Scouting the Opponent: Who are the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats?

When Bethune-Cookman comes to town on Saturday, they’ll be commencing a new era in their football history. After back-to-back seasons of finishing with a 2-9 record, the Wildcats’ administration elected to part ways with head coach Terry Sims after seven years at the helm. For several weeks last December, it looked as if the struggling program had made a splash hire with the addition of nine-time pro bowler Ed Reed. Following a sharp disagreement regarding the current condition of Bethune-Cookman’s athletic facilities, however, the two parties ultimately decided to terminate their pending agreement for Reed to lead the Wildcats in 2023.

Insert Raymond Woodie Jr., a veteran coach and Bethune-Cookman football alumni. After making stops as a linebackers and special teams coach at South Florida, Oregon, Florida State, and Florida Atlantic, the Tampa-area native comes aboard for his first go as a collegiate head coach. What does the defensive-minded lead man envision for his program? A total cultural reset. Back in April, Woodie told the Daytona Beach News-Journal he was pushing for a culture of structure, accountability, and unity. This new blueprint will seemingly dictate everything down to what his players wear on gamedays. “It ain’t gonna be one person wearing maroon, one person wearing red,” he told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “No, we’re going to be all aligned.”

Woodie brings on Joe Gerbino and Donte’ Pimpleton as the Wildcats’ co-offensive coordinators in 2023. Gerbino moves up in competition level after serving as Utica College’s (NCAA Division III) offensive coordinator since 2017. In 2022, the Utica football program broke school records for wins in a season, as well as points, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards. Donte’ Pimpleton has served time on coaching staffs at Florida Atlantic, UMass, Florida State, Oregon, and USF. At Florida State, Pimpleton was accredited for working with now Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers. Woodie, who has served as a coach on the defensive side of the ball for the last thirteen years, will likely have a heavy influence on the Wildcats’ defensive philosophy.

As with any head coaching change, the Wildcats’ roster experienced a large turnover this offseason. Bethune-Cookman’s top two leading rushers and top three leading receivers are no longer in the Wildcats’ program. Jalon Jones, the Wildcats’ quarterback and best player in 2022, transferred to Charlotte this offseason. Regardless of who is on the roster, though, Woodie has been vocal in stating there are no promises of who will see playing time on his team. “Everything is up for grabs,” he told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “I mean everything. We tell them every day we’re going to recruit guys to come in and take your jobs. That’s the real world.”

While the Wildcats’ are in the midst of a QB battle and no starter has been named, Delaware State grad transfer Tylik Bethea has the most collegiate experience in the room. He was reportedly in competition with ECU transfer Walter Simmons III, redshirt freshman Ethan Dattilio, and true freshman Dominiq Ponder throughout the fall. Like on offense, the Wildcats’ defensive personnel will be overhauled in 2023 with the team’s top four tacklers no longer with the program. Omari Hill-Robinson and Eddie Walls III are two returners on the defense that project to statistically lead the Wildcats in 2023. Those who follow the Wildcats closely predict the team will run a spread offense and four-man defensive front under Raymond Woodie Jr.

Ultimately, Bethune-Cookman will arrive in Memphis this week to receive a $425,000 payout and provide the Tigers a warmup opportunity prior to heading to Jonesboro on September 9th. In a game that was added following North Texas’s admission into the AAC, fans should still turn out for a opening week night game and a chance to see the 2023 Memphis Tigers for the first time. In the most important season in Ryan Silverfield’s head coaching tenure, even the smallest of opponents can’t be overlooked.