Caleb Kilbride proving to be touchdown target for DWU offense

MITCHELL — A year ago, Caleb Kilbride was waiting for his opportunity. Now, the Dakota Wesleyan University junior wide receiver is making the most of it. After spending much of last season behind standout first-team all-conference receiver Cole Holden, Kilbride has stepped into a much larger role in the Tigers' offense and wasted little time showing he is ready for it. Through two games of the 2026 season, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver from Dayton, Wyoming, has seven receptions for 129 yards and four touchdowns, putting him among the Great Plains Athletic Conference leaders in receiving touchdowns in a four-way tie. More importantly for DWU, Kilbride has emerged as one of the most reliable weapons in a passing attack that has helped the Tigers open conference play with a victory over the weekend. Dakota Wesleyan's Caleb Kilbride (13) points to the sky after scoring a receiving touchdown against Doane during an NAIA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell. In Saturday's 34-21 win over Doane on Sept. 5 at Joe Quintal Field, Kilbride caught three passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for the Tigers' first two offensive scores of the home conference opener. It marked the second consecutive game in which Kilbride had at least 60 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. He opened the season with four receptions for 69 yards and two scores in a 35-27 loss to rival Dakota State in Madison. The production represents a significant jump for a player who was largely in a supporting role a year ago. 'Cole Holden was an all-conference guy and he was a stud, so I learned a lot from him,' said Kilbride of the importance of playing behind Holden the last two seasons. 'I kind of got to back him up, go in when he needed me to, and so I think that prepared me a lot for starting this season the way I have.' Kilbride appeared in eight games for the Tigers last season, finishing with 28 catches for 418 yards and four touchdowns. His biggest performance came late in the season against Mount Marty, when he hauled in enough passes for 105 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown. That experience, combined with the lessons he learned from Holden, has helped prepare Kilbride for the increased responsibility that came with Holden's departure. DWU coach Alex Kretzschmar said the Tigers saw the potential in Kilbride almost immediately. 'When he got here as a freshman, we knew we had something special with Caleb,' Kretzschmar said. 'Ultimately, when you have the talent and you have the physical ability, it takes a little bit from the mental side. He was always right there with the mental side. He played a little bit as a freshman, and continued to get better and better. He still has a lot of room to grow, but he's been playing awesome.' Kilbride's growth has also been aided by his chemistry with junior quarterback Jed Jenson. The two have known each other since Kilbride's freshman season, when Jenson was a backup quarterback and the pair were able to get extra repetitions together. Their connection has continued to develop on the field, and their relationship has grown away from football, as well. 'With Jed being a backup quarterback my freshman year, we were able to have a lot of reps together, and then last year I was catching the ball from him in games and we have been able to build a really strong connection,' Kilbride said. 'I think that has really helped me have the start I have had, too. And then off the field, we are in a Bible study together. Being able to have that off-field connection definitely builds a deeper connection on the field.' That connection has become increasingly important as DWU has found more balance offensively. The Tigers' rushing attack has produced at least 130 yards in each of the first two games, totaling 278 yards through the opening two contests. That is already a substantial improvement from last season, when DWU rushed for 655 yards over 11 games. For Kilbride, the improvement up front has made life easier for the entire passing game. 'Our offensive line has been playing great and getting pushes, which has allowed us to have a much better run game than we have had the past couple of years,' Kilbride said. 'That has really opened up the passing game for me and our other receivers.' Dakota Wesleyan receiver Caleb Kilbride (81) hauls in a touchdown pass in front of Waldorf defensive back Antonio Jimenez (24) during an NAIA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Joe Quintal Field. The added balance has created more opportunities for Kilbride to find open space, while his ability to make plays when the ball comes his way has given the Tigers another dimension in the passing game. DWU running back Landon Iverson has seen Kilbride's impact from both sides of the offense. 'Caleb is an all-around guy,' Iverson said of his standout wide receiver. 'He can block. He can catch. He can really do everything. He's a tough and versatile player, and he has had a heck of a start for us.' Kilbride's football responsibilities are only part of his athletic schedule at Dakota Wesleyan. He also competes for the Tigers' men's basketball team as a wing player. Although he has yet to see game action during his first two seasons, Kilbride is preparing to begin his third basketball campaign once the winter season arrives. For now, however, his attention remains squarely on football and building on a start that has given both him and the Tigers confidence. The Tigers (1-1, 1-0 GPAC) will travel to Forest City, Iowa, for their first conference road game of the season, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. After waiting his turn and learning behind one of the conference's best receivers, Kilbride has become a focal point of the Tigers' offense. And through two games, he has shown why DWU has trusted him with the opportunity. 'These first two games have really brought a lot of confidence for myself,' Kilbride said. 'We still have a lot of mistakes to fix, but these first two games have been encouraging to see and we just have to keep finding ways to win.'