Nebraska Wesleyan football returning experienced team in 2023

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska Wesleyan football enters the 2023 season looking to rebound after a disappointing 1-9 finish last season.

And the Prairie Wolves enter 2023 with an experienced team.

“We’re really fortunate to have a group of 12 to 15, probably, fifth-year guys coming back using that COVID year,” head coach Brian Keller said at media day. “They’re not ready to grow up. They want to keep playing, which tells me a lot about their character and the excitement they have.”

Keller said that in the American Rivers Conference, “If you’re an older team, you got a chance to do really well.”

“And that really adds to our excitement of having a group of good fifth year players who are really good players,” he said.

The Prairie Wolves welcome back many key players from last season’s squad, like junior wideout Cole Siems. 

Siems played in nine games, collecting 667 yards on 30 receptions for five touchdowns. He was also second in the ARC in yards per catch during conference play.

Siems said he is excited to return to the field.

“I feel like the mindset coming in this year is everyone’s ready, everyone’s excited to get started,” he said. “I think a lot of good things can happen, especially starting in fall camp here, where you start to see a lot of the guys last year who are younger and newer start to really show themselves and come out and show everyone that they’re here to play now.”

Nebraska Wesleyan kicks off the 2023 season on the road against Austin College in Texas on Sept. 2.

More information about the program can be found here.