Olivet College picked fourth in MIAA preseason football poll

FREELAND, Mich. – The Olivet College football team was picked fourth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason coaches' poll.

Albion College was the unanimous favorite to win the 2021 MIAA title, picking-up six first-place votes and six total points. Hope College earned the other first-place vote and 14 total points. Trine (Ind.) University was third with 17 points, followed by the Comets with 20 points. Rounding out the poll was Adrian College in fifth (23 points), Alma College in sixth (31 points) and Kalamazoo College (36 points).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivet played a shortened four-game schedule during the spring 2021. The Comets defeated Kalamazoo but suffered a one-point loss to Adrian, and also fell to Albion and Trine.

All 10 players who earned All-MIAA honors during the spring have returned. This group is led by MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Ta'Mar Heart-Wilkins. Also back on defense are senior safety Anthony Merriman III, junior defensive end David Curl and sophomore linebacker Spencer Tyler.

Returning All-MIAA honorees on offense are sophomore wide receivers Akeem Benjamin and Deonte Higgins, senior offensive center Andrew Sikkema, sophomore running back Jeremiah Sterling and senior tight end Seth Young. In addition, junior punter Brendan Sine returns.

Olivet travels to play Eureka (Ill.) College for its season-opener Saturday, September 11. A week later, September 18, the Comets face Manchester (Ind.) University for its home-opener at the Cutler Athletic Complex. Olivet's first MIAA game is October 2 at Alma College.