# 2025 Charlotte 49ers football team

The 2025 Charlotte 49ers football team will represent the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 49ers play their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will be competing in their third season as a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
The 49ers will be led by first-year head coach Tim Albin.

## Coaching staff

On December 9, Ohio head football coach Tim Albin was introduced as the Charlotte 49ers 4th head coach. On January 7, 2025, Albin announced his first six coaching staff additions. Brian Haines, Nate Faanes, Kurt Mattix, Brian Metz, Bryan Nardo and Allen Rudolph. The next day, January 8th, Todd Fitch was added as associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. On the same day David Denham was named defensive tackles coach. On January 15th the staff was completed with the additions of Paul Turner and Tre' Bell.
| Name | Position | Seasons at Charlotte | Alma mater | Previous |
| Tim Albin | Head coach | 1 | NW OK St. (1988) | Head coach (Ohio) |
| Todd Fitch | Associate Head coach/Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks | 1 | Ohio Wesleyan (1985) | Offensive analyst (LSU) |
| Brian Haines | Assistant head coach, Runningbacks, Special teams | 1 | Marietta College (2004) | Runningbacks/Special teams coordinator (App. St.) |
| Tre' Bell | Cornerbacks/Defensive passing coordinator | 1 | UConn (2018) | Defensive analyst (WVU) |
| Nate Faanes | Defensive coordinator/Linebackers | 1 | Winona St. (2015) | Co-defensive coordinator (Ohio) |
| Kurt Mattix | Co-defensive coordinator/Defensive line | 1 | Valparaiso (1999) | Defensive ends/Pass rush specialist (Ohio) |
| David Denham | Defensive tackles | 1 | Ball St. (2006) | Defensive line coach/Recruiting coordinator (WMU) |
| Brian Metz | Tight ends/Recruiting coordinator | 1 | Notre Dame (2013) | Tight ends/Recruiting coordinator (Ohio) |
| Bryan Nardo | Safeties | 1 | Ohio (2008) | Defensive coordinator (Ok St.) |
| Allen Rudolph | Offensive line/Run game coordinator | 1 | Southern Miss. (1995) | Offensive line (Ohio) |
| Paul Turner | Wide receivers/Passing game coordinator | 1 | LA Tech (2016) | Lead offensive analyst (LSU) |

## Recruiting
### Position key

| Halfback | HB | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

### Recruiting class

The following recruits and transfers have signed letters of intent or verbally committed to the Charlotte 49ers football program for the 2025 recruiting year.
College recruiting information (2025) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| D. J. Burgess DL | Oxford, MS | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | – | Dec 29, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Devin Davis IOL | Suwanee, GA | Butler Community College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Omarion Davis OL | Vero Beach, FL | Iowa Western Community College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jadyn Farmer DL | Matthews, NC | David W. Butler HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | – | Feb 11, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| K.D. Gibson WR | Tupelo, MS | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | Dec 24, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jaylon Johnson DL | Antioch, TN | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Nare Means WR | Cary, NC | Panther Creek HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | – | Jul 8, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Jack Moran QB | Princeton, NJ | Hun School of Princeton | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | Jun 19, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Reggie Rainer Jr. CB | Cornelius, NC | William A. Hough HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | Jun 24, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Eli Samples OL | Cumming, GA | Tyler Junior College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Devon St. Clair S | Orlando, FL | Bishop Moore Catholic HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | – | Jan 24, 2025 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Zach Wilcke QB | Hernando, MS | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | Dec 22, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Dy'Lon Womack DB | Powder Springs, GA | North Cobb | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| | | | N/A | N/A | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: NA 247Sports: 119 ESPN: NA |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Charlotte Football Commitments". Rivals.com. "2025 Charlotte Football Commits". Scout.com. "ESPN". ESPN.com. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. |||||||

### Key transfers

| Player | Position | Previous | Home Town | High School | Class | Height | Weight |
| Thailand Baldwin | Cornerback | Ball State | Colonial Heights, VA | Life Christian Academy | RS-JR | 5'-11" | 170 lbs |
| Dwight Bootle II | Cornerback | Nebraska | Miami, FL | Miami Killian | RS-FR | 5'-10" | 180 lbs |
| Mason Bowers | Defensive lineman | Kennesaw State | High Point, NC | High Point Central | RS-SR | 6'-4" | 260 lbs |
| Stellan Bowman | Linebacker | Ohio | Kentwood, MI | East Kentwood | FR | 6'-0" | 215 lbs |
| Don Chaney Jr. | Running back | Louisville | Miami, FL | Belen Jesuit Prep | RS-JR | 5'-10" | 210 lbs |
| Caleb Curtain | Cornerback | Elon | Greensboro, NC | Grimsley | SR | 6'-2" | 185 lbs |
| Colby Garfield | Long snapper | Ohio | Clemmons, NC | North Davidson | GS | 6'-2" | 235 lbs |
| Collin Gill | Cornerback | Georgia | Washington, D.C. | St. John's | RS-FR | 6'-0" | 190 lbs |
| Jaylen Hampton | Wide receiver | Western Kentucky | Bloomingdale, GA | New Hampstead | FR | 6'-2" | 185 lbs |
| Conner Harrell | Quarterback | North Carolina | Alabaster, AL | Thompson | RS-SO | 6'-1" | 191 lbs |
| Will Hawkins IV | Wide receiver | Miami (FL) | Wake Forest, NC | Palmetto Prep | RS-FR | 6'-4" | 200 lbs |
| Jorel Liverpool | Defensive lineman | Wagner | Brooklyn, NY | Midwood | JR | 6'-6" | 255 lbs |
| Grayson Loftis | Quarterback | Duke | Greer, SC | Gaffney | SO | 6'-2" | 205 lbs |
| E. Jai Mason | Wide receiver | Samford | Jackson, MS | Clinton | SR | 6'-1" | 205 lbs |
| Jayden McGowan | Wide receiver | Boston College | Laurens, SC | Laurens District 55 | JR | 5'-9" | 170 lbs |
| Braden Mullen | Defensive lineman | Dartmouth | Glenview, IL | Loyola Academy | RS-JR | 6'-4" | 240 lbs |
| Gavin Shipman | Cornerback | Harvard | Alabaster, AL | Thompson | SR | 5'-10" | 170 lbs |
| Dallas Shirley | Offensive lineman | Newberry | Simpsonville, SC | Hillcrest | RS-SO | 6'-4" | 290 lbs |
| Nate Spillman | Wide receiver | Tennessee | Franklin, TN | Lipscomb Academy | RS-FR | 6'-1" | 180 lbs |
| Parker Startz | Linebacker | Ohio | Mokena, IL | Mount Carmel | FR | 6'-3" | 225 lbs |
| Gavin Willis | Linebacker | Bucknell | Louisville, KY | Ballard | SO | 6'-0" | 230 lbs |
| Jake Young | Tight end | Western Carolina | Waxhaw, NC | Marvin Ridge | RS-SO | 6'-2" | 240 lbs |

### Departing players
#### Outgoing transfers

| Player | Position | New School |
| Cornell Allen | CB | Withdrawn |
| Dontae Balfour | CB | Texas Tech |
| Joey Bearns III | TE | Withdrawn |
| O'Mega Blake | WR | Arkansas |
| Adam Booker | LS | Miami (FL) |
| Jamari Broady | CB | Unknown |
| Max Brown | QB | West Virginia |
| Cam Burden | LB | Memphis |
| Dre Butler | DL | South Florida |
| Shadrick Byrd | RB | Unknown |
| Tyson Clawson | EDGE | Unknown |
| Maurice Clipper Jr. | IOL | Unknown |
| Demon Clowney | EDGE | Louisville |
| Alonzo Colvin | S | Unknown |
| Elijah Culp | CB | Unknown |
| Kyle Cunanan | K | California |
| Lacota Dippre | EDGE | James Madison |
| KaTron Evans | DL | Marshall |
| Rod Gainey Jr. | RB | Withdrawn |
| Jordan Herman | OT | Unknown |
| Aidan Kaler | LB | Stony Brook |
| Terron Kellman | RB | Wyoming |
| Jonny King | IOL | Withdrawn |
| TeQuan Latimore | S | Unknown |
| Jaavan Mack | CB | Western Kentucky |
| Jairus Mack | WR | Western Kentucky |
| Mitchell Mayes | IOL | Withdrawn |
| Mordecai McDaniel | S | Oklahoma State |
| Chavon McEachern | RB | Unknown |
| Treyveon McGee | S | Withdrawn |
| Avery Morris | LB | Unknown |
| Isaiah Myers | WR | Purdue |
| Maguire Neal | LB | Missouri State |
| Cartevious Norton | RB | South Florida |
| Deshawn Purdie | QB | Wake Forest |
| Malik Puryear | EDGE | Winston–Salem State |
| Anthony Romphf | CB | Tulsa |
| Jack Reynolds | WR | Unknown |
| Stephen Rusnak | K | Cincinnati |
| Henry Rutledge | RB | Withdrawn |
| Jordan Spasojevic-Moko | IOL | California |
| Donovan Spellman | LB | Withdrawn |
| Kendall Stanley | OT | Pittsburgh |
| Duane Thomas Jr. | WR | UCF |
| Terez Traynor | WR | Unknown |
| Darius Wallace | LB | Unknown |
| Andre Washington | QB | Unknown |
| Colin Weber | TE | Rutgers |
| PJ Wilkins | OT | Ole Miss |
| Hahsaun Wilson | RB | UTEP |

##### Notes
### Depth chart
## Awards and honors
### Postseason
## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV |
| August 29 | TBA | Appalachian State* | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Duke's Mayo Classic) | TBA |
| September 6 | TBA | North Carolina* | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | TBA |
| September 13 | TBA | Monmouth* | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | TBA |
| September 18 | TBA | Rice | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | TBA |
| October 3 | TBA | at South Florida | Raymond James StadiumTampa, FL | TBA |
| October 11 | TBA | at Army | Michie StadiumWest Point, NY | TBA |
| October 18 | TBA | Temple | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | TBA |
| October 24 | TBA | North Texas | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | TBA |
| November 8 | TBA | at East Carolina | Dowdy-Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | TBA |
| November 15 | TBA | UTSA | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | TBA |
| November 22 | TBA | at Georgia* | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA | TBA |
| November 29 | TBA | at Tulane | Yulman StadiumNew Orleans, LA | TBA |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP RankingsAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Preseason poll

* First place votes in

## Game summaries
### Appalachian State (Duke's Mayo Classic)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Mountaineers | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: August 29th
* Game time: EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Appalachian | Passing |
| Appalachian | Rushing |
| Appalachian | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### North Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Tar Heels | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: September 6th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Carolina | Passing |
| North Carolina | Rushing |
| North Carolina | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### Monmouth (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Monmouth Hawks (FCS) | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: September 13th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Monmouth | Passing |
| Monmouth | Rushing |
| Monmouth | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### Rice

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Owls | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: September 18th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Rice | Passing |
| Rice | Rushing |
| Rice | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### at South Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
| Bulls | | | 0 |
at Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, Florida
* Date: October 3rd
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |
| South Florida | Passing |
| South Florida | Rushing |
| South Florida | Receiving |

### at Army

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
| Black Knights | | | 0 |
at Michie Stadium • West Point, New York
* Date: October 11th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |
| Army | Passing |
| Army | Rushing |
| Army | Receiving |

### Temple

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Owls | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: October 18th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Temple | Passing |
| Temple | Rushing |
| Temple | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### North Texas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Mean Green | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: October 24th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Texas | Passing |
| North Texas | Rushing |
| North Texas | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### at East Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
| Pirates | | | 0 |
at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC
* Date: November 8th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |
| ECU | Passing |
| ECU | Rushing |
| ECU | Receiving |

### UTSA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Roadrunners | | | 0 |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: November 15th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| UTSA | Passing |
| UTSA | Rushing |
| UTSA | Receiving |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |

### at Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
| Bulldogs | | | 0 |
at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia
* Date: November 22nd
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |
| Georgia | Passing |
| Georgia | Rushing |
| Georgia | Receiving |

### at Tulane

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| 49ers | | | 0 |
| Green Wave | | | 0 |
at Yulman Stadium • New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: November 29th
* Game time: TBA EDT
* TV: TBA
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Charlotte | Passing |
| Charlotte | Rushing |
| Charlotte | Receiving |
| Tulane | Passing |
| Tulane | Rushing |
| Tulane | Receiving |

## Attendance

| Season | Games | Sellouts | W–L (%) | Attendance | Average | Best |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | | | |