Sugary Canes
By: Charlie Moon
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Gimme two chains and a big ole pimp hat – a big green one with a thick black stripe around the brim. Sounds like a garb-laden recipe for great football. I get it. We’re in a new era of youth sports. Bat-flipping and TD chains are a way of pigskin normalcy. But the Canes are king when it comes to all swag, no substance.
I really try not to be Mr. Hyperbole, but I think the Canes might be the most disappointing college football team of the last twenty years.
Consider this. From 1983 to 2003, the Hurricanes won more than 10 games, 14 times. All 5 of the Canes’ national titles were won during that same time span.
And since then?…..just one 10-plus win season.
Seeing that, I nearly spit out my iced coffee.
Their schedule slots several slippery slopes.
The Canes get ACC favorite FSU at home and don’t even have to play the #2 squad Clemson Tigers. Those playoff chances hinge heavily on the Canes opening week trip to Gainesville. They also have roadies at Cal and GA Tech.
Word around Coral Gables is the U will get back to its natural born identity, the run game. Last year, Miami ranked 10th in average yards/carry of Power 5 teams. Sweet, but the Canes want to add more sugar.
The Georgia Bulldogs have been known as “Running Back U” for a couple decades, but before that Miami was right there. Coral Gables was hot-n-heavy with studs like Alonzo Highsmith, Willis McGahee and Edgerrin James.
For all the flamboyant flamingo flying of guys like Michael Irvin and Bennie Blades, it was the rushing game that sweetened the Canes.
There’s probably more upside to the Miami RB room than any other ACC squad. 2023 leading rusher Henry Parrish left for Lane Kiffin’s Rebels, but the Canes got what I think will be one of the top ACC transfers in Oregon State’s Junior Damian Martinez.
In his first two years, he tallied 2,167 yds and 6.4 yards/carry. AJ Allen and Mark Fletcher add depth and both would probably start for many Top 20 teams.
The O-line returns most of its bulk but will be led by Indiana transfer center and 2023 All Big 10er, Zach Rivers.
Leading wideout Xavier Restepo brings back his 85 catches. The rest of the wideout room is good, but not great.
But the biggest reason Canes Nation sees sunshine is QB transfer Cam Ward from Washington State.
Most of the country may have rarely, if ever, seen Ward play. Let’s face it. If it wasn’t for Phil Knight’s checkbook, the only thing college football fans would respect out of the northwest would be the occasional bark of the Huskies, certainly not the Cougars.
But I believe Cam Ward will be THE #1 most valuable ACC transfer and a sleeper for the country’s top role. He’s got it all with his legs and his arm. Once he improved his progression reading, he became lethal. The 3-year Apple State man has thrown for over 11,500 yards with 92 TDs and 25 INTs.
Honestly, I don’t even know where to start with the Canes defense. We’re in the age of the transfer portal. But, the Canes have a possible 12 transfer starters, it would be like predicting how many flamingos will be in the next Miami Vice flick.
The biggest wildcard for Miami is HC Mario “Can’t Get Right” Christobal. I’m sure he’s a smart guy. You don’t reach that level without being smart.
But that doesn’t mean your brain won’t freeze when the lights come on. With a 3-point lead against GA Tech last year, who had no time outs, what do you do?
Obviously, you run the ball, right? Wrong! They ran it…and fumbled. GA Tech scored a few plays later. It could be forgotten, but Christobal did something similar when he was at Oregon.
In the end, I really think this is finally the year that the Canes get back to national prominence. Not saying they’re a sneaky top 4 or 5 team, but I do think they’re a sneaky shot to reach the expanded playoff.
Much weighs on Cam Ward. I think he’s a Heisman dark horse Top 5. Damian Martinez is a dark horse Doak Walker winner. It’ll come down to the defensive transfers and a coach who has a history of going brain dead.
Life In Death Valley
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
People have seen the Clemson Tigers coming back down to earth after their historic run with Head Coach Dabo Swinney the last few years. The Tigers have had at least three losses in each of the last three years.
Swinney has been extremely vocal about his opposition to the current state of college football with the transfer portal and NIL running rampant, but at the end of the day, Clemson keeps winning!
Last season, the Tigers began the 2023 season 4-4 with losses to Duke, Florida State, Miami, and NC State. It was at that point that Dabo Swinney said that if Clemson was a stock, you should buy big. Boy was he right.
The Tigers rattled off five straight victories including a victory over Kentucky in the Gator Bowl to finish 9-4. While that mark still is sub-par in Clemson, the impressive finish to 2023 cannot be overlooked.
Swinney, again, has been against the evolution of the transfer portal and had dug his heels in the sand with the lack of transfers that Clemson has brought in the last half-decade.
That being said, this year Clemson may not need a ton of new talent into South Carolina with the Tigers returning 14 starters from last year’s squad.
One of the most impactful returners for the Tigers is quarterback Cade Klubnik. Klubnik took the full reigns of the offense last year after three impressive games as a true freshman in 2022.
Last year, Klubnik threw for over 2,800 yards, but did make some critical mistakes in the first half of the season leading to the 4-4 start. That being said, Klubnik grew up in front of Tiger fans’ eyes taking control and led the team to the aforementioned five game season-ending winning streak.
The offense seems to be in a good place with Offensive Coordinator Garrett Riley and Klubnik both in year two as the “full-go” along with an upgraded receivers room and a heavily experienced offensive line.
The Tigers defense took a hit in the offseason with five NFL Draft picks and losing all four starting D-Linemen. Swinney and 3rd year Defensive Coordinator Wes Goodwin dove deep into the recruiting trail to bring in pass rushers and return two Freshman All-Americans in TJ Parker and Peter Woods.
While last year’s 9-4 mark snapped the streak of 12 consecutive seasons of 10+ wins, folks around the Tiger program believe this could just be a bump in the road and the Tigers continue to help lead the ACC.
The Tigers have won the ACC in seven of the last nine seasons, and look to continue that trend in 2024, but it will be a tough road to do so.
Clemson will have to come out of the gate swinging with the 2024 season opener coming in Atlanta for the Chic-Fil-A Kickoff against the Georgia Bulldogs. In addition to the Bulldogs in a “neutral” site game, the Tigers track to an ACC Title is a tough one.
Clemson draws NC State, Florida State, Virginia Tech on their league schedule with the matchup against the Seminoles and Hokies coming on the road.
While the schedule isn’t necessarily in favor of Clemson, I think this is a year that is manageable for the Tigers to get back into prominence in the ACC, and into the expanded College Football Playoff.
And who knows, even if the Tigers don’t take home the ACC crown, maybe a first-round playoff game finds its way to Death Valley and Memorial Stadium.
Rule Change
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As the NFL preseason wraps up, the effects of several new rules are becoming clearer, with the revamped kickoff alignment being one of the biggest talking points.
Kickoffs, which had been fading in importance, are making a strong comeback. This preseason, 78% of kickoffs have been returned, compared to just 22% during the 2023 regular season.
The league’s effort to make kickoffs a strategic play again has also led to a big drop in touchbacks, now down to 19% from 73% last year. The average starting field position after a kickoff has improved too, moving up to the 28.3-yard line, a nice jump from 23.9 yards in the 2023 preseason.
This rise in returns has led to more exciting plays, with 11 kickoffs returned for at least 40 yards, almost double the number from last year at this point.
However, some teams are still opting for the safety of touchbacks, and we’ve seen a 10% increase in kickoffs landing in the end zone between Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason.
About two-thirds of kickoffs have hit the “landing zone” between the 20-yard line and the goal line, showing that teams are trying out different approaches under the new rules. But with touchbacks now spotted at the 30-yard line, there’s some debate about whether teams will stick with this more cautious approach once the regular season kicks off.
Another interesting shift is how involved kickers have become in the action. They’re making tackles a lot more often than before.
Last season, kickers were credited with a tackle roughly once every 15 games, but this preseason, they’re averaging a tackle every four games. This shows how kickoffs are becoming more dynamic again, with some coaches even using their starters on special teams to take advantage of this renewed importance.
The new kickoff rule isn’t the only change this season. The NFL has also introduced a penalty for hip-drop tackles, which has sparked a lot of debate. Despite concerns about how it would be enforced, no flags have been thrown for it so far in the preseason. The rule is aimed at the most obvious cases, where a player drops their hips and body weight onto the runner’s legs to bring them down.
If a player stays on the ground or on their feet while using a similar technique, it’s still considered a legal tackle. The NFL seems to be taking a similar approach to how they enforce the helmet rule, with penalties likely coming after the game during reviews instead of during live play.
Besides these major changes, the NFL has also made some quieter adjustments to its replay system. Replay officials can now review two new situations: whether a passer was down by contact or out of bounds before throwing the ball, and whether the game clock expired before the snap.
These additions fit with the league’s cautious approach to expanding replay, where they focus on fixing obvious mistakes without reviewing everything.
The league has also made changes to player safety with the expanded use of Guardian Caps during training camps and preseason practices.
These foam pads, which attach to the outside of helmets, are now mandatory for more positions, except quarterbacks and specialists.
The NFL also allows players to wear helmets that offer equal or better protection than Guardian Caps during practices and games, leading to more players switching to those models. Some players are still opting to wear Guardian Caps during preseason games.
With just one week left in the preseason, we’re already seeing the impact of these new rules, especially with kickoffs.
Teams are testing out different strategies, and the 2024 season could bring a lot more special teams action, with more returns and big plays than in recent years.
But whether these trends continue into the regular season depends on how teams decide to balance the risks and rewards of the new rule changes.
I can’t wait to find out!
Tide Continue To Roll?
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, it had to eventually happen. Nobody coaches forever. Not even Nick Saban.
Yes, the GOAT of college football has cashed in his big pile of chips and moved on to the announcers booth and the beach in Florida. He leaves behind a legacy like no other.
In steps Kalen DeBoer with the biggest shoes to fill in college football history. DeBoer is a great young coach with a winning pedigree, and a hell of a lot of guts and grapefruit. That’s what it is going to take to follow Nick.
DeBoer took Washington to the final four last year and brings in a nine-year head coaching record of 104-12. He is really the best coach Alabama could have gone out and got.
The only problem is that the Bama faithful look at that and think of Bear Bryant, Nick Saban and the old Shania Twain song…………”that don’t impress me much!” Everyone in Tuscaloosa will give DeBoer the benefit of the doubt. Until he loses a game.
The good thing for DeBoer and the Crimson Tide is that through all the upheaval and portal transfers in and out, the Tide has one of the best rosters in the country. Couple that with what many say was the best recruiting class in the nation in 23-24. And don’t forget that DeBoer’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked in the top 3. The pieces are falling into place. Don’t underestimate this guy.
One of the best things for Alabama is the return of Jalen Milroe. The Tide QB came into his own later in the ‘23 season and is very very good. Don’t agree? Ask the Georgia Bulldogs.
Kalen DeBoer made Michael Penix Jr. a first-round pick last year at Washington. Jalen Milroe has the potential to be much better.
Surrounding Milroe will be a solid and huge offensive line with a lot of experience. Counting Parker Brailsford, who transferred in, the Tide return 4 starters and the TE. Tyler Booker the 6’5” 350 guard could be one of the first linemen off the board in next year’s draft.
Running back will be rock solid with Jam Miller and Justice Haynes. Watch out for the former 5-star Haynes. He could break out this year.
The wide outs are solid and will be bolstered by transfer Germie Bernard. Remember that name. All in all, this offense has greatness written all over it. We will know pretty quickly as the Tide have South Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia in 3 of the first 4 games.
Defensively the Tide have some holes to fill. Returning are Backers Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson. They form one of the best duos in the SEC and maybe the country.
Couple them with a defensive line that has experience and talent and the front 6 in DeBoers 4-2-5 could be very good. Watch out for LT Overton the transfer from Texas A&M. He’s a former 5 star and should get on the field immediately.
The secondary is led by Malachi Moore, a returning captain and ALL-SEC caliber player. Throw in 3 transfers in Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb, and DeShawn Jones and the secondary should be very good. Jackson and Sabb are potential all stars.
This group has all the talent they need. We will know how well they have jelled together in the last week of September when Carson Beck and the Georgia Bulldogs come to town.
Oh, and what do you do when you lose your kicker who was the leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 history. Well, if you’re Alabama, you go get the Lou Groza award winner from last year. Graham Nicholson was 27 of 28 on field goals and should fit in nicely. Add in 3-year starter James Burnip, a second team ALL-SEC selection with a 47.6 yd average and things are good in Tuscaloosa.
The schedule is a tough but manageable one. It sets up very well in September. A USF team that surprisingly gave Bama a tough game last year comes to Tuscaloosa on September 7.
Follow that the next week with a trip to Wisconsin that will be a true test.
Start 3-0 and the nation will have all eyes on the September 28th matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa.
It will be one the most anticipated games of the year. If that secondary plays lights out, Bama will give the Dawgs all the want and maybe more.
From there the usual culprits arise. South Carolina, Missouri, and the Iron Bowl all at home with big road games at Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma.
Beat Georgia at home and barring a collapse, the Crimson Tide will be in the 12-team party at the end of the year.
Undefeated? I don’t think so. But a one or two loss Alabama team will be very dangerous when the playoff comes around. VERY dangerous.
Plain Improvement?
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There’s an old adage in the SEC that talks about head coach expectations and the overabundance of patience granted to new coaches in their first year or so.
That leeway can be limited however when the new hire is a marquee name, and the school underperforms fan expectations in the first year and postseason.
Thus, we find Hugh Freeze in his second year at Auburn.
After taking the Head Coach position from fan-favorite Interim boss Cadillac WIlliams, many of the Plainsmen faithful were already looking sideways at the former Ole Miss coach.
Losing to New Mexico State in the final weeks of the season as well as a loss in the Music City Bowl to a thoroughly mid Maryland squad didn’t win any favors, either.
Combine that with the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban and expectations are for a vastly improved record from the 6-7 totals that were put up in his first year.
This might be the year that happens.
The Tigers offense looks to be speedy to say the least.
Fourth-year RB Jarquez Hunter looks to improve his numbers and a pair of transfer WRs, Robert Lewis (Georgia State) and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn State), should pair well with incoming true freshman WR Cam Coleman and TE Rivaldo Fairweather in his final year of eligibility.
Their only limitation could prove to be returning signal caller Payton Thorne. While the fifth-year QB looked pretty nimble running the ball last year, he didn’t have nearly the vertical game that he did while at Michigan State. He’ll need to improve on his 2023 ranking of 101st in the nation if Auburn plans to make any noise on offense.
The offensive line should give them plenty of time to cook. Tackle Percy Lewis comes to the squad from Mississippi State, and should pair well with returning Center Connor Lew. Some speculation coming into camp suggests that Tackle Dillon Wade might be better suited as a guard, but regardless they, along with 300lb+ Guard Jeremiah Wright should gel as a unit, if not in fall camp then definitely during the five-game home stand that Auburn starts the season with in 2024.
The bellwether of this year’s team may prove to be the defense.
DJ Durkin makes a lateral move in the SEC, coming into the same position he held at Texas A&M last year.
The biggest concern is the interior, where the loss to the draft of notable pass rusher Marcus Harris and 350lb DT Justin Rogers could prove to be significant, considering transfer replacements Trill Carter (Texas) and Gage Keys (Kansas) aren’t quite in their league.
The secondary gives pause as well. They’re an inexperienced squad, which is understandable considering the loss of Nehemiah Pritchett, DJ James, and Frederica Academy alum Jaylin Simpson.
True, Jerrin Thompson should be a more-than-workable starter at Safety after jumping from the Longhorns, and Keionte Scott should be as serviceable at CB as he was at Safety last year. All in all, this particular room on the team will need to grow up quickly if it wants to avoid being the weak link.
Linebackers should be the strong point of this year’s defensive squad. Don’t be surprised if Jalen McLeod doesn’t lead the league in several statistical categories, and DO be surprised if Eugene Asante doesn’t make his presence known after taking the portal from the Tarheels. He’s quick, nimble, and (as one scout praised him) “disruptive.”
All-in-all, this season could really go either way. The first five games of the season should set them up well for the tough middle stretch of @Georgia, @Mizzou, and @Kentucky.
Once the Iron Bowl concludes on November 30th, expect this squad to be either 9-3 or 5-7. Neither outcome would be surprising.
Break Outs
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We are less than one week away from start of the 2024 college football season. Let’s take a look at some of the preseason All-American players that are expected to have breakout seasons.
QB Carson Beck, Georgia: He’s the quarterback on the #1 team in the country. Last season was his first as the starter and he made it look easy. He led the SEC and ranked third nationally in passing with 3,941 yards. Star tight end Brock Bowers is in the NFL but UGA still has playmakers on the roster. He completed 72.4% of his passes with 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: He was a true sophomore in 2023 and he finished fifth nationally in rushing with 1,504 yards. He led all FBS players in yards after contact with 1,072 yards. He scored 16 TD’s (15 rushing & 1 receiving) and he averaged 5.9 yards per carry with 254 attempts.
OT Will Campbell, LSU: The 6’6, 323 lb. junior might be the first lineman drafted in the 2025 draft. He was First-Team All-SEC and SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2023. He’s started 26 straight games and he’s a great pass protector. He didn’t give up a sack last season in 491 pass attempts.
OG Tate Ratledge, Georgia: Not to be confused with original gangster, Ratledge is a right guard. The senior is 6’6, 310 lbs. and one of the leaders on the offensive line. He was named Second Team AP All-American in 2023. He is on the preseason Outland Trophy watch list and the Lombardi Award watch list.
C Parker Brailsford, Alabama: Head coach Kalen DeBoer is now the head ball coach in Tuscaloosa. He got his center to transfer with him. Brailsford was a Freshman All-American last season with the Huskies. He started 13 games at center and 2 at right guard. He was also All-Pac-12 Second Team. He had an 80.7 run-blocking grade that ranked second among Power Five centers.
OG Tyler Booker, Alabama: He was First-Team All-SEC last season as a true sophomore. He only missed the USF game last season with back spasms. Booker had 41 knockdown blocks in 2023, which led the team with an average of 3.4 per game. He’s 6’5, 325 lbs. and he’s good at pass and run blocking. The Crimson Tide should excel at running between the tackles.
DE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee: He is one of the best pass rushers in the country. He tied for the SEC lead with 10 sacks last year and fifth nationally with 38 pressures. He also had 14.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception. He’s 6’5, 243 lbs. so he looks like the prototypical defensive end. He could be the first defensive player drafted in 2025.
DT Deone Walker, Kentucky: He was Third Team All-American and First Team All-SEC in 2023. He led the Wildcats with 12.5 TFL and he had 7.5 sacks. Walker is 6’6, 348 lbs. so he eats up space in the middle of the defensive line.
LB Barrett Carter, Clemson: He’s a versatile player that has played several positions along the back seven. Carter has been described by his head coach Dabo Swinney as “one of the best pure football players I’ve had in 20 years”. He had 62 total tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks and an interception.
S Malaki Starks, Georgia: He was fourth on the team last year with 52 total tackles and he had 3 interceptions. He was a consensus All-American in 2023 and First-Team All-SEC.
Space U
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
UCF has been a stable competitive team in college football, and a team to never overlook, and that is the case again this season. UCF is projected to be at top of the BIG 12 conference but have some interesting games on the 2024 slate.
Here is a look at my game-by-game predictions for the 2024 Central Florida Knights:
August 29 New Hampshire Wildcats
September 7 Sam Houston Bearkats
2 Cupcake UCF Wins
September 14 at TCU Horned Frogs: We expect the TCU Horned Frogs to be better on offense than they were a season ago. Never easy to go into Fort Worth and win. UCF defense steps up and Knights start 3-0. UCF 31 TCU 27.
September 28 Colorado Buffaloes: The Bounce House will be lit. Coach Prime will watch his Buffaloes melt in the Orlando heat. In a shoot-out, the Knights win. UCF 45 Colorado 38.
October 5 at Florida Gators: Never easy to go to Gainesville and win a game. Florida wants to be better this season, now we will see if that actually comes to fruition. The Gators grab a win. Florida 31 UCF 28.
October 12 Cincinnati Bearcats: The Knights roll and take care of Cincinnati. This is the military appreciation game at the Bounce House and the defense will come to life. UCF 28 Cincinnati 10.
October 19 at Iowa State Cyclones: Iowa State plays a defensive style game here and keeps the Knights from moving the ball too quickly. Iowa State finds a way in late October in Ames. Iowa State 24 UCF 20.
October 26 Brigham Young Cougars: The Cougars are slayed, as UCF gets another in the win column. UCF 38 BYU 17.
November 2 Arizona Wildcats: I think this could be the best game of the season. In a shootout, the Knights win at home. This is a game they really need. UCF 48 Arizona 42.
November 9 at Arizona State Sun Devils: The Knights travel to Tempe and leave with a huge win. The Knights have too much offense and they’ll overwhelm the Sun Devils. UCF 34 Arizona State 16.
November 23 at West Virginia Mountaineers: It could be cold in Morgantown just before Thanksgiving. The rushing attack is strong for the Mountaineers. The Knights run through West Virginia. UCF 24 West Virginia 13.
November 30 Utah Utes: The Utes are projected to be one of the best teams in the BIG 12. This could be game 1 of a 2-game series for a playoff berth. UCF with home field advantage takes game one. The crowd, heat, and rushing attack wear down the Utes. UCF 27 Utah 24.
UCF with 1 BIG 12 loss will be heading to the conference championship game and a game to make the College Football Playoffs.
Moving On Up
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Kennesaw State’s leap from FCS to FBS football for the new season will be a significant challenge, but the program has a solid foundation to build on.
While the transition won’t be easy, there’s reason to believe the Owls can find success fairly quickly. Jacksonville State’s smooth transition in 2023 offers a positive example, though Kennesaw State’s path might be more like Sam Houston’s.
The Bearkats struggled early after their move up, starting 0-8 before turning things around with three wins in their last four games. Kennesaw State could face similar struggles, but they have the potential to make a strong start.
The Owls have a supportive fan base, strong donor backing, and a prime location in the college football landscape. These factors should help them succeed long-term, but their immediate focus will be on how well they adapt to the bigger, faster competition in FBS.
KSU has been a powerhouse on the ground since 2015, averaging nearly 300 rushing yards per game, more than any other FBS team in Georgia. The Owls’ offense relies heavily on the zone read and RPO schemes, with the quarterback playing a crucial role in their success.
The departure of signal caller Jonathan Murphy leaves a gap at quarterback, but junior Davis Bryson is ready to step up. He’s the only quarterback on the roster with experience, having thrown a few passes last season.
While Bryson is still developing as a passer, he’s a mobile quarterback who can make plays with his legs, a key factor in Kennesaw State’s run-heavy offense. The Owls ran the ball more than twice as often as they passed in 2023, and their quarterbacks accounted for a significant portion of those rushing attempts.
The offensive line, though younger this year, will need to rise to the occasion against tougher competition.
In the backfield, senior running back Michael Benefield is expected to play a crucial role. He finished last season strong, scoring two touchdowns in each of the Owls’ final three games.
Leading receiver Gabriel Benyard, who was listed as a running back last season, is another versatile weapon for the Owls. He’s likely to be used all over the field, including in the return game, where he’s already set program records.
Virginia Tech transfer Christian Moss, a Kennesaw native, could also make a significant impact when the Owls decide to air it out.
Defensively, it’s harder to predict how Kennesaw State will perform in their first FBS season. The Owls played just nine games last season, with their wins coming against non-FBS opponents.
Junior linebacker Donelius Johnson will be a key leader after recording 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and six tackles for loss last season.
Kennesaw State also welcomes South Carolina transfer linebacker Donovan Westmoreland, the highest-rated recruit in program history. Although Westmoreland didn’t see much action at South Carolina, he has the size and speed to be an impact player for the Owls.
Special teams were a weak spot for Kennesaw State last year, particularly in the kicking game, the Owls made just 6 of 16 field goal attempts.
However, senior punter Joshua Huiet has been reliable, and Benyard is a dangerous returner who has already set records for punt and kick return yardage since joining the team in 2021.
Since its inception in 2015, Kennesaw State’s football program has quickly found success under head coach Brian Bohannon.
The team has made four FCS Playoff appearances, largely due to their powerful option running attack. The last couple of seasons have been rough, including a 3-6 run as an independent in 2022.
Now, with key players returning and some fresh talent joining the roster, the Owls have the experience, coaching, and potential to be competitive in their first FBS season.
Success might not come immediately, but Kennesaw State has the makings of a dangerous team as they adjust to the higher level of play.
If the offense can find its rhythm and the defense holds up, the Owls could surprise some people in their inaugural FBS season.
The Owls roster has several players that may be familiar to high school football fans who are also readers of The Southern Sports Edition. Senior LB Jalen Barnum played at Wayne County High School and redshirt junior kicker, Britton Williams, was a standout for Richmond Hill.
The team also includes a couple of redshirt freshman from the old GHSA Region 1-7A in OLB Qway McCoy, who played at Colquitt County and TE Ian Pederson from Camden County High School.
The 2024 schedule for the Kennesaw State Owls is:
Aug 31 at UTSA
Sept 7 vs Louisiana
Sept 14 at San Jose State
Sept 21 OPEN DATE*
Sept 28 vs UT Martin
Oct 4 vs Jacksonville State
Oct 12 OPEN DATE*
Oct 15 at Middle Tennessee
Oct 23 vs Liberty
Oct 30 at WKU
Nov 9 at UTEP
Nov 16 vs Sam Houston
Nov 23 vs FIU
Nov 30 at Louisiana Tech
*one of the open dates should become a contest with New Mexico State
New Look Panthers
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia State University was founded in 1913 and it is one of University System of Georgia’s four research universities.
They started playing football in 2010. They have had some success but their overall record is 61-106 (.365). Surprisingly they have a winning bowl record at 4-2 (.667).
Head coach Shawn Elliott abruptly retired in February 2024. He coached the Panthers from 2017-2024. They started the 2023 season 6-1 and then they lost five straight games. They did win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to finish 7-6.
GSU hired Dell McGee as their head coach in late February. The Georgia native was the running backs coach/run game coordinator at Georgia from 2016-23. He has 22 years of coaching experience, including the back-to-back national titles while he was at UGA.
“We are proud to announce Coach Dell McGee as our head football coach,” Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb said. “Coach McGee is an outstanding and authentic man with a strong passion for developing young men. His track record of competitive success at the high school and college levels makes me confident that he will lead our football program to its greatest achievements. We welcome Linda and Dell to Georgia State University!”
He is known as a good recruiter but he was hired too late in the recruiting cycle to make a difference for this season.
Roster turnover has become the norm in college football and it’s no different for Ga State. They have 48 new players this season between high school signees, transfers and walk-ons.
Quarterback Darren Grainger was the only three-year starter in GSU history. He graduated so now the Panthers have to find their new signal caller.
“That’s one of the toughest positions in football,” McGee said. “Just looking for how they respond, how they lead, who can throw, and minimize mistakes and play clean football every day.”
Redshirt freshman Braylen Ragland is the only QB that was on the roster last season. He was the No. 54 quarterback in the nation coming out of high school.
Redshirt senior Zach Gibson transferred from Georgia Tech and he’s the favorite to win the starting job. He’s from John’s Creek and played two seasons at Akron, passing for 2,471 yards and 15 touchdowns, before transferring to Tech.
In 2022 he played in six games and made three starts. One of those was an upset of No. 13 North Carolina. He did not see game action in 2023.
Former Coastal Carolina running back CJ Beasley might be the best transfer player. Last season he had just under 1,000 rushing yards.
They also return running back Freddie Brock, who got his first start in last year’s bowl game. He rushed for 276 yards on 24 carries.
The only returning All-Sun Belt player for the Panthers is corner back Gavin Pringle. He had four interceptions, including a pick-6 and four pass breakups last season.
They were the worst pass defense in the conference so the rest of the secondary has to step up.
I think Georgia State is going to have a rough season in 2024. They have a lot of new players, a new coach and a relatively tough schedule. I think they will win 4 to 5 games.
Here is their schedule:
8/31 @ Georgia Tech
9/7 vs Chattanooga
9/14 vs Vanderbilt
9/28 vs Georgia Southern
10/12 vs Old Dominion
10/17 @ Marshall
10/26 @ Appalachian State
11/1 @ UConn
11/9 @ James Madison
11/16 vs Arkansas State
11/23 @ Texas State
11/30 vs Coastal Carolina
War Path
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Mike Norvell had a busy offseason with the transfer portal. Now that Jordan Travis is in the NFL, Norvell signed DJ Uiagalelei to run the Seminoles’ offense.
Behind Uiagalelei at the helm will be former Alabama running back Roydell Williams, another portal acquisition for the Seminoles.
There has been a lot of action in Tallahassee in 2024 and the season hasn’t started yet. Here’s my game-by-game prediction of Florida State’s 2024 season .
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Aug. 24): Florida State will make the trip to Dublin, Ireland for Week 0, the Seminoles will want to make a statement. I think that Florida State will win this one easily. FSU 38 GT 10.
Boston College Eagles (Sep. 2): Florida State’s home opener will be on a Monday night against Boston College. This will be the Eagles’ first game of the season. Under the new direction of Bill O’Brien, Boston College will likely still be ironing out the details, allowing the Seminoles to cruise into a W. FSU 49 BC 17.
Memphis Tigers (Sep. 14): I think Memphis will have a successful season in the AAC. However, I do not think that the Tigers will be a match for Norvell’s veteran Seminoles. Should be another home win and a 3-game streak. FSU 42 Memphis 21.
California Golden Bears (Sep. 21): This will be Cal’s first season in the ACC. Having to travel cross-country and take on a red-hot Seminoles team might not bode well for the Golden Bears. FSU 27 Cal 10
@ SMU Mustangs (Sep. 28): SMU will be another team that Florida State will introduce to the ACC. The Mustangs are known for their high-powered offense. I think that this one will be a shootout. FSU 45 SMU 41.
Clemson Tigers (Oct. 5): Clemson will be Florida State’s first true test of the season. The Tiger’s are looking to reclaim their dominance in the ACC. Home field advantage will propel the Noles. FSU 30 Clemson 24.
@ Duke Blue Devils (Oct. 18): Duke has spent the last few seasons establishing itself as more than just a basketball school. With that being said, I do not believe Duke will be a match for this year’s Seminoles in Football. FSU 35 Duke 20.
@ Miami Hurricanes (Oct. 26): This will be a road game for FSU, but playing in an NFL stadium that the Hurricanes fail to fill up is not daunting. Florida State should take this one and make it four in a row against an in-state rival. FSU 30 Miami 17.
North Carolina Tar Heels (Nov. 2): Playing this one at Doak Campbell will be a large advantage for the Seminoles, who I think will take this one by a decent margin due to the difference in talent and firepower in the Seminole’s offense. FSU 35 UNC 13.
@ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Nov. 9): The Fighting Irish are a talented team, and I think playing in South Bend will make this one even harder. I fear that Florida State will keep this one close, but fall at the end. ND 31 FSU 21.
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (Nov. 23): FSU 49 CSU 6.
Florida Gators (Nov. 30): I expect FSU to show out against The Gators. Previous matchups mean nothing in a rivalry game, but I think that the Seminoles make it three in a row in this one. FSU 31 UF 17.
With a healthy roster and no major emergencies for the program, The Seminole should have consistent success and earn themselves a trip to the College Football Playoff.
