MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Flashes roster preview
Offense
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | June 20, 2025, 11:12am EDT
"I think we have some really solid, experienced upperclassmen in key spots and I am excited about the newcomers ability to contribute right away. We have high expectations for this team." New Kent State head coach Tyson Veidt said when asked about his predictions for the upcoming season.
Kenni Burns, who led a 1-11 campaign in 2023 and saw a huge improvement to 6-7 with a bowl appearance last season, "bolted" for the defensive coordinator position at Michigan State in a move that was surprising to many. Veidt elected to keep the majority of the staff intact.
"When you see an improvement like that from one season to the next you know things are being done the right way. I brought a few of my guys in but overall I wasn't looking to rock the boat here."
Jordan McAlary, who was a first year offensive coordinator in 2024, led a big offensive turnaround, boosting the team from 14.7PPG in 2023 to over 30 last season.
"Jordan is a great talent and we're lucky to have him here. We're really excited to see what the offense can do the season with him and Tommy at the helm after a year together."
Let's have a look at the roster:
QUARTERBACKS
Expected Starter: SR Tommy Ulatowski
Reserves: FR Terrance Ahmad, SO Dru DeShields, SR Devin Kargman, SO JD Sherrod
Returning Leader(2024 Stats): Ulatowski 3,810Yds 20TD 12Int
Key Departures: None
Outlook: Ulatowski has a year of experience in McAlary's offense and should have an even better season than last year. He has a strong enough arm and great accuracy along with just enough mobility to be a threat. He ran for nine touchdowns last season. McAlary is expected to open things up in the passing game and shift the focus that way after a somewhat balanced attack in 2024. They will need the offensive line to hold up better than they did in 2024 when they allowed Ulatowski to be sacked 44 times. Kargman and Sherrod are serviceable backups but would be a downgrade if they need to play significant time.
RUNNINGBACKS
Expected Starter: SR Gavin Garcia
Reserves: JR Curtis Douglas, SO Marques Hicks, SO Jared Kelly, JR Preston Taylor
Returning Leader(2024 Stats): Garcia 1,139Yds 9TD
Key Departures: Ky Thomas 513Yds 7TD
Outlook: Garcia will get the bulk of the playing time and last year's RB2 Ky Thomas is gone. All four are pretty close behind Garcia and could be used in a variety of ways. Douglas' eight carries in 2024 is the second most for players still with the team. Douglas is a bit more of a between the tackles runner and Taylor, a converted receiver, has shown great abilities in the passing game out of the backfield. The team also signed Manny Santos who is listed at fullback and may contribute in certain formations.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Expected Starters: JR Chrishon McCray, JR Donte Lee Jr, SO Jahzae Kimbrough, SO Dontrell Bennett
Reserves: JR Dash Dorsey, FR Jay Jay Etheridge, SR Ali Fisher, FR Paskal Jackson-Amos, FR Anthony Kilroy, FR Dalton McLennan
Returning Leaders(2024 Stats): McCray 926Yds 6TD
Key Departures: Isaiah Batton 1,047Yds 11TD, Sebastian Brown 419Yds 2TD, Luke Floriea 377Yds 1TD
Outlook: Wide receiver is by far the offensive position that lost the most talent from last season. The coaching staff is expecting a monster year from McCray and has been moving him around to get him different looks and matchups. Donte Lee Jr only caught 11 passes for 136 yards and a score for Liberty last season but he has had a great spring and looks to be WR2 for the Flashes. His size nd speed should make him a threat in the MAC. No other receiver on the roster caught a pass in 2024. Kimbrough is not as fast as McCray and Lee but he shows a crisp cut and an ability to beat press coverage. Bennett is also not a burner but may have the best hands on the team. Dash Dorsey should get touches as he has been almost as fast as McCray this spring. Overall this group will need inexperienced players to mature quickly and will need to rely on and lean on McCray and Lee.
TIGHT ENDS
Expected Starter: SR Mohammad Hazime
Reserves: SO Peyton Faulkner, SR Gus Goodell, SO Lance Langford
Returning Leaders(2024 Stats): N/A
Key Departures: Hayden Junker 381Yds, Conner Muldowney 106Yds
Outlook: If you're looking for a tight end on the Flashes who has caught a pass at the collegiate level you can stop, there aren't any. Graduates Hayden Junker and Conner Muldowney accounted for all the snaps and all the targets at the position last year. Mohammad Hazime at 6'5" and 233 pounds looks the part of a tight end the most in the group and looks to be the best receiver of the group. Transfer Langford is the strongest and is the best blocker of the bunch. Faulkner looks to need more time to develop and Goodell is purely a special teamer who needed a listed position. I would expect not to see a tight end on the field as frequently as we did last season.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Expected Starters: LT SR Jimto Obidegwu, LG SR Dustyn Morell, C JR David Doulong, RG SR Tristen Bittner, RT SR Garrett Masterson
Reserves: SR Nikolai Bujnowski, SO Evan Cooke, FR Cameron Hippenhammer, FR Josh McMahan, SO Andrew Page, SO Braylon Smith, FR Tony Spann, FR Avery Thompson, FR Elijah Williams, SO Cecil Wilson
Returning Starters: Obidegwu, Doulong,
Key Departures: Chris Farrell, Kevin Toth, Cameron Golden
Outlook: The Flashes have three new starters on the offensive line but are very experienced at LT and C, two key positions. Morrell and Masterson did play significant reps in 2024 due to injuries and the coaching staff playing around with different rotations. Bittner did not. Obidegwu and Masterson are strong pass blockers as is Doulong. Bittner is big and strong but does lack a bit of technique, he could get pushed by Williams or Bujnowski if he struggles. Bujnowski provides solid depth at the interior positions.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
With Ulatowski's experience in McAlary's system the hope is for a big season from him if he can gel with a mostly new receiving corps. Garcia should be one of the top backs in the MAC again this year. If the offensive line can hold up then Kent State should be an exciting offense to watch this season.
|NATL|STATE|POS|Hometown|HT|WT
|3489|72|306|Clairton, PA|6'00"|197
| 273|10|32|Baltimore, MD|6'3"|175 (Transfer SO, Liberty)
|657|25|33|Toledo, OH|6'3"|245 (Transfer SO)
