The Middlebury football team kicks off the season on Saturday, September 17. This season will be a special one for the Panthers, as it marks the 40th and final season of coaching for head coach Bob Ritter ’82, before he transitions into a new role on the athletic department senior administrative staff. 

Kwesi Adu-Diawuo, Tomas Kenary and Finn Muldoon all return on defense. Adu-Diawuo finished last season ranked fourth on the team with 50 tackles (20 solo) as a linebacker. Kenary had a stellar first season donning the navy and white, earning NESCAC Rookie of the Year, All-Region 1 Third-Team and All-NESCAC Second-Team Defense accolades. The defensive lineman recorded 38 tackles and a conference-leading seven sacks for a loss of 48 yards. Muldoon had 28 tackles (19 solo) and two interceptions last season. The defensive back was second on team with five pass break-ups.

Greg Livingston, Alex Maldjian, and Donovan Wood will be a force on offense this season. Livingston was second for the Panthers hauling in 22 passes and was third with 15.68 yards/catch. Maldjian returns to the gridiron after a two-year hiatus. Maldjian was named the 2019 NESCAC Rookie of the Year after leading the team to the NESCAC Championship and the first 9-0 season in conference history. The running back led the league in rushing with 100.6 yards/game, gaining 905 yards on 212 carries with 10 touchdowns. Wood, an All-NESCAC Second-Team Offense honoree, paced Middlebury last season with a team-best 32 passes caught. The wide receiver averaged 65.5 receiving yards per game, scored a pair of touchdowns and ranked third in the conference with 18.4 yards per catch. 

Cole Kennon and Ben Tauber could both see action at quarterback this season, with each playing in several games a year ago. Kennon saw action in three contests last year and was 6-9 for 81 yards with a touchdown against Amherst. Tauber played in four games last season and was 21-38 for 180 yards against the Mammoths. Cole Crider excelled last year as a punter, and was also a major contributor in the baseball team capturing the NESCAC Championship last spring. Crider was named to the All-NESCAC First Team for special teams, finishing the season second in the conference for punting with a total of 1,720 yards. He averaged 39.2 yards/punt with a career-high kick of 64 yards in the season finale.

Ritter enters his 40th year of coaching, and 22nd season at the helm of the Middlebury football team. He will lead the team alongside assistant coaches Dave Caputi, Doug Mandigo, Ryan Paquette, Gus Brakeley, Michael Carr, St. Clair Ryan and Jason Thomas.