The 2023 Charlotte 49ers football team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 49ers played their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and compete in their first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They were led by first-year head coach Biff Poggi. The Charlotte 49ers football team drew an average home attendance of 12,471 in 2023.
Coaching staff
On November 15, Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi was named the 49ers' third head coach of the modern era. Maryland co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Miller was reported to be taking the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coaching position on November 29. On December 2 Saint Frances Academy defensive line coach Wayne Dorsey took the same position for the 49ers. On November 30 it was reported that Auburn's quarterbacks coach Mike Hartline would become the 49ers wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator. On December 3 it was revealed that Buffalo defensive backs coach Rod Ojong would be accepting the same position at Charlotte. On December 21 Colorado offensive line coach Kyle DeVan accepted the same position on the 49ers staff in addition to being named associate head coach and run game coordinator. On the same date LSU graduate assistant and former Notre Dame team captain Greer Martini was named linebackers coach. On January 5 Michigan Offensive Analyst John Morookian was named tight ends and offensive tackles coach. On the same day Illinois special teams analyst Greg Froelich was named running backs coach and special teams coordinator. On January 11 Texas Southern defensive backs coach Justin Sanders was named safeties coach. On January 16 longtime Poggi friend and business associate Jonathon Jacobson was named assistant head coach and senior advisor. On January 24 Baltimore Ravens defensive assistant Ryan Osborn was named the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach, completing the 2023 football staff.
Name Position Seasons atCharlotte Alma mater Previous Biff Poggi Head coach 1 Duke (1984) Associate head coach (Michigan) Jonathon Jacobson Assistant head coach/senior advisor 1 Penn (1984) Chairman of HighSage Ventures Kyle DeVan Associate head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator 1 Oregon State (2008) Offensive line coach (Colorado) Mike Miller Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach 1 UAB (2014) Co-offensive coordinator/Tight ends (Maryland) Ryan Osborn Defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach 1 Bridgewater State (2010) Defensive assistant (Baltimore Ravens) Wayne Dorsey Defensive line coach 1 Ole Miss (2018) Defensive line coach (Saint Frances Academy) Greg Froelich Running backs coach/special teams coordinator 1 Michigan (2017) Special teams analyst (Illinois) Mike Hartline Wide receivers coach/passing coordinator 1 Kentucky (2011) Quarterbacks coach (Auburn) Greer Martini Linebackers coach 1 Notre Dame (2018) Graduate assistant (LSU) John Morookian Offensive tackles/Tight ends coach 1 Toledo (2011) Offensive analyst (Michigan) Rod Ojong Defensive backs coach 1 Monmouth (2012) Defensive backs coach (Buffalo) Justin Sanders Safeties coach 1 Illinois (2012) Defensive backs coach (Texas Southern)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 2023 recruiting year.
Key transfers Andrew AdairOffensive lineJames MadisonBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyJR6'-3"320 lbsAl-Ma'hi AliDefensive backSaint FrancisPhiladelphia, PASaint Frances AcademyJR5'-11"175 lbsDontae BalfourCorner BackNorth CarolinaStarke, FLBradford Union Vocational Technical CenterSO6'-2"170 lbsEmmanuel BalogunDefensive lineMarshallFork Union, VASaint Frances AcademyJR6'-7"267 lbsJohnathan BassOffensive lineGeorgia StateMarietta, GAKell HSSR6'-4"290 lbsJoseph BearnsTight EndMarylandBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyJR6'-2"245 lbsJaden BradleyWide receiverPittFayetteville, NCDeMatha Catholic HSJR6'-4"190 lbsTerrance ButlerDefensive lineMarylandBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademySO6'-3"220 lbsClinton Burton Jr.Corner BackBoston CollegeBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademySO5'-11"170 lbsDemon ClowneyDefensive backOle MissBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyJR6'-3"231 lbsNico CrawfordLong snapperIllinoisDublin, OHDublin Scioto HSSO6'-1"250 lbsElijah CulpCorner BackTroyCharlotte, NCMallard Creek HSSR5'-9"175 lbsJordan DanielsOffensive lineAkronCharlotte, NCNorth Mecklenburg HSSO6'-5"310 lbsOsita EkwonuDefensive lineNotre DameCharlotte, NCProvidence DaySR6'-1"235 lbsKaTron EvansDefensive lineJackson StateBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademySO6'-4"320 lbsChallen FaamatauRunning BackMarylandHonolulu, HIFarrington HSSR5'-10"213 lbsRandy FieldsWide receiverUT MartinElkton, MDSaint Frances AcademySO6'-3"185 lbsAustin FontaineOffensive lineMarylandWaldorf, MDDeMatha Catholic HSSR6'-3"283 lbsGrant GonyaPunterJohn CarrollHudson, OHHudson HSSO6'-2"195 lbsJa'Khi GreenOffensive lineMarylandPalmer Park, MDSaint Frances AcademySR6'-5"310 lbsIsaiah HazelDefensive back MarylandLargo, MDDr. Henry WiseSR6'-1"205 lbsJack HestraWide receiverColoradoCedar Park, TXCedar Park HSSO6'-0"180 lbsNikhai Hill-GreenLinebackerMichiganBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyJR6'-1"231 lbsLadaeson DeAndre HollinsCorner BackNorth CarolinaTampa, FLJefferson HSSR6'-1"200 lbsGreg HudginsLinebackerPurdueWashington, DCSt. John's HSJR6'-4"230 lbsAndrew JacobsWide receiverSouth DakotaBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademySO5'-11"190 lbsAustin JohnsonOffensive lineColoradoHighlands Ranch, COHighlands Ranch HSJR6'-4"300 lbsJalen JonesQuarterbackBethune–CookmanRichmond, VAHenrico HSSR6'-3"205 lbsTerron KellmanRunning backNorthern IllinoisClinton, MDSaint Frances AcademyFR5'-10"187 lbsDemetrius KnightLinebackerGeorgia TechLocust Grove, GAStrong Rock Christian SchoolJR6'-2"247 lbsJake LarsonKickerRichmondBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademySR5'-11"165 lbsGus McGeeTight endSan Diego St.Newburyport, MAColumbus HS (Miami, FL)JR6'-5"220 lbsBennett MeredithQuarterbackArizona St.Birmingham, ALHoover HSSO6'-3"190 lbsBreon NoelDefensive backSaint FrancisBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyFR5'-11"190 lbsEyabi OkieEdgeMichiganBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademySR6'-5"245 lbsZion ShockleyLinebackerMarylandBerlin, MDSaint Frances AcademySO6'-3"250 lbsSam ThomasLinebackerMaineBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyJR6'-0"224 lbsTyler ThomasOffensive lineGramblingBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyJR6'-4"290 lbsJulius WelschofDefensive lineMichiganMiesbach, BYFOS Altoetting (Germany)SR6'-6"288 lbsIke WhiteWide receiverMinnesotaBaltimore, MDSaint Frances AcademyFR5'-11"185 lbsKevin Williams Jr.Offensive lineNebraskaOmaha, NEOmaha North High SchoolSR6'-5"332 lbs
Departing players
2023 NFL draft
The following players were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
7 256 Grant DuBose WR Green Bay Packers
Outgoing transfers Valerian Agbaw ATH None Donta Armstrong TE Campbell Micah Bell RB Mercer Knox Boyd OT Lamar DJ Brown LB None Jordan Brown OL Georgia Tech Trey Creamer CB None Grant DuBose WR Charlotte James Foster QB None Antonio Gaines DL None Reggie Givhan WR None Aveon Grose S None Jaxon Hughes Edge South Carolina Johnny Martin RB Stony Brook Barutti Mazangu DT None Braeden McAlister K Georgia State Lance McMillan CB None Jordan Moore DL None Miles Posey LB Hampton Isaiah Potts DL None Bailey Rice P None Solomon Rogers DB Jackson State Matt Russo OT None Shyhiem Scotland LB None Darion Smith DL Missouri State Elijah Spencer WR Minnesota Michael Statham OT None Taylor Thompson TE James Madison Trevor Timmons IOL Georgia State BJ Turner LB None Cade White LB None Bryson Whitehead CB None Xavier Williams QB UCF
Notes
Graduation
Roster
Depth chart
Awards and honors Preseason Hornung AwardShadrick ByrdRBRJRWuerffel TrophyMike KellyDLJR2024 Resse's Senior BowlEyabi Okie-AnomaDESR2024 Reese's Senior BowlJulius WelschofDERSR
In Season
CSC Comeback Player of the YearNikhai Hill-GreenLBRSRRay Guy AwardGrant GonyaK/PSR
AAC Special Teams Player of the WeekGrant GonyaPSRFloridaAAC Defensive Player of the WeekDemetrius Knight IILBSRECUAAC Defensive Player of the WeekNikhai Hill-GreenLBRSRTulsaPFF Team of the WeekJasper ParksLTSRFAUPFF Team of the WeekHahsaun WilsonRBRSOMemphis
Postseason
AAC All-Conference First TeamDemetrius Knight IILBSRAAC All-Conference Second TeamEyabi Okie-AnomaDEGradAAC All-Conference Third TeamDontae BalfourCBSOAAC All-Conference Third TeamNikhai Hill-GreenLBSR
All Conference Honorable Mentions:
Offense: OL – Kevin Williams, R-Sr.
Special Teams: P – Grant Gonya, Sr.
Schedule
Television Charlotte 49ers home games and conference road games are broadcast through the American Athletics Conference's television partners ESPN, and ABC Sports.
Radio Radio coverage for all games are 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 are "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 poll The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 25, 2023.
First place votes in ()
Media poll 1 Tulane 457 (20) 2 UTSA 440 (9) 3 SMU 397 (3) 4 Memphis 362 (1) 5 Florida Atlantic 312 6 East Carolina 303 7 North Texas 261 8 UAB 209 (1) 9 Navy 199 10 Temple 182 11 Tulsa 160 12 Rice 138 13 South Florida 86 14 Charlotte 64
Game summaries South Carolina State
Sources:
Game notes:
The program's tenth anniversary game. 1st meeting between these two programs. Biff Poggi's debut as an NCAA FBS head coach. First Career NCAA win for Coach Poggi. Fewest points allowed since the 2014 season.
Statistics SCSTCHAR First downs 8 19 Total yards 168 345 Rushing yards 109 220 Passing yards 59 125 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:39 32:21
Team Category Player StatisticsSC State Passing Andre Washington 6–17, 59 YDS, 1 INT Rushing Kacy Fields 9 CAR, 43 YDS Receiving Jordan Smith 2 REC, 37 YDSCharlotte Passing Jalon Jones 13–19, 125 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Durell Robinson 11 CAR, 71 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Jack Hestra 4 REC, 49 YDS
Maryland
Sources:
Game notes:
2nd meeting in the series since 2022, (UMD 2–0). Charlotte's first appearance on OTA national television. Charlotte's first game broadcast by NBC.
Statistics CHARUMD First downs 16 26 Total yards 314 530 Rushing yards 125 243 Passing yards 189 287 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 30:17 29:43
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Jalon Jones 8–15, 116 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jalon Jones 16 CAR, 67 YDS Receiving Jarius Mack 4 REC, 106 YDS, 1 TDMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 25–36, 287 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Roman Hemby 20 CAR, 162 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Kaden Prather 4 REC, 80 YDS, 1 TD
Georgia State
Sources:
Game notes:
5th game in the series since 2015, (Georgia St 3–2). Henry Rutledge became the first 49er to return a punt for a touchdown. Rutledge also set the school record for longest punt return at 46 yards.
Statistics GASTCHAR First downs 23 18 Total yards 568 356 Rushing yards 102 88 Passing yards 466 268 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 31:32 28:28
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 27–33, 466 YDS, 3 TD Rushing Marcus Carroll 20 CAR, 67 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Robert Lewis 6 REC, 220 YDS, 2 TD Charlotte Passing Trexler Ivey 20–28, 257 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jalon Jones 6 CAR, 80 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Jack Hestera 7 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD
at No. 25 Florida
Game notes:
1st meeting between these two programs.