20th Season of JU Football Begins on the Road

8/28/2017 9:00:00 AM

Jacksonville vs. Mercer

Behind the Shields

"We're excited to get on the bus and go play. It's been a long training camp, and frankly, we need to play against someone in a different colored uniform. We know we have a tall task in front of us, playing a talented Mercer program in a hostile environment, but I'm anxious to see us compete and execute against arguably the most talented team on our schedule. This will be a great measuring stick to see where we are to start the season, and I have no doubt we'll be ready to play when "toe meets leather" at 7 p.m. Thursday night." – Head Coach Ian Shields

Series History

The teams' first meeting took place in Macon, Ga., in the 2013 season where the Bears won, 45-42. Jacksonville held a 35-24 advantage with less than two minutes to play in the third quarter.

Up Next

Jacksonville welcomes Walsh to D.B. Milne Field Saturday, September 16, in its home opener. Single-game tickets are available for purchase day of game at the ticketing booth or online at JUTickets.com.

General admission tickets are $10, children aged four and under are free, and students and faculty are free with a valid JU ID.

Parking is available day of game on a first-come, first-served basis, and there will be a $5 charge.

'Phin Facts

Jacksonville enters its 20th season and second under head coach Ian Shields
In his inaugural Dolphin campaign, Shields guided JU to an overall record of 5-5, with a 4-3 mark in conference action (PFL)
The Dolphins' 2016 team set multiple program records with single season marks in rushing yards (2,482 yards) and rushing touchdowns (29) while tying the single-game rushing record (433 yards)
Jacksonville returns eight PFL honorees – one second team selection (Javier Arce-Ramirez, K) and seven honorable mentions -- from its 2016 campaign
Honorable mention All-PFL choice Prince Gray finished the 2016 season as the league's 10th ranked receiver with 591 yards; he added three touchdowns
Rylan Wells will lead the charge for the Dolphins at the quarterback position. He finished the 2016 campaign as the PFL's second leading rusher among quarterbacks with 614 yards and was fifth in total offense

The Captains

Red-shirt junior Jamal Adjamah (RB), and seniors Tyler Havenner (DL), Harrison Rodormer (LB) and Rylan Wells (QB) were voted as team captains
Adjamah is coming off of a 2016 campaign where he was sidelined for much of the year due to injury … in three seasons, he has rushed for 581 yards and has four touchdowns
Havenner and Rodormer started all 10 games a season ago … the former recorded 23 tackles, one sack, and a blocked kick in 2016 while the latter was a PFL honorable mention with a team-leading 10.5 TFLs and five sacks
The 2017 slate will mark Wells' second year of captaincy … last year, he became the first player to lead JU in both rushing and passing yards in a season … He recorded 2,358 yards on the year with 22 touchdowns
Brian Burnett (WR), Nic Duch (WR), Griffin Garland (DB), Thomas Oporto (LB), Robert Ritterhoff (OL) and Emon Smith (DB) will serve on the leadership council

2016 FCS Leaders

Welcoming Committee

Jacksonville welcomed 46 freshmen and two transfers to its 2017 roster
Hometowns: Florida (34), Georgia (7), North Carolina (2), South Carolina (1), Kentucky (1), Alabama (1), Indiana (1), Maryland (1)
Transfers: Jaleel Roberts (Lenoir-Rhyne), Mike Williams (Villanova)

Preseason Pioneer Football League News

Jacksonville was selected to finish the regular season tied for fifth
Kicker Javier Arce-Ramirez was named Preseason All-PFL; a season ago, he went 9-for-10 in field goals – sending nine consecutive between the uprights to conclude the year – while also going 39-for-42 in PATs

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