2023 North Alabama Lions football team

The 2023 North Alabama Lions football team represented the University of North Alabama as a member of the United Athletic Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Brent Dearmon, the Lions played home games at the Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

Offseason

Recruits

Name Pos. Hometown Camden Allison DB McKenzie, Tennessee Kaden Cooper ATH Opelika, Alabama Chris Cotton LB Tallahassee, Florida Kendrick Davis LB Tuscaloosa, Alabama Omareon Finch WR Attalla, Alabama Izayah Fletcher WR Hartselle, Alabama Seth Hampton LB Alabaster, Alabama Avery Howard DL Tallahassee, Florida Jyheam Ingram DL Muscle Shoals, Alabama Dennis Moody RB Frisco, Texas Amaire Rogers TE Maumelle, Arkansas Brody Stewart OL Andalusia, Alabama Isaiah Tate QB Germantown, Tennessee John Taylor DB Fort Deposit, Alabama Michael Towner DL Prichard, Alabama Ryan Walker OL Alabaster, Alabama

Transfer portal Outgoing transfers Name Pos. New school ShunDerrick Powell RB Central Arkansas Christon Taylor LB Tennessee State Denzel Holder OL Tennessee State Micah Bland DL Arkansas State

Incoming transfers Name Pos. Previous school Witt Mitchum OL Kansas State Edwin White-Schultz DB Kansas Andrew Leak LB MTSU A.J. Seay DB Presbyterian Amauri Floyd LB Robert Morris Gregory Reddick DB Saint Francis Erin Outley TE Arkansas J.J. Evans WR Auburn Edgar Amaya OL Colorado T.J. Smith QB Florida Atlantic Rush Landell DB Memphis Philjae Bien-Aime DB Central Florida Kaleb Brown DL Coahoma Community College Elijah Elmore DL Iowa Western Community College Makenly Newbill DL Savannah State University Jaylen Powell DB Northwest Mississippi Community College Sources:

Personnel

Roster 2023 North Alabama Lions FootballQuarterbacks 2 – TJ Smith – Junior (6'2, 200) 6 – Noah Walters – Sophomore (6'0, 190) 7 – Ben Harris – Sophomore (6'1, 203) 17 – Isaiah Tate – Freshman (6'0, 165) Carson Creehan – Freshman (6'4, 210) Brayson Edwards – Freshman (6'1, 183) Cade Golden – Freshman (6'0, 175) Colton Shaffer – Freshman (6'5, 220)

Running backs 1 – Demarcus Lacey – Sophomore (6'0, 181) 4 – Parker Driggers – Junior (6'0, 198) 11 – Jalyn Daniels – Sophomore (5'9, 168) 28 – Myles Murphy – Freshman (5'8, 193) 34 – Dennis Moody – Freshman (5'11, 180) 38 – Nic Strong – Freshman (5'10, 190) Maleek Pope – Freshman (5'9, 197)

Wide receivers 0 – Dakota Warfield – Senior (6'1, 197) 3 – JJ Evans – Junior (6'3, 203) 5 – Takairee Kenebrew – Senior (6'2, 190) 8 – Justin Luke – Sophomore (5'11, 180) 9 – David Florence – Grad Student (5'10, 185) 14 – Kobe Warden – Junior (5'9, 155) 18 – KJ Fields – Freshman (6'0, 186) 23 – Kaden Cooper – Freshman (6'0, 180) 26 – Winston Sweeting – Senior (6'0, 190) 80 – Sawyer Heptinstall – Sophomore (6'2, 197) 81 – Ollie Finch Jr. – Sophomore (6'1, 182) 82 – Ryan Shoop – Freshman (6'3, 178) 83 – Nikki Taylor – Freshman (5'9, 159) 84 – Omareon Finch – Freshman (6'2, 179) 85 – Izayah Flecther – Freshman (6'2, 170) Daniel Cooper – Freshman (6'0, 170)

Tight ends 19 – Kenny Rawls – Junior (6'3, 228) 30 – Jakob Cummings – Senior (6'0, 218) 36 – Erin Outley – Sophomore (6'4, 255) 86 – Amarie Rogers – Freshman (6'5, 254) 87 – Nathan Brockway – Freshman (6'4, 215) 88 – Kaleb Heatherly – Sophomore (6'6, 255)

Kicker/Punter 35 – Adam Watford – Freshman (5'11, 175) (P) 37 – Sam Contorno – Junior (5'9, 177) (K) 42 – Thomas Dowis – Sophomore (6'1, 205) (K) 92 – Nathan Ogletree – Freshman (6'2, 170) (P/K) 96 – Jack RIce – Freshman (6'1, 165) (K/P) Zach Aird – Freshman (5'10, 170) (K)

Long snappers 47 – Nathan Curry – Freshman (6'0, 198) 53 – Evan Godwin – Freshman (5'11, 200) Offensive Lineman 51 – Ryan Walker – Freshman (6'3, 260) 55 – Edgar Amaya – Freshman (6'3, 315) 57 – Amir Graham – Freshman (5'11, 275) 63 – Brody Stewart – Freshman (6'2, 310) 65 – Collin Wright – Freshman (6'3, 308) 67 – Logan McInnish – Sophomore (6'4, 340) 68 – Stevie Young – Senior (6'4, 293) 72 – Witt Mitchum – Sophomore (6'6, 295) 73 – Edgerrin Watson – Freshman (6'2, 270) 74 – Gage Saint – Junior (6'4, 289) 75 – Will Derico – Senior (6'4, 312) 76 – Fau Tai’Vai – Junior (6'2, 340) 77 – Mickel Clay – Junior (6'5, 278) 79 – Raykwon Goldthwaite – Freshman (6'8, 310) La’Charles Taylor – Junior (6'4, 320)

Defensive Lineman 0 – Kam’ron Green – Junior (6'4, 230) 15 – Makenly Newbill – Grad Student (6'1, 255) 16 – Javen Augustus – Sophomore (6'4, 206) 33 – E.J. Colbert – Sophomore (6'0, 252) 44 – Philip Ossai – Senior (6'0, 258) 45 – Tyrik Daniels – Sophomore (5'11, 228) 50 – Grant Wisdom – Junior (5'11, 278) 54 – Jyheam Ingram – Freshman (6'1, 280) 56 – Trenton Townsend – Junior (6'4, 295) 58 – Elijah Elmore – Sophomore (6'0, 300) 99 – Kaleb Brown – Sophomore (6'0, 280) Chauncey Myers – Grad Student (6'1, 270)

Defensive Tackles 91 – Jake McCluskey – Freshman (6'0, 267) Linebackers 4 – Rush Landell – Junior (6'3, 215) 6 – Gallil Guillaume – Senior (6'1, 227) 8 – Shaun Myers – Junior (6'1, 208) 10 – Amauri Floyd – Junior (6'1, 210) 21 – Ashaad Williams – Sophomore (6'2, 178) 22 – A.J. Phillips – Junior (6'0, 225) 31 – Andrew Leak – Sophomore (6'0, 215) 38 – Garrick Ponder – Freshman (6'2, 229) 40 – Aidan Robinson – Sophomore (6'2, 216) 46 – Phil McDuff – Sophomore (6'0, 221) 48 – Seth Hampton – Freshman (5'11, 210) 52 – Kendrick Davis – Freshman (6'0, 218) 94 – Jamarion Augustus – Sophomore (6'3, 205) 98 – Chris Cotton – Freshman (6'0, 200) Boone Swinney – Freshman (5'10, 200)

Defensive Ends 41 – Tyler Antkowaik – Junior (6'5, 238) 90 – Avery Johnson – Freshman (6'3, 240) 97 – Elijah Hartnett – Freshman (6'1, 247) Zacchaeus Dixon – Freshman (6'2, 240)

Defensive Backs 1 – Edwin White Schultz – Junior (6'1, 205) 3 – K.J. Trujillo – Junior (6'0, 180) 5 – Ryan Madison – Sophomore (5'11, 187) 7 – Philjae Bien-Amie – Freshman (5'11, 185) 9 – Gregory Reddick – Junior (5'11, 195) 12 – Jaquan Woods – Sophomore (5'8, 164) 13 – Barry Womack – Senior (6'2, 187) 20 – A.J. Seay – Sophomore (6'0, 185) 24 – Cameron Jamar – Sophomore (5'8, 178) 25 – Keenan Hill – Freshman (5'11, 173) 27 – Camden Allison – Freshman (6'0, 185) 29 – Jaylen Powell – Sophomore (5'11, 190) 39 – Josiah Hixon – Freshman (5'8, 188) 43 – Kyler Murks – Sophomore (6'1, 185) 49 – Kenan Jones – Sophomore (6'2, 178) Cody Collinsworth – Sophomore (6'0, 190) Allen Smith – Junior (5'9, 170) John Taylor – Freshman (6'0, 160)

Legend RedshirtSource:

Coaching staff North Alabama Lions coaches Head coach Brent Dearmon Assistant coaches Brock Caraboa – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Kevin Wewers – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Luke Roth – Special Teams Coordinator/Nickels Jake Bentley – Quarterbacks/Video Coordinator Morgan Cruce – Running Backs/Director of Football Operations Samie Parker – Wide Receivers Richard Hutchings – Offensive Line Thomas Johnston – Defensive Line De’Von Lockett – Defensive Backs Wesley White – Offensive Analyst Kyle Persons – Defensive Analyst Kerryon Johnson – Director of Player Development

Schedule

Game summaries

at No. 20 Mercer

Sources:

Statistics MercerUNA First downs 21 12 Total yards 286 248 Rushing yards 170 156 Passing yards 92 115 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 32:35 27:25 Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Carter Peevy 12/17, 115 yards, 1 TD Rushing Micah Bell 20 carries, 73 yards Receiving Ty James 4 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TDUNA Passing Noah Walters 10/17, 65 yards Rushing Jalyn Daniels 3 carries, 49 yards Receiving Kobe Warren 6 receptions, 37 yards

Chattanooga

Sources:

Statistics UTCUNA First downs 29 21 Total yards 488 517 Rushing yards 183 280 Passing yards 311 271 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 34:19 25:41 Team Category Player StatisticsUTC Passing Chase Artopoeus 22/46, 311 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT Rushing Ailym Ford 24 carries, 90 yards Receiving Javin Whatley 6 receptions, 106 yardsUNA Passing Noah Walters 16/28, 271 yards, 4 TD's Rushing Jalyn Daniels 8 carries, 147 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Takairee Kenebrew 5 receptions, 172 yards, 3 TD's

at Tarleton State

Sources:

Statistics Tarleton StateUNA First downs 17 32 Total yards 481 563 Rushing yards 182 220 Passing yards 299 343 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player StatisticsTarleton State Passing Victor Gabalis 13/22, 299 yards, 4 TD's, 1 INT Rushing Kayvon Britton 14 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Keylan Johnson 6 receptions, 219 yards, 4 TD'sUNA Passing Noah Walters 36/63, 343 yards, 1 INT Rushing Demarcus Lacey 16 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD's Receiving David Florence 8 receptions, 82 yards

at Tennessee Tech

Sources:

Statistics TTUUNA First downs 19 15 Total yards 296 259 Rushing yards 99 178 Passing yards 197 81 Turnovers 5 3 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player StatisticsTTU Passing Hayes Gibson 9/18, 133 yards Rushing Marcus Knight 11 carries, 39 yards Receiving Brad Clark 6 receptions, 108 yardsUNA Passing Noah Walters 7/13, 55 yards, 2 INT's Rushing Demarcus Lacey 23 carries, 139 yards Receiving Kobe Warden 2 receptions, 28 yards

UT Martin

Sources:

Statistics UTMUNA First downs 21 23 Total yards 480 391 Rushing yards 308 95 Passing yards 172 296 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 30:38 29:22 Team Category Player StatisticsUTM Passing Kinkead Dent 13/30, 172 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Sam Franklin 32 carries, 221 yards, 2 TD's Receiving Trevonte Rucker 4 receptions, 60 yardsUNA Passing Noah Walters 30/52, 286 yards, 3 TD's Rushing Parker Driggers 6 carries, 33 yards Receiving Kobe Warden 11 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD

Eastern Kentucky

Sources:

Statistics EKUUNA First downs 18 29 Total yards 460 560 Rushing yards 204 135 Passing yards 256 425 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 27:04 32:56 Team Category Player StatisticsEKU Passing Parker McKinney 14/21, 256 yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's Rushing Joshua Carter 20 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaden Smith 4 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TDUNA Passing Noah Walters 21/32, 348 yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's Rushing Noah Walters 7 carries, 56 yards Receiving Takairee Kenebrew 5 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD

at Abilene Christian

Sources:

Statistics ACUUNA First downs 13 23 Total yards 333 423 Rushing yards 127 191 Passing yards 206 232 Turnovers 0 5 Time of possession 23:15 36:43 Team Category Player StatisticsACU Passing Maverick McIvor 12/24, 206 yards, 2 TD's Rushing Rovaughn Banks Jr. 10 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tristan Golightly 3 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TDUNA Passing Noah Walters 28/43, 232 yards, 2 TD's, 4 INT's Rushing Demarcus Lacey 18 carries, 72 yards Receiving Takairee Kenebrew 4 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD

Utah Tech

Sources:

Statistics Utah TechUNA First downs 24 23 Total yards 505 420 Rushing yards 108 302 Passing yards 397 118 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:15 31:45 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Tech Passing Kobe Tracy 26/40, 397 yards, 3 TD's Rushing Ronnie Walker Jr. 13 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaivian Lofton 4 receptions, 105 yardsUNA Passing Noah Walters 13/19, 118 yards, 1 TD Rushing Noah Walters 12 carries, 105 yards Receiving Dakota Warfield 2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD

at No. 20 Austin Peay

Sources:

Statistics APUNA First downs 23 20 Total yards 520 408 Rushing yards 167 57 Passing yards 353 351 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:39 25:11 Team Category Player StatisticsAP Passing Mike DiLiello 20/25, 353 yards, 6 TD's Rushing Jevon Jackson 30 carries, 160 yards Receiving Trey Goodman 5 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TDUNA Passing Noah Walters 29/52, 351 yards, 5 TD's Rushing Noah Walters 9 carries, 31 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dakota Warfield 7 receptions, 88 yards

No. 25 Central Arkansas

Sources:

Statistics UCAUNA First downs 21 15 Total yards 400 275 Rushing yards 152 63 Passing yards 248 212 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 35:02 24:58