The 2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team represented Gardner–Webb University as a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team were led by second-year head coach Cris Reisert and played their home games at the Ernest W. Spangler Stadium located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
On December 15, it was announced that Reisert would be stepping down as the Runnin' Bulldogs head coach. Four days later, December 19, Reisert was announced as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Toledo. On December 23, UT Permian Basin head coach Kris McCullough was announced as the Runnin' Bulldogs' new head coach.
Offseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 16, 2025. The Runnin' Bulldogs were picked to finish sixth in the conference.
Transfers Outgoing Adam HickersonOLArkansas StateTyler RiddellQBDuquesneTrevor MoffittLBEast Tennessee StateCamden OvertonTEGeorgia StateAnthony EnechukwuSJackson StateDavid OkoiWRMorgan StatePhinnell MarshallDLNorth Carolina A&TOscar ColonOLPresbyterianPius NjengeDLTarleton StateJonathan PalmerQBTennessee StateJesse IgweOLTennessee StateDiondre GloverDBUConnMarquis BlackDLUConnParker PrevetteOLUnknownJeff BowensDBUnknown
Incoming Dylan MandersLBAnderson (SC)Blake BradfordDEAppalachian StateCahari HaynesLBAppalachian StateJesse IgweOLCharleston (WV)Jack ReynoldsWRCharlotteJalen HarrisWRCoastal CarolinaBrady BraunPCoffeyvilleSabin MclaughlinS/LBDavidsonAndre CrawleyDLEmory and HenryJose GonzalezOLFort Valley StateCharlie ViorelKFullertonJabre BevineauWRFullertonDaejuan ThompsonLBGarden CityJaden WatkinsDBGarden CityChris LoftonWRJames MadisonGatlin HancockTEKennesaw StateQuintavious BillingsleyDBKennesaw StateRyan DemonbreunTEKentucky WesleyanKam WyattSLackawannaMarkel FortenberryWRLibertyNate HamptonQBLibertyCole PenningtonQBMarshallHenry KofowoOLMurray StateAdam HickersonOLSewaneeJackson DorrPStony BrookTrey WeemsDLThomas MoreJordan JacksonDBWest VirginiaElvin FofanahTEWestern Kentucky
Recruiting class
Zalen Watkins DL 6-3 260 Forest City, NC East RutherfordSean Brady WR 5-9 165 Charlotte, NC HoughFinley Polk QB 6-3 185 Rock Hill, SC NorthwesternDavid Torres OL 6-2 285 Marietta, GA KellCarter Isaacs DB 6-0 185 Hamilton, OH HamiltonOntario Hewitt Jr. DE 6-3 220 Mansfield, TX Mansfield TimberviewPaul Williams DL 6-2 245 Milton, GA MiltonJacob Mull LS 6-3 245 Connelly Springs, NC Jimmy C. DraughnBrooks Kerwin OL 6-3 280 Lexington, KY Lexington Christian AcademyJames Newton WR 5-11 175 Burlington, NC Western AlamanceAbraham Brown DB 5-11 160 Sarasota, FL Booker
Schedule
Game summaries at Western Carolina
Statistics GWEB WCU First downs 25 21 Total yards 627 454 Rushes–yards 57–335 42–221 Passing yards 292 233 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–33–1 18–36–1 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 35:38 24:22 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Nate Hampton 12/30, 263 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nate Hampton 28 carries, 132 yards, 4 TD Receiving Chris Lofton 3 receptions, 102 yardsWestern Carolina Passing Bennett Judy 15/27, 151 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Patrick Boyd Jr. 15 carries, 142 yards, TD Receiving Malik Knight 1 reception, 69 yards, TD
at Georgia Tech (FBS)
Statistics GWEBGT First downs 20 21 Plays–yards 77–326 57–680 Rushes–yards 47–117 28–223 Passing yards 209 457 Passing: comp–att–int 20–30–0 22–29–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 37:23 22:40 Team Category Player Statistics Gardner–Webb Passing Cole Pennington 14/21, 164 yards, TD Rushing Quasean Holmes 14 carries, 48 yards Receiving Anthony Lowe 8 receptions, 87 yards, TD Georgia Tech Passing Aaron Philo 21/28, 373 yards, TD, INT Rushing Malachi Hosley 9 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dean Patterson 3 receptions, 87 yards, TD
vs. The Citadel
Statistics CIT GWEB First downs 14 16 Total yards 307 334 Rushing yards 210 118 Passing yards 97 216 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–11–0 15–25–0 Time of possession 30:50 28:23 Team Category Player StatisticsThe Citadel Passing Cobey Thompkins 6/10, 97 yards, TD Rushing Garrison Johnson Sr. 13 carries, 73 yards Receiving Braylon Knauth 3 receptions, 44 yards, TDGardner–Webb Passing Nate Hampton 13/22, 206 yards, 2 TD Rushing Quasean Holmes 17 carries, 90 yards Receiving Chris Lofton 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD
at Ohio (FBS)
Statistics GWEBOHIO First downs 16 33 Plays–yards 61–480 75–608 Rushes–yards 31–191 48–318 Passing yards 289 290 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–30–1 18–27–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:01 33:59 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Nate Hampton 19/28, 289 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Carson Gresock 7 carries, 70 yards, TD Receiving Anthony Lowe 8 receptions, 72 yardsOhio Passing Parker Navarro 19/27, 290 yards, TD Rushing Sieh Bangura 18 carries, 123 yards, 3 TD Receiving Chase Hendricks 8 receptions, 144 yards, TD
vs. Charleston Southern
Statistics CHSO GWEB First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsCharleston Southern Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
at Eastern Illinois
Statistics GWEB EIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. UT Martin
Statistics UTM GWEB First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
at Lindenwood
Statistics GWEB LIN First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Lindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 9 Tennessee Tech
Statistics GWEB TNTC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee Tech Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMO GWEB First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
at Tennessee State
Statistics GWEB TNST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Western Illinois
Statistics WIU GWEB First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
References