By: Nolan Alexander
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State football is eager to finally begin its sixth year of competition with the beginning of preseason practice Friday.
The Owls are scheduled to play a six-game season, including four Big South Conference games from Feb. 27-Apr. 10. The lid-lifter against Shorter University is set for 1 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
Led by Brian Bohannon for every season since its inception, KSU is well-stocked with returning playmakers and linemen on both sides of the ball. Eight starters are back on offense and seven return for the defense.
Plenty of eyes will be on the quarterback position, where Tommy Bryant and Jonathan Murphy both bring strong credentials to lead the charge. In 2019, when Daniel David suffered a season-ending injury at Campbell, Bryant filled in admirably until he also went down with an injury in the FCS Playoffs first round victory at Wofford. The then-junior led KSU with 16 rushing scores and was second with 683 rushing yards. He completed 21 of 40 passes for seven touchdowns and just one interception.
Like Bryant, the "next man up" philosophy was thrust into action when Murphy led the Owls to a resounding road victory. In four games, he averaged 105 yards per-game and totaled 420 rushing yards.
Despite graduating All-America running back Bronson Rechsteiner, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent, there's no shortage of backs in the stable to line up behind the Owl signal-caller.
A known commodity, Kyle Glover, ran for 211 yards and two scores in 2019, returns and is joined by Preston Daniels, Cade Radam, and Gary Osby.
Caleb O'Neal, Ryan Pontrelli, and KJ Hancock lead a group of wide receivers that will look to expand an offense that has kept KSU in the top-25 polls for 33 consecutive weeks.
The slot backs are headlined by redshirt-senior Shaq Terry and former All-American Isaac Foster. Adeolu Adeleke, Iaan Cousin and Nykeem Farrow are slated to get plenty of touches with their eye on earning more snaps. Terry has proved to be dynamic in both rushing and receiving. He led the Owls last season with 15 catches, 370 yards, and five touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 7.5 yards per carry for 383 total yards and four touchdowns. Foster played in just eight games before a season-ending injury, but still finished third on the squad with 506 rushing yards. He also totaled four rushing scores and averaged an eye-popping 14.9 yards per rush.
With seven returners on the defensive side, the goal is high for a unit that finished with the third best total defense nationally in 2019.
Consensus All-American and Big South Defensive Player of the Year Bryson Armstrong returns for his senior season after recording 95 tackles, and 12 tackles for loss. The Marietta native is joined on the outside by Demetrius Pettway, and interior 'backers Kareem Taylor and Chance Bates. Taylor was second on the team with 56 tackles and 30 solo stops, Pettway registered 36 tackles and two interceptions, and Bates brought down 45 ball-carriers with four sacks.
They'll aim for another high ranking under the leadership of promoted defensive coordinator, Danny Verpaele, and new linebacker coach, Greg Harris.
Stronger play is to be expected from a secondary that has some experience returning from 2019. Markeith Montgomery, Bryson Perry and Je'Cory Burks fight to solidify spots at cornerback, while Cincere Mason, Camari Louis, Cole Loden, and Jeremiah Compton will aim to put clamps down at safety.
Much like the significance of quarterback, a big piece of the defensive diagram is who holds the line of scrimmage and applies pressure to the opposing quarterbacks. Gone are departing seniors Desmond Johnson, Jr. and Andrew Butcher, but Peyton Moore, Joel Parker, Marquez Baxter and Kerick Reese figure to factor into the defensive line fold.
The Owls head into year six as the most successful five-year start-up program in college football history, posting 48 victories and surpassing Georgia Southern (47) and Old Dominion (46) during the final two weeks last season.
Tickets are in limited supply due to social distancing guidelines and are going fast. Click here to purchase your tickets today!
