(Photo Credit: Michael Woods/AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
NT CJ West, LB Khalib Johns, LB CJ Harris, LB Khali Saunders, CB DJ Miller, FS Alex Branch, PK Andrew Glass and PT Josh Smith.
Key Players Departing:
QB Colin Schlee, RB Marquez Cooper, WR Dante Cephas, WR/KR Ja’Shaun Poke,, WR Devontez Walker, OC Sam Allen, OG Jack Bailey, OG Elijah Ratliff, OT Marcellus Marshall, DE Saivon Taylor-Davis, DE Kesean Gamble, DE Zayin West, LB Marvin Pierre, CB Montre Miller, DS Nico Bolden, DS Jo Jo Evans, DS Antwaine Richardson and PR Raymond James.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DS Dallas Craddeth (Iowa transfer), RB Ky Thomas (Kansas transfer), DE Matthheus Carroll (Virginia Tech transfer), WR Jared Kelley (North Olmstead, Ohio), CB Lem Watley-Neely (Indiana transfer), QB Dru DeShields (Beloit, Ohio), LB Devin Nicholson (Missouri transfer), QB Jaren Lewis (Kansas State transfer), OL Chris Farrell (Lisie, Illinois) and OT Jimto Obidegwu (Temple transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 @ Washington L 20-45
G02 @ #7 Oklahoma L 3-33
G03 LONG ISLAND U W 63-10
G04 @ #1 Georgia L 22-39
G05 OHIO W | OT 31-24
G06 @ Miami, OH L 24-27
G07 @ Toledo L 31-52
G08 AKRON W 33-27
G09 BALL STATE L 20-27
G10 @ Bowling Green W 40-6
G11 EASTERN MICHIGAN L 24-31
G12 @ Buffalo W | OT 30-27
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 5-7 (5th in MAC East)
Home: 3-2
Away: 2-5
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 4-4
Non-MAC: 1-3
Head Coach: Kenni Burns
Kent State: 0-0
Career: 0-0
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Tommy Ulatowski (6-11, 102 yards, 54.5%, 9.3 avg., 1 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Gavin Garcia (35 car., 211 yards, 6.0 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Trell Harris (13 rec., 136 yards, 10.5 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Gavin Garcia/Trell Harris (1)
Sacks: Khalib Johns (4)
Tackles: DJ Miller Jr. (63)
Interceptions: Khalil Saunders (1)
Pass Deflections: DJ Miller Jr. (4)
Tackles For Loss: Khalib Johns (7)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returns: Gavin Garcia (4 ret., 74 yards, 18.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Luke Floriea (4 ret., 26 yards, 6.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Andrew Glass (17-26 fg/fga., 65%, 31-31 xp/xpa., 82 pts.)
Punting: Josh Smith (43 punts, 1737 yards, 40.4 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 18 Michael Alaimo (RS JR/TR)
RB: 21 Gavin Garcia (RS FR)
WR: 25 Treymon Echols (JR/TR)
WR: 35 Jack Coulson (GR/TR)
WR: 00 Luke Floriea (SR)
TE: 85 Justin Holmes (SO)
LT: 73 Jimto Obidegwu (RS SO/TR)
LG: 73 Dustyn Morell (RS FR)
OC: 75 Amdrew Page (FR)
RG: 54 Nolan Rumler (RS SR/TR)
RT: 77 Cameron Golden (RS SR/TR)
KR: 22 Chrishon McCray (RS FR)
PK: 60 Andrew Glass (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 6 Stephen Daley (RS FR)
NT: 5 CJ West (SR)
DT: 14 Oliver Billotte (RS FR)
DE: 17 Mattheus Carroll (RS SO/TR)
LB: 33 Devin Nicholson (GR/TR)
LB: 8 Khalib Johns (GR/TR)
LB: 37 CJ Harris (GR/TR)
CB: 3 DJ Miller Jr. (GR/TR)
CB: 12 Capone Blue (GR)
FS: 27 Bryce Sheppert (GR/TR)
SS: 29 Jalani Williams (RS SR/TR)
PR: 00 Luke Floriea (SR)
PT: 96 Josh Smith (JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returns: C
Punt Returns: C
Kicking: B
Punting: C
Schedule:
08/31 @ UCF Knights | The series is tied 2-2. The Golden Flashes won (41-24) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
09/09 @ Arkansas Razorbacks | First meeting between schools.
09/16 CENTRAL CONNECTIUCT BLUE DEVILS | First meeting between schools.
09/23 @ Fresno State Bulldogs | First meeting between schools.
09/30 MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS | Kent State trails the series 18-51. The Golden Flashes are 4-5 since 2013 and their last series win (48-47 OT) was in 2021.
10/07 @ Ohio Bobcats | Kent State trails the series 28-44-2. The Golden Flashes are 3-6 since 2013 and their last series loss (38-45) was in 2019.
10/14 @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | Kent State leads the series 19-15. The Golden Flashes are 2-2 since restarting the series in 2018 and their last series win (27-23) was in 2020.
10/21 BUFFALO BULLS | The series is tied 14-14. The Golden Flashes are 4-5 since 2013 and their last series loss (41-70) was in 2020.
11/01 @ Akron Zips | Kent State trails the series 28-35-2. The Golden Flashes are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series loss (23-24 OT) was in 2018.
11/08 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Kent State trails the series 24-60-6. The Golden Flashes are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series loss (16-44) was in 2017.
11/18 @ Ball State Cardinals | Kent State trails the series 8-22. The Golden Flashes are 1-3 since 2013 and their series win (41-38) was in 2019.
11/25 NIU HUSKIES | Kent State trails the series 8-22. The Golden Flashes are 1-6 since 2013 and their last series win (52-47) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 1-4
Away: 0-7
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 0-8
Non-MAC: 1-3
Overall: 1-11 (6th in MAC East)
gridironpredictions.net 