# 2021 Rhode Island Rams football team

The 2021 Rhode Island Rams football team represented the University of Rhode Island as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Rams, led by eighth-year head coach Jim Fleming, played their home games at Meade Stadium.
On October 11, the Rams were named 12th in national FCS polls, the highest they have been ranked in 20 years. Andre Bibeault was named the Special Teams Player of the Week by the CAA.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Bryant* | | Meade StadiumKingston, RI | FloFootball | W 45–21 | 5,735 |
| September 11 | 7:00 p.m. | at Albany | | Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey StadiumAlbany, NY | FloFootball | W 16–14 | 8,144 |
| September 18 | 12:30 p.m. | at Brown* | | Richard Gouse Field at Brown StadiumProvidence, RI (rivalry) | ESPN+ | W 45–24 | 5,243 |
| October 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Stony Brook | No. 21 | Meade StadiumKingston, RI | FloFootball | W 27–20 $^{OT}$ | 5,778 |
| October 9 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 9 Delaware | No. 18 | Meade StadiumKingston, RI | FloFootball | W 22–15 | 4,917 |
| October 16 | 4:00 p.m. | at Towson | No. 12 | Johnny Unitas StadiumTowson, MD | FloFootball | L 7–28 | 3,375 |
| October 23 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 5 Villanova | No. 18 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloFootball | L 0–44 | 7,341 |
| October 30 | 1:00 p.m. | Maine | No. 24 | Meade StadiumKingston, RI | FloFootball | L 24–45 | 3,368 |
| November 6 | 3:30 p.m. | at UMass* | | Warren McGuirk Alumni StadiumHadley, MA | FloFootball/NESN | W 35–22 | 7,284 |
| November 13 | 1:00 p.m. | New Hampshire | | Meade StadiumKingston, RI | FloFootball | W 28–3 | 4,661 |
| November 20 | 2:00 p.m. | at Elon | No. 25 | Rhodes StadiumElon, NC | FloFootball | L 28–43 | 5,672 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Bryant

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bryant | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island
* Date: Saturday, September 4, 2021
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 5,735
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: URI -20.5
| Statistics | BRY | URI |
| First downs | 19 | 26 |
| Plays–yards | 63-262 | 68 |
| Rushes–yards | 115 | 235 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 273 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 18-32-1 | 15-23-0 |
| Time of possession | 29:01 | 30:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Bryant | Passing | Zevi Eckhaus | 9/17, 55 yards |
| Bryant | Rushing | Daniel Adeboboye | 17 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD |
| Bryant | Receiving | Gary Cooper | 3 receptions, 39 yards |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 12/18, 249 yards, 2 TD |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 18 carry, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Paul Woods | 2 receptions, 73 yards |

### At Albany

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rhode Island | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Albany | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium • Albany, New York
* Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 8,144
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: ALB -2.5
| Statistics | URI | ALB |
| First downs | 16 | 16 |
| Plays–yards | 61-288 | 74-215 |
| Rushes–yards | 141 | 49 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 166 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15-30-1 | 19-36-1 |
| Time of possession | 26:39 | 33:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 15/29, 147 yards, 1 INT |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 14 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Ivory Frimpong | 8 receptions, 94 yards |
| Albany | Passing | Jeff Undercuffler Jr. | 19/25, 166 yards, 1 TD |
| Albany | Rushing | Karl Mofor | 26 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| Albany | Receiving | Roy Alexander | 4 receptions, 54 yards |

### At Brown

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rhode Island | 17 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 45 |
| Brown | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
at Brown Stadium • Providence, Rhode Island
* Date: Saturday, September 18, 2021
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 5,243
* TV: ESPN+
* Pregame line: URI -11.0
| Statistics | URI | BRWN |
| First downs | 17 | 30 |
| Plays–yards | 55-435 | 100-535 |
| Rushes–yards | 111 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 324 | 345 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 14-23-0 | 38-62-2 |
| Time of possession | 23:46 | 36:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 13/19, 320 yards, 3 TD |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 13 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Caleb Warren | 5 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD |
| Brown | Passing | E.J. Perry | 38/62, 345 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Brown | Rushing | Allen Smith | 15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Brown | Receiving | Hayes Sutton | 7 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD |

### Stony Brook

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Stony Brook | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island
* Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 5,778
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: URI -10.0
| Statistics | STBK | URI |
| First downs | 17 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 62-293 | 79-414 |
| Rushes–yards | 192 | 188 |
| Passing yards | 101 | 226 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 9-19-1 | 21-37-0 |
| Time of possession | 27:58 | 32:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stony Brook | Passing | Tyquell Fields | 9/19, 101 yards, 1 INT |
| Stony Brook | Rushing | Ty Son Lawton | 28 carries, 154 yards, 1 TD |
| Stony Brook | Receiving | Delante Hellams Jr. | 4 receptions, 66 yards |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 21/37, 226 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 25 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Ivory Frimpong | 6 receptions, 87 yards |

### No. 9 Delaware

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 22 |
at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island
* Date: Saturday, October 9, 2021
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 4,917
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: URI -3.0
| Statistics | DEL | URI |
| First downs | 18 | 20 |
| Plays–yards | 63-303 | 71-340 |
| Rushes–yards | 186 | 185 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 155 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 9-18-3 | 13-22-1 |
| Time of possession | 29:22 | 30:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Delaware | Passing | Zach Gwynn | 9/17, 117 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT |
| Delaware | Rushing | Dejoun Lee | 19 carries, 115 yards |
| Delaware | Receiving | Thyrick Pitts | 5 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 13/22, 155 yards, 1 INT |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 30 carries, 122 yards |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Caleb Warren | 4 receptions, 88 yards |

### At Towson

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Towson | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Johnny Unitas Stadium • Towson, Maryland
* Date: Saturday, October 16, 2021
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 3,375
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: URI -2.0
| Statistics | URI | TOW |
| First downs | 15 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 59-162 | 73-338 |
| Rushes–yards | 72 | 147 |
| Passing yards | 90 | 191 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 7-26-1 | 16-25-0 |
| Time of possession | 22:30 | 37:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 7/26, 90 yards, 1 INT |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 15 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Caleb Warren | 1 reception, 25 yards |
| Towson | Passing | Chris Ferguson | 16/25, 191 yards, 1 TD |
| Towson | Rushing | Jerry Howard Jr. | 27 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Towson | Receiving | Caleb Smith | 4 receptions, 57 yards |

### At No. 5 Villanova

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Villanova | 14 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 44 |
at Villanova Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 7,341
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: VILL -14.0
| Statistics | URI | VILL |
| First downs | 9 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 57-165 | 70-511 |
| Rushes–yards | 107 | 297 |
| Passing yards | 58 | 214 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 10-23-1 | 14-25-0 |
| Time of possession | 24:49 | 35:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Brandon Robinson | 6/10, 36 yards |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Justice Antrum | 9 carries, 60 yards |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Ed Lee | 2 receptions, 14 yards |
| Villanova | Passing | Daniel Smith | 14/24, 214 yards, 2 TD |
| Villanova | Rushing | Jalen Jackson | 12 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Rayjoun Pringle | 3 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD |

### Maine

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Maine | 14 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island
* Date: Saturday, October 30, 2021
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 3,368
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: URI -3.0
| Statistics | ME | URI |
| First downs | 27 | 10 |
| Plays–yards | 81-528 | 51-298 |
| Rushes–yards | 264 | 68 |
| Passing yards | 264 | 230 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 18-37-1 | 16-29-0 |
| Time of possession | 36:59 | 23:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Maine | Passing | Derek Robertson | 18/37, 264 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Maine | Rushing | Freddie Brock | 20 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD |
| Maine | Receiving | Andre Miller | 4 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 11/22, 177 yards, 3 TD |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Jaylen Smith | 11 carries, 46 yards |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Paul Woods | 4 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD |

### At UMass

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| UMass | 6 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 22 |
at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Amherst, Massachusetts
* Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 7,284
* TV: FloSports/NESN
* Pregame line: MASS -2.5
| Statistics | URI | MASS |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 56-337 | 64-335 |
| Rushes–yards | 168 | 108 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 227 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 11-20-0 | 15-28-1 |
| Time of possession | 30:38 | 29:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 11/20, 169 yards, 2 TD |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Jaylen Smith | 16 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Paul Woods | 3 receptions, 55 yards |
| UMass | Passing | Tyler Lytle | 15/28, 227 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| UMass | Rushing | Ellis Merriweather | 30 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD |
| UMass | Receiving | Rico Arnold | 6 receptions, 99 yards |

### New Hampshire

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island
* Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 4,661
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: URI -3.5
| Statistics | UNH | URI |
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Plays–yards | 56-159 | 68-379 |
| Rushes–yards | 24 | 150 |
| Passing yards | 135 | 229 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15-31-1 | 13-24-0 |
| Time of possession | 27:42 | 32:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Hampshire | Passing | Bret Edwards | 10/16, 85 yards |
| New Hampshire | Rushing | Dylan Laube | 8 carries, 23 yards |
| New Hampshire | Receiving | Brian Espanet | 6 receptions, 69 yards |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 12/23, 221 yards, 4 TD |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Jaylen Smith | 18 carries, 117 yards |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Jaylen Smith | 3 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD |

### At Elon

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 28 |
| Elon | 14 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 43 |
at Rhodes Stadium • Elon, North Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 14,000
* TV: FloSports
* Pregame line: ELON -5.0
| Statistics | URI | ELON |
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Plays–yards | 77-447 | 65 |
| Rushes–yards | 53 | 148 |
| Passing yards | 394 | 284 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 31-56-2 | 23-32-0 |
| Time of possession | 28:04 | 31:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rhode Island | Passing | Kasim Hill | 31/55, 394 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Rhode Island | Rushing | Jaylen Smith | 9 carries, 36 yards |
| Rhode Island | Receiving | Matt Pires | 8 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD |
| Elon | Passing | Davis Cheek | 23/32, 284 yards, 1 TD |
| Elon | Rushing | Jaylan Thomas | 22 carries, 135 yards, 2 TD |
| Elon | Receiving | Jackson Parham | 6 receptions, 91 yards |

## Ranking

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | — | — | — | 21 | 18 | 12 | 18 | 24 | — | — | — | 25 | — | — |
| Coaches | — | — | — | — | 24 | 20 | 14 | 19 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — |

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position |
| Jim Fleming | Head coach |
| Jack Cooper | Defensive coordinator/defensive back coach |
| Umberto Di Meo | Defensive line coach |
| Mike Flanagan | Associate head coach/Running backs coach/Recruiting coordinator |
| Connor Floden | Offensive quality control coach |
| Troy Gilmer | Outside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator |
| Tyler Loftus | Tight ends coach |
| Chris Lorenti | Inside linebackers coach |
| Clayton McGrath | Defensive quality control coach |
| Patrick Murphy | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach |
| Chris Satoh | Assistant defensive backs coach/director of video & social media |
| Donovan Varner | Wide receivers coach/pro liaison |
| Stefon Wheeler | Offensive line coach |
| Matt Boyle | Director of football operations |
| Donnie Smith | Director of player development |
| Robert Izzi | Team chaplain |