Comfort hasn’t been a luxury afforded to Cris Reisert in recent months. The Gardner-Webb football coach is building a roster he hopes can be competitive in year No. 1 in Boiling Springs.
Though predicted by medal pollsters to finish middle of the pack in a competitive Big South-OVC, Reisert likely raised a few eyebrows with his confident demeanor last month during the league’s media day event.
“It’s one of those deals where if five months ago you’d told me I’d be as confident as I right now (in the Gardner-Webb football team), I’d probably tell you you’re crazy,” Reisert said. “But I really like this group. I think we’ve worked tirelessly to recruit some high level guys who are really good people and fit who we are as a university and a program.”
A new-look Gardner-Webb football team will take the field Thursday night for its 2024 opener against Wofford. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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For Reisert, such is the culmination of several months of work largely constructing a roster from scratch following the departure of former head man Tre Lamb to East Tennessee State. Lamb won 20 games in four seasons at Gardner-Webb, leading the Runnin’ Bulldogs to two league championships and berths in the FCS playoffs.
Despite such challenges, Reisert sees exciting times ahead.
“We’re really optimistic about where things are at,” he said. “Certainly there’s been success in the last couple seasons and we’re very grateful for that. (We are) looking forward to continuing to elevate and add to that success.”
Reisert added: “We worked really diligently to build a unique roster and to use the (transfer portal) to offset a lot of the losses we did endure prior to me being the head coach at Gardner-Webb. It’s one of those things where we’ve tried strategically to build a team and not just acquire talent.
“I think a team is guys who compliment each other, whether it’s personality wise, whether it’s skill set, athletically, they fit our scheme and fit our ethos, our core values of who we are. I like to think we have a clearly defined role for each guy in the organization which allows them to come in and have instant success or the opportunity for instant success. It’s been an adventure, but I’m thankful for my coaching staff and what they’ve done to bring this all together.”
Reisert said he wants Gardner-Webb to be an aggressive football team, one forcing opposing defenses to adjust to tempo, and a defense which defends “all 53 ⅓ (yards) of width and 120 (yards) of vertical space” on a football field. “We want to be a physical attacking group,” he added.
Most important to the Gardner-Webb coach, however, is his want for players to give maximum effort with every opportunity given.
“Effort is one of our core values, we talk about it every single day,” Reisert said. “I hope you’re gonna see a team who’s energized every Saturday.”
Gardner-Webb football players to watch
Ayden Bell
Graduate | DL
Bell finished with 13 tackles last season for Gardner-Webb. Reisert believes bigger things could be on tap for Bell in 2024. “I think you’re going to see a different version of Aiden than you would have seen last season,” Reisert said. “I think our scheme is a vastly better fit for him; not better, it’s just different and I think it’s a good fit for Aiden.”
Jay Billingsley
Redshirt junior | K
Billingsley has connected on 15 of 21 field goals in 21 career games at Gardner-Webb, which includes him splitting the uprights on six of seven attempts in 2023. He has a career long of 47 yards.
Jordan Bly
Senior | WR
Son of former NFL defensive back and University of North Carolina great Dre Bly, he transferred to Gardner-Webb after three seasons at Old Dominion. During his time there, he caught 46 passes for 394 yards and a touchdown.
Ren Hefley
Graduate | QB
Native to Arkansas, Hefley initially signed and spent his first two seasons at Michigan. He’s since spent time at Presbyterian, Northwest Mississippi Community College (JUCO) and most recently Middle Tennessee State, where he saw action in one game last fall.
Raequan Ousley
Graduate | DB
Ousley started each of Gardner-Webb’s 13 games last fall, finishing with 56 tackles (29 solo), two interceptions, 19 pass deflections, two fumbles and a fumble recovery.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gardner-Webb football set to kick off Cris Reisert era. Here's what you need to know.
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