Key Players Returning:
WR/KR Michael Pettway, DE Jawaun Campbell, NT Talan Carter, FS Patrick Taylor, and PK Garrison Rippa.
Key Players Departing:
QB Tyler Huff, RB Tre Stewart, WR Cam Vaughn, OC Brock Robey, OC Daveion Harley, OG Clay Webb, OT Will O’Steen, OT Cam Jones, DE Reginald Hughes, DE J-Rock Swain, LB Laletia Hale, LB K’won McCray, LB Curley Young Jr., CB Derek Carter, CB Fred Davis II, CB Geimere Latimer, CB Jabari Mack, NB Zechariah Poyser, FS Fred Perry, SS Antonio Carter II, PR Samario Rudolph, and PT Jack Dawson.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Cam Cook (TCU transfer), DL Khurtiss Perry (Virginia Tech transfer), DS Trevor Woods (Colorado transfer), LB Mac Sanders (McDonough, Georgia), RB Lucas Ferrington (Marietta, Georgia), QB Jack Moran (Princeton, New Jersey), CB JQ Brooks (Hueytown, Alabama), OL Lance Johnson (Birmingham, Alabama), CB Tre’Quon Fegans (UCF transfer), and DL Christopher Johnson (Montgomery, Alabama).
2024 Results:
G01 COASTAL CAROLINA L 27-56
G02 @ #22 Louisville L 14-49
G03 @ Eastern Michigan L/2OT 34-37
G04 SOUHERN MISS W 44-7
G05 @ Kennesaw State W 63-24
G06 NEW MEXICO STATE W 54-13
G07 MIDDLE TENNESSEE W 42-20
G08 @ Liberty W 31-21
G09 @ Louisiana Tech W/OT 44-37
G10 FIU W 34-31
G11 SAM HOUSTON W 21-11
G12 @ Western Kentucky L 17-19
CUSA WESTERN KENTUCKY W 52-12
BOWL vs. Ohio L 27-30
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 9-5 (1st in CUSA/CUSA Champions)
Home: 6-1
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 7-1
Non-CUSA: 2-4
Head Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Jacksonville State: 18-9
Career: 190-131-2
Bowls: 6-7
(Photo Credit: The Gadsden Times)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Andrew Paul (39 car., 167 yards, 4.3 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Michael Pettway (25 rec., 454 yards, 18.2 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Andrew Paul (4)
Sacks: Jawaun Campbell (2)
Tackles: Juwaun Campbell (47)
Interceptions: Travis Franklin Jr. (1)
Pass Deflections: Jawaun Campbell (2)
Tackles For Loss: Jawaun Campbell (8)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Michael Pettway (7 ret., 146 yards, 20.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Garrison Rippa (14-19 fg/fga., 74%, 61-63 xp/xpa., 103 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 00 Cade Cunningham (RS SR/TR)
RB: 4 Cam Cook (JR/TR)
WR: 89 Brock Rechsteiner (RS SR)
WR: 00 Deondre Johnson (RS SO/TR)
WR: 2 Michael Pettway (RS SR/TR)
TE: 19 Pearson Baldwin (RS SR)
LT: 77 Reggie Jackson (RS SO)
LG: 60 Cameron Griffin (JR)
OC: 62 Cole Roberson (RS SO)
RG: 54 Amare Grayson (SO)
RT: 75 KD Small (SR/TR)
KR: 2 Michael Pettway (RS SR/TR)
PK: 37 Garrison Rippa (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 93 Jawaun Campbell (SO)
NT: 92 Talen Carter (SO)
DE: 96 Darrell Prater (RS JR)
LB: 19 Morven Joseph (SR/TR)
LB: 00 Jacob Cruz (JR/TR)
LB: 00 Myles Butler (JR/TR)
NB: 00 Tre’Quon Fegans (RS JR/TR)
CB: 00 Larry Preston (RS SR/TR)
CB: 00 Tyrin Taylor (RS SR/TR)
FS: 00 Rod Elston (RS JR/TR)
SS: 9 Patrick Taylor (RS SR/TR)
PR: 2 MIchael Pettway (RS SR/TR)
PT: 29 Cade Becke (RS SR/TR)
Team Grades
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/28 @ UCF Knights | First meeting.
09/06 LIBERTY FLAMES | Jax State leads the series 3-1. The Gamecocks won (31-21) last season’s meeting, and they lost (13-31) the prior meeting in 2023.
09/13 @ Georgia Southern Eagles | Jax State trails the series 1-5. The Gamecocks lost (3-41) the last meeting in 2002, and they lost (14-51) the prior meeting in 1999.
09/20 MURRAY STATE RACERS | Jax State leads the series 13-1. The Gamecocks won (34-3) the last meeting in 2022, and they won (28-14) the prior meeting in 2021.
09/27 @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles | Jax State trails the series 1-2. The Gamecocks won (44-7) last season’s meeting, and they lost (0-65) the prior meeting in 1946.
10/09 @ Sam Houston Bearkats | Jax State leads the series 3-2. The Gamecocks won (21-11) last season’s meeting, and they won (35-28 OT) the prior meeting in 2023.
10/15 DELAWARE BLUE HENS | Jax State lost (14-20) the only prior meeting in 2021.
10/29 @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | Jax State leads the series 2-0. The Gamecocks won (42-20) last season’s meeting, and they won (45-30) the inaugural meeting in 2023.
11/08 @ UTEP Miners | Jax State won (17-14) the only prior meeting in 2023.
11/15 KRNNESAW STATE OWLS | Jax State trails the series 2-3. The Gamecocks won (63-24) last season’s meeting, and they won (35-28 OT) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/22 @ FIU Panthers | Jax State leads the series 3-0. The Gamecocks won (34-31) last season’s meeting, and they won (41-16) the prior meeting in 2023.
11/29 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Jax State leads the series 2-1. The Gamecocks split (17-19, and 52-12) last season’s meetings, and they won (20-17) the inaugural meeting in 2023.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 3-5
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (5th in CUSA)
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