CHARLOTTE — With just one winning season in nine years, the Charlotte 49ers and their fans are due for some good times — the Niners are coming off back-to-back three-win seasons to go with a 32-71 program record and a single bowl appearance.
Second-year coach Biff Poggi has his work cut out for him once again in what will be Charlotte’s second season as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Last year
When the 2023 AAC preseason media poll ranked the 49ers last this past season, Poggi countered with his own prediction that his team would win the conference outright. The Niners’ debut AAC campaign resulted in a 3-9 (2-6 conf.) record that placed them 12th among the conference’s 14 teams.
Defensively, the 49ers were solid enough, ranking in the top half of the AAC in yardage allowed; the offense, however, ranked as one of the worst in the country
Averaging just 17.5 points per game, they failed to keep up with opposing offenses in most games as neither Jalon Jones or Trexler Ivey excelled at the quarterback position; the team finished with seven total passing touchdowns compared to 16 interceptions.
A 1-5 start to the season ran into the ground as Charlotte managed only to defeat East Carolina and Tulsa in eight games of American play, losing four matchups by at least two touchdowns.
Changes and newcomers
With 22 incoming transfers, Poggi has hit the portal in a big way again, bringing in a top-70 transfer class in the country — the group is headlined by former Florida Gator quarterback (and presumed 49er starter) Max Brown.
The redshirt sophomore completed 19 of 28 passes for 192 yards and an interception last season. He will have some targets who are also newcomers to the Queen City: O’Mega Blake (ECU), Justin Olson (Middle Tennessee), and Isaiah Myers (Independence C.C.).
Last season’s five starters on the offensive line have been replaced by transfer targets from Tennessee, Texas A&M, Clemson, Florida, and Georgia Tech.
Iowa State transfer running back Cartevious Norton is in Charlotte for his junior year after averaging 3.9 yards per carry last season. He will fight on the depth chart with returning sophomore Terron Kellman and Michigan transfer CJ Stokes.
The defensive secondary has seven new transfers, including free safety Treyveon McGee (Iowa State) and cornerback CJ Clinkscales (Boston College).
Players to watch
Third-team All-AAC cornerback Dontae Balfour — a former Tar Heel — will likely be a consistent force for defensive coordinator Ryan Osborn. In Balfour’s first season as a Niner, he tied school records with 11 pass breakups in a season.
Leading receiver Jairus Mack is back for his junior season after posting 453 yards and averaging 18.1 yards per reception in 2023. He is expected to battle with Olson, Blake, and Myers for a starting role alongside juniors Duane Thomas Jr. and Jack Reynolds, who will operate as slot receivers.
Depending on how offensive coordinator Mike Miller spreads out the passing attack, all five of those wideouts could expect a steady dosage of targets.
With star junior and team captain Nikhai Hill-Green transferring to Colorado, that leaves senior Prince Bemah as Charlotte’s premier athlete at the middle linebacker spot. The Gastonia-born player has battled injuries throughout his tenure but led the 49ers in tackles in 2022.
Best case
The Niners take a real step forward as the returning players improve and the assembled transfer class gels in a way that it didn’t in 2023.
Brown proves to be the quarterback that Poggi is hoping he can be as he leads Charlotte to six wins, a competitive conference showing, and the program’s second-ever bowl game appearance.
Worst case
The loss of linebacker Demetrius Knight (team-best 96 tackles, three interceptions) to South Carolina knocks the 49er defense down a peg as the offense remains a bottom-five unit in the country.
Charlotte finishes the season with just a couple wins, adding to a program slump where the team hasn’t reached a five-win season in three years.
Key games
Oct. 5 vs. East Carolina — The Niners got their first-ever AAC victory in the form of a 10-7 road win in Greenville last October. Both teams appear to be marginally improved this time around, providing a chance to see which is the top NC school in the conference.
Oct. 19 at Navy — Charlotte’s third AAC game of the season will be a trip to Annapolis, Md., to face the Midshipmen, who are sputtering off of four losing seasons in a row after 14 consecutive winning seasons. On paper, this is a winnable conference matchup for the Niners and a must-win if the team has a bowl bid in its outlook.
Outlook
Charlotte has been picked to finish 13th of 14 teams in this year’s AAC preseason media poll; Memphis is the favorite to win the AAC.
It’s only Year 2 for Poggi, but after notching only three wins despite promised success this time last year, he admitted mid-season that victories will be the only reason for Charlotte to keep him in charge going forward.
If Brown can be the quarterback that Poggi is hoping he is, the Niners have a real opportunity to improve in the win/loss column, build their program’s brand, and give the fans in Jerry Richardson Stadium something to cheer for.
