Rebuilding the Lumberjacks: A New Era for Northern Arizona Football
Northern Arizona's football program is poised for a turnaround as the 2026 season approaches, with quarterback Ty Pennington set to lead a revamped roster after a strong 2025 showing that saw him complete 65.7% of his passes for 3,116 yards and 19 touchdowns.
The Lumberjacks finished the previous campaign with a 7‑5 record (4‑4 in Big Sky) under head coach Brian Wright, a season that ended with a heartbreaking loss to Weber State that eliminated them from playoff contention.
To address the gaps left by departed wide receivers and an incomplete offensive line, the team has brought in transfers Deuce Zimmerman and Darius Haskins to bolster the receiving corps, while adding Carter Lavrusky, Camden Jury and Travis Gutierrez to protect the quarterback.
Defensively, the squad welcomes Nikhil Webb‑Walker and Jordan Pigram to the line, along with linebacker Ammon Allen, who returns from injury, and Texas Southern transfer Matthew Cooks, who posted 75 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss last season.
The defense also gains veteran presence from safety Shoes Brinkley, a third‑team All‑SLC selection from McNeese, and linebacker Bryson Torrie, who transferred from CSU Pueblo after leading his team with 81 tackles and three interceptions.
Northern Arizona's schedule will be challenging, featuring matchups against traditional Big Sky powers such as Montana State, Idaho State, Montana and Eastern Washington, with the season opener slated against the latter.
Head coach Brian Wright, who guided the team to the FCS Playoffs in his inaugural season in 2024, remains confident that the blend of returning talent and impact transfers can restore the program's momentum and contend for a conference title.