Flashes aim to improve, overcome odds
SEASON PREVIEW: KENT STATE
2024 RECORD: 0-12 (0-8 MAC)
2025 MAC HEAD COACHES POLL: 13th of 13
2024 RECORD: 0-12 (0-8 MAC)
2025 MAC HEAD COACHES POLL: 13th of 13
MRO STAFF
Rest assured -- no matter the opponent, Kent State's next football win will be savored!
The Flashes haven't tasted victory since September of 2023. They finished that season with nine straight losses and ran the table (with 12 more losses) in 2024. Only two of last year's losses were by seven or less points.
Kent State finished . . .
Rest assured -- no matter the opponent, Kent State's next football win will be savored!
The Flashes haven't tasted victory since September of 2023. They finished that season with nine straight losses and ran the table (with 12 more losses) in 2024. Only two of last year's losses were by seven or less points.
Kent State finished . . .
. . . last among MAC teams in both points scored and points allowed. The Flashes also ranked poorly in many other statistical categories.
Adding to the challenges for 2025, KSU will be operating under s new head coach. Well ... at least new to the HC position. Mark Carney was offensive coordinator last year, but he was elevated to the top spot after the school parted with Kenny Burns in April.
OFFENSE:
• Production must improve, and there are certainly question marks that can only be answered on the field.
• Tommy Ulatowski has moved on (Kennesaw State). After some spring compeititon, it appeared that Devin Kargman would move into the QB 1 spot. However, he hit the transfer portal. That brought back C.J. Montes, who had shined at Fordham before joining the KSU quarterback spring battle. He appeared headed to Florida A&M until Kargman went portal.
While at Fordham in 2023, Montes led the Patriot League and was tenth in the NCAA FCS completions per game stat. Now the Flashes are hoping Montes can have a productive senior campaign.
• The top two receivers (Chrishon McCray (40 catches, 705 yards, 9 TDs), Luke Floriea (44 catches, 699 yards, 7 TDs) and two TEs are gone, so the receiving corps will be fairly young, Deshawn Martin is back after earning (Third Team) All-MAC honors in 2023. Hunter Hopperton (Rhode Island) is one of several transfers and could contribute at tight end.
• Jordan Nubin (5-11, 215) figures to lead the running game. He previously spent four campaigns with Minnesota, totaling 604 yards and three scores.
• There is experience up front, with Dustyn Morrell and Garret Masterson returning. Several transfers are also in the mix.
DEFENSE:
• As with the offense, there are likely three returning starters. There is also an influx of transfers, so time/game action will tell the story.
• Josh Baka (UAB) is gone and Rocco Nicholl (South Florida) left after three years with the Flashes. Still, linebacker should be a strength of the defense. Senior Mason Woods and junior Canaan Williams combined for 114 tackles last year
• Sophomore safety Tevin Tucker returns to anchor KSU's defensive backfield, with several transfers moving in for a unit that was 11th among MAC teams in pass defense (251.1 ypg) and pass defense efficiency.
• Antoine Campbell and Mattheus Carroll were part-time starters up front in 2024. Jarmarcus Hill and Junior Diallo offer transfer help.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
• Andrew Glass, who punted for the Flashes and scored 269 points on 55 field goals, 102 PATs and a two-point conversion is now at Northern Illinois. However, Will Hryszko booted five field goals and 15 extra points last year. He returns. Senior Charlie Durkin figures to pick up punting duties.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A quick fix probably wasn't in the cards, and an internal coaching change likely doesn't move the needle that much one way or the other.
There is plenty to worry about, including a challenging schedule. After opening at home against Merrimack, KSU travels to Texas Tech. An early MAC game follows, bringing highly-regarded Buffalo to town. The Flashes then finish non-conference play at Florida State and Oklahoma.
If KSU can avoid a bevy of serious injuries and effectively integrate its transfers, more favorable matchups against the likes of Ball State and Akron are part of the November schedule. However, both are road games.
Adding to the challenges for 2025, KSU will be operating under s new head coach. Well ... at least new to the HC position. Mark Carney was offensive coordinator last year, but he was elevated to the top spot after the school parted with Kenny Burns in April.
OFFENSE:
• Production must improve, and there are certainly question marks that can only be answered on the field.
• Tommy Ulatowski has moved on (Kennesaw State). After some spring compeititon, it appeared that Devin Kargman would move into the QB 1 spot. However, he hit the transfer portal. That brought back C.J. Montes, who had shined at Fordham before joining the KSU quarterback spring battle. He appeared headed to Florida A&M until Kargman went portal.
While at Fordham in 2023, Montes led the Patriot League and was tenth in the NCAA FCS completions per game stat. Now the Flashes are hoping Montes can have a productive senior campaign.
• The top two receivers (Chrishon McCray (40 catches, 705 yards, 9 TDs), Luke Floriea (44 catches, 699 yards, 7 TDs) and two TEs are gone, so the receiving corps will be fairly young, Deshawn Martin is back after earning (Third Team) All-MAC honors in 2023. Hunter Hopperton (Rhode Island) is one of several transfers and could contribute at tight end.
• Jordan Nubin (5-11, 215) figures to lead the running game. He previously spent four campaigns with Minnesota, totaling 604 yards and three scores.
• There is experience up front, with Dustyn Morrell and Garret Masterson returning. Several transfers are also in the mix.
DEFENSE:
• As with the offense, there are likely three returning starters. There is also an influx of transfers, so time/game action will tell the story.
• Josh Baka (UAB) is gone and Rocco Nicholl (South Florida) left after three years with the Flashes. Still, linebacker should be a strength of the defense. Senior Mason Woods and junior Canaan Williams combined for 114 tackles last year
• Sophomore safety Tevin Tucker returns to anchor KSU's defensive backfield, with several transfers moving in for a unit that was 11th among MAC teams in pass defense (251.1 ypg) and pass defense efficiency.
• Antoine Campbell and Mattheus Carroll were part-time starters up front in 2024. Jarmarcus Hill and Junior Diallo offer transfer help.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
• Andrew Glass, who punted for the Flashes and scored 269 points on 55 field goals, 102 PATs and a two-point conversion is now at Northern Illinois. However, Will Hryszko booted five field goals and 15 extra points last year. He returns. Senior Charlie Durkin figures to pick up punting duties.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A quick fix probably wasn't in the cards, and an internal coaching change likely doesn't move the needle that much one way or the other.
There is plenty to worry about, including a challenging schedule. After opening at home against Merrimack, KSU travels to Texas Tech. An early MAC game follows, bringing highly-regarded Buffalo to town. The Flashes then finish non-conference play at Florida State and Oklahoma.
If KSU can avoid a bevy of serious injuries and effectively integrate its transfers, more favorable matchups against the likes of Ball State and Akron are part of the November schedule. However, both are road games.
RSS Feed