The 2022 Charlotte 49ers football team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 49ers played their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and competed in Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by fourth-year head coach Will Healy. Charlotte fired Healy after eight games; offensive line coach Peter Rossomando finished out the season.
Coaching staff
On February 14, tight ends coach Joe Cox left to take the same position at Alabama. On February 16 Healy announced the hiring of Greg Brown as co-defensive coordinator and Kap Dede as secondary coach. At the same time grad assistant Tyler Chadwick was promoted to tight ends coach. Assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Marcus West departed the program on February 24 to become the NFL's Buffalo Bills assistant defensive line coach. On March 16 Brian Baker came on board to coach defensive line. On April 7 Cordae Hankton was named running backs coach.
On October 23, following the 49ers' seventh loss of the season and loss of a chance to participate in a post-season bowl game, 4th year head coach Will Healy was relieved of his head coaching duties. Offensive line coach and former Central Connecticut head football coach Pete Rossomando was named interim head coach.
On November 15, Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi was named the 49ers' third head coach of the modern era. Rossomando finished out the season as interim head coach with a Senior Day win over Louisiana Tech.
Name Position Seasons atCharlotte Alma mater Will Healy Head coach (first 8 games) 4 Richmond (2008) Pete Rossomando Offensive line coach, interim head coach, (last 4 games) 2 Boston U. (1995) Greg Brown Defensive coordinator/secondary coach 1 UTEP (1980) Mark Carney Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach 4 Fordham (2004) Brian Baker Defensive line coach 1 Maryland (1985) Adam Braithwaite Linebackers coach 3 William and Mary (2002) Tyler Chadwick Tight ends coach 4 Coastal Carolina (2016) Kap Dede Defensive backs coach 1 Auburn (2012) Tyler Hancock Special teams coordinator 2 Kentucky Wesleyan (2012) Cordae Hankton Runningbacks coach 1 Jackson St. (2007) Perry Parks Wide receivers coach 2 Coastal (2007)Reference:
Recruiting
Recruiting class The following recruits and transfers have signed letters of intent or verbally committed to the Charlotte 49ers football program for the 2022 recruiting year.
Key transfers Player PositionPreviousHome townHigh schoolClassHeightWeightWayne JonesLinebackerNorthwesternFort Owasso, OKOwasso HSSR6'-0"208 lbsChase MonroeLinebackerWake ForestDavidson, NCDavidson DayGrad6'-2"225 lbsEugene MinterWide receiverAustin PeayBirmingham, ALParker HSR-SR6'-3"215 lbsAmir SiddiqLinebackerCentral MichiganDearborn, MIFordson HSGrad6'-3"210 lbsCade WhiteLinebackerMonroe CollegePewee Valley, KTSouth Oldham HSSO6'-2"210 lbs
Roster
Depth chart
Awards and honors Preseason Maxwell AwardChris ReynoldsQBRSRDavey O'Brien AwardChris ReynoldsQBRSRBiletnikoff AwardGrant DuBoseWRJRHornung AwardShadrick ByrdRBRSOWuerffel TrophyKendric Blake Jr.WRRJRManning AwardChris ReynoldsQBRSRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardChris ReynoldsQBRSR
In season
Manning Award Star of the Week (x2)Chris ReynoldsQBRSRDavey O'Brien Award Great 8 (x2)Chris ReynoldsQBRSRHornung Award Weekly Honor Roll (x2)Shadrick ByrdRBRSOBiletnikoff AwardElijah SpencerWRSOBurlsworth Trophy SemifinalistChris ReynoldsQBRSR
Conference USA Offensive Player of the WeekChris ReynoldsQBRSRRiceConference USA Special Teams Player of the WeekShadrick ByrdRBRSORice
Postseason
C-USA All-Academic TeamDavondre "Tank" RobinsonSGradC-USA All-Conference Second TeamGrant DuBoseWRJRC-USA All-Conference Second TeamAmir SiddiqDERSRC-USA All-Freshman TeamMaguire NealDBFRC-USA All-Freshman TeamReid WillifordLBFR
All Conference Honorable Mentions:
Offense: QB – Chris Reynolds, R-Sr. • WR – Elijah Spencer, So. • OL – Ashton Gist, Sr.
Defense: DE – Markees Watts, R-Sr. • CB – Geo Howard, R-Sr.
Special Teams: KR – Shadrick Byrd, R-So.
Schedule
Television Charlotte 49ers home games and conference road games were broadcast through Conference USA's television partners ESPN, CBS Sports, and Stadium.
Radio Radio coverage for all games was broadcast by IMG College through the Charlotte 49ers Radio Network flagship station WZGV ESPN Radio 730 AM The Game, and the TuneIn Charlotte 49ers IMG Sports Network app. The radio announcers were "Voice of the 49ers" Matt Swierad with play-by-play alongside NFL veteran Al Wallace providing color commentary and Bobby Rosinski and Walker Mehl providing sideline reports.
Preseason media poll
The preseason poll was released on July 25, 2022.
Media poll 1 UTSA 14 2 UAB 8 3 WKU 4 Florida Atlantic 5 North Texas 6 UTEP 7 Charlotte 8 Middle Tennessee 9 Louisiana Tech 10 Rice 11 FIU
Game summaries
Florida Atlantic
Sources:
Game notes:
8th game in the series since 2015, (FAU 6–2).
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 14–19, 196 yards, 2 TD Rushing Shadrick Byrd 14 rushes, 51 yards, 2 TD Receiving Grant DuBose 4 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TDFlorida Atlantic Passing N'Kosi Perry 16–22, 256 yards, 1 TD Rushing Larry McCammon 14 rushes, 118 yards, 1 TD Receiving LaJohntay Wester 4 receptions, 66 yards Statistics CHARFAU First downs 11 26 Total yards 279 482 Rushing yards 62 218 Passing yards 217 264 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 25:04 34:56
William & Mary
Sources:
Game notes:
First meeting between these two programs. Tribe head coach Mike London was 49ers' head coach Will Healy's head coach when he played for the Richmond Spiders.
Team Category Player StatisticsWilliam & Mary Passing Darius Wilson 12–18, 237 yards, 2 TD Rushing Bronson Yoder 15 rushes, 120 yards, 1 TD Receiving Lacklan Pitts 1 reception, 65 yards, 1 TDCharlotte Passing Xavier Williams 12–23, 201 yards Rushing Xavier Williams 10 rushes, 48 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Spencer 5 receptions, 107 yards
Statistics W&MCHAR First downs 25 22 Total yards 559 379 Rushing yards 303 131 Passing yards 256 248 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 32:05 27:55
Maryland
Sources:
Game notes:
First meeting between these two programs.
Team Category Player StatisticsMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 27–31, 391 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Colby McDonald 4 rushes, 61 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jacob Copeland 4 reception, 110 yards, 2 TDCharlotte Passing Xavier Williams 19–35, 191 yards, 2 TD Rushing Shadrick Byrd 11 rushes, 38 yards Receiving Elijah Spencer 4 receptions, 98 yards
Statistics UMDCHAR First downs 26 24 Total yards 612 388 Rushing yards 193 96 Passing yards 419 292 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:46 31:14
Georgia State
Sources:
Game notes:
Chris Reynolds' 5 touchdown passes ties the school in-game TD record. 4th game in the series since 2015, (Tied 2–2).
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 31–43, 401 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT Rushing ChaVon McEachern 13 rushes, 76 yards Receiving Elijah Spencer 5 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TDGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 22–34, 343 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tucker Gregg 23 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jamari Thrash 10 receptions, 213 yards, 1 TD Statistics CHARGAST First downs 26 34 Total yards 501 602 Rushing yards 100 259 Passing yards 401 343 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:15 30:45
South Carolina
Sources:
Game notes:
First meeting between these two programs.
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 16–28, 143 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Shadrick Byrd 9 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Grant DuBose 4 receptions, 60 yardsSouth Carolina Passing Spencer Rattler 17–23, 187 yards Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 15 rushes, 169 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jalen Brooks 3 receptions, 67 yards Statistics CHARUSC First downs 21 28 Total yards 292 545 Rushing yards 79 295 Passing yards 213 250 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 33:26 26:34
UTEP
Sources:
Game notes:
UTEP's first win in program history in the Eastern Time Zone. 3rd game in the series since 2019, (CHAR 2–1).
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 10–14, 173 yards, 3 TD Rushing Deion Hankins 20 rushes, 112 yards Receiving Tyrin Smith 4 reception, 106 yards, 2 TDCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 21–37, 347 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Shadrick Byrd 13 rushes, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Spencer 7 receptions, 160 yards, 1 TD
Statistics UTEPCHAR First downs 20 27 Total yards 425 447 Rushing yards 252 100 Passing yards 173 347 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 33:40 26:20
UAB
Sources:
Game notes:
3rd game in the series since 2017, (UAB 2–1).
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 15–26, 214 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing ChaVon McEachern 9 rushes, 61 yards Receiving Elijah Spencer 4 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TDUAB Passing Dylan Hopkins 15–23, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing DeWayne McBride 29 rushes, 137 yards, 2 TD Receiving T. J. Jones 2 receptions, 59 yards Statistics CHARUAB First downs 12 27 Total yards 327 510 Rushing yards 113 279 Passing yards 214 231 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 23:59 36:01
FIU
Sources:
Game notes:
With the 7th loss of the season and no possibility of reaching a post-season bowl, Charlotte head coach Will Healy was released after the game. 7th game in the series since 2015, (FIU 6–1).
Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Grayson James 26–34, 306 yards, 1 TD, 1INT Rushing Lexington Joseph 17 rushes, 72 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyrese Chambers 10 reception, 143 yardsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 23–38, 244 yards, 3 INT Rushing Shadrick Byrd 9 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Elijah Spencer 6 receptions, 77 yards
Statistics FIUCHAR First downs 25 21 Total yards 453 337 Rushing yards 147 60 Passing yards 306 277 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 34:38 25:22
Rice
Sources:
Game notes:
Pete Rossomando's debut as 49ers' interim head coach would also be his first at the helm of an FBS program and his first FBS win. Senior Chris Reynolds was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. Sophomore Shadrick Byrd was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week. 4th game in the series since 2015, (Tied 2–2).
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 16–19, 254 yards, 5 TD Rushing Shadrick Byrd 13 rushes, 83 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Spencer 5 receptions, 84 yards, 3 TDRice Passing T. J. McMahon 18–33, 218 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing T. J. McMahon 9 rushes, 45 yards Receiving Bradley Rozner 5 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD Statistics CHARRice First downs 25 20 Total yards 514 370 Rushing yards 239 152 Passing yards 275 218 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:57 28:03
Western Kentucky
Sources:
Game notes:
6th game in the series since 2017, (WKU 5–1).
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Austin Reed 23–38, 409 yards, 6 TD Rushing Davion Ervin-Poindexter 3 rushes, 49 yards Receiving Malachi Corley 6 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TDCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 17–27, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing James Martin III 16 rushes, 85 yards Receiving Grant DuBose 7 receptions, 88 yards
Statistics WKUCHAR First downs 25 22 Total yards 592 384 Rushing yards 131 161 Passing yards 461 223 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 20:26 39:34
Middle Tennessee
Sources:
Game notes:
7th game in the series since 2015, (MTSU 5–2).
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 28–49, 277 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Shadrick Byrd 14 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Grant DuBose 9 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TDMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 22–29, 203 yards, 1 INT Rushing Frank Peasant 17 rushes, 84 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Metcalf 8 receptions, 83 yards Statistics CHARMTSU First downs 22 16 Total yards 383 306 Rushing yards 106 103 Passing yards 277 203 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 32:44 27:16
Louisiana Tech
Sources:
Game notes: