MILLEDGEVILLE – Georgia’s only NJCAA football program is getting ready to lace up the cleats and put on the pads for another season of national competition. 

The Georgia Military College Bulldogs kick off the 2022 campaign Saturday on their home field versus Georgia Christian Institute, a two-year program trying to earn full NJCAA member status.

It’s the start of year two for GMC head coach Rob Manchester. Although this is only his second year as head, the Kentucky native has been on the coaching staff for two decades, formerly serving as defensive coordinator.

Manchester equated his first year balancing head coach and junior college athletic director duties to “drinking from a fire hose,” but he’s well acquainted with all the responsibilities now entering 2022. 

The 2021 Bulldogs dropped their last three games to finish 6-5, bringing a bit of a sour finish to Manchester’s inaugural season at the helm.

“We definitely had one of the stronger schedules in junior college last year,” said Manchester. “Even though we slipped up a little bit, I was proud of the way the guys played all year. They played hard and never gave up. We battled, and at the end of the day that’s all you can ask of your kids. We ended up with a winning season. Definitely not up to the standard we want, but the main thing is the guys got a lot of film to put their highlights together to help them get recruited.”

About 20 ‘Dogs signed on to four-year programs, which is about average for GMC year in and year out. What is above average heading into ’22 is that over 40 guys are back from a season ago as sophomores or redshirt freshmen, giving Manchester and his staff more returning experience than years past. Asked about players he has high expectations of, Manchester first pointed toward 6-2 safety Te’Quan Latimore out of Cairo as well as the linebacking corps of Corey Alexander (Augusta), Kennedy Parker (Macon), and Zy Varner (LaGrange). 

“I think those guys can play at the Division I level at a lot of different places,” the GMC head coach said. 

Those are some good starting pieces for new defensive coordinator Dustin Ramsey, who has taken over for the departed Taylor Burks. Ramsey is in his second stint at GMC, the first having come 10 years ago. Other stops on his coaching journey have included the University of Buffalo, Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State. 

Offensively, longtime GMC coordinator Ross Robinson gets back big wide receiver Daithan Davis (Bartow, Fla.) and shifty running back La’Darius Ceasar (Blakely). Fans should also come out to see the wonder that is 6-6, 430-pound sophomore offensive lineman Brandon Golden out of Phenix City, Ala. who brings back a lot of experience on the front line. Manchester likes the linemen he has, but wishes for more depth as most coaches do. The quarterback position is also a bit of a question mark with only one returner and five different players vying for the starting job. 

Those names headline a roster of 110, 80 of which hail from the Peach State. That’s a concerted effort on the recruiting trail by the GMC staff, and not just when it comes to Georgia. Manchester’s men are focused on the Central Georgia region as well, having grabbed about 20 guys from the area including Baldwin High’s own Antonio Reeves Jr. and Putnam County’s Michael Crumbley. 

The NJCAA released its preseason poll Monday. The Bulldogs received votes, but are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the top 15. They will have the opportunity to make their mark quickly though since three of their first five opponents are ranked. 

“We’ll find out relatively quick where we stand, but that’s what you want — for these young men to get great film and play a challenging schedule,” Manchester said.

Supporters will have plenty of opportunities to cheer on the Bulldogs this season with six home games, including the first four out of the gate. 

It all kicks off this Saturday against Georgia Christian Institute. Start time is set for 3:30 p.m. on historic Davenport Field.