The Vegas Knight Hawks will kick off their 2024 campaign on Sunday, March 24 at 3 p.m. PT against the Arizona Rattlers. They are traveling to Glendale to play spoiler to the Rattlers' first game in their new arena. This will be the third season of IFL action for the Knight Hawks. 
 
After going 6-10 and 5-10 in their first and second seasons, respectively, Head Coach and GM Mike Davis is setting a high bar for this season's success.
 
"If you're not looking at a championship, you're not doing your job. First and foremost, we need to win our home games, we need to be undefeated at home and if we do that, then that puts us in a good spot to get into the playoffs."
 
Ultimately, on-field success will come down to how the roster has been constructed and choosing the right coaches to guide the team. These two areas have seen their share of changes leading up to this season. Coach Davis has added experience and a wealth of knowledge to his staff by bringing in coaches Hurtis Chinn and Xzavie Jackson. 
 
Chinn has been given the duty of running the offense, a task with which he is plenty familiar. Chinn was the Head Coach of the Tucson Sugar Skulls in 2023 and was named IFL Coach of the Year. He has also held the title of Offensive Coordinator and various positional coaches for other IFL teams.
 
Xzavie Jackson, an IFL Hall of Fame defensive end, will be the Defensive Coordinator as well as the Defensive Line Coach. There are few individuals better suited for this role, as he brings IFL and NFL experience along with holding the IFL record for career sacks with 81.5. 
 
Both men have resumes that speak for themselves, however, Coach Mike need not look beyond his own coaching career to see how much value they bring.
 
"Coach Chinn and Coach Jackson, they both played for me before (on the Nebraska Danger) and both coached with me before I went to Canada," said Davis.
 
They will be joining returning coaches: Assistant Head Coach and O-Line Coach Kyle Moore-Brown, Linebacker Coach Rick Espejo, and QB coach Mark Bly.
 
There are seven returning players to the 2024 roster, meaning that there are a lot of new faces and the competition for starting jobs has been fierce. Quarterback Joe Mancuso will once again suit up for the Knight Hawks, but he has competition with new additions Ja'Rome Johnson and Jorge Reyna.
 
"It's a dogfight (for QB1) it really is, probably going to go down to the eleventh hour, which is good for us. We needed solid quarterback play," said Davis. "We recruited three good guys, and we told them it would be open competition and it has been and they're duking it out right now."
 
Several new players on the offense are giving Knight Hawks' fans reason to get very excited this season, including a big addition to the running attack in Antonio Wimbush. Wimbush racked up 478 yards on the ground and tallied 21 touchdowns for the Iowa Barnstormers in 2023.
 
"You get Antonio Wimbush, probably one of the best if not the best running back in the league to come here and help us out. Pair him with the receiving corps we have, you have to be excited about that," said Coach Davis. 
 
Other players of note include returning receivers Quentin Randolph and Caleb Holley, who had a combined 984 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns last year. Kory Woodruff and Moses Mallory will be essential parts of the Knight Hawks offensive line.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Coach Davis has brought in two Las Vegas natives: Malik Hausman and Bryce Hampton. Both defensive backs will be tasked with shutting down opposing air attacks.
 
"Malik and Bryce have been pleasant surprises, people that fans will love," said Davis.
 
The Las Vegas Valley has firmly set championship expectations for its sports teams in recent years, an expectation the Davis and his squad will seek to meet. 
 
"You can't win the championship in week one, it's a long 16-game season. We'll plug away one week at a time and get into the playoffs and go from there."
 
Fans can stream the Knight Hawks' first game of the season on YouTube, or listen on KRLV 920 AM. Join the team for Opening Knight on Sunday, March 31 at 3 p.m. PT in Henderson. Up to three kids 12 and under get in free with each adult ticket purchased, and can take part in the pregame egg hunt. Click here for more information, and to purchase tickets.