Top Storylines:
• A new era for Kennesaw State football officially begins on Friday night when the second head coach in program history, Jerry Mack, leads the Owls into the 2025 season opener versus ACC foe Wake Forest.
• A veteran coach, Mack arrives at Kennesaw State after having coached at a myriad of places, including Tennessee (2021-23), Rice (2017-20), NC Central (2014-17) and most recently the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024.
• Kennesaw State will debut new schematics on both sides of the ball, installing an tempo spread attack on the offensive side and a 4-2-5 base setup on the other side of the ball.
• In just its second full-fledged season in Division I FBS, Kennesaw State is set to open the 2025 against its second and third Power 4/5 opponents in its all-time history, traveling to Wake Forest and Indiana (Sept. 6) in back-to-back weeks.
• Kennesaw State is meeting its second opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference (Georgia Tech, 2021) and is opening the season on the road for the third time in the last six years.
• Kennesaw State is 5-5 all-time in season openers, but just 1-4 on the road.
• Despite bringing in nearly 60 newcomers, Kennesaw State returns many familiar faces, including 10 selections to Athlon Sports’ Preseason All-CUSA Selections.
• Of those 10 was first-team selection DB JeRico Washington, Jr., who was also named a HERO Sports Group of Five Preseason All-American and named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason watch list - honoring the nation’s top defensive backs.
• Off the field, Washington was also named to the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and a nominee for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his community-focused efforts.
• Friday night will also give Owl Nation its first look at starting quarterback Dexter Williams II. Williams previously played at Indiana (2020-23) and Georgia Southern (2024), but injuries have held him to 432 career passing yards and five touchdowns.
• KSU will also get its first look at former QB Davis Bryson as he transitions to a starting role in the wide reciever room, impressing in his first career reps at the position in the spring before making the depth chart this fall.
The Owls Fund
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU’s programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Joining The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
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