College football tracker: Former area prep gridiron standouts ready for season openers

QUINCY — The first weekend of the college football season puts familiar faces in new places, new roles and new positions. Here is a look at some area football products as their seasons get underway: 

• A pair of Clarence Cannon Conference products are expected to play a role in the Truman State football team’s season opener when the Bulldogs visit Findlay at noon Saturday. Senior offensive lineman Jon Saxbury, a 6-foot-1, 290-pound Monroe City product, will start at either left guard or center. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman defensive back Robert Goehl, a 6-foot, 186-pound Highland product, is listed as the backup at defensive back.

• The University of Central Missouri football team opened its season with a 45-38 victory over Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo., on Thursday night. Palmyra graduate Weston King, a junior defensive lineman, recorded two tackles for the Mules.

• Quincy Notre Dame graduate Jonny Bottorff has been named one of 10 team captains for the Northern Arizona football team. Bottorff, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound redshirt junior, is scheduled to start at center for the FCS program in Saturday’s season opener at Arizona. Bottorff transferred to Northern Arizona following a 28-game career at Missouri Western.

• Western Illinois University opens the football season Saturday at New Mexico State with Hannibal product Caden Selle expected to see action along the offensive line. Selle, a 6-foot-3, 293-pound redshirt freshman, is listed as the backup at right guard on the Leathernecks’ two-deep depth chart and could play center if needed.

• Jackson Stratton is headed to Montana this weekend. The Butler football team opens its season at Montana, ranked 14th in the FCS preseason poll, and Stratton was one of six true freshmen to make the travel roster. The Quincy Notre Dame graduate could see time at safety or on special teams.

Editor’s note: If you know of an area college football player we should be tracking, please send us an email to mschuckman@muddyrivernews.com.