BURNSVILLE, MN – Stellar seniors Mason Phillips and Luke Bodine are the University of Mary's 2025 Defensive and Offensive Players to Watch in the Northern Sun.  
 
Phillps earned All-Northern Sun second team honors at linebacker last season. One of the league's top defensive disrupters, the Gilbert, AZ, native had 5.5 sacks and posted career-highs for tackles for loss (10.0) and tackles (54 total with 30 unassisted). Phillips, who had four games last season in which he recorded 2.0 tackles for loss, finished the 2024 regular season 6^th in the NSIC in tackles for loss and 8^th in sacks. In his three seasons Phillips owns 14.0 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. He has cracked the top-15 all-time at UMary in tackles for loss and is closing in on 12^th place in sacks (16).
 
"Mason Phillips is a guy that has played a lot of football in our program," said Marauders Head Football Coach Shann Schillinger. "He is a very bright football player who plays extremely hard. Mason is asked to do a lot of different things for the team, and he always takes great in pride in what he's asked to do. He has had a lot of production in his career, and we expect that to be the same this season. I've sure enjoyed coaching Mason and I'm looking forward to him having a big senior year."
 
Entering his fifth season at UMary, Bodine leads all returning Marauders in games played, suiting up in 34 games for the Blue & Orange. Last season the tight end from Plymouth, MN, caught 34 passes for 281 yards and a score, posting career-highs for receptions and yards. Over the course of his career Bodine has snared 83 balls for 778 yards and five scores.
 
"We are expecting big things from Luke Bodine going into his last season," said Schillinger. "When he has been healthy he has been a very productive player for us. He's had a good offseason and summer and I think that will show this season. Luke's got the right attitude to do what it takes and I'm looking forward to spending one last season with him."
 
The Marauders, who will open fall ball practices on Wednesday with 105 scholar-athletes, kick off the 2025 season in a week 0 non-conference home game against Midland University. This will be the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools.
 
"Like all teams in the country, our guys have worked extremely hard this offseason and we are excited to watch our team grow each and every week," said Schillinger. "I really enjoy our kids and our staff; they are fun to go to battle with each week. We feel we have added some key pieces at some very important positions that we think will help us in this very challenging league. The guys are excited and it should be a fun year!"

UMary is picked to finish 12^th overall in the 2025 NSIC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll and 6^th in the NSIC North Division. Minnesota State sits atop the overall preseason rankings, followed by Augustana, Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State, Sioux Falls, Wayne State, MSU Moorhead, Northern State, Winona State, Minot State, Concordia-St. Paul, UMary, Southwest Minnesota State and Jamestown.
 
The NSIC North rankings feature Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth tied for first, followed by MSU Moorhead, Northern State, Minot State, UMary and Jamestown.   
 
The opening week of practices for the Marauders on August 6-8 run 8:45 am to 11 am at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. The Saturday, August 9, practice will be held on the University of Mary campus from 8:45-11 am. Marauders morning practices are open to the public.
 
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