Football | 8/29/2018 4:53:00 PM

Goodwell, Okla.—As Aggie Football prepares to set foot on the newly turfed Carl Wooten Field at Anchor D Stadium, Head Coach Russell Gaskamp and his crew of staff are excited to see this new team of Aggies kick off the 2018 season.

"As a team we are very proud to be able to play on this new field, and I hope the community is equally excited about it. I am also happy for alumni to be able to return to campus and watch games with these great renovations," says Gaskamp. "This is such an important tool for the future of recruiting," continued Coach.

For campus community, the emergence of the starting quarterback position has been hypothesized and hyped throughout the off season and spring ball, with senior QB Brandon Ramon officially stepping up into the role for game one. "We feel he is in a good position to lead the offense efficiently and judiciously," affirmed Gaskamp. Depth at the quarterback position has improved this year, with other players potentially seeing time later in the season, but the coaching staff feels good about putting their faith in Ramon as their starter.

As the top returning back in the league, senior Orlando Haymon will lead with elevated expectations, as coach Gaskamp notes Haymon's ability to produce with consistency. Gaskamp also has high hopes for incoming freshman RJ Stevens and junior transfer Carlos Ransburg. Both have displayed strong aptitude and will be competing for carries throughout the season. This year's receivers will be led by senior Nick West, who made great strides in the off-season and during spring ball, and sophomore Jake Martinez, who proved himself toward the end of the 2017 season, will start in the slot this year for the Aggies.

The offensive line will look to develop in experience through the season with senior Dominque Thomas as the lone returning starter on the roster. Thomas' honed skillset will play a major role on the field, allowing the batch of talented newcomers to progress behind him. The team of veteran tight ends will be led by sophomore Brady Barrett, who showed great tenacity on the field in his freshman season and who Gaskamp notes as having a great off-season camp, and possessing the ability to play at a high level.

The defensive line is revamping after the loss of all its' starters last year, but returning veterans are expected to round out the line. "We have a really good shot at some quality depth here," says Gaskamp, "Jasper Smiley will be one to watch," continued Gaskamp, "He is a solid player and had a good off-season." Good veteran depth also shows itself within the linebackers, as SAC Pre-Season Linebacker junior Nathan Leithead and senior outside linebackers Jawan Purifoy and D'Darrin Primes are set to display their expertise and leadership on the field. Gaskamp remarks that the defensive backs have been exposed to the most turnover, leaving almost exclusively newcomers. However, sophomores Warren Dillon and De'Adryelle Fites both had significant playing time last season and will look to provide guidance as the backs progress through their maturation period. Two new faces will grace the roster as kickers for the Aggies; Guymon local, freshman Javier Medina, will soar the ball through the uprights and freshman Eduardo Villarreal will take over punting duties. "They have both taken big strides as incoming freshman and shown great potential for us," says Gaskamp.

As appointed captains of the team. Smiley, Leithead, Purifoy and Haymon will look to take the Aggies on the road to a winning season, and procure excellence on and off the field. For now, Gaskamp and the Aggies are affixed on only goal: a game one victory. Taking the season game by game has been a tried and true method, preparing for each opponent and battle as they come. With a tough mid-year stretch on the way, getting out ahead and taking a win in game one will be the Aggies' first and only priority.

For their exciting home opener, the Aggies will take on Hastings College on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. Pre-game tailgating will begin at 3 p.m. with individual tent spaces still available. The 2018 National Champion Panhandle State Rodeo team will be recognized at halftime along with the official game sponsors form Bank of the Panhandle. Fans will also get a first look at the 2018 Competitive Aggie Cheer team who will present a pre-game routine, and the all new Aggie Marching Band and Color Guard during a special halftime performance.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at the gate or online at opsuaggies.com at $10 for adults and children over 17, and at $5 for children 11-17, seniors or those with a military ID. All OPSU staff and students receive free admission with their university ID. Free live stats and streaming of the game will be available at opsuaggies.com for those wishing to watch at home.