3 things to know about Beaver Dam football in 2024 (2024)

When Brock Linde became the Beaver Dam football coach in 2020, he sent out a survey to get a sense of his team’s mindset.

He wanted to gain a solid foundation and build from it.

“The energy is great,” Linde said. “The expectations are high without trying to psych ourselves out to think we have to be something we aren’t already. We just have to stay the course and figure out what our best looks are, offensively and defensively. … The reality is this could be a really special year for us.”

Linde doesn’t want his players to let the recognition get to their heads as they head into a season.

“He humbles us,” Beaver Dam senior Jeffrey Freund said. “He tells us that rankings don’t matter if you don’t play. If you play bad, then the rankings are going to drop.”

Beaver Dam went 6-4 with a first-round playoff loss to Slinger last season and finished third in the Badger Large Conference.

The culture shift is because Linde values everyone in the program.

“I would hate for any of our players to believe that they’re not as valuable as somebody else and their role isn’t as important as somebody else,” he said. “When an injury happens, and someone has to step up, it galvanizes and strengthens that message.”

Here are three things to know about the 2024 Golden Beavers.

Beaver Dam QB Eli Bryant closing in on two all-time records

If everything goes right, senior quarterback Eli Bryant could finish his third season in the record books.

Bryant threw for 1,762 passing yards and 19 touchdowns during his career. He’s 596 yards away from surpassing 2019 alum Kendric Jimenez’s 2,357 passing yards. He’s also five touchdown passes away from leap frogging 1998 alum Ryan Gibbs’ 23.

“It’s just nice knowing that I’ll be remembered in the records,” Bryant said.

Freund is back after an injury-riddled junior season where he caught eight passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns in four games.

“I feel confident with my line, my receivers and everyone on my team,” Bryant said. “Everyone looks up to me. For the most part, everyone can come to me. I feel like I have a good relationship with most people on the team. I feel like our morale is very good.”

Isaac Monheim switching to a skilled position

After begging Linde for years, senior Isaac Monheim is making the switch from tackle to tight end.

At 6 foot 8, 250 pounds, Monheim offers a big target in the red zone as he moves on from the quick-side tackle position.

“With our blocking scheme, I’m comfortable with it,” Monheim said. “They’re very similar. It’s just understanding the route concepts and everything on the passing plays is a little bit different. For the most part, the run game is roughly the same. I’m doing a lot of what I did last year.”

Monheim gives the offense a chance to use two- or three-tight end sets. The other tight end that Linde said he will use will be senior Zach Schave, who has great mobility, speed and aggression for the position.

“At any time we can be in two-tight end sets or four- or five-wide receiver sets,” Linde said. “We hope that creates some mismatch opportunities. We hope it creates some confusion for defensive coordinators when we can be out of different grouping.”

Offensive and defensive line depth is key for Beaver Dam

Linde is excited about the depth on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Seniors Blake Hartman and Ben Brown return as starters and sophom*ore Caleb DeZarn is looking to find a spot on the starting unit. Senior Carter Rhode has been “looking good” at center, Bryant said.

“I feel like we have a very strong line,” Bryant said.

Senior AJ Litzer also started a couple games last year due to injury, but is mostly a defensive lineman. He’ll play alongside classmate Gavin Vitense, who as a defensive end had 77 tackles and a handful of sacks to be a disruptive player.

Michael Keberlein and Remington Diels will find a way in a six-man rotation on the defensive line.

“None of those defensive linemen will be expected to play offensive line,” Linde said. “We will keep our line as fresh as humanly possible.”

The Skinny

Coach: Brock Linde, 5th season, 13-22 Last season: 6-4, 3rd in Badger Large Conference, lost 38-28 to Slinger in first round. Returning: Josiah Barnes, RB, Sr.; Broc Mullenbach, LB, Sr.; Brandon Morrissey, TE/LB, Sr.; Jerek Westover, RB/LB, Sr.