North Texas Mean Green 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: UNT Athletics)

Key Players Returning:

WR Dalton Carnes, WR Miles Coleman, OG Johnny Dickson III, OT Braydon Nelson, OT Desmond Magiya, DE Breylon DT Fatafehi Vailea II, LB Ethan Wesloski, CB Brian Nelson II, SS Evan Jackson, PK Kali Nguma, and PT Sawyer Evans.

Key Players Departing:

QB Chandler Morris, RB Shane Porter, WR Blair Conwright, WR/RS DT Sheffield, WR Damone Ward, TE Oscar Hammond, OC Jett Duncan, OG Leke Asenuga, OT Landon Peterson, NT Roderick Brown, LB Chavez Brown, LB Jordan Brown, LB Jaylen Smith, LB Shane Whitter, CB Ridge Texada, FS Jayden Hill, and KR Juwuan Price.

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Top Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
WR Caleb Hawkins (Shawnee, Oklahoma), WR Tyler Brown (Aubrey, Texas), QB Chris Jimerson (Ft. Worth, Texas), DL Brayden Knox (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), DS Julian Knox (TCU transfer), TE Tre Williams III (Limestone transfer), EDGE Briceon Hayes (Sam Houston transfer), QB Reese Poffenbarger (Miami, FL transfer), LB Jaden Manning (Mansfield, Texas), and WR Terrence Lewis (Bryan, Texas).

2024 Results:

G01  @ South Alabama  W  52-38
G02  STEPHEN F. AUSTIN  W  35-20
G03  @ Texas Tech  L  21-66
G04  WYOMING  W  44-17
G05  TULSA  W  52-20
G06  @ FAU  W  41-37
G07  @ Memphis  L  44-52
G08  TULANE  L  37-45
G09  ARMY  L  3-14
G10  @ UTSA  L  27-48
G11  EAST CAROLINA  L  28-40
G12  @ Temple  W  24-17
BOWL  vs.  Texas State  L  28-30

Team Info:

2024 Overall:  6-7 (9th in AAC)

Home:  3-3
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  0-0
AAC:  3-5
Non-CUSA:  3-1

Head Coach:  Eric Morris

North Texas:  11-14
Bowls:  0-1
Career:  35-32

(Photo Credit: On3)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Drew Mestemaker (30-46, 462 yards, 65.2%., 10.0 avg., 2 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: 
Makenzie McGill (78 car., 470 yards, 6.0 avg., 10 TD)
Receiving: 
Miles Coleman (36 rec., 378 yards, 10.5 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Makenzie McGill (10)
Sacks: 
Breylon Charles (4.5)
Tackles: 
Evan Jackson (59)
Interceptions: 
Brian Nelson II (4)
Pass Deflections: 
Taylor Starling (4)
Tackles For Loss: 
Breylon Charles (6)
Forced Fumbles:  BJ Allen Jr./Fatafehi Vailea II (RS SR)
Kick Returns:  Miles Coleman (8 ret., 172 yards, 21.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
None
Kicking: 
Kali Nguma (11-16 fg/fga., 69% avg., 55-55 xp/xpa., 88 pts.)
Punting:  Sawyer Evans (47 punts, 1928 yards, 41.0 avg., 8 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  7  Reese Poffenbarger  (RS SR/TR)
RB:  2  Shaadie Clayton-Johnson  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  22  Landon Sides  (JR)
WR:  3  Simeon Evans  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  10  Wyatt Young  (SO)
WR:  1  Miles Coleman  (SO)
LT:  72  Jimto Obidegwu  (RS SR/TR)
LG:  54  Johnny Dickson III  (RS JR/TR)
OC:  65  Gabe Blair  (RS SR)
RG:  71  Ugonna Nnanna  (RS SR/TR)
RT:  67  Braydon Nelson  (SO)
KR:  1  Miles Coleman  (SO)
PK:  40  Kali Nguma  (RS SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  95  Breylon Charles  (SR/TR)
NT:  88  Richard Outland Jr.  (RS SR/TR)
DT:  15  Fatafehi Vailea II  (RS SR)
DE:  44  Briceon Hayes  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  6  Trey Fields  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  32  Ethan Wesloski  (RS JR)
NB:  0  Will Jones II  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  1  David Fisher  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  4  Brian Nelson II  (RS SO)
FS:  3  Evan Jackson  (JR)
SS:  14  DJ Warnell JR.  (RS SR/TR)
PR:  1  Miles Coleman  (SO)
PT:  41  Sawyer Evans  (SR/TR)

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Team Grades:

Offense

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

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams:

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

Schedule:

08/30
  LAMAR CARADINALS  |  North Texas won (59-14) the only prior meeting in 2017.

09/06 
@ Western Michigan Broncos  |  First meeting.

09/13  WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS  |  First meeting.

09/20  @ Army Black Knights  |  North Texas trails the series 2-6.  The Mean Green lost (3-14) last season’s meeting, and their last series win (52-49) was at the prior meeting in 2017.

09/27  SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS  |  North Texas leads the series 2-0.  The Mean Green won (52-38) last season’s meeting, and they won (24-14) the inaugural meeting in 2012.

10/10  USF BULLS  |  North Texas trails the series 0-2.  The Mean Green lost (17-24) the last meeting in 2002, and they lost (10-28) the inaugural meeting in 2001.

10/18  UTSA ROADRUNNERS  |  North Texas trails the series 5-8.  The Mean Green are 5-6 since 2015, and their last series win (45-23) was in 2021.

10/24  @ Charlotte 49ers  |  North Texas trails the series 0-2.  The Mean Green lost (21-49) the last meeting in 2020, and they lost (38-39) the inaugural meeting in 2019.

11/01  NAVY MIDSHIPMEN  |  North Texas trails the series 0-2.  The Mean Green lost (24-27) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (62-74) the inaugural meeting in 2007.

11/15  @ UAB Blazers  |  North Texas trails the series 2-6.  The Mean Green are 2-4 since 2017, and they won (45-42) the last meeting between schools in 2023.

11/22  @ Rice Owls  |  North Texas leads the series 8-5.  The Mean Green are 6-2 since 2015, and they won (21-17) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

11/28  TEMPLE OWLS  |  North Texas leads the series 2-0.  The Mean Green won (24-17) last season’s meeting, and they won (45-14) the inaugural meeting in 2023.

Predictions:

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

Overall:  8-4 (3rd in AAC – Bowl Eligible)