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Fifth in a series of DODEA-Pacific high school football previews. YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – One thing Nile C. Kinnick has plenty of this season is quarterbacks. Three, to be exact. Each with particular skill sets that could see them line up at different positions in the offense. It’s not as though sophomore Brady Mauldin beat out seniors Zeph Miyashiro and Atsushi Blocton for the starting job, coach Dan Joley said. “It’s nice to have two quarterbacks behind him (Mauldin). Those other two are integral parts of our offense in other places,” said Joley, now in his 16th season as Kinnick’s coach. He likes his quarterbacks to not just take snaps, hand off and pass the ball – Joley prefers a signal-caller with a strong football IQ, able to read the opposing defense as it makes changes, predict the moves and read the tone in the voices of his teammates. A coach on the field, Joley likes to say. “He’s not a large guy, but he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s smart and he gives us lots of options with his abilities,” Joley said of Mauldin, who served as understudy to last year’s starter, Tylar Stephens. Get him to try to run a particular play or scheme “and he gets it,” Joley said of Mauldin, who also plays baseball and wrestles. “He’s one of the best athletes Kinnick has had all around in a few years. Every day is better with Mauldin. And he has the respect of all his teammates.” Mauldin will trigger a Kinnick offense that hopes to put the memories of last season in the rear-view mirror – the Red Devils went winless in five games and only scored 42 points. “I’m prepared for it,” Mauldin said of the challenge of turning Kinnick’s fortunes around. “I worked the whole summer with the team. I feel like I’m ready. I’m motivated for it.” The difference this season, Joley said, is how the Red Devils are prepared to bounce back from “suffering the bumps and bruises of a disappointing season. We had a good team, but this team has some strong unity and they hold themselves accountable,” he said. Kinnick is flush in skills-positions people with senior Jacob Bojorquiz joining Mauldin, Blocton and Miyashiro, plus new additions Terrion Fleming, a junior, and Erick Montalve, a senior who transferred from Hawaii. “We’ll have some fun with him,” Joley said of Fleming. The line also features some size and strength as well as youth in sophomores Logan Hatcher and Henry Suniga and junior Saito Ryder. A former Kinnick lineman, 2016 graduate Chris Deibel who now teaches at nearby Ikego Elementary School, has joined the coaching staff as a line assistant – and could one day take over as head coach, Joley said. “He’s a head coach in training,” Joley said. “We’re giving him more responsibilities this season.” The Red Devils open the season on their new field, near Yokosuka Middle School, when they host Kubasaki on Aug. 28. Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils 2025 season record — 0-5 overall. Head coach — Dan Joley, 16th season. Overall record 61-55, Far East Division I title in 2018. Returning players — 14. Returning starters — 14. Key performers — Atsushi Blocton, Sr., QB; Zeph Miyashiro, Sr., QB; Brady Mauldin, So., QB; Jacob Bojorquiz, Sr., RB-LB; Elijah Lewis, Sr., OT-DE; Caiden McDonald, Sr., LB; Terrion Fleming, Jr., TE-DE; Erick Montalve, Sr., FS-WR (transferred from Hawaii); Logan Hatcher, So., L; Henry Suniga, So., L; Saito Ryder, Jr., L. Strengths — Strong and quick skills-position players. Quarterback depth. Good size, physicality and football IQ in the line. Much more cohesive; majority of players spent much time conditioning and working out in offseason. Drawbacks — Not as deep personnel-wise. Lack of a junior varsity program has brought the numbers down, Joley said. Overview — Reloading and could be contending. Mauldin could be the QB triggerman that Joley likes to have running the Red Devils’ various offensive looks. Chemistry could be a difference-maker this season. If all the dominos fall in the right places, Kinnick could be a contender for its first D-I title in eight years. 2026 season schedule Friday, Aug. 28 Kubasaki at Kinnick Friday, Sept. 11 Kinnick at American School In Japan Friday, Sept. 25 Kadena at Kinnick Saturday, Oct. 3 Humphreys at Kinnick Friday, Oct. 9 Kinnick at Kubasaki Saturday, Oct. 24 Championship: No. 2 at No. 1, teams, site and time to be determined