FLORENCE, Ala. (August 5, 2026) – The first week of fall camp is complete for the University of North Alabama football team, as the Lions graduated to full pads for the first time on Tuesday night. This was the sixth practice of fall camp.
The Lions are off Wednesday and will have 12 practices remaining before turning their attention to the first opponent on the schedule — Samford.
There are currently over 100 players on the roster battling for positions on the depth chart. UNA head coach
Brent Dearmon has emphasized a "fluid" depth chart at every position during fall camp that can change daily based on effort and performance.
Six starters return to the team from last season, including three on the offensive side in redshirt junior quarterback
Destin Wade, redshirt senior offensive guard
Collin Wright and senior wide receiver
KJ Fields. Other key returners that started some games include redshirt sophomore wide receiver
Noah Gregg and graduate offensive tackle
Noah Bolticoff.
Defensively, the Lions return senior defensive lineman
Jyheam Ingram, junior defensive lineman-turned-linebacker
Fred Vili and defensive back
Anthony Young. Nine other lettermen from last season return, including players with veteran experience like linebacker
Tango McCauley Jr., redshirt junior edge rusher
Avery Howard and rising sophomore linebacker
Bishop Burkhalter, among others.
A number of newcomers are already emerging at various position groups on both sides of the ball, including a mix of FBS, FCS and lower level transfers with veteran experience.
Special teams is another area of healthy competition, as both redshirt senior
Ian Vachon and sophomore
Chandler Dixon return as kickers along with redshirt freshman
Tyler Wallace. Graduate transfer
Thomas Schwartz V will also compete for a kicker role. True freshman
Charles Mulcahy is expected to make an immediate impact at punter.
UNA is now 24 away from its season opener against Samford on August 29 at 6 p.m. The game will be hosted Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville as the Story Financial Partners Bowl. This will mark the first college football game to be played in the venue, which is home to Huntsville City FC and the former home of the Huntsville Stars minor league baseball team.
Following Samford, UNA will take on an SEC opponent for the second time ever and the first time since 1959 with a trip to Arkansas on Sept. 5. The first SEC opponent for UNA was Vanderbilt in Nashville roughly 67 years ago.
Following a road trip to Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 12, the Lions will host Alcorn State for the grand opening of Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. This will be the first of six home games to be hosted at Bank Independent Stadium — the first on-campus venue in program history.
Fans can purchase tickets by visiting RoarLions.com or by calling 256-765-5466.
INFORMATION CENTRAL
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
