/2 TFLs and 1 forced fumble this year. Darius Neal leads the Georgetown offense with 552 rushing yards and 2 touchdown rushes in 2024. Defensively for the Phoenix they have senior linebacker Dez Wallace who has 7 TFL and 4 sacks this season.
Keiser University at Southeastern University (FL)
Could be a good matchup in Florida between these two. The Fire is led offensively by senior running back Daniel Parker who holds 207 rushing yards and 2 touchdown rushes in 2024. Keiser’s defense contains 4th year defensive back Kensly Johnson who has 17 PBUs and 6 PBUs this year. Offensively for the Seahawks they have third year running back Andrew Burnette who has 359 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns this season so far. Southeastern’s defense has junior cornerback Jamil Jones who has 3 PBUs and 2 interceptions in 2024 games to this point.
University of Saint Francis (IL) at Saint Xavier University (IL)
Good Mid States battle here. Saint Xavier’s offense contains junior wide receiver Ronnie Foster who has 307 receiving yards and 2 touchdown receptions this season. The Fighting Saints defense has redshirt sophomore linebacker Karsen Hansen who has 12 1/2 TFLs and 6 sacks this year. Dezzion Jordan, senior wide receiver for Saint Francis has 322 receiving yards and 2 touchdown receptions in 2024. The Cougars defense has junior linebacker Chris Swayne who holds 59 tackles, 5 TFLS, 4 PBUS and 2 interceptions this year.
Hula Bowl Contributor and Writer/Scout/Interviewer for Draft Diamonds since January 2020. You can find me on X at @jrberendzen and Instagram at justinberendzen