The Steamwheelers offense is full of fresh new blood, as well as a veteran presence with guys such as Keyvan Rudd and Joe Krall vying to help guide the offense towards success in this upcoming season. Head Coach Cory Ross had this to say leading up to camp, "We've been waiting for this for a long time. To have the guys here looking very prepared, it's going to make for an exciting training camp." The Steamwheelers will be without 2x OPOTY E.J. Hilliard Jr., but have brought in some very exciting talent to compete for the starting Quarterback position.

Below is an in-depth preview of the Steamwheelers offense heading into training camp:
 

Quarterbacks:

Judd Erickson
6'5 / 225 - University of San Diego 

Erickson will be entering his first season in the IFL. The big gunslinger brings prior experience from his time in the NCAA, CFL, and ELF. He spent three seasons as the backup quarterback at Colorado State before transferring to San Diego State where he made a name for himself. Over his two years with the Toreros, Erickson played 11 games, throwing over 14 touchdowns and over 1,700 yards.  In 2022, during a brief stint with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, Erickson went 2-4 with 14 yards where he only threw 4 passes in the pre-season. Erickson most recently played for the Cologne Centurions of the European League of Football.

Asher O'Hara
6'4 / 195 - Sacramento State University

Asher O' Hara is a run-first style player who is entering his first season in the IFL. Prior to this upcoming season O' Hara spent three seasons from 2018 to 2020 at Middle Tennessee State University. During this time he recorded over 6,000 total yards, including 1,659 rushing yards and 4,576 passing yards. He also recorded 49 total touchdowns. After his time at MTSU O' Hara transferred to Sacramento State University, his first season in 2021 he recorded 667 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, as well as 899 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns. His next season in 2022, O' Hara had the greatest rushing season by a quarterback in school history. He totaled 937 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, alongside 873 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. 

 

Mike Irwin
6'2 / 205 - Portland State University

Irwin is entering his first season in the IFL. Before this season he spent his time at the University of Oregon , Garden City Community College, Tarleton State University, and Portland State University. Irwin redshirted as a Freshman at Oregon from 2017 to 2018, some time after he suited up for Garden City Community College in 2020. In eight games he threw for 634 yards on 55 of 111 passing, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He then transferred to Tarleton State University in 2021, where in six games Irwin threw for 134 yards on 11-of-26 passing. This includes one touchdown and one interception, while rushing for 57 yards on eight attempts. Most recently Irwin played at Portland State University, in three games he threw for 44 yards and one touchdown on 6-of-15 passing, with one interception. 

Running Backs:

Edward Vander
6'1 / 215 - University of Mary / San Diego Strike Force

Vander is in his 3rd year in the IFL and in his first season with the Steamwheelers. Prior to this season Vander played at Saddleback College in 2016, where he rushed for 1,074 yards with 188 carries and 18 touchdowns. After, he played at Montana State University in 2017, here Vander had 4 carries for 270 yards in only eight games played, alongside one reception for 35 yards. He then spent time at the University of Utah and the University of Mary. Vander's first season in the IFL was with the Bismark Bucks in 2022. With the Bucks he rushed for 139 yards on 38 attempts, he also recorded one touchdown. The next season in 2023 Vander had his best season in the IFL so far with the San Diego Strike Force. Vander rushed for 174 yards and had 14 rushing touchdowns, he also had 393 receiving yards with 39 receptions and 6 touchdowns. 

Connor Olson
5'8 / 160 - Aurora University / Rapid City Marshalls

Olson will be entering his first season in the IFL, previously playing with the Rapid City Marshals of the CIF. Olson played for four years at Aurora University from 2016-2019, during that time he totaled over 2,000 rushing yards on 385 attempts. He also tallied rushing 16 touchdowns, all in 31 games played. Also as a receiver Olson gathered 57 receptions, 643 yards, with seven touchdowns and one kick return touchdown. 

Easton Bianchi
5'6 / 160 - Brigham Young University

This will be his first season in the IFL. Bianchi was a IHSA first-team All-State running back in high school before going to BYU as a sprinter. From 2019 to 2023 Bianchi recorded personal bests including running a 6.68 in the 60m event and a 21.17 in the 200m event, both times tied for number six all time at BYU. He also recorded a personal best of a 10.31 in the 100m event alongside a 33.90 in the 300m event. Bianchi earned his invite to camp during the 2024 Steamwheelers Showcase open tryout.

Wide Receivers:

Ka'Ron Ashley
6'2 / 175 - University of West Florida / Edmonton Elks (CFL)

This will be his first season in the IFL. Ashley played at the University of West Florida from 2016 to 2022. College Stats at West Florida: During his college career Ashley totaled 1,652 receiving yards, 115 receptions, and 24 touchdowns for the Argonauts. He last played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League in 2022. Ashley played 2 games with Edmonton. In a preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he had one touchdown in a 30-20 win.

Jarrod Harrington
5'9 / 180 - Campbellsville University

This will be Harrington's fifth season in the IFL and his second season with the Steamwheelers. Last season in 2023 Harrington's season was cut short due to injury, a second ACL tear in the same knee ended his season after only five games. Before that, Harrington had a combined 179 rushing and receiving yards alongside 5 combined touchdowns on 16 rushing attempts and 15 receptions. He also gained 393 yards on kick returns on 16 attempts, his longest run being 44 yards. 

Jakob Uryasz
6'3 / 195 - Monmouth College 

 This will be Uryasz's first season in the IFL. He most recently played at Monmouth College from 2018 to 2022, during this time Uryasz totaled 1,974 receiving yards, alongside 134 receptions and 15 touchdowns. Urayasz played a total of 32 games in his time with the Fighting Scots. Uryasz earned his invite to camp during the 2024 Steamwheelers Showcase open tryout.
 

Keyvan Rudd
6'3 / 215 - MSU Mankato

Rudd will be entering his sixth year in the IFL and his fifth year with the Steamwheelers. The Davenport native played college football at MSU Mankato from 2011-2014, there he caught 37 passes for 525 yards and he tallied 5 touchdowns. Last season, Rudd collected 656 receiving yards on 54 receptions, also totaling 15 touchdowns. He also collected 57 rushing yards on 12 attempts, which included 3 touchdowns.

Raheem Harvey
6'2 / 205 - Lewis - Clark Valley Loggers / Green Bay Blizzard

This will be his fifth season in the IFL and his first with the Steamwheelers. Harvey played his college years with the Lewis-Clark Valley Loggers. He first started out in the IFL with the Cedar Rapids Titans in 2018 before he was acquired by the Iowa Barnstormers, where he went onto win a United Bowl Championship. Harvey then signed with the Bismark Bucks in 2021 and won the IFL's Most Improved Player. In 2022, he went to the Tucson Sugar Skulls where he had a season of 273 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Last season with the Green Bay Blizzard, Harvey picked up 117 receiving yards on nine receptions and three touchdowns. He also racked up 333 yards on kick returns in 22 attempts. 

Suni Lane
6'3 / 195 - University of Northern Iowa

Lane will be entering his first season in the IFL. Lane last played for the University of Northern Iowa from 2017-2019. In his last season with the Panthers he picked up 205 yards on 16 receptions and three touchdowns.

Jordan Vesey
6'1 / 195 - Augustana College

The Quad Cities native will be entering his first season in the IFL. The speedy wideout recently played for Augustana College from 2020 to 2023. In his last season with the Vikings, Vesey racked up 320 yards on 27 receptions with two touchdowns. 

Jon'Tez Chaney
6'2 / 219 - Bluffton University

Chaney will be entering their first season in the IFL. Chaney previously played at Bluffton University and Ottawa University, at Bluffton he tallied 220 yards on 15 receptions and one touchdown. 

Warren Newman
5'8 / 160 - Jackson State

This will be Newman's first season in the IFL and their first with the Steamwheelers. His previous experience includes playing at Jackson State University where he totaled over 1,000 receiving yards alongside 121 receptions and 12 touchdowns. Most recently Newman played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, where he picked up 90 receiving yards on eight receptions. Newman also racked up 384 yards on kick returns putting him in the top 10 in the league. 

O-Lineman

Matthew Allred
6'5 / 315 - Central Methodist University

Allred, from Rogers, AR, will be entering his first season in the IFL. The lineman previously played for Central Methodist University and started in 10 games in his last season with the Eagles. 

Shyron Rodgers
6'4 / 315 - Southeast Missouri State University

This will be Rodgers' first season in the IFL. Rodgers previously played at Northwest Mississippi Community College, and most recently at Southeast Missouri State University. He started 21 games at OL for Northwest Mississippi CC and helped contribute to a combined 16-5 record during his time with the Rangers. While at SEMO, Rodgers received a Second-Team All OVC selection while playing for the Redhawks.

Kerry Reynolds
6'3 / 300 - College of Dupage

This will be Reynolds first season in the IFL. Reynolds previously played at the College of Dupage, in his last season with the Chaparrals, Reynolds was a part of an exemplary offensive line. He helped the Chaparrals become one of the best teams in the NJCAA, ranking first in points, rushing yards, rushing yards per game, as well as yards per carry. Kerry earned his invite to camp during the 2024 Steamwheelers Showcase open tryout.

Paul Fay
6'4 / 330 - Wheaton College

This will be their first season in the IFL. Fay recently played at Wheaton College, during his time with the Thunder he was named to the All-CCIW First Team Offensive list, as well as the D3football.com All-Region 5 Team Third Team Offense list. 

Ivory Scott
6'3 / 340 - Arkansas State University

This will be their first season in the IFL. He previously played at Pearl River Community College and Arkansas State University. At Pearl River CC, Scott was named 1st Team All-MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges) as a sophomore before joining A-State in the spring.  In his time with the Red Wolves he helped the offense average 312.1 passing yards in his first season, and 364.4 passing yards per game.  

Joe Krall
6'4 / 320 - Monmouth College

Krall is a 6 foot 4, 320 pound offensive lineman from New Berlin, Illinois, This will be his third season in the IFL and his third with the Steamwheelers. During his first season in 2022, Krall was selected as IFL All-Rookie member. Following the 2023 season Krall signed a letter of intent to sign with the XFL San Antonio Brahmas. Following the merger of the XFL and USFL, Joe was placed on the Brahmas protected roster. In February, while en-route to training camp with the Brahmas, Krall was cut from the roster. This led him to re-sign with the Steamwheelers for this upcoming season. The big-body lineman has been an integral part of the Steamwheelers offense since 2022, as well as a fan favorite player alongside Keyvan Rudd.