THE GAME
Gardner-Webb opens its 2018 season on Saturday, September 1, hosting Limestone at 6:00 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. It marks the second season in a row that GWU has opened its season with a home game. The contest will stream live on ESPN+ with Fabian Fuentes and Brendan Boylan providing the call from the broadcast booth.

SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Limestone have never met in the sport of football, with the Division II Saints beginning their program fresh in time for the 2014 season ... The two programs are separated by just 14.8 miles, making Saturday the closest football road trip for any GWU college opponent in Spangler Stadium (since 1966) ... Gardner-Webb inside linebackers coach Taylor Anderson spent one season on staff at Limestone (2017) ... Head coaches Carroll McCray and Tony Ierulli spent the 1994 season together on the Samford Bulldogs coaching staff under Coach Pete Hurt.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE AHEAD
One season ago, Gardner-Webb entertained the nation's most difficult schedule according to the NCAA. In 2018, the Runnin' Bulldogs will tackle another very difficult slate, with two top-15 teams part of the non-conference schedule and 2017 playoff participants Kennesaw State and Monmouth on the Big South slate. All told, six of the nine Division I FCS opponents on the 2018 schedule were ranked at some point last season. Three – No. 5 Kennesaw State, No. 10 Wofford and No. 14 North Carolina A&T – are ranked in the 2018 preseason polls. Both Monmouth and Western Carolina are among others receiving votes this preseason.

THE TRENCH MOB
Gardner-Webb's strength on offense this season will be overall experience, but it's anchor will be a veteran offensive line. GWU returns all five starters from the 2017 season, and two more reserves with starting experience. The current projected starting quintet averages 6-foot-3, 306.4 pounds per man. Tackles Will Millikan (6-4, 309, Sr.) and Charlie Eudy (6-2, 304, R-Sr.) have combined to start 62 games and are entering their fourth season in the lineup together. Center Brandon Leahey (6-3, 297, R-Jr.), guards Brayden Briggs (6-3, 307, R-Jr.), Jack Nichols (6-3, 315, So.) and Daniel Smith (6-4, 286, R-So.) and tackle Darius Clark (6-2, 280, So.) have combined for 47 career starts – giving GWU a total of 109 starts on the offensive line heading into the 2018 campaign.

ENGINE NO. 9
Gardner-Webb will have a new man under center in 2018, with Jordan Smith (6-1, 211, R-Fr.) earning the nod after putting together an outstanding spring and preseason training camp. The Fruit Cove, Fla., native will be the first Gardner-Webb quarterback to wear jersey No. 9 in a game since Hall of Famer and former NAIA All-America and National Offensive Player of the Year John Craven (1991-1994). Craven finished his career with 10,973 yards and 92 touchdowns over four seasons.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and is 21-36 so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Tony Ierulli (Maryville '80) is in his first season as head coach at Limestone, taking over the program after most recently serving as an assistant at Carson-Newman. Ierulli has previous head coaching experience at Maryville College, his alma mater.

SYMMETRY
For the first time since moving up to NCAA Division I in 2000, Gardner-Webb will alternate home and road dates evenly throughout a season. GWU almost pulled off the feat in 2010, but played its final two games back-to-back at home in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

SEASON OPENERS
Gardner-Webb is 24-22-2 in its senior college history in season openers (since 1970), but have gone 1-3 in season openers over the past four seasons, with a 2016 win at Elon the bright spot. The three losses have come to a pair of nationally-ranked FCS teams (at Furman, vs. North Carolina A&T) and to an FBS team (at South Alabama). The Runnin' Bulldogs have won nine opening games since joining the Big South Conference in 2002, which is the most by any league member during that span. GWU is 7-2 in home openers since 2000.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
Gardner-Webb's defense will have a different look and feel in 2018, with new coordinator Chris Grimes calling the plays. GWU will also have a great deal of youth on that side of the ball, with eight sophomores and seven freshmen listed on the two-deep heading into the season opener. That youthful talent is headlined by defensive ends Kendall Bailey (6-4, 255, R-Fr.) and John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Fr.), who both earned starting nods during spring practice. Nose guard Janathian Turner (6-3, 300, Fr.) also earned a starting spot during training camp. Sophomore linebackers Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, So.) and Shai Thomas (6-2, 248, So.) are back after promising first years in 2017, with Robert McKoy (6-0, 220, R-So.) perhaps the most impressive performer overall during training camp in 2018.

FOOTBALL FAMILIES
Gardner-Webb features two families on its current roster with strong ties to college football. Nose guard Josh Ramseur (5-11, 286, R-Sr.), who will seek a medical redshirt in 2018, is one of five brothers in his family to play college football. Older brothers Kenneth (Gardner-Webb) and Tim (NC State) played collegiately in the 1990s, while brothers Tank (Tuskeegee) and Aaron (East Carolina) are currently on college rosters. Another set of brothers on Gardner-Webb's roster – Robert McKoy and Keante McNair – are part of a group of four brothers to play college football. Older siblings Terrell Manning (NC State) and Artemis Robinson (NC State) played collegiately, with Manning drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2012. Current GWU teammates Elijah Rodgers (Fr.) and Kobe Rodgers (R-So.) are both expected to garner significant snaps in the secondary this season for the Runnin' Bulldogs. 

DIVISION II NOTES
Gardner-Webb's last loss to a program from NCAA Divison II came at Virginia Union by a 28-15 score on October 13, 2001 in Richmond, Va. That game was part of GWU's final season of transition to the NCAA Division I level. The last home loss to an NCAA Division II foe came to Mars Hill on September 23, 2000 by a 27-25 margin. Gardner-Webb has captured 17 wins in a row over NCAA Division II / NAIA foes. GWU was a member of NCAA Division II itself from 1993-1999.

HOME SWEET HOME
Gardner-Webb has been traditionally tough in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, and have gone 15-13 at home since head coach Carroll McCray's arrival in 2013. That includes wins over top-25 opponents Richmond (2013), Charleston Southern (2013) and Liberty (2015). Eight of those 13 home losses since 2013, including six of its last seven, have come to teams ranked in the top-25 at some point during that same season. GWU had a 15-game home win streak from 2001-2004 in Spangler Stadium.

ATTRACTIVE HOME SLATE IN 2018
In addition to a nearby matchup with Limestone in the opener, Gardner-Webb's six-game home slate in 2018 features several notable matchups. GWU will host regional SoCon foes and playoff contenders Western Carolina (9/15) and Wofford (9/29) to wrap up non-conference play and will host 2018 playoff participants and Big South favorites Kennesaw State (10/13) and Monmouth (11/17), in addition to league foe Presbyterian (11/3).

NEW FACES ON STAFF
Gardner-Webb has three new coaches on its 2018 staff. Inside linebackers coach Taylor Anderson and running backs coach Arketa Banks each joined the Runnin' Bulldogs prior to spring practice. Anderson came to GWU after assistant coaching stops at Limestone and Valdosta State, and Banks came to GWU from former SAC rival Lenoir-Rhyne. Outside linebackers coach Marco Butler came on board during the summer months from Catawba. Anderson (North Greenville), Banks (Elon) and Butler (Western Carolina) each played collegiately at schools in the region.

CATCH THESE GUYS
Gardner-Webb added two new full-time slot receivers after the 2017 season, and did so without recruiting the high school or transfer ranks. The Runnin' Bulldogs moved running back Jonathan Blackmon (6-1, 186, Sr.) and quarterback Brody Rollins (5-11, 182, Sr.) to the position full time. Blackmon is at home, playing a position he originally was signed to play after a standout career at Terry Sanford (N.C.) High in Fayetteville. Rollins played the position often last season, leading the team in receptions, but will be concentrating on catching the football exclusively in 2018. Rollins earned the starting nod again in 2018, but the pair will provide experience and speed to the GWU air attack this season.

THE CORPS
One of the historical strengths of Gardner-Webb's defense since moving to NCAA Division I has been its linebacker corps, with multiple All-America honors in tow. GWU returns a talented veteran to the position this season in Corey Horne (6-1, 225, Sr.), who will anchor a young group overall. Horne is the team's top returning tackler for the second season in a row, as he hunts for the 100-tackle mark for the first time in 2018. The Runnin' Bulldogs made some moves during the offseason that will benefit greatly, moving Darien Reynolds (6-0, 224, So.) inside to his his natural position and bringing Robert McKoy (6-0, 220, R-So.) from safety to the SPUR position. Ali Edwards (6-0, 217, R-Jr.) also moved down to the SPUR position during the offseason, and has performed well so far. Promising youngster Shai Thomas (6-2, 248, So.) mans the other outside spot after gaining significant experience in 2017.

THE OLD GUYS
Despite the heavy youth on defense, Gardner-Webb has plenty of experience on the back end. The quartet of Josh Carter (5-11, 195, Sr.), Triston Dozier (6-0, 180, Sr.), A.J. Keene (5-10, 172, Jr.) and Devin Mines (5-10, 191, Jr.) in the secondary will provide for a great deal of leadership in 2018. Dozier paced the defense with eight pass break ups in 2017, while Carter and Mines were among the secondary's top tacklers again last season.

ESPN+
The Big South Conference entered into an agreement to provide content for ESPN+ (ESPNPlus.com) beginning last spring, and that presents a new platform for Gardner-Webb football going forward. The Big South Network on ESPN+ will air a minimum of 900 events annually as part of the agreement, which runs through the 2024-2025 season. During football season, a total of 33 events will stream on ESPN platforms, with eight league games on ESPN3 and 25 on ESPN+.  Five of Gardner-Webb's six home games will stream on ESPN+, while the October 13 game vs. Kennesaw State will stream on ESPN3 as part of the Big South's "Game of the Week" selection. The October 29 road game at Campbell will also be carried by ESPN3, while the remainder of Gardner-Webb's Big South games will stream on ESPN+. Non-conference games at ETSU (ESPN+) and Appalachian State (TBA) will also air live.  

BACKFIELD DEPTH
Gardner-Webb returns Jayln Cagle (6-0, 202, Jr.) to the starting lineup one season after the Kannapolis, N.C., native broke out for a career-high 479 yards on the ground. That included a 179-yard outing vs. Liberty on October 28, which is the highest rushing total for a single-game in Gardner-Webb's NCAA Division I era (since 2000). Joining Cagle on the depth chart this fall is A.J. Moses (6-0, 229, So.), who had his best game of the season at Wyoming (9/9) in 2017 and speedster Elijah Perry (5-8, 175, R-Jr.). Perry, who has a 4.3-second time in the 40-yard dash, missed all of last season with a lower body injury – but is back at full speed after a tremendous fall training camp.

RAMSEUR OUT
Preseason All-Big South nose guard Josh Ramseur (5-11, 286, R-Sr.) will miss the entire 2018 season after undergoing offseason surgery, but will apply for a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility for 2019. The former Burns (N.C.) High standout totaled 50 tackles as a redshirt junior and is expected to make a full recovery. The bright spot in the extended career is that Ramseur will have a chance to play against his youngest brother – Aaron Ramseur – when Gardner-Webb travels to East Carolina on September 7, 2019.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will hit the road for an in-state battle with nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm in Aggie Stadium. The Aggies, coming off a spectacular 12-0 season, improved their win streak to 13 games with a 20-17 win over No. 6 Jacksonville State on August 25 in Montgomery, Ala. The trip to Greensboro will be Gardner-Webb's first for football since a 7-0 win at Guilford on September 29, 1973. †