Gospel of Hal.

[Soapy]

Calling us scared money, having two fumbles returned for touchdowns against you, and then dipping for Charlotte.

This was the correct timeline. My god.

you and Caesar both ran. Alas, y'all are tied for the leader for this season. LSU for you both?

[Caesar]

Calling us scared money, having two fumbles returned for touchdowns against you, and then dipping for Charlotte.

This was the correct timeline. My god.

you and Caesar both ran. Alas, y'all are tied for the leader for this season. LSU for you both?

regardless of his choice, Geaux tigahs.

[Soapy]

2030 American Preseason Previews: Charlotte 49ers
Charlotte eyes an escape from the cellar in Jaleel Mosley's first season.
by Cesar Canada
Jun 19, 2030, 8:14 PM EDT

2029 record: 1-11 (0-8 American)
2029 postseason: did not qualify

In 2029, 132 of 136 FBS teams won multiple games. The Charlotte 49ers were one of four programs to fall into the other undesirable category. Charlotte stumbled to a 1-11 finish, losing their final eleven games of the season after an 'upset' win over Arizona State in the opener with the Sun Devils being a decent side by year's end, making a bowl game and winning seven games.

The glimmer of hope was quickly stumped out in Tim Albin's final season in charge. The former Ohio head coach had been given six seasons to turn it around after his predecessor, Biff Poggi, only got twenty-two games before being given an axe. There were small signs of improvement under Albin early in his tenure, going from a one-win team in 2025 to three wins to five wins when he was then given a three-year extension. Since then, it's gone in the wrong direction, going 4-8 in 2028 before putting together another one-win season last year, the program's third in their brief history.

There aren't a lot of positives from last season. They had the second worst scoring offense in the country, edging out Sacramento State by half a point. The defense ranked sixth to last. Look up any stat, and there’s a good chance you can find the 49ers near the basement of the FBS rankings.

But there is one significant positive: 2030 is a new year. A new decade. A new coach. A new era of 49ers football for a program that is still struggling to find an identity and finds itself likely at a crossroad that will determine just how much longer FBS football is a viable endeavor at the university.

Staff

Several members of Mississippi State's coaching staff, which led the Bulldogs to a College Football Playoff appearance, have followed Mosley to Charlotte.

Jaleel Mosley comes with a short but impressive resume. He broke through the coaching ranks as an assistant under Hal Mumme and Mike Leach before spending time at Incarnate World, Washington State and Colorado State as a position coach before getting his first coordinator gig at UL Monroe, probably one of the only FBS programs with a smaller budget than his current situation at Charlotte and one of four FBS programs that have yet to win a bowl game.

He led quite the offensive turnaround, centering the offense around Houston transfer Austin Carlisle who would follow him to Texas State and then again to Mississippi State where the duo would put up prolific numbers in all three stops. Mosley showed he could do it without Carlisle last season, who was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, and led the Bulldogs to their best season arguably in modern football by making it to a playoff game with a true freshman at quarterback.

He brings a lot of familiar faces to Charlotte. The offensive coordinator is Nick van Buren, who was with Mosley in Starkville as an off-field assistant. Mosley said during van Buren's introductory press conference that he will be calling plays. Now, how much of that is true and/or how long that will last remains to be seen. Mosley's play-calling is what got him the job so turning it over completely seems like a bit of a risk, especially for a first-time head coach taking over a program that needs a big turnaround.

Defensively, former UL Monroe linebackers coach Brian Mekari gets his first defensive coordinator gig. A rookie head, two rookie coordinators, two rookie play callers.

There aren't a lot of 'gray beards' on the staff which could work to the team's advantage as it could serve as an injection of youth and energy to a program that has the worst win percentage in college football. On the other hand, the lack of veteran presence on the coaching staff could lead to a complete mess.

Offense

Former Syracuse running back Davonte Hilliman rushed for 518 yards and seven touchdowns for the Orange in thirteen games.

• Key arrivals: HB Davonte Hilliman, WR Melvin Vandermade
• Key incumbents: QB Damierre Pratt, RB Jermaine Busby, WR Thomas Morey, WR Johnnie Cave, TE Spence Jewell, G Rashard Rich, C Manny Tutt, T Amir Jasper

Charlotte returns a lot of starters from last year's squad, which might not be a good thing given their struggles. They were active in the portal and were linked to several quarterbacks, including former Bulldog David Ficken who ended up signing with Memphis.

Damiere Pratt returns as the expected starter where he played decent last season, given the offense around him. He threw for 3,047 yards in twelve games with twelve touchdowns and twelve interceptions. He also had two rushing touchdowns. Behind him, there's not much there. The 49ers signed two high school quarterbacks, who were recruited under Albin, but failed to bring in a veteran arm in the portal to challenge Pratt.

What they were able to get is some help at the skill position. Davonte Hilliman's exodus from Syracuse wasn't a clean one and it was a bit clouded in mystery, which is probably how he ended up at Charlotte. He'll be the Niners bell cow this season and could be in for a big year. Running backs are a huge part of the passing game in this offense which use the quick game as an extension of the running game. In Mosley's five seasons as a coordinator, four of them have ended with a running back leading the team in either receptions or receiving touchdowns.

There's some experience behind Hillman in Jermaine Busby who rushed for 605 yards and five touchdowns last season and could be effective in short yardage. The depth, however, isn't really there beyond that as is the case with many of the positions on the roster.

Charlotte was already bringing back two experienced receivers in Thomas Morey and Johnny Cave, each totaling at least forty receptions and over 600 yards apiece. They went out and got a true number one receiver in UTEP's Melvin Vandermade, who caught 74 passes for 961 yards. Vandermade, like Hilliman, is likely due for a big season. Carterrious Brown had 103 receptions last year as MSU's top receiver and Vandermade could be looking at similar numbers as this offense isn't afraid to pepper its best player with targets instead of worrying about spreading the ball.

A room that is extremely thin is tight end with just two scholarship players in seniors Spencer Jewell and Jeremy Heatherly. Jewell was super productive last year with 54 receptions for 658 yards and is effective as well as a run blocker. He's not the athlete that Mosley and Co. are used to in their offense as MSU's Zayion Cotton would routinely stretch defenses vertically with some big plays on his way to winning the Mackey but he is effective in his own way.

The offensive line is surprisingly in decent shape, considering this was a one-win team. They return three starters in Rashard Rich, Manny Tutt and Amir Jasper and they were all some of their better linemen according to Pro Football Focus. The starting five should be okay but, again, if that depth is tested, things could get bad really quickly.

Defense

The 49ers will need to replace most of their secondary that struggled last season.

• Key arrivals: CB Chester Grymes, CB Jalen Montgomery
• Key incumbents: EDGE Antoine Weathersby, EDGE Nick Potts, DT DeMarcus Brent, LB Nick Mayweather, S John Hines

Similar to offense, Charlotte does bring back a lot of players who decide to stick around following the regime change. Again, could be a good thing in terms of continuity and perhaps some growth. Could be a bad thing since those same players were part of a defense that struggled last season.

The entire front seven is essentially back, including Nick Potts and DeMarcus Brent who were some of the bright spots of the defense. Antoine Weathersby, who was a rotational starter at defensive end, projects to take that next step as a full-time starter and hopefully give the 49ers a good pass rushing duo between him and Potts.

On the interior, Brent is a disruptive force albeit undersized at six-foot and 289 pounds, recording nine tackles for lost last season. The staff is also high on Dalton Keaton, the junior out of Pennsylvania who showed some flashes last season and in the spring.

From the second level on is where things get a bit tricky. Emmett Hutton started to emerge as a part-time starter towards the back end of the season and and Nick Mayweather had a really good start to the season before injuries cost him six games. Between the two of them, Charlotte could have a decent enough linebacker corps to compete in the AAC.

After that, it's a toss up. The 49ers don't have a single cornerback with a start to their name and only two of them have played in a college game before in Devontae Thomas and Jordan Burgess. They have two true freshmen in Chester Grymes and Jalen Montgomery who will probably end up being key contributors right away which is always a scary proposition. Especially when the backend at safety isn't solidified either.

John Hines is an experienced safety with 53 tackles and six pass breakups last season but no one else in the room has much game experience.

Schedule and Outlook

Week	Opponent	2029 Record
0	vs. Appalachian State	9-4
1	BYE
2	at North Carolina State	2-10
3	vs. Coastal Carolina	6-7
4	BYE
5	at UTSA*	7-6
6	vs. #25 East Carolina*	11-3
7	at Tulane*	7-6
8	vs. Navy*	5-7
9	at USF*	5-7
10	BYE
11	at Sacramento State	5-7
12	at Tulsa*	4-8
13	vs. North Texas*	10-4
14	vs. Florida Atlantic*	9-4

* denotes non-conference game

It's a tough stretch to open the season for Mosley in this new era of 49ers football. They face off against an App State team that's always one of the better G6 teams and then travel to NC State in a game that could get embarrassing as the Wolfpack also have a new coaching staff that will be looking to make a new impression.

Two bye weeks in the first month of the season doesn't help either as they'll be trying to find the groove of things as they head into AAC play. While there are some games on the schedule that might look getable against teams like Navy, USF, Sac State and Tulsa, those teams are also certainly looking at Charlotte as winnable games as well.

The theme of the season will be progress. While every school wants to compete for conference titles, jumping from 1-11 to the American Championship in one season is an arduous task. But climbing to the 5-6 win mark would show massive strides for a program seeking its second winning season in history.

[redsox907]

feels like Y1 at ULM all over again. Win enough to challenge for a bowl game until you find your next Carlisle

remember back in CFB25 that Charlotte was the darling lol. Always seemed to end up in the CFP

[djp73]

Let’s see what you can do as head coach, looks like a bit of a dumpster fire you are taking over

[Caesar]

Time to find out if Jaleel Moseley a program builder or better off as a coordinator.

[Soapy]

feels like Y1 at ULM all over again. Win enough to challenge for a bowl game until you find your next Carlisle

remember back in CFB25 that Charlotte was the darling lol. Always seemed to end up in the CFP

Let’s see what you can do as head coach, looks like a bit of a dumpster fire you are taking over

Time to find out if Jaleel Moseley a program builder or better off as a coordinator.

the starters are okay. the backups are like dead ass in the 50s with like 77 speed at WR and CB

[Captain Canada]

you and Caesar both ran. Alas, y'all are tied for the leader for this season. LSU for you both?

*were unable because we were both employed while you updated during the work day but

LSU x2, kind sir.

AAC about to bring that belt to ass if that record is any indication.

[Soapy]

Week 0 Preview: vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
Head Coach: Dowell Loggains | OC: Jelaine Keene (Spread)| DC: Charlie Pattison (4-2-5)
2029 Record: 9-4
Date/Time: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2030 — 7:00 PM
Forecast: 99° | Showers | 45% Rain
Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: ESPN

Returning Leaders
Passing: Gideon Goodspeed 61 cmp%, 3845 yds, 30 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Zaire Ricks 612 yards, 3.7 ypc, 9 TD
Receiving: George Mamula 29 receptions, 300 yards, 2 TD
Tackles: CB George Spann 63 tackles
Sacks: DT Alex McCann 9.5 sacks
Interceptions: LB Ronnie Tapp INT

Injuries
None reported

Hard Rock Bet™
Spread: Appalachian State -3
Moneyline: Charlotte +130
Over: 51.5

The Bookie
Caesar
djp73
Captain Canada
redsox907

[Soapy]

you and Caesar both ran. Alas, y'all are tied for the leader for this season. LSU for you both?

*were unable because we were both employed while you updated during the work day but

LSU x2, kind sir.

AAC about to bring that belt to ass if that record is any indication.