WALTHAM, Mass. – The reigning Northeast 10 football champions open their 2026 season with the ultimate test. Bentley kicks off against the nation's top-ranked team, Ferris State, Friday, Sept. 4. Game time in Big Rapids, Mich., is 6 p.m.

Second-year head coach CJ Scarpa '17 wasted no time in delivering a conference title to his alma mater. The former Falcon quarterback led the 2025 squad to a 7-3 record in the regular season, including a 6-1 NE10 record. It was Bentley's first NE10 title since 2019, and the program earned its first NCAA Championship bid since 2021.

Bentley returns several key players from last year's championship team, including quarterback Luke Warnock. After red-shirting in 2024, Warnock took over under center in 2025. He earned NE10 Rookie of the Year.      

It took Warnock a couple of games to get his footing in 2025. However, through the final eight games of the regular season, Warnock totaled 22 touchdowns (4 rushing). He threw only four interceptions during that stretch.

Also returning under center is senior Isaiah Osgood. His speed gives the Bentley offense a dynamic that few teams can match, and Scarpa is impressed by Osgood's improved passing during this year's camp. Osgood had a rushing touchdown in four games last year. Two of those rushing touchdowns went for more than 40 yards.

The Falcons return their top two running backs from last year: Joshua Compoh and Telly Edouard. Edouard was the team's leading rusher a year ago with 413 yards. Compoh totaled 376 yards on the ground, and Osgood finished 2025 with 371 rushing yards.
The Falcons' offensive line is led by Jett Ellis, who earned All-NE10 Second Team and NE10 All-Rookie Team last year.

Bentley will have a new group of leading receiver this fall. The Falcons graduated their top four receivers from the 2025 squad.

Scarpa is particularly excited about graduate transfer Parker Woodring. A former NCAA DI student-athlete, Woodring played 28 games at Cornell. He finished the 2024 season with five touchdown receptions.

Senior tight end Cooper Marcum is poised to make a significant leap in 2026 after appearing in 10 games a year ago. Junior wideout Zion Simmons is a key player for Falcon fans to keep an eye on, as his speed will be a constant threat on the perimeter.  

On the defensive side of the ball, Bentley's secondary is not lacking in experience. The group is anchored by Tyler Lane, Christian Zamor, Damian Anderson, and David Brown, Jr. Each of those Falcons played in at least 10 games last year. Brown and Anderson each totaled seven pass breakups in 2025, while Lane and Brown each had two picks that season. Zamor's exceptional size and athleticism was often used in blitz packages, as he landed five quarterback hits last fall.

Jake Fredericks, Kieran Campbell, and Quincy Pickett lead Bentley's defensive efforts in the trenches. Fredericks, an Academic All-America selection, earned All-NE10 First Team as a sophomore last year. Both Campbell and Pickett were All-NE10 Second Team in 2025.

Bentley's defense adds linebacker Caleb Procaccini this season. Like Woodring, Procaccini is a graduate transfer. Procaccini previously went to Colgate before coming to Bentley. He played in 21 games during his career at Colgate, collecting 21 tackles (12 solo) during the 2025 campaign.

Following this week's game at Ferris State, Bentley kicks off at Saint Anselm for a non-conference game, Sept. 12. The home opener is a non-conference game against Post during Falcon Weekend, Sept. 19. The first NE10 game of the year is at Franklin Pierce, Sept. 26.

Bentley's 2026 captains are Warnock, Brown, Ellis, Campbell, and Fredericks.