Charlotte 49ers 2024 Preview and Predictions

(WR Jairus Mack – IMAGO)

Key Players Returning:

RB Terron Kellman, RB Hahsaun Wilson, WR Jairus Mack, WR Duane Thomas Jr., TE Colin Weber, OC Jonny King, DE Demon Clowney, DT Dez Morgan, LB Prince Bemah, LB Stone Handy, CB Dontae Balfour, KR/PR Henry Rutledge, and PK Kyle Cunanan.

Key Players Departing:

QB Jalon Jones, WR Jack Hestera (Utah State transfer), OG Jordan Daniels, OG Ja’Khi Green (Connecticut transfer), OT Jasper Parks, OT Kevin Williams, DE Eyabi Okie-Anoma, DT Austin Fontaine, DT Jalar Holley, LB Nikhai HIll-Green (Colorado transfer), DT Miguel Jackson (Utah State transfer), LB Demetrius Knight II (South Carolina transfer), CB Dontez Fagan (West Virginia transfer), DS Wayne Jones, FS Isaiah Hazel, SS Kameron Howard (Alabama transfer), and PT Grant Gonya.

(OT Cam’Ron Warren – Rivals)

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
OT Cam’Ron Warren (Chesapeake, Virginia), RB CJ Stokes (Michigan transfer), RB Cartevious Norton (Iowa State transfer), QB Max Brown (Florida transfer), ATH Evan Austin (Ijamsville, Maryland), ATH De’Gabriel Floyd (Monterey Park, California), CB Adam Hopkins (Colorado transfer), OT Mitchell Mayes (Clemson transfer), RB Rod Gainey Jr. (Tampa, Florida), and RB Tre McLeod (Wyncote, Pennsylvania).

2023 Results:

G01  SC STATE  W  24-3
G02  @ Maryland  L  20-38
G03  GEORGIA STATE  L  25-41
G04  @ #25 Florida  L  7-22
G05  @ SMU  L  16-34
G06  NAVY  L  0-14
G07  @ East Carolina  W  10-7
G08  FLORIDA ATLANTIC  L  16-38
G09  @ Tulsa  W (OT)  33-26
G10  MEMPHIS  L (OT)  38-44
G11  RICE  L  7-28
G12  @ South Florida  L  14-48

Team Info:

2023 Overall:  3-9 (11th in CUSA)

Home:  1-5
Away:  2-4
Neutral:  0-0
CUSA:  2-6
Non-CUSA:  1-3

Head Coach:  Biff Poggi

Charlotte:  3-9
FBS Career:  3-9
FBS Bowls:  0-0

(WR Duane Thomas Jr. – Charlotte Athletics)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Trexler Ivey (112-203, 1263 yards, 55.2%, 6.2 avg., 4 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: 
Terron Kellman (82 car., 328 yards, 4.0 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: 
Colin Weber (34 rec., 362 yards, 10.6 avg., 0 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Trexler Ivey/Hashaun Wilson (3)
Sacks: 
Demon Clowney (2.5)
Tackles:  Dontae Balfour (54)
Tackles For Loss:  Stone Handy (5.5)
Interceptions:  CJ Burton (2)
Pass Deflections: 
Dontae Balfour (11)
Forced Fumbles: 
Dontae Balfour (2)
Kick Returns: 
Henry Rutledge (20 ret., 467 yards, 23.4 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Henry Rutledge (12 ret., 143 yards, 11.9 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: 
Kyle Cunanan (9-15 fg/fga., 60%, 16-16 xp/xpa., 43 pts.)
Punting: 
None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  1  Max Brown  (RS SO/TR)
RB:  8  Cartevious Norton  (JR/TR)
WR:  4  Justin Olson  (GR/TR)
WR:  0 O’Mega Blake (RS JR/TR)
WR:  10 Duan Thomas (SO)
TE:  81  Jake Clemons  (RS SR)
LT:  0 Jonny Hassard (JR/TR)
LG:  66  Jordan Moko  (RS JR/TR)
OC:  52  Jonny King  (RS SR)
RG:  77  Mitchell Mayes  (SR/TR)
RT:  74 Tyler Gibson (SO/TR)
KR:  21  Henry Rutledge  (RS JR)
PK:  94 Kyle Cunanan (SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  3  Demon Clowney  (RS SR/TR) 
DT:  71  Dre Butler  (GR/TR)
NT:  94 Jonathan Wallace (JR/TR)
DE:  0 Stephen Sings V (RS SR/TR)
LB:  0 Avery Morris (SR/TR)
LB:  25  Prince Bemah  (RS SR)
LB:  11  Stone Handy  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  4 CJ Burton (SR/TR)
CB:  1  Dontae Balfour  (RS JR/TR)
FS:  2  Treyveon McGee  (RS SR/TR)
SS:  6  Al-Ma’hi Ali  (RS JR/TR)
PR:  21  Henry Rutledge  (RS JR)
PT:  96  Michael O’Shaughnessy  (GR/TR)

(CB Dontae Balfour – Charlotte Athletics)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  B

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  B
Punt Returners:  A
Kickers:  C
Punters:  B

Schedule:

08/31 
JAMES MADISON DUKES  |  Charlotte trails the series 0-2.  The 49ers lost (40-48) the last meeting between schools in 2014, and they also lost (7-34) the inaugural meeting in 2013.

09/07  @ North Carolina Tar Heels  |  First meeting between schools.

09/14  GARDNER-WEBB RUNNING BULLDOGS  |  Charlotte leads the series 3-1.  The 49ers won (38-10) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

09/21  @ Indiana Hoosiers  |  First meeting between schools.

09/28  @ Rice Owls  |  The 49ers trails the series 2-3.  The 49ers lost (7-28) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (56-23) was in 2022.

10/05  EAST CAROLINA PIRATES  |  Last season’s 10-7 win was the first meeting between schools.

10/19  @ Navy Midshipmen  |  Last season’s 0-14 loss was the first meeting between schools.

10/26  @ Memphis Tigers  |  Last season’s 38-44 loss was the first meeting between schools.

10/31  TULANE GREEN WAVE  |  First meeting between schools.

11/16  SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS  |  Last season’s 14-48 loss was the first meeting between schools.
 
11/23  @ Florida Atlantic Owls  |  Charlotte trails the series 2-7.  The 49ers lost (16-38) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (27-24) was in 2018.

11/30  UAB BLAZERS  |  Charlotte trails the series 1-2.  The 49ers lost (20-34) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

Predictions:

Home:  4-2
Away:  2-4
Neutral:  0-0
AAC:  4-4
Non-AAC:  1-3

Overall:  5-7 (8th in AAC)