BUY NAU FOOTBALL TICKETS
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (July 29, 2018) – The Northern Arizona football team will open summer training camp with its first practice on Friday, August 3 beginning at 10 a.m. at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
Friday's practice will be the first of 20 summer workouts leading up to the first week of the regular season, which will see the Lumberjacks traveling to face NCAA FBS member UTEP on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 4:30 p.m. MST at the Sun Bowl.
NAU will hold practice sessions on Monday-Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. MST through August 24. Each workout is scheduled to take place at the Skydome. Times are subject to change.
The Lumberjacks return a total of 19 starters and 39 letterwinners from last season's squad that finished with an overall record of 7-5 (6-2 in Big Sky) and earned the program's sixth berth in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
Included in those returners is quarterback
Case Cookus who returns after starting all 12 games last season and leading the Lumberjacks' offense to a total of 5,170 yards – which ranked as the 21st-highest total nationally. Cookus tossed for 3,413 yards (10th nationally/2nd Big Sky) and 22 touchdowns against only six interceptions in 2017. He is expected to be the unquestioned leader of the 'Jacks' offense and enters the season as one of the nation's most feared FCS quarterbacks.
The junior signal caller enters the 2018 season with 72 career passing touchdowns, over halfway to the FCS record of 140 currently held by Grambling State's Bruce Eugene (2001-05). His 72 passing TDs currently rank as the third-highest total in Lumberjack history and are 22 shy of tying the program's all-time leader Jason Murrietta's total of 94 (2003-06).
The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native has complied 7,703 passing yards (fifth-most in NAU annals) during his 27-game career and recorded three games with over 400 yards passing and 11 games with 300-plus through the air.
The offense will also be enhanced by the return of senior wide receiver
Emmanuel Butler, who missed all but two games last season due to injury. Butler will head into the 2018 campaign just 49 receptions, 501 yards and two touchdowns from tying Northern Arizona's career records in each of those categories. He already holds the single-season records for yards (1,208) and touchdowns (16).
The 'Jacks return their top two rushers from last season in senior
Cory Young and junior
Joe Logan. Young led NAU last season with 784 yards (41st nationally/4th Big Sky) on the ground and eight touchdowns. He also added 177 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. Logan tallied 650 yards rushing and six scores as a ball carrier in 2017.
The defensive line is one of the areas in which the Lumberjacks return a large number of experienced players from 2017. Senior defensive tackles
Hamilton To'o and
Sione Talakai are expected to anchor the unit along with new starters at the defensive end slots in sophomores
Chauntez Thomas and
Carson Taylor. To'o led the defensive line returners with 41 tackles last season, including 7.5 tackles for loss.
Junior Tristan Vance is slotted to fill the void at middle linebacker left by the graduation of last year's leading tackler
Byron Evans. Vance is currently joined in the starting unit by fellow junior
Taylor Powell on the weak side. Vance appeared in all 12 games last season and amassed 38 tackles, including 2.5 TFLs. Powell also played in all 12 games in 2017 as a starter and ranked as the 'Jacks fourth-leading tackler with 61 stops, including five TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He also recorded one interception which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
The most experienced and strongest part of the Lumberjacks' defense entering the 2018 season is arguably the back four as NAU returns all four starters from last season's squad that ranked first in the Big Sky Conference (19th nationally) in passing yards allowed and 14th nationally (2nd/Big Sky) with 14 interceptions.
Leading the way for the group is senior strong safety
Wes Sutton, who ranked third on the squad with 72 tackles (8.0 TFLs) and posted a pair of interceptions. Senior free safety
Kam'ron Johnson is the 'Jacks' top returning tackler from last season with 81 stops in 2017. He also picked off a team-best four passes, one of which he took back for a score.
Manning the corners are junior
Maurice Davison and junior
Khalil Dorsey, who combined for 23 starts last season. Dorsey notched three interceptions and 49 tackles. Davison added three picks of his own and led the squad with 10 pass breakups.
The price for single game general admission seating to all NAU Football home games begins at $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and youth (ages 3-12).
Prices for the Family Weekend Game vs. Weber State on Oct. 6 are $30 for adults and $22 for senior citizens and youth. Homecoming Game tickets vs. Cal Poly on Oct. 27 are priced at $22 for adults and $17 for seniors and youth.
The Lumberjacks will open the five-game 2018 home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 8 vs. Eastern Washington in a 4 p.m. MST kickoff at the Skydome.
Fans can purchase individual game tickets online via the
NAU Athletics Online Ticket Office or by calling the NAU Central Ticket Office at 928-523-5661.
