*The Blitz is a weekly collection of stories and information obtained by our Non-FBS Insider each week.

• The Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Non-FBS Power Poll - Summer Edition was released this week. Two-time defending Southwest Junior College Football champions and last year’s NJCAA national semifinalist Kilgore leads the rankings. UIW, three-time reigning Southern Athletic Association champion Trinity, Angelo State, and defending American Southwest Conference champion Hardin-Simmons round out the top five.

• The National Football Foundation announced the names on the ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Among the candidates are 101 players and 34 coaches from the “divisional ranks,” the Non-FBS nominees. The divisional player candidates include Texas Southern defensive lineman and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, Texas State running back and current head coach of the two-time reigning Class 6A state football champion DeSoto Eagles Claude Mathis, UT Arlington offensive tackle Bruce Collie, and Sam Houston running back Timothy Flanders. Former Trinity head coach Steve Mohr is the lone Texas Non-FBS representative. Mohr led the Tigers to the 2002 Stagg Bowl and 12 NCAA Division III playoff appearances. He holds the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference record for overall wins (186) and SCAC victories (96) and is the all-time winningest coach in program history.

FCS

• Stephen F. Austin announced the addition of 10 transfers, including wide receiver Jordan Nabors (Baylor), running back Deago Benson (Vanderbilt), offensive lineman Seth Martin (Texas Tech), wide receiver Derrick Bohler (Indiana), quarterback Sam Vidlak (Montana), outside linebacker Lane Lewis (Grambling), cornerback Michael Patterson (Houston), outside linebacker Tony Anyanwu (Baylor), safety Zion Hopes (Louisiana Tech), and tight end Gerard Edimo (South Florida).

• We are sending prayers to former SFA defensive end BJ Thompson, who suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a team meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero posted an update from Thompson's agent on X/Twitter, stating Thompson "is still unconscious at this point, but he's stable and vitals are good. His family asks for your continued prayers." Lumberjacks head coach Colby Carthel expressed his thankfulness to the Chiefs medical staff for their rapid response during the emergency.

NCAA Division II

• A list of candidates for the next athletic director at UTPB was published on Monday. Since then, the outside-the-box candidate, Lonn Reisman, has accepted a job at Howard Payne, officially removing his name from contention. Sources have confirmed that representatives at UTPB have contacted multiple candidates on this list. The search committee will proactively find the right fit for the university and reach out to candidates who may still need to apply.

• According to sources, the athletic director search at West Texas A&M is progressing slowly. Earlier this week, sources indicated that only 12 applications had been received. One name on the candidate list at UTPB to watch for at WT is Dr. Hunter Sims, the Director of Athletics at Howard Payne.

• UTPB has added Zack Santolla to serve as defensive line coach and run game coordinator, the Emory & Henry College alum posted on X/Twitter. Santolla served as special teams analyst and quality control coach at Buffalo last year after a seven-year stint as defensive line coach and run game coordinator at Charleston.

NCAA Division III

• Sources indicated that Schreiner’s search for a head coach hit a snag two weeks ago. Director of Athletics Bill Raleigh is moving the process along, with sources indicating at least three candidates are on campus this week for interviews. Multiple sources indicate one of the candidates being interviewed this week is East Texas Baptist offensive coordinator Ryan Smith, who previously led SAGU to a 9-3 record and a win in the National Christian College Athletic Association’s Victory Bowl before resigning to pursue other coaching opportunities.

• Hardin-Simmons updated its weight room, which is an impressive sight to behold.

• HSU head coach Jesse Burleson announced the 2024 captains committee.

• McMurry released the names of six commits this week, including defensive back Nhoj Henry, linebacker KJ Henagan, defensive back Jaiden Brown, defensive lineman Jacob Cabrera, linebacker Bryan Sanders, wide receiver Michael Davila, and running back Addison Wells.

• Howard Payne made an interesting hire this week when they added legendary Tarleton men’s basketball coach and athletic director Lonn Reisman to serve as a special assistant to the President. A portion of his duties will include overseeing the athletic department. The move makes sense for Reisman, who sources indicate was not ready to retire and sought to remain close to his grandkids in Stephenville. This move allows Reisman to commute to Brownwood each day.

• Two former Mary Hardin-Baylor players, wide receiver Blake Jackson (St. Louis Battlehawks) and cornerback Keith Gipson Jr. (Michigan Panthers) will play in the United Football League playoffs this weekend. 

• Southwestern is announcing players committed to its 2024 recruiting class by position group. The rollout began with the quarterbacks, followed by the defensive backs and linebackers.

• Congratulations to East Texas Baptist for winning the NCAA Division III softball national title after a thrilling series against Belhaven in the DIII Women’s Softball World Series finals.

NAIA

• Texas Wesleyan released its 2024 football schedule, which includes home contests against Lindsey Wilson, North American, Arkansas Baptist, SAGU, Texas College, and Langston. However, the Rams' hopes of an outright Sooner Athletic Conference title will rest on their performance in road games against OUAZ in Week 2 and Louisiana Christian in the final week of the regular season.

NJCAA

• Dodge City head coach Terry Karg resigned last Wednesday. Sources indicate one name to watch for that opening is Tyler head coach Tanner Jacobson. An opening at this point in the offseason could be fatal for the Apaches' chances in the Southwest Conference Junior Football Conference race this year.

• Congratulations to Blinn for winning the NJCAA Division I baseball national title for the first time in school history. The No. 8 seed finished a convincing run to the title with a 12-5 victory over No. 4 Northwest Florida.