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Recruiting class

The following recruits and transfers have signed letters of intent or verbally committed to the Charlotte 49ers football program for the 2020 recruiting year.

Key transfers

Preferred walk-ons

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...

2020 Charlotte 49ers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 0 Trexler Ivey  Fr QB 2 Dominique Schoffner RJr QB 3 Chris Reynolds  (C) RJr WR 4 Cameron Dollar RJr RB 5 Aaron McAllister RSr WR 6 Tre’ Goode So WR 7 Braylin Johnson  Fr WR 8 Rico Arnold RSo WR 9 Victor Tucker RJr QB 10 Daniel Ratliff RSo QB 11 Preston Brown RFr TE 12 Donta Armstrong  Fr RB 13 Terrick Smalls Jr. RSo WR 14 Whit Kane   Fr WR 15 Justin Jeffrey RSo WR 16 Kendric Blake RFr QB 17 Ford Werness RSo TE 18 Taylor Thompson  Fr WR 19 Josh Curry RSo RB 20 Calvin Camp RJr RB 21 Elijah Turner   Fr RB 22 Tre Harbison WR 23 Micaleous Elder So WR 25 Chavon McEachern  Fr RB 26 Dekerius Thompson  Fr RB 27 Mckinley Nelson Jr TE 29 Rickey Kofed RJr RB 30 Keegan Williams  Fr WR 32 Bryce Kennon  Fr WR 33 Chris Houston  Fr OL 52 Jonny King  Fr OL 54 Gage Welborn RSo OL 55 Jaxon Hughes RFr OL 57 Ashton Gist Jr OL 63 Jacob Webb RJr OL 64 D.J. Bagwell  Fr OL 68 Jaelin Fisher (C) RSr OL 69 Dejan Rasuo RSo OL 70 D'Mitri Emmanuel RJr OL 71 Arabee Muslim  Fr OL 72 Cameron Clark  Fr OL 75 Jonathan Timmons RSr OL 76 Ty'kieast Crawford  Fr OL 78 Hunter Kelly OL 79 Panda Askew  Fr TE 80 Christian Roberson WR 81 Tyler Ringwood RSr TE 82 Jaylen Williams RFr WR 83 Chris Wiggins RSo TE 84 Jake Clemons  Fr TE 85 Ryan Carriere RSr TE 86 Moss Saccomanno RJr WR 87 Chylon Thomas Jr TE 88 Jacob Hunt Jr WR 89 Quinton Patten RFr WR 90 Austin Riley  Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 0 Antone Williams DB 1 Jacione Fugate RSr LB 2 Brelin Faison-Walden Sr DB 3 Trey Creamer RJr LB 4 Lance McMillian RSo LB 5 Tyler Murray RJr DB 6 Soloman Rogers So DB 7 Robert Cheatham RSr DB 8 Nafees Lyon DE 10 Tyriq Harris (C) DB 12 Shedrick Ursery  Fr DB 13 Briston Bennett  Fr LB 14 Derek Boykins RFr DB 15 Dajeun Gibson  Fr DB 16 Comanche Francisco  Fr LB 17 Luke Martin Sr LB 18 Prince Bemah  RFr DB 21 LaDamion Hunt RJr DB 23 Matt Martinez RSo DB 24 Lacy Williams RFr DB 27 Bryson Whitehead RFr DB 28 Ben DeLuca (C) DB 29 Jonnie Pitman RSo DB 30 Marcus Robitaille So DB 31 Trey Bly RFr LB 33 Jaylon Sharpe So LB 34 Javonte Misenheimer RJr DB 35 Myles Hunt RSo DB 36 Anthony Jackson  Fr DB 38 Kendric Ivey Jr LB 39 George Maya RJr DE 40 Markees Watts  Jr LB 42 Tiaseer Rambert RFr DB 43 Ryan Braithwaite RJr DE 44 Jaxon Hughes RFr DB 46 Dillon Overholt  RSo DT 47 Khalil Presley RSr DT 48 Barutti Mazangu  Fr DB 50 Darion Smith  Fr LB 51 Peter Agabe Sr DL 53 Michael Kelly RFr DL 56 Jordan Moore  Fr DL 57 Siah Sa'o DL 58 Johnny Ray RSr LB 59 B.J. Turner RSo DL 60 Bryan Wallace RSo LB 66 Cole Hopkins RSo DL 74 Tim Baten RJr DL 90 Dez Morgan  Fr DE 91 Corey Mobley RJr DL 92 Desmond Stewart Sr DE 93 Emmanuel White RJr DE 94 Isaiah Belk RSo DL 95 Rayshaad Roddy Jr DL 96 Isaac Hampton RJr DE 97 Damon Weldon RSo DL 98 Timmy Horne RSr DE 99 Taylor Chandler RSo	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 11 Jonathan Cruz Jr P 19 Connor Bowler RJr K 37 Max Bilstein RFr LS 41 Doug McLaughlin So P 44 Zach Nicholson RSo LS 50 Colby Garfield  Fr	Head coach Will Healy (Richmond) Coordinators/assistant coaches Marcus West (Memphis) Assistant head coach/co-Defensive coordinator/defensive line Charles Bankins (James Madison) Special teams coordinator Mark Carney (Fordham) Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Brandon Cooper (UT Martin) Co-defensive coordinator/safeties Adam Braithwaite (William & Mary) Linebackers Sean Dawkins (Troy) Run Game Coordinator/running backs Lee Grimes (Texas A&M) Offensive line Montario Hardesty (Tennessee) Wide receivers Eddie Hicks (Southern Miss) Cornerbacks Cody Woodiel (Troy) Tight ends Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

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Depth chart

Preseason

In season

Postseason

All Conference Honorable Mentions:^[21]

Offense: QB – Chris Reynolds, R-Jr. • RB – Aaron McAllister, R-Sr. • OL – Jaelin Fisher, R-Sr.

Defense: DT – Timmy Horne, R-Sr. • DE – Romeo McKnight, R-Sr. • DE – Tyriq Harris, R-Sr. • LB – Tyler Murray, R-Jr. • DB – Ben DeLuca, R-Sr.

Special Teams: P – Conner Bowler, R-Jr.

2021 East–West Shrine Bowl:^[23]

Participants: S - Ben DeLuca • DE - Romeo McKnight

2021 SPIRAL Tropical Bowl:^[23]

Participant: RB - Tre Harbison

2021 College Gridiron Showcase & Symposium:^[23]

Participants: RB - Aaron McAllister • OL - Jaelin Fisher

Appalachian State Mountaineers

Charlotte would strike first with a Tre Harbison run into the end zone but App would tie the game and then go up a touchdown in the second quarter. Jonathan Cruz would tack on a field goal before the half leaving App with only a four-point lead. The fog and rain would continue to plague both teams in the nearly empty stadium as Cruz would add another field goal late in the third to bring the score difference to a single digit, but on the next series App stretched the lead back out to eight points only to have Charlotte's Aaron McAllister get it back to within a point on a 97-yard kick off return. App would again take their lead out to eight points early in the fourth quarter as Charlotte still couldn't find its offensive rhythm in the second half. A late touchdown by App made the score difference fifteen points but didn't change the outcome of the game as the 49ers would drop the season opener 20 to 35.

Top performances were dominated by the Mountaineers and included quarterback Zac Thomas who passed for 204 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception. Running back Marcus Williams had 14 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Thomas Hennigan had 5 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Game notes:

• Aaron McAllister's 3rd quarter 97 yard kickoff return set a new program record in that category, topping Mike Hunter's 96-yard return in the Chowan game in 2013.
• McAllister now owns two program records, longest kickoff return and longest run (89 yards at WKU in 2017).
• Game attendance by non-game officials, teams and players was prohibited by the state government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Troy transfer redshirt junior linebacker Tyler Murray capped an impressive debut in Niner green with a Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week Award.^[17]
• The ESPN broadcast crew created a minor controversy complaining about the supposed lack of contrasting colors for Charlotte's new away jersey numbers.^[61]
• Additional controversy occurred after the game when an Appalachian State assistant coach posed with App. St. players displaying obscene hand gestures while holding a Charlotte related sign. App. St. Head Coach Shawn Clark would call Charlotte Coach Will Healy to offer an apology for the incident.^[62]

Florida Atlantic Owls

Charlotte would open conference play after two unexpected weeks off visiting their second defending conference champs. Charlotte would go up by 10 points in the 1st quarter, but two long missed field goals by Jonathan Cruz, one in the 2nd quarter and the other off the first drive of the 3rd quarter, would come back to hurt the Niners later. After a scoreless 2nd quarter Charlotte would take a shutout lead into the halftime. Shortly before the halfway point of the 3rd quarter the Owls would finally find the end zone and with under 3 minutes left in the quarter would find it again for their first lead. A Charlotte fumble on the next series would give FAU their third touchdown of the quarter. Early in the 4th quarter Charlotte would get the game into a single score affair again. Charlotte would get into the redzone on the final drive of the game but two sacks of Chris Reynolds would lead to time running out as the Niners would lose 17 to 21.

FAU quarterback Nick Tronti would dominate passing and rushing yards with 98 yards through the air for 2 touchdowns and 10 carries for 94 yards on the ground and a third touchdown. T.J. Chase would have 3 receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Game notes:

• First time in the 6-game series that the home team has won.
• Chris Reynolds would become the 2nd 49er to cross the 4000 passing yard career mark (4191 yards), second only to Matt Johnson's 5405 passing yards.
• Reynolds would become the 2nd Niner to throw for more than 300 yards in a game for the 3rd time (314 yards). Johnson holds the record with 4 games of more than 300 passing yards.
• Victor Tucker recorded his 9th career game with more than 100 receiving yards, 2nd all time to Austin Duke who holds the record with 13 100 yard games.

North Texas Mean Green

North Texas was looking to avenge their 1-point loss to the 49ers from the previous year, but Charlotte would score on their first possession of the game and lead through to the end of regulation. North Texas would get the game to within a single score in the 2nd quarter, but Charlotte would steadily begin to pull away over the course of the rest of the game despite North Texas putting up substantial numbers behind the scoring combo of Aune and Darden.

North Texas Quarterback Austin Aune passed for 382 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Charlotte rusher Aaron McAllister had 12 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown. The Mean Green's Jaelon Darden had 13 receptions for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Game notes:

• 49 points are the most Charlotte has scored against a Conference USA opponent.
• Charlotte also set new conference single game records for touchdowns (7) and total yards of offense (599).
• Aaron McAllister's 140 yard performance moved him into 3rd place all-time in rushing for the 49ers with 1,404 career yards on the ground.
• McAllister's performance earned him the Conference USA Offenisve Player of the Week Award.^[18]
• Victor Tucker moved into 2nd place in all-time 49ers receiving yards with 1,798 career yards.

UTEP Miners

Charlotte's long delayed home opener finally occurred as the Miners looked to avenge their home loss from the previous season to the "other" pick axe wielding team. Charlotte would strike first but UTEP would flip the lead near the half before Charlotte's late score had both teams tied at the break. The second half didn't get rolling until late in the third quarter when Charlotte would regain the lead. Charlotte would pad their lead with a Jonathan Cruz field goal early in the final quarter. With less than five minutes left in the game both offenses would suddenly come alive in a flurry of five late touchdowns, but their three turnovers in this game would keep the Miners fruitless all-time in the Eastern Time Zone as Charlotte would get the opening home win, 38 to 28.

Top performances of the game include Charlotte's Chris Reynolds, who threw for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 49ers' Aaron McAllister would have 68 yards on 8 carries with 2 touchdowns. UTEP's Justin Garett had 9 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Game Notes:

• UTEP is now 0-26-1 in the Eastern Time Zone All-time.
• Ben DeLuca's 9 tackles in the game made him the 2nd 49er to cross the 300 career tackles mark, six tackles shy of Jeff Gemmell's record set during the previous season.

Duke Blue Devils

Duke scored quickly and often to defend their home field, going up 24 points before Charlotte could answer with their own first touchdown shortly before the half. Duke would continue to trade scores and defend their lead into the fourth quarter when a second scoring explosion from the Blue Devils put the comeback hopes of the 49ers permanently to rest. The final score was Duke 53 to Charlotte's 19.

Top performances for the game included Charlotte's Chris Reynolds, who threw for 171 yards and a touchdown. Duke's Mataeo Durant had 12 carries for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Blue Devil's Jalon Calhoun had 4 receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Game notes:

• Charlotte dominated time of possession with the ball in their hands for more than 42 minutes of the game.
• The 17-play drive that resulted in Charlotte's first touchdown of the game is the longest drive in program history.
• Ben DeLuca's 6 tackles in the game tied him with Jeff Gemmell's 306 tackles for the 49ers all-time tackles record.
• Tyler Murray's 8 solo tackles in the game has given him 42 tackles on the season (23 solo tackles).
• Markees Watts' sack in this game moved him past 10 career sacks. The only 49ers previously with greater than 10 career sacks are NFL players Alex Highsmith and Larry Ogunjobi.
• Chris Reynolds became the first 49er to pass for 1000 yards in three seasons.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

The game got off to a slow start with the Hilltoppers' Brayden Narveson getting his first of the days' three field goals for himself in the first quarter. Two devastating fumbles to bookend the second quarter would both result in Western Kentucky touchdowns, putting the 49ers in a sizable scoreless hole going into the half. Charlotte would find the endzone early in the third quarter to get on the board, but the Hilltoppers would never look back as they held the lead for the entire game.

Top performances of the game included Charlotte Quarterback Chris Reynolds, who threw for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Hilltoppers' Gaej Walker racked up 98 yards on the ground behind 19 carries. The 49ers' Victor Tucker pulled in 8 receptions for 111 yards.

Game notes:

• Originally scheduled for November 28 but was postponed by Charlotte due to COVID-19 related issues.^[42]
• Rescheduled game would also be postponed from December 1 to December 6.^[43][44]
• Ben DeLuca's seven tackles in the game moved him past Jeff Gemmell into the number 1 spot for career tackles with 313.
• Victor Tucker's eight game catches made him the 2nd 2,000 yard career receiver for the 49ers behind Austin Duke.
• Chris Reynolds became the 2nd 49er QB to pass for more than 5,000 yards in his career behind Matt Johnson.
• 16 seniors played their final game for the 49ers on this Senior Day.
• First Sunday game in program history.
• First time Charlotte has played a regular season game in the month of December.
• First time Charlotte has had a greater than one week break in playing during a season. In this case five weeks.
• Charlotte did not play for the entirety of the month of November.