2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team

The 2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by fourth-year head coach Eric Morris.

On November 12, 2021, Incarnate Word announced that this will be the last season for the team in the Southland and will then join the Western Athletic Conference on July 1, 2022. However, UIW announced they would remain in the Southland in late June and would not join the WAC.

Preseason

Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll in July 2021. The Cardinals were picked to finish third in the conference. In addition, fifteen Cardinals were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team.

Preseason All–Southland Teams

Offense

1st Team

• Kevin Brown – Running Back, SR
• Robert Ferrel – Wide Receiver, SR

2nd Team

• Cam Ward – Quarterback, SO
• Caleb Johnson – Offensive Lineman, SR
• Nash Jones – Offensive Lineman, SO
• Reid Francis – Offensive Lineman, RS-FR
• Carson Mohr – Kicker, JR

Defense

1st Team

• Cameron Preston – Defensive Lineman, SR
• Kelechi Anyalebechi – Linebacker, SR
• Ce'Cori Tolds – Kick Returner, SR
• Robert Ferrel – Punt Returner, SR

2nd Team

• Blaine Hoover – Defensive Lineman, RS-SR
• Isaiah Paul – Linebacker, RS-SO
• Shawn Holton – Defensive Back, JR
• Elliott Davison – Defensive Back, SO

Schedule

Personnel

Coaching staff

Source:

Roster

Source:

Depth chart

Postseason honors

The following Cardinals received postseason honors for the 2021 season:

Associated Press FCS All-American Second–Team<br> WR Taylor Grimes – Junior

Associated Press FCS All-American Third–Team<br> LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Senior

Stats Perform FCS All-American Second–Team<br> QB Cam Ward – Sophomore<br> WR Taylor Grimes – Junior

Stats Perform FCS All-American Third–Team<br> LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Senior

HERO Sports FCS All-American Second–Team<br> WR Taylor Grimes – Junior

Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year<br> QB Cameron Ward – Sophomore

Southland Conference Coach of the Year<br> Eric Morris

All–Southland Conference First–Team<br> RB Kevin Brown – Graduate Senior<br> WR Taylor Grimes – Junior<br> OL Nash Jones – Sophomore<br> DL Cameron Preston – Senior<br> LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Senior<br> DB Kaleb Culp – Sophomore<br> PR Robert Ferrel – Senior<br> <br> All–Southland Conference Second–Team<br> QB Cameron Ward – Sophomore<br> WR Robert Ferrel – Senior<br> P Keven Nguyen – Senior<br> DL Brandon Bowen – Graduate Senior<br> LB Isaiah Paul – Sophomore<br> DB Rashon Davis – Graduate Senior<br> <br> All–Southland Conference Third–Team<br> RB Marcus Cooper – Graduate Senior<br> WR Darion Chafin – Senior<br> OL Reid Francis – Junior<br> OL Caleb Johnson – Senior<br> OL Dawson Kier – Senior<br> DL Blaine Hoover – Senior<br> DB Elliott Davison – Sophomore<br> DB Moses Reynolds – Senior<br> DB Brandon Richard – Junior

Game summaries

@ Youngstown State

Prairie View A&M

@ Texas State

McNeese State

@ Northwestern State

Nicholls

@ McNeese State

Houston Baptist

No. 6 Southeastern Louisiana

@ Nicholls

@ Houston Baptist

FCS playoffs

Stephen F. Austin – first round

@ Sam Houston – second round

Rankings

References