(RB Michael Benefield – Marietta Daily Journal)
Key Players Returning:
RB Michael Benefield, WR Blake Bohannon, TE Carson Kent, OT Seaburn Hines, DE Jordan Miles, DT Adam Watkins, LB Jalen Barnum, LB Baron Hopson, LB Donelius Johnson, CB JeRico Washington Jr., CB Jayven Williams, NB Sidney Porter, and PT Joshua Huiet.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jonathan Murphy, OC William Nana-Fabu, OG Trenton Jackson, OG Terrell Paxton, OT Jake Lassiter, DE Joshua Agbenou, DE Charles Remy, CB Markeith Montgomery, FS Deontre Morris (Georgia Southern transfer), KR/PR Isaac Foster, and PK Conor Cummins.
(LB Donovan Westmoreland – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: OG Kalari Gordon (Montgomery, Alabama), CB Javon Rogers (Montevallo, Alabama), LB Donovan Westmoreland (South Carolina transfer), OL Jarvis Adams (Rome, Georgia), CB Devin Ross (Thomasville, Georgia), ATH Jaxon Colvin (Geraldine, Alabama), CB Christopher Townsel (USF transfer), WR Jaden Robinson (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida), OL Dodge Sauser (Ft. Dodge, Iowa), and DL Jaiden Grimes (Marietta, Georgia).
2023 Results:
G01 TUSCULUM W 38-7
G02 @ Chattanooga L 27-29
G03 FURMAN L 28-31
G04 @ Tennessee Tech L 7-17
G05 @ Charleston Southern L 10-13
G06 TENNESSEE STATE L 20-27
G07 LINCOLN (CA) W 28-12
G08 @ Sam Houston L 21-24
G09 VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG W 63-3
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 3-6 (3rd in CUSA)
Home: 3-2
Away: 0-4
Neutral: 0-0
IAA: 0-0
Non-CUSA: 3-6
Head Coach: Brian Bohannon
Kennesaw State: 71-30
Career: 71-30
Playoffs: 5-4
(QB Davis Bryson – MJDonline.com/Anthony Stalcup)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Davis Bryson (2-11, 53 yards, 18.8%, 4.8 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Michael Benefield (87 car., 546 yards, 6.3 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving: Gabriel Benyard (14 rec., 333 yards, 23.8 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Michael Benefield (4)
Sacks: Adam Watkins (3)
Tackles: Donelius Johnson Jr. (40)
Interceptions: JeRico Johnson Jr. (3)
Pass Deflections: Jalen Barnum/Jayven Williams (3)
Tackles For Loss: Donelius Johnson (6)
Forced Fumbles: Donelius Johnson (2)
Kick Returns: Gabriel Benyard (2 ret., 41 yards, 20.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Gabriel Benyard (3 ret., 132 yards, 24.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Jacob Ulrich (1-3 fg/fga., 33.3%, 1-1 xp/xpa., 4 pts.)
Punting: Joshua Huiet (36 punts, 1545 yards, 42.9 avg., 11 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Davis Bryson (RS SO)
RB: 0 Michael Benefield (RS SR/TR)
WR: 5 Blake Bohannon (RS JR)
WR: 6 Christian Moss (RS JR/TR)
WR: 1 Gabriel Benyard (RS JR)
TE: 86 Carson Kent (RS SO)
LT: 71 Nate Wright (SR SO)
LG: 65 JT Pennington (RS JR/TR)
OC: 66 Zacchaeus Williams (RS JR/TR)
RG: 55 Seaburn Hines (RS JR)
RT: 73 Jacob Kettels (GR/TR)
KR: 1 Gabriel Benyard (SR)
PK: 96 Britton Williams (RS JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Jordan Miles (SR)
DT: 92 Tyler Scott (RS JR)
NT: 50 Tylon Dunlap (RS SR/TR)
DE: 96 Donovan Westmoreland (RS SO/TR)
LB: 48 Donelius Johnson (JR)
LB: 14 Jalen Barnum (SR)
CB: 20 Tyler Hallum (RS JR/TR)
CB: 21 JeRico Washington Jr. (RS FR)
FS: 34 Chris Townsel (RS SR/TR)
RS: 11 Sidney Porter (RS JR/TR)
SS: 23 Isaac Paul (RS FR)
PR: 1 Gabriel Benyard (SR)
PT: 91 Joshua Huiet (SR)
(TE Carson Kent – MDJonline.com/Anthony Stalcup)
Team Grades
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ UTSA Roadrunners | First meeting between schools.
09/07 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | First Meeting between schools.
09/14 @ San Jose State Spartans | First Meeting between schools.
09/28 UT-MARTIN SKYHAWKS | Kennesaw State won (44-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 2022.
10/04 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | Kennesaw State leads the series 3-1. The Owls lost (28-35) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/15 @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | First meeting between schools.
10/23 LIBERTY FLAMES | Kennesaw State trails the series 1-2. The Owls won (42-28) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/30 @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | First meeting between schools.
11/09 @ UTEP Miners | First meeting between schools.
11/16 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | Kennesaw State trails the series 0-2. The Owls lost (21-24) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (27-34) the inaugural meeting in 2017.
11/23 FIU PANTHERS | First meeting between schools.
11/30 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 5-3
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (3rd in CUSA)
gridironpredictions.net 