River Forest, Ill. -- After playing just three games in the 2020 spring season, Concordia University Chicago Football prepares for a full 10-game slate in what promises to be a more normal fall 2021 season. 

A new era for the program begins tomorrow, Sept. 4, as Andy Lambert steps into the role of head coach and looks to lead the Cougars to their first winning season since 2012. 

With more than 60 new additions to the roster, the team will look a lot different than they did during the abbreviated 2020 season. The plethora of young talent is something Lambert will capitalize on, with eight freshmen set to start week one's game at Beloit. 

Despite all the newcomers, the team will still be led by familiar faces on both sides of the ball, in particular the defense. There's a wealth of experience returning on defense, including a senior-heavy secondary headlined by safeties Earl Macintyre (Smithville, Texas) and Julian Sierras (Huntington Beach, Calif.). They will open the season alongside two freshmen corners, AJ Pipkins (Saginaw, Mich.) and Lenny Woods (Dover, Fla.). 

The defense will be anchored by senior linebackers Tyler Dudley (Katy, Texas) and Kolson Ethan Pua (South San Francisco, Calif.). Up front, the line will feature a senior presence in nose guard Jeremiah Glenn (Austin, Texas). He will be joined by sophomore Martin Egbo (Williamsburg, Va.) and junior Justin Aduo (Grand Prairie, Texas) as edge rushers and junior Julian Ramirez (Zion, Ill.) up the middle. 

On the offensive side, it's a new face under center for the Cougars with Parker Kelley (Mount Juliet, Tenn.) taking the reins at quarterback for the 2021 season. The 6-foot-4-inch sophomore will share the backfield with senior tailback DeAndre Daniels (San Diego, Calif.), a senior transfer from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. 

Kelley's weapons on the outside will include a pair of freshmen in tight end Doy (Tre) Warden (Flower Mound, Texas) and Tre Davis II (Tucker, Ga.). Juniors Christian Covington (Corinth, Texas) and Ty McKinney (Hazelwood, Mo.) will also be prominently featured in the passing game. 

Protection will be provided by freshmen CJ Morris (Douglasville, Ga.) at left tackle, Damarcus Leavell (Elkton, Ky.) at left guard, Jailynn Franklin (New Orleans, La.) at center, junior Amir Cavic (Des Plaines, Ill.) at right guard and senior Reece Prokop (Smithville, Texas) at right tackle. 

After kicking things off with a pair of non-conference games on the road against Beloit College and Finlandia University, the team will finish the season with eight straight conference contests. They will host Concordia Wisconsin on Sept. 25 for their home opener, which is the first of four home games on the slate.