By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – The Humboldt Wildcats are back on the practice field as they begin their first official week of preparation for the 2026 football season.
For Humboldt head coach Derrick Elman, who is entering his ninth season leading the Wildcats, there is plenty of motivation heading into the new season.
Humboldt missed the playoffs in 2025 for the first time since 2019 going 4-5. The Wildcats were within one score in losses to Carroll and Webster City, and Elman believes the difference in those two games could have changed the team’s postseason outlook.
“I feel like, you know, we were really close in two games. You know, we flip those two games. Shoot, we might even have a home playoff game.”
Elman says the Wildcats also felt they didn’t always respond to adversity the way they needed to last season. That has become a major emphasis for the 2026 team.
The Wildcats’ mantra this season is “Into the Storm.”
Elman says the idea came from a book he read during the winter. He says the American bison provides the inspiration behind the phrase, as the animal faces a storm rather than trying to run away from it.
For Humboldt, Elman wants that mentality to apply whenever the team encounters adversity.
“Through all adversity, the more we can learn to put our face into that adversity, face everything head on, the better we’re going to be.”
That mentality comes into the season after a productive summer for the Wildcats.
Humboldt held a three-day camp last week before beginning official practice Monday. Elman says the team has put in significant work in the weight room under Strength Coach Jacob Lewis, with summer attendance among the best the program has seen.
“This group’s worked extremely hard for Coach Lewis in the weight room. We had a great summer. Attendance was probably as good as it’s ever been, if not better.”
Elman says the Wildcats also saw improvement in conditioning times as the players competed throughout the summer.
The team is now turning its attention to developing that work into on-field performance.
Humboldt has 12 seniors on this year’s roster, and Elman says he has enjoyed watching them transition into leadership roles.
“They’re all kids who’ve worked really, really hard, shown up to things and put their time in. And it’s, you know, they’re ready for their opportunity to lead.”
One of those seniors has already been given a specific leadership responsibility. Griffin Groat has been selected as Humboldt’s first permanent team captain.
Elman says Groat has established himself as a vocal leader who is willing to communicate with teammates on offense, defense and special teams.
“He’s just an emotional leader, mental leader. He talks all the time to these guys. He’s telling kids what to do, whether it’s offense, defense, special teams.”
Elman says Groat understands his role and is doing what he can to help the Wildcats succeed.
The leadership of the senior class will be especially important as Humboldt looks to get back into the postseason following last year’s absence.
The Wildcats spent three days at camp last week before beginning official practice Monday.
Elman says the large number of players initially made the first day of camp a little slower, with more than 80 high school players and approximately 50 middle school players participating. By Thursday and Friday, however, he felt the team became more focused.
Humboldt’s first week of official practice includes roughly two and a half hours on the field, along with additional time for chalk talk and breaks for hydration and food.
After the first four days of work, Elman says he has enjoyed what he has seen.
“These first four days with this group of guys has been a ton of fun.”
The Wildcats will continue practicing throughout the week as they prepare for the start of the 2026 season.
For a Humboldt program that had reached the playoffs every season from 2020 through 2024, the goal is clear: face whatever comes their way, embrace the adversity and find a way back to the postseason.