The 2025 Mercer Football Media Guide is a production of the Athletic Media Relations Office, published by Mercer Athletics
Editor: Todd C. Anderson
Covers, Page and Graphic Design: Lamar Courmon
Writing, Research and Editing Assistance: Kayla Vick, Matt Badik, Morgan Barber, Rick Cameron, Kaylin Flukey, Connor Garrison, Zach Hiers, Bennett Houston, Makenzie Jones, Brian Magnus, Samantha Nelson, John Peach, Donovan Schultz, Akiliyah “AK” Sumlin, Daniel Tate
Mercer Photographers: Taylor Erickson, Banks Fana, Deron Hicks, Jacob Hoffman, Kenny Mitchell, Samantha Nelson, Aaliyah Prim, Josh Smith, Abby Sugg, Akiliyah “AK” Sumlin, Augusta Thramer
Printing: Panaprint, Inc. (Macon, Ga. - www.panaprint.com)
QUICK FACTS
W illiam
Representative Dr. Jeffrey Hugdahl
Jim Cole
University Drive Macon, GA 31207
(478)301-2994
MercerBears.com
@MercerBears
@MercerAthletics
(10,200)
ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
TODD C. ANDERSON
Assistant AD/Media Relations
Primary Football Contact
C: (662) 312-1829
O: (478) 301-5500 anderson_t02@mercer.edu
BRIAN MAGNUS
Assistant Director/ Athletic Media Relations
O: (478) 301-5219
magnus_bt@mercer.edu
KAYLIN FLUKEY
Graduate Assistant (Secondary Football Contact)
O: (478) 301-5218 kaylin.flukey@live.mercer.edu
RYLEE BAMBERGER
Graduate Assistant
O: (478) 301-5209
rylee.bamberger@live.mercer.edu
TALIA CAMPIONE
Media Relations Assistant
O: (478) 301-5500
campione_tm@mercer.edu
MAILING ADDRESS
Mercer Athletic Media Relations
1501 Mercer University Drive Macon, GA 31207
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
University Center Bottom Floor, Suite
STAY CONNECTED
MercerAthletics I MercerFootball
MEDIA COVERAGE POLICIES
The following media policies are subject to change at any time.
WORKING CREDENTIALS
Requests for media credentials for Mercer University home games should be submitted via email to Assistant AD/Media Relations Todd Anderson at anderson_t02@mercer.edu. Only those requests submitted by the sports editor of a newspaper or the sports director of a radio or television station will be considered. Priority for the issuance of credentials will be given to daily print/digital media outlets and radio and television stations which cover Mercer football on a regular basis. A credential does not guarantee a seat and access to the team bench area is prohibited at all times.
Credential requests should be made no later than one week before each game. Organizations may request single-game credentials for the entire season, but requests may be evaluated on a game-by-game basis. Any organization that requests a single-game credential then does not use it might be prohibited from receiving another pass the remainder of the season. No credential requests will be granted after Wednesday of game week.
CREDENTIAL PICKUP (MU HOME GAMES)
Credentials may be picked up at media will call (Gate 2) at Five Star Stadium on game day beginning 90 minutes before kickoff. Each media representative must claim his or her pass by showing official identification. No group pickups are allowed on the day of the game.
PARKING PASSES
Parking passes will be available to credentialed media on a game-by-game basis. MU will, again, utilize digital parking passes for the 2024 season. More information will be shared directly with media members who request parking passes.
SIDELINES
Mercer University follows NCAA and Southern Conference rules regarding media representatives on the sidelines.
• Credentials must be visible to gain access to the field.
• All photographers/videographers must be in attendance in a working capacity with proper equipment.
• Photographers are not permitted to shoot between the 25-yard lines.
• Affiliate television stations are not allowed the services of a grip, and credentials will not be provided for grip operations.
• No one under 18 years of age with be issued a credential for sideline access.
• Photographers/videographers are considered working members of the media, and they are to refrain from cheering or conversing with student-athletes, coaches or officials.
STATISTICS SERVICES
Live stats for the 2024 season will be available at the following website: MercerStats.com. Media members are encouraged to use this site as their main reference point for statistics. Updated game notes for both teams and Southern Conference notes and statistics will be available at MercerBears.com/ GameDay. Upon request, a final statistics book can be e-mailed to media members approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game. To be added to the list, please e-mail football contact Kaylin Flukey at kaylin.flukey@live.mercer.edu.
INTERNET ACCESS
Wireless Internet is available for the working media in the press box. Ethernet connections are available at designated seats in the press box, but only a limited number of cords are available.
FOOD
A complimentary pregame meal will be served 90 minutes prior to kickoff. There will also be concession stands open on the concourse level for media to purchase food on game day. Soft drinks will be available in the pressbox throughout the game.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Practices: Mercer’s practices during the regular season are closed to media. Media are not permitted to observe practices or workouts from any location without approval from the MU Athletic Media Relations Office.
Monday: Head Coach Mike Jacobs will hold his weekly press conference on the second floor of the Homer & Ruth Drake Fieldhouse. Lunch for those in attendance will follow. Jacobs will be joined by selected player(s) at the press conference which will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.
Coach/Player Availability: Outside of the weekly press conference, interviews during the week with head coach Mike Jacobs or any players should be arranged through the MU Athletic Media Relations Office. The best time for player interviews is following practice on Tuesday. All player interviews should be completed by Wednesday. Please contact the MU Athletic Media Relations Office for all player interview requests at least 24 hours in advance.
Game Day: Postgame availability only. Interview requests will be collected at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Mercer locker room, home or away, is closed to media at all times. For games in Macon, head coach Mike Jacobs, coordinators and requested MU players will be brought to the team’s designated interview area for press conferences and breakout interviews. A representative from the MU Athletic Media Relations Office will be on hand to assist media in finding these areas. Contact the visiting team SID for postgame coach and player availability.
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• Photographers may send/edit photos from the field level of the Homer & Ruth Drake Fieldhouse which is located in the south end zone. Contact Todd Anderson to reserve space.
• Not conforming to any of the above-listed guidelines will result in the immediate dismissal from the stadium by game operations staff.
The official website of Mercer Athletics, MercerBears. com, is the most complete source of information on the Bears, featuring news releases, schedules, rosters, bios, statistics, game notes, photos, videos, archives and more. A complete video from the weekly press conference is available on the website Monday evening; weekly releases will be made available on Tuesday mornings.
Mercer University Athletics partners with Macon-based Creek Media LLC and Houston County-based SportsMic to form the Mercer Sports Network, the flagship platform for the radio broadcasts of Mercer football and men’s basketball games, plus select women’s basketball games. The Mercer Sports Network consists of 100.9 The Creek FM and SportsMic, the free downloadable app for smart phones and tablets that allows access to games from any location. Audio links to each specific event’s radio broadcast can be found on respective sports’ schedule pages on MercerBears.com.
The Mercer Sports Network is fronted by “Voice of the Bears” Rick Cameron, who is in his 21st year of calling radio play-by-play for Mercer. Cameron was inducted into the Mercer Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019 and called his 1,000th game on Jan. 25, 2025. In 2024, Cameron was one of five finalists for the Bill Schwanke Award, which goes to the top play-by-play broadcaster in the nation for FCS football.
Cameron retired from Mercer Marketing Communications in 2022 after serving for 25 years as senior assistant vice president. Before coming to Mercer, Cameron was the editor/publisher of three bi-weekly newspapers and worked at two different radio stations, serving as an air personality and news editor. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1977 with an ABJ in radio/television/film.
He is married to Myra Cameron, who retired in 2022 from the Mercer Athletic Department after 25 years as eligibility coordinator. They have two daughters: Allison Tarrer (Scott) and Courtney Shields (Kevin), and five grandchildren: Andrew (Katie) and Abigail Tarrer, and Katie, Cassie and Conner Shields. The Camerons are members of Cross Point Perry Church. For football broadcasts, Cameron is joined by Billy
Andrews is entering his third year of broadcasting for Mercer football. A native of Augusta, Ga., and a graduate of the iconic Permian High School in Odessa, Texas—home of Friday Night Lights. Andrews has spent over a decade behind the mic as a football, basketball, and baseball broadcaster for multiple high schools across Middle Georgia. He also co-hosted the Mercer Tailgate Show for five years.
Andrews holds both a Bachelor’s (1999) and Master’s degree (2001) from Liberty University. His career in ministry has included leadership roles in churches across Atlanta, Fort Myers and Warner Robins. For the last 18 years, he has served as the Executive Pastor at Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins.
Previously, Andrews coached high school girls’ basketball at Central Fellowship Christian Academy (CFCA) from 2019 to 2022. Under his leadership, the team won back-to-back state championships, advancing to three consecutive Final Fours, and capturing a NACA National Championship in 2021. The team’s 50-game winning streak ranked as the fourth-longest active streak in the nation at the time, according to MaxPreps.
He and his wife Kristy have three children: Gwyn, Kellen and Emory.
Bill Connelly is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with 31 years of service flying several platforms accumulating more than 1,800 combat flying hours and 225 combat missions. He has been with Mercer since March 2020 where he has broadcast or announced more than 150 games for eight Mercer sports. He has been the in-game host for Mercer
football, men’s and women’s basketball games for the past two seasons. He has also been the announcer the last two seasons for the Macon Mayhem professional hockey team. Connelly has been broadcasting with SportsMic for the past 10 years bringing football, basketball, baseball and softball to the Houston County area as the Voice of the Veteran Warhawks for more than 300 games.
Connelly is an active member of Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins. He and his wife Michele have two daughters, Sydney and Erin.
Greg Elrod and Cole Powell complete the Mercer Sports Network team. Elrod, owner and CEO of SportsMic, and Powell facilitate the Mercer Tailgate Show that airs two hours before each home kickoff from Five Star Stadium. They also produce the Mike Jacobs Coach’s Show each Thursday night at Wild Wing Café during football season and Cameron serves as the host.
Andrews as color analyst and Bill Connelly as sideline reporter.
The 2025-26 Mercer Sports Network Team (L-R): Billy Andrews, Bill Connelly, RIck Cameron, Cole Powell, Greg Elrod
Season Preview ROSTER BREAKDOWN
TEAM BREAKDOWN
STARTERS RETURNING (12)
Offense (5)
TE Samuel Albee
WR Brayden Smith
WR Kendall Harris
LT Xavier Jennings
RG Tyler Murray
Defense (3)
DE Andrew Zock
LB Donovan Watkins
CB Carmelo O’neal
Special Teams (4)
K Reice Griffith
P John McConnell
LS Jaiden Hamilton
HOL John McConnell
RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
Offense (6)
STARTERS LOST (14)
QB Whitt Newbauer
RB Dwayne McGee
WR Kelin Parsons
LG Israel Mukwiza
C Riley Adcock
RT EJ Johnson
Defense (8)
DE Arias Nash
NT Chris Hill
DT Brayden Manley
LB Isaac Dowling
LB Ken Standley
SS Myles Redding
FS Chris Joines
CB TJ Moore
PLAYERS BY STATE/HOMETOWN
GEORGIA (43)
Alpharetta: Drew Clare
Atlanta: Roman Douthit, Autavius Ison, Carmelo O’neal
Auburn: Sully Croker.
Augusta: Sam Connell, Kaleb Hutchinson
Blackshear: Ty Everson
Bogart: Mac Bradley
Brunswick: Kody Arnold, Jordan Swain.
Buford: Cooper Berry, Brayden Dudley. Canton: Pierson Sears
Carrollton: Jaiden Hamilton
Columbus: Delano Marcelus
Conyers: KJ Thomas.
Cordele: Julian Fox.
Dallas: Javarius George, Justin Gilbert
Douglasville: Amarii Atchison
Dunwoody: Samuel Albee
Fairburn: Jamari Freeman. Glennville: Mic Wasson. Gray: Tucker Mix
Harris County: Denver Degonia.
Kite: Billy Martin
Macon: Michael Horton, Brayden Smith, Travion Solomon
Marietta: Kobe McInnis
McDonough: Micah Bell
Newnan: Ethan McDowell.
Richmond Hill: Tommy Bliss.
Sandersville: Justin Brett
Savannah: Antonio Butts Jr.,
Buck Cooper, Juwan Johnson
Snellville: Isaac Prince.
Springfield: Tucker Wilson
Thomasville: Cole Shaw
Toombs County: Mike Polke
Winder: Ryan McNally. FLORIDA (19)
Baker: Kurt Armstrong
Bradenton: Ean Johnson-Kelley
Citra: Andrew Zock
DeFuniak Springs: Kelan Washington.
Dunnellon: Jayvyn Fraziars. Hastings: Trenton Jones
Jacksonville: Kai Reyes
Lithia: Garrett Weisgerber
Miami: Fabian Scott.
New Port Richey: Aiden Holewski.
Newberry: Wyatt Hester
Ocala: William Cotney
Ocoee: Kims Pierre
Pace: Reice Griffith.
Port Charlotte: Myles Weston
Saint Augustine: Bryce Addison
Tallahassee: Cole Allbaugh, JP Pickles
Windermere: Ian Garcia.
NORTH CAROLINA (11)
Apex: Zachary Lowe
Charlotte: Tyrell Coard, Evan Taylor
Concord: Kendall Harris
Holly Springs: Max Allen.
Raleigh: Braylon Stewart
Rolesville: Braden Atkinson
Sawmills: Blake Martin
Shelby: Xavier Jennings. Wendell: Gavin Marks.
Winston-Salem: Justin Ferguson
SOUTH CAROLINA (7)
Columbia: Adonis McDaniel
Hardeeville: Camauri Simmons.
Holly Hill: Myles Dixon. Lexington: Apollos Cook
Seneca: Rafael Little
Sumter: Khalil Moody
Winnsboro: Donovan Watkins. ALABAMA (6)
Birmingham: Luke Schultz
Fort Payne: Sawyer Burt
Gadsden: CJ Miller
Madison: Ty Doughty.
Prichard: Carlos Benjamin
Tuscaloosa: Christian Davis
MISSISSIPPI (2)
Greenwood: DJ Smith
Oak Grove: Darrian King
TEXAS (2)
San Antonio: Tyler Murray.
Trophy Club: Jake Wilson
GERMANY (2)
Bruhl: Marius Landsfeld
Hamburg: Markus Meincke. CALIFORNIA (1)
Carlsbad: Carter Kermott
INDIANA (1)
Indianapolis: Ke’Vion Wellington
NEBRASKA (1)
Bellevue: Caden Camese. OHIO (1)
Bedford Heights: Malik Simmons
PENNSYLVANIA (1)
Lansdale: Dan Hicks. TENNESSEE (1)
Greeneville: Adjtay Dabbs
VIRGINIA (1)
Altavista: Tyler Murray
WEST VIRGINIA (1)
Morgantown: John McConnell
Since opening in 2013, Five Star Stadium has served as the home of Mercer University’s football and lacrosse programs. The current seating capacity at Five Star Stadium is 10,200.
Nearly 650,000 fans have witnessed the Bears play 42 home football games at Five Star Stadium over the past 12 seasons. With an average of 9,236 fans at each home game, Mercer has consistently ranked inside the top 25 of NCAA Division I FCS programs for attendance. The Bears own an impressive 50-20 (.714) all-time record at Five Star Stadium and a 129-64-4 (.664) mark in all games played in Macon dating back to 1892.
Mercer’s return to the gridiron on Aug. 31, 2013 vs. Reinhardt University marked the first game played at Five Star Stadium. The Bears rallied in the fourth quarter and 12,172 fans witnessed a game-winning field goal by Josh Shutter with three seconds remaining to give Mercer a 40-37 comeback victory.
The Mercer football team recorded one of its most iconic wins in program history by taking down No. 3 Chattanooga, 17-14, on Nov. 7, 2015 at Five Star Stadium. The Bears handed UTC its first league defeat and picked up the program’s first victory over a Top-25 opponent.
Mercer jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game as John Russ’ quarterback keeper capped off a 13play, 75-yard drive that handed the Bears an early lead. Chattanooga responded with a scoring drive of its own on the next possession, thanks to a seven-yard touchdown run that put the two teams on even terms, 7-7. Mercer led 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, but Chattanooga threatened with another drive into Bears’ territory. The Bears’ defense came up with a big play for the fourth time in the game, however, allowing the offense to take
over and run out the clock on the historic victory. Five Star Stadium also served as the host site for the inaugural Southern Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championships in 2018, which Mercer won to punch a ticket to its first-ever NCAA Tournament.
Mercer clinched the inaugural Southern Conference Women’s Lacrosse title with a dominant 18-8 win over third-seeded Furman on May 5, 2018 at Five Star Stadium. The fourth-seeded Bears (9-10) earned the SoCon’s automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament with the championship victory. Mercer found the back of the net 14 times in the first half of the title game en route to the convincing 10-goal victory.
After both teams traded two goals apiece to open the contest, the Bears pulled ahead, 7-2, with its first of t--wo five-goal runs in the first half. Mercer showed no signs of slowing down in the second half; Leone, Hagerty, Meghan Segreti and Imbriani scored four goals within a nine-minute span while the Bears’ defense stifled Furman’s attack throughout.
Roughly two years after Mercer University’s Board of Trustees voted to reinstate football, the school broke ground & unveiled plans for the Tony &
STADIUM QUICK FACTS
Groundbreaking November 12, 2011
Construction Cost $14 million
Architect McMillan-Pazdan-Smith
Capacity 10,200
Surface FieldTurf
First Game August 31, 2013
Result Mercer 40, Reinhardt 37
Record Crowd 12,727 (9/9/17 vs. Wofford)
Nancy Moye Football & Lacrosse Complex during a Homecoming weekend ceremony on Nov. 11, 2012. Held adjacent to the construction site, the ceremony was attended by several hundred faculty, staff, students, trustees & Middle Georgia community members.
Included in the complex are the Homer & Ruth Drake Field House, the William H. Anderson II Family Field, the Marshall & the Jane Butler Family Plaza. The Drake Field House is home to football & lacrosse coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms, a player lounge, game day suites, a weight room, a training room & the Mercer School of Medicine’s sports medicine clinic, which provides physical therapy services to student-athletes & the general public.
The stadium complex was designed by McMillan-Pazdan-Smith Architecture of Spartanburg, S.C., and the general contractor was Chris R. Sheridan & Co. of Macon.
STADIUM RECORDS
Individual Rushing Yards 276, Fred Davis vs. Samford, 2021
Passing Yards 406, Carter Peevy vs. Furman, 2021
Receiving Yards 192, Ty James vs. Morehead St., 2022 192, Devron Harper vs. Furman,
Season Preview
UC DAVIS
Game 1 I Aug. 23 I Montgomery, Ala.
GENERAL INFORMATION
School University of California, Davis
Location Davis, Calif.
Founded 1905
Enrollment 37,630
Nickname Aggies
Colors Yale Blue & Gold Conference Big Sky Series First meeting
President Michael V. Drake
Athletics Director Rocko DeLuca
Head Coach Maurice Drayton
2024 Record 11-3
Big Sky Record 7-1
Stadium (Surface) UC Davis Health Stadium (Turf)
Ticket Office Phone (530) 752-2471
COMMUNICATIONS
Football Contact David Collins Office (908) 334-5547
E-mail drcollins@ucdavis.edu
2025 SCHEDULE
8/23 vs. Mercer 10/11 NORTHERN ARIZONA
8/30 at Utah Tech 10/25 at Northern Colorado
9/6 at Washington 11/1 IDAHO ST.
9/20 SOUTHERN UTAH 11/8 at Idaho
9/27 WEBER ST. 11/15 at Montana State 10/4 at Cal Poly 11/22 SACRAMENTO ST.
Football Contact Brandon Burke Office (276) 293-2169 E-mail btburke@presby.edu
2025 SCHEDULE
8/30 at Mercer 10/18 STETSON
9/6 at Furman 10/25 at Dayton 9/13 ERSKINE 11/1 VALPARAISO
9/20 BLUEFIELD 11/8 at Davidson
9/27 MOREHEAD ST. 11/15 at St. Thomas 10/11 at Butler 11/22 MARIST
EAST TENNESSEE STATE
Game 5 I Sept. 27 I Johnson City, Tenn.
GENERAL INFORMATION
School East Tennessee State University
Location Johnson City, Tenn. Founded 1911
Enrollment 11,451
Nickname Buccaneers
Colors Navy & Gold Conference Southern Conference Series Mercer leads, 6-4
President Dr. Brian Noland
Athletics Director Dr. Richard “Doc” Sander
Head Coach Will Healy
2024 Record 7-5
SoCon Record 5-3
Stadium (Surface) William B. Greene Jr. Stadium (Turf) Ticket Office Phone ............................... (423) 439-3878
COMMUNICATIONS
Football Contact Andy Fisher Office (320) 583-3658 E-mail fisherac1@etsu.edu
2025 SCHEDULE
8/30 MURRAY ST. 10/11 VMI
9/6 at Tennessee 10/18 at Chattanooga 9/13 at West Georgia 10/25 WOFFORD 9/20 ELON 11/8 at Samford 9/27 MERCER 11/15 at Western Carolina 10/4 at Furman 11/22 THE CITADEL
WOFFORD
Game 3 I Sept. 13 I Macon, Ga.
GENERAL INFORMATION
School Wofford College
Location Spartanburg, S.C.
Founded 1854
Enrollment 1,800
Nickname Terriers
Colors Old Gold & Black Conference Southern Series Mercer leads, 10-7
Football Contact Jim Horten Office (423) 425-2350 E-mail james-horten@utc.edu
2025 SCHEDULE
8/30 at Memphis 10/18 EAST TENNESSEE ST. 9/6 at Tennessee Tech 10/25 at Samford 9/13 STETSON 11/1 WESTERN CAROLINA 9/20 at Tarleton State 11/8 FURMAN 9/27 THE CITADEL 11/15 at Mercer 10/4 at VMI 11/22 at Wofford
FURMAN
Game 9 I Nov. 1 I Greenville, S.C.
GENERAL INFORMATION
School Furman University
Location Greenville, S.C.
Founded 1826
Enrollment 2,400
Nickname Paladins
Colors .................................................... Purple & White Conference Southern Series Furman leads, 12-9-2
President Dr. Elizabeth Davis
Athletics Director Jason Donnelly
Head Coach Clay Hendrix
2024 Record 3-8
SoCon Record 2-5
Stadium (Surface) Paladin Stadium (Turf)
Ticket Office Phone (864) 294-3099
COMMUNICATIONS
Football Contact Hunter Reid Office (864) 567-1663 E-mail Hunter.Reid@Furman.edu
2025 SCHEDULE
8/30 WILLIAM & MARY 10/18 at Wofford
9/6 PRESBYTERIAN 10/25 THE CITADEL 9/13 at Campbell 11/1 MERCER 9/27 at Samford 11/8 at Chattanooga 10/4 EAST TENNESSEE ST. 11/15 VMI 10/11 at Western Carolina 11/22 at Clemson
AUBURN
Game 12 I Nov. 22 I Auburn, Ala.
GENERAL INFORMATION
School
Auburn University
Location Auburn, Ala.
Founded 1856
Enrollment 33,015
Nickname Tigers
Colors Burnt Orange & Navy Blue Conference Southeastern
Series Auburn leads, 13-0
President Dr. Christopher Roberts
Athletics Director John Cohen
Head Coach Hugh Freeze
2024 Record
5-7
SEC Record 2-6
Stadium (Surface) Jordan-Hare Stadium (Grass)
Ticket Office Phone (855) 282-2010
COMMUNICATIONS
Football Contact Taylor Bryan Office (254) 709-4411
E-mail tb@auburn.edu
2025 SCHEDULE
8/29 at Baylor 10/18 MISSOURI
9/6 BALL ST. 10/25 at Arkansas
9/13 SOUTH ALABAMA 11/1 KENTUCKY
9/20 at Oklahoma 11/8 at Vanderbilt
9/27 at Texas A&M 11/22 MERCER 10/11 GEORGIA 11/29 ALABAMA
UC DAVIS (0-0)
First meeting
Season Preview SERIES RECORDS
The Citadel Series Notes in Macon: 3-4 at Charleston, S.C.: 5-5
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 2-6-1
PRESBYTERIAN (11-5)
10/15/1927 W 27-6 H
9/28/1928 W 7-6 A
10/4/1929 L 0-6 A
9/27/1930 L 7-9 H
10/9/1930 W 21-7 A
10/8/1932 W 51-0 H
9/29/1934 L 6-7 H
10/19/1935 W 14-7 H
11/23/1936 W 20-6 H
11/5/1937 W 28-0 A
11/5/1938 W 28-0 H
9/29/1939 L 0-7 H
11/2/1940 L 2-3 N
11/1/1941 W 19-12 H
9/7/2019 W 45-7 A
8/29/2024 W 63-10 H
Presbyterian Series Notes in Macon: 7-3 at Clinton, S.C.: 4-1
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 1-5
Biggest Win: 63-10 (2024)
Biggest Loss: 7-0 (1939)
WOFFORD (10-7)
1915 W 13-6 H
1924 W 16-0 H
1930 W 25-7 A
1938 W 15-0 H
1939 W 12-0 A
1941 W 20-14 H 2014 L 6-34 A
L 33-34 H
L 21-31 A
L 27-28 H
L 21-42 A
L 7-41 H
2020-21 L 14-31 A 2021 W 45-14 H 2022 W 42-7 A
2023 W 31-17 H
2024 W 22-3 A
Wofford Series Notes in Macon: 6-3 at Spartanburg, S.C.: 4-4
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 2-2
Biggest Win: 42-7 (2022)
Biggest Loss: 41-7 (2019)
THE CITADEL (10-11-1)
1906 L 0-10 A 1908 L 0-10 A
W 21-0 A
L 0-5 N 1913 T 7-7 N
L 0-16 N
L 7-12 H
W 6-0 N
W 7-0 N
L 13-21 A
W 26-0 A
L 26-28 H
L 19-21 A
L 23-24 H
W 24-14 A
L 31-38
Biggest Win: 34-7 (2021)
Biggest Loss: 16-0 (1925)
EAST TENNESSEE STATE (6-4)
2015 W 52-0 H
2016 W 21-13 H
2017 L 23-26 (OT) A
2018 L 18-21 H
2019 L 33-38 A
2020-21 W 21-13 H
2021 L 35-38 A
2022 W 55-33 H
2023 W 24-6 A
2024 W 37-31 H
East Tennessee State Series Notes in Macon: 5-1 at Johnson City, Tenn.: 1-3
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 1-4
Biggest Win: 52-0 (2015)
Biggest Loss: 38-33 (2019)
SAMFORD (14-16-1)
11/2/1907 W 11-6 H
11/26/1908 W 45-0 H
10/23/1909 L 5-6 H
11/24/1910 W 28-0 H
11/30/1911 W 29-0 H
10/12/1912 W 36-0 A
10/30/1915 W 14-7 H
10/21/1916 L 7-26 H
10/16/1920 L 13-33 H
10/25/1924 W 14-5 H
10/23/1926 W 3-0 H
10/22/1927 L 0-14 H
10/13/1928 L 7-15 H
10/19/1929 W 7-2 H
10/1/1932 W 21-6 H
10/16/1936 T 0-0 H
10/9/1937 L 0-7 A
11/16/1939 L 3-7 N
11/15/1940 L 6-14 H
11/20/1941 L 6-27 A
10/4/2014 L 18-21 A
11/21/2015 L 21-47 H
11/12/2016 L 19-24 A
11/4/2017 L 3-20 H
9/15/2018 W 30-24 A
11/2/2019 W 36-33 (3OT) H
4/17/2021 L 20-44 A
10/2/2021 W 45-42 H
11/19/2022 L 44-50 (2OT) A
11/11/2023 W 28-21 H
10/19/2024 L 55-35 A
Samford Series Notes in Macon: 12-8-1 at Birmingham, Ala.: 2-7
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 8-6-1
Biggest Win: 45-0 (1908)
Biggest Loss: 47-21 (2015)
PRINCETON (1-0)
2024 W 34-7 H
Princeton Series Notes in Macon: 1-0 at Princeton, N.J.: 0-0
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 0-0
Biggest Win: 34-7 (2024)
Biggest Loss: n/a
VMI (8-3)
2014 W 27-24 A
2015 L 21-28 H
2016 W 33-30 (OT) A
2017 W 49-14 H
2018 W 48-38 A 2019 W 34-27 H
2020-21 L 14-41 A
L 7-45 H
W 55-14 A 2023 W 38-3 H 2024 W 34-0 A
VMI Series Notes in Macon: 3-2 at Lexington, Va.: 5-1
Decided By 3 Points Or Less: 2-0
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 3-1
Biggest Win: 55-14 (2022)
Biggest Loss: 45-7 (2021)
Current Streak: W3
Last 10 Games: 7-3
FURMAN (9-12-2)
1914 W 39-0 H 1921 L 0-37 A 1923
CHATTANOOGA (11-22-1)
W 27-20 A
W 27-24 H
L 21-28 A
L 30-35 H
L 10-45 A
W 26-14 H
W 24-3 A
L 13-23 H 2023 L 14-38 A 2024 W 49-23 H
Furman Series Notes in Macon: 6-5 at Greenville, S.C.: 3-7-2
Decided By 3 Points Or Less: 2-1-2
Decided By 7 Points Or Less: 3-5-2
Biggest Win: 39-0 (1914)
Biggest Loss: 37-0 (1921)
Current Streak: L2 Last 10 Games: 5-5
WESTERN CAROLINA (9-2)
2014 L 21-35 H
L 21-24 A
W 38-24 H
W 35-33 A 2018 W 59-46 H 2019 W 49-27 A 2020-21 W 45-28 H 2021 W 34-24 A 2022 W 49-6 H 2023 W 45-38 A 2024 W 44-34 H
Western Carolina Series Notes in Macon: 5-1 at Cullowhee, N.C.: 4-1
East Tennessee State 6 4 0 319 219 W3 2024: W, 37-31
Erskine 3 1 0 113 26 W3 1940: W, 45-0
Florida 6 10 1 92 305 L2 1928: L, 73-0
Florida Southern 1 0 0 33 0 W1 1930: W, 33-0
Fort Benning 1 3 0 40 72 L1 1926: L, 21-13
Furman 9 12 2 390 427 W1 2024: W, 49-23
Gardner-Webb 2 0 0 62 21 W2 2023: W, 17-7
Georgia 0 22 0 71 688 L22 1941: L, 81-0
Georgia Medical College 1 0 0 22 0 W1 1910: W, 22-0
Georgia Military College 2 0 0 33 0 W2 1916: W, 7-0
Georgia Southern 4 0 0 82 0 W4 1941: W, 25-0
Georgia Tech 1 16 1 56 595 L14 2016: L, 35-10
Gordon State 7 0 0 143 17 W7 1920: W, 19-6
Jacksonville 3 0 0 138 52 W3 2018: W, 45-3
Jacksonville State 0 1 0 28 34 L1 2020: L, 34-28
John Carroll 0 0 1 0 0 T1 1930: T, 0-0
King (Tenn.) 1 0 0 27 7 W1 1914: W, 27-7
Lanier 1 0 0 59 0 W1 1920: W, 59-0
Locust Grove Institute 3 0 0 113 0 W3 1911: W, 25-0
Loyola (La.) 0 1 1 0 21 L1 1934: L, 21-0
LSU 0 1 0 0 20 L1 1940: L, 20-0
Marist
Mississippi
33-7
Marquette 0 1 0 0 30 L1 1925: L, 30-0
Maryville 1 0 0 12 0 W1 1922: W, 12-0
Mercer will head to Princeton, N.J., on October 11 to face the Tigers in Princeton Stadium. It will be the furthest trip up the Atlantic Coast for the Bears since visiting West Point, N.Y. in October 2020.
The Bears will play their ninth game all-time in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium in late November. The Tigers toughed out a 42-16 victory over MU when the two sides last met in September 2022.
2025 NUMERICAL ROSTER
Winston-Salem, N.C. / West Forsyth HS 19 John McConnell P 6-3
Finished fourth in voting for Jerry Rice Award which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football’s Division I FCS subdivision … Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American … Southern Conference Freshman of the Year … All-Southern Conference (2nd Team) … Southern Conference All-Freshman Team … Started all 14 games at defensive end … Amassed 38 tackles (21 solo), including 14-1/2 tackles for loss (-77 yards) … Also logged seven sacks (-58 yards), two forced fumbles and a pair of pass break-ups … Tallied a school record 15 quarterback hurries as well … Turned in five or more tackles in three outings, including a season-best six stops (4 solo) in NCAA Quarterfinals contest at No. 2 North Dakota State … Logged at least an assist on a tackle for loss in 11 contests, including a season-high three drops behind the line at Wofford … Registered at least one sack in consecutive contests with Wofford (1.0), Princeton (1-1/2) and Samford (1-1/2) … Set and reset school record for quarterback hurries in contests with East Tennessee State (5) and Furman (7) … Forced a fumble against both Princeton and Furman.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 3-star recruit per On3 recruiting ... Prepped at Hawthorne High School for coach Cornelius Ingram … Picked up a slew of awards following senior campaign, including all-state, all-region, region defensive player of the year, Gainesville Sun Small School Defensive Player of the Year and Gainesville Quarterback Club Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Logged 143 tackles (97 solo), including 20 tackles for loss … Also turned in 5-1/2 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception … Picked up all-state, all-county and district player of the year honors as a junior at North Marion High School under coach Greg Carr … Recorded 69 tackles, including 33-1/2 tackles for loss … Also turned in 20 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Also lettered in basketball, track & field and weightlifting as a prep student-athlete … Earned a trip to weightlifting state championships, while also qualifying for the region championships in the Shot Put.
PERSONAL
The son of Sarah Albright and Warren Zock … Has one younger sister, Abby, and seven brothers – Clayton, Logan, Ryan, Jacob, Thomas, Leland and Sebastian … Maintained a 4.04 cumulative grade point average at Hawthorne High School … A sports marketing & agency major at Mercer.
DJ SMITH
[SENIOR • QUARTERBACK]
6-2 | 200 | GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Played in 10 games, including seven starts at quarterback … Accounted for a team-best 1,453 yards of total offense … Threw for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns on 101-of138 (.732) passing with nine touchdowns and six interceptions … Also carried the ball 66 times for 142 yards and four additional scores … Earned Southern Conference Player of the Week honors following NCAA Division I debut against Presbyterian, throwing for 331 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-24 passing, while also logging 25 rushing yards (six carries) and another score … Racked up 237 passing yards and three touchdowns at Bethune-Cookman on 17-of-22 passing, while also logging 24 rushing yards (10 carries) … Earned Southern Conference Player of the Week laurels again after accounting for 329 yards of total offense and four total touchdowns (2 rush, 2 pass) in the win over The Citadel … Threw for 253 yards on 19-of-25 passing against the Bulldogs, while also carrying the ball 10 times for 76 yards … Passed for 263 yards and one touchdown at Samford before suffering game-ending injury early in fourth quarter.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT JONES COLLEGE (2023)
Threw for 1,062 yards and seven touchdowns on 84-of-133 passing with five interceptions … Also ran for 331 yards (72 carries) and four touchdowns … Logged 331 passing yards on 20-of-30 passing and three touchdowns against Mississippi Delta … Also registered a pair of touchdown passes against both East Mississippi and Copiah-Lincoln.
AS A FRESHMAN AT JONES COLLEGE (2022)
Logged 732 passing yards and nine touchdowns as a first-year player … Completed 55 of his 98 passing attempts … Ran for 352 yards and one score on 50 carries.
HIGH SCHOOL
Earned a 3-star rating by 247sports.com and named Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year following standout senior campaign … Concluded his prep football career with 12,323 yards of total offense and 159 touchdowns … Played for Greenville Christian School and coach Jon Reed McLendon as a senior … Threw for 2,642 yards and 37 touchdowns during final prep campaign, while also picking up 935 yards and 14 scores on the ground … Threw for 329 yards and five touchdowns against Madison-Ridgeland Academy, while also logging 214 rushing yards and two additional scores against the two-time defending state champions.
PERSONAL
The son of Lillian Ramsey and Deandrea Smith Sr. ... Has one brother, Donald, and 12 sistersEmile, Dania, Dawn, Dasia, Destiny, D’Andria, Andreya, Timmyia, London, Kennedy, Paris and Pasleigh ... Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at Greenville Christian High School ... A communication major at Mercer.
DAN HICKS
[R-SENIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-5 | 265 | LANSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA
AS A JUNIOR AT WEST CHESTER (2024)
Played in eight games, including seven starts … Logged 22 tackles (11 solo), including 3-1/2 tackles for loss … Also produced a pair of sacks, five quarterback hurries and one interception … Tallied three or more tackles six times, including a season-best four stops against Bentley, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg … Registered a pair of sacks against Shippensburg … Recorded lone interception of campaign against Shepherd.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT WEST CHESTER (2023)
Played in nine games, including five starts … Tallied 29 tackles (14 solo), including 3-1/2 tackles for loss (all sacks) … Also forced a pair of fumbles and tallied one quarterback hurry … Turned in a season-high seven tackles against Clarion, including 2-1/2 sacks.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT WEST CHESTER (2022)
Played in nine games … Turned in 10 tackles (3 solo), including 1-1/2 tackles for loss …
Andrew ZOCK
Also logged an assist on a sack and posted one quarterback hurry … Amassed multiple tackles three times, including four stops (2 solo) at Bloomsburg.
AS FRESHMAN AT WEST CHESTER (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at North Penn High School for coach Dick Beck … Captained the Knights during junior and senior campaigns … Led North Penn to a 4-1 clip amid COVID-shortened senior season … Knights rattled off eight wins in 2019 en route to an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs.
PERSONAL
The son of Kassandra and Andre Hicks … Has four sisters – Trinity, Lyric, Yarra and Shamai … Also has two predecessor siblings, Tyler and Jazmine … A communications major at
ADONIS MCDANIEL
[JUNIOR • WIDE RECEIVER]
5-10 | 170 | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
AS A SOPHOMORE AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2024)
Played in all 13 games … All-South Atlantic Conference (Piedmont Division) selection … Caught 56 passes for 1,000 yards and five touchdowns … Also returned one kickoff for 18 yards … Turned in a trio of 100+-yard receiving games, including a 7-catch, 202-yard day against West Alabama in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs … Also hauled in a pair of touchdown catches against the Tigers … Tallied five or more catches seven times, including a season-best seven receptions (135 yards, TD) against Virginia Union in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
AS A FRESHMAN AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2023)
Played in three games … Made collegiate debut against Eskine and registered a 28-yard punt return in the third quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Ridge View High School for coach Derek Howard as both a junior and senior … Played for AC Flora and coach Ken Floyd across freshman and sophomore campaigns … Hauled in 55 catches for 693 yards and six touchdowns in final prep campaign … Also logged a trio of tackles … Was also an all-conference and all-region performer in basketball and track & field at Ridge View High School … Amassed 950 points across his prep basketball career.
PERSONAL
The son of Aquila Sabree … Has one sister, Addison, and four brothers – Riches, Ayden, Amarii and Ashton … Maintained a 3.9 cumulative grade point average at Ridge View High School … A business management major at Mercer.
APOLLOS COOK
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
Played in all 14 games as part of wide receiver rotation, including a pair of starts … Caught 13 passes for 151 yards … Tallied multiple catches in four contests … Made collegiate debut in opener with Presbyterian, hauling in two catches for 22 yards … Logged first career start at Chattanooga and finished night with two catches for 17 yards … Also tallied a pair of catches against Samford and a season-best three receptions against Furman … Corralled a season-longest 55-yard reception to help set up a third-quarter touchdown at VMI.
AS A FRESHMAN AT DUKE (2023)
Redshirted … Played in four games, primarily as a part of Duke’s kickoff return special teams unit … Saw action at wide receiver in fourth quarter of Duke’s win over Lafayette. HIGH SCHOOL
A consensus 3-star recruit coming out of high school … Prepped at Airport High School for coach and father Andre Cook … Listed as the No. 188 wide receiver in the country by 247Sports. com … charted as the No. 23, No. 26, and No. 27 prospect from the state of South Carolina according to Rivals.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports.com, respectively … Recorded 93 career receptions for 1,412 yards and 15 touchdowns … Compiled 1,991 total yards and 18 touchdowns across final two prep seasons … Two-time all-state, first team all-region and Airport’s offensive player of the year … Garnered second team all-region honors during sophomore season … Also
lettered two seasons in track & field, earning a regional title in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.
PERSONAL
The son of Angela and Andre Cook … Has three younger sisters - Aquilah, Chloe and Camryn ... Father lettered three seasons (1995-96, 98) at Youngstown State and was leading punt returner during 1998 campaign ... A marketing major at Mercer.
MYLES WESTON
[R-JUNIOR • CORNERBACK]
5-11 | 175 | PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in seven games, including two starts at cornerback … Totaled 11 tackles (9 solo), while also recording six pass break-ups … Part of starting lineup against Bethune-Cookman and Chattanooga … Tallied a season-best four tackles (3 solo) at Bethune-Cookman … Also tallied a pair of solo stops at Samford … Registered a pair of pass break-ups against both Western Carolina and East Tennessee State.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in all 13 games … Amassed 20 tackles (15 solo) to go along with two interceptions and a pair of pass break-ups … Registered at least one stop in eight outings, including a season-best four tackles (all solo) in win over Wofford … Recorded a solo stop and a pair of interceptions in Mercer’s playoff win over Gardner-Webb … Also logged a pass break-up against the Runnin’ Bulldogs
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in two games, including extensive action in the home opener with Morehead State … Tallied a solo stop against the Eagles.
HIGH
SCHOOL
A multiple-threat starter for Venice High School and coach John Peacock … Tallied 42 tackles (30 solo), while also adding four interceptions and a quartet of pass break-ups … Also had 41 catches for 728 yards and five touchdowns, as well as seven kickoff returns for 172 yards … Caught 33 passes for 533 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
PERSONAL
The son of Patrice and Rhondy Weston Sr. … Has two sisters, Katelyn and Jocelynn.
Myles WESTON
AUTAVIUS ISON
[JUNIOR • RUNNING BACK]
5-11 | 190 | ATLANTA, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (2024)
Played in 11 games … All-Big South selection by both the league office and Phil Steele … Ran for 795 yards and four touchdowns on 171 carries … Also caught nine passes for 67 yards … Registered a pair of 100+-yard rushing games, including a 29-carry, 229-yard effort against Western Illinois … Also scored a season-high two touchdowns against the Leathernecks … Logged a season-best 33 carries for 157 yards against Tennessee State … Tallied multiple receptions against three opponents … Caught two passes for a season-high 24 yards against Eastern Illinois.
AS A FRESHMAN AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (2023)
Played in nine games … Recorded 189 rushing yards and one touchdown on 62 carries … Also caught four passes for 41 yards … Logged a fourth-quarter touchdown in his collegiate debut against North Greenville … Ran for a season-high 51 yards (10 carries) against Bryant … Tallied a season-high 15 rushing attempts (29 yards) in the contest with Western Carolina.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Riverdale High School for coach Rodney Hackney … Raked in second-straight allstate honors as a senior, while also picking up region offensive player of the year laurels … Ran for 1,552 yards and 22 touchdowns during final prep campaign … Amassed 1,218 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns during junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Tierra Dalton and Autavius Ison … Has a sister, Jamiya … Maintained a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Riverdale High School … A business major at Mercer.
DONOVAN WATKINS
[R-SOPHOMORE • SAFETY]
5-11 | 180 | WINNSBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
Started all 14 games at linebacker … Logged 22 tackles (14 solo), including one tackle for loss … Also recorded one interception and eight pass break-ups, while also adding a fumble recovery … Turned in multiple tackles against 10 opponents … Tacked up a pair of solo stops, including a 1-yard stop behind the line of scrimmage, at Wofford … Recovered a third-quarter fumble at Bethune-Cookman … Registered a pair of pass break-ups against both The Citadel and Western Carolina … Picked off a pass, while breaking up another, at Samford.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Fairfield Central High School for coach Demetrius Davis … Recorded 55 tackles (45 solo) as a senior, while also recording two interceptions and a pass break-up.
PERSONAL
The son of Dawn and Jamie Watkins … Has two older brothers, Jamas and Nick … Maintained a 3.9 cumulative grade point average at Fairfield Central High School … A communication major at Mercer.
JAVARIUS GEORGE
[R-FRESHMAN • WIDE RECEIVER]
5-10 | 170 | DALLAS,
GEORGIA
#5
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Played in four games … Caught two passes for 15 yards in his collegiate debut against Presbyterian … Logged first career reception at Bethune-Cookman … Amassed 57 all-purpose yards at VMI, including 10 rushing yards (2 carries) … Also caught a 5-yard pass and tallied a 32-yard kickoff return in third quarter … Also accounted for 20 punt return yards (2 attempts) against the Keydets.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at North Paulding High School for coach Don Stark … Earned all-state laurels a wide receiver as a senior, as well as region player of the year honors … Amassed a school record 1,587 all-purpose yards during final prep season, including 1,202 receiving yards (49 catches) and 10 touchdown receptions … Also returned a kickoff for a score … Logged 1,118 all-purpose yards as a junior, including 529 receiving yards and five scores … Was also an all-region performer in both the 100m and 200m Dash for the Wolfpack.
PERSONAL
The son of Jokisha and Graylen George … Has three older brothers – Jameel, James and Gregory – and two older sisters, Janiya and Jaelin … Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at North Paulding High School … A computer science (cybersecurity) major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
MIKE POLKE
[FRESHMAN • SAFETY] #5
6-0
|
190 | TOOMBS COUNTY, GEORGIA
Prepped at Toombs County High School for coach Buddy Martin … Earned second consecutive all-state laurels as a senior after logging 32 tackles, including five stops behind the line of scrimmage … Also turned in three interceptions, five pass break-ups and a trio of fumble recoveries … Recorded 42 tackles during junior campaign, including three tackles for loss … Also tallied a pair of interceptions and five pass break-ups … Was also an all-region basketball player for the Bulldogs.
PERSONAL
The son of Kyondra Polke … Maintained a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at Toombs County High School … A business major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
KIMS PIERRE
[FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK]
Rated as a 2-star cornerback by 247Sports … Prepped at Ocoee High School for coach Buck Gurley … Earned second-straight all-district and all-area nods as a senior after amassing 13 tackles (7 solo) and a trio of pass break-ups, while also not yielding a touchdown in man coverage … Raked in a slew of postseason awards following junior campaign, including all-state, all-region and all-area mentions … Tallied 23 tackles (18 solo), while also recording four interceptions and 10 pass break-ups.
PERSONAL
The son of Darline and Francky Pierre … Has an older brother, Frantzdy, and two older sisters –Landie and MJ … Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at Ocoee High School … A business major at Mercer.
KENDALL HARRIS
[R-SOPHOMORE • WIDE RECEIVER]
6-1 | 200 | CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
Played in all 14 games, including a dozen starts at wide receiver … Caught 33 passes for 339 yards and one touchdown … Also turned in a 14-yard carry on a rushing attempt at Bethune-Cookman … Caught multiple passes in eight games, including a season-high six receptions (59 yards) at Wofford … Logged at least one reception in each of Mercer’s first 12 games … Hauled in five passes for 72 yards in his collegiate debut against Presbyterian … Tallied five catches for 28 yards in the win over East Tennessee State … Made three catches at VMI, including a season-longest 36-yard reception in the third period … Tallied a pair of catches at Alabama, including a one-handed, 31-yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Cox Mill High School for coach Deshawn Baker … Earned all-state, all-conference and conference specialist of the year laurels following final prep campaign … Totaled 794 all-purpose yards as a senior, including 332 receiving yards (29 receptions) and three touchdown receptions … Also averaged 28.7 yards on 15 kickoff returns … Logged a 93-yard kickoff return for touchdown … Also lettered in basketball and track & field for the Chargers … Boasted national ranking in both the 800m and 1600m runs.
PERSONAL
The son of Nicolette and Otis Harris … Has a younger brother, Griffin … Maintained a 4.37 cumulative grade point average at Cox Mill High School … A psychology and sociology major at Mercer.
CARMELO O’NEAL
[SOPHOMORE • SAFETY]
6-4 | 200 | ATLANTA,
GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Played in 11 games, including three starts at cornerback … Amassed 18 tackles (9 solo), including an assist on a tackle for loss … Also turned in a pair of pass break-ups … Produced multiple stops against four opponents, including a season-high five tackles in consecutive home outings against Furman (2 solo) and Rhode Island (4 solo) … Also tallied an assist on a stop behind the line of scrimmage against the Paladins … Logged an assist on a fourth-quarter tackle in his collegiate debut against Presbyterian … Tacked up a lone pass break-up against both Bethune-Cookman and Alabama.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Westlake High School for coach Rico Zackery … Picked up all-region laurels as a senior after turning in 24 tackles (3 solo), while also adding a pair of fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown … Helped pace Lions to 18 victories across last two prep seasons.
PERSONAL
The son of Ashley Lester and Corey O’Neal … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Westlake High School … A law major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
KJ THOMAS
[FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK] #8
5-11 | 180 | CONYERS,
GEORGIA
Prepped at Hebron Christian Academy for coach Jonathan Gess … Earned second consecutive all-region nod, while also being named defensive player of the year, as a senior after compiling 20 tackles (13 solo), including one stop behind the line … Also turned in an interception, five pass break-ups and a quarterback hurry … Did not surrender a touchdown across entirety of season … Logged 20 tackles (16 solo) as a junior, including two tackles for loss, as well as a sack … Also tallied one interception, five pass break-ups and a forced fumble … Also lettered in track & field for the Lions.
PERSONAL
The son of Tasha and Kevin Thomas … Has two brothers, Kaden and Kyren … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Hebron Christian Academy … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
JAYVYN FRAZIARS
[FRESHMAN • SAFETY] #9
5-11 | 180 |
CONYERS, GEORGIA
Prepped at Dunnellon High School for coach Tommy Sutton … Named defensive player of the year after a senior campaign that saw him log 55 tackles (31 solo), including 15 tackles for loss … Added seven sacks, one interception and a trio of pass break-ups, as well as two forced fumbles and a blocked punt … Amassed 42 tackles (21 solo) as a junior, including two tackles for loss … Also tallied 1-1/2 sacks, five pass break-ups and a pair of forced fumbles.
PERSONAL
The son of Roshandra Cox and Carl Fraziars … Has a brother, Jaquavion … Maintained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at Dunnellon High School … Enrolled in pre-major studies at Mercer.
Kendall HARRIS
BRAYDEN SMITH
[JUNIOR • WIDE RECEIVER]
5-10 | 185 | MACON, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
FCS Football Central All-American (All Purpose) ... 2024 Stats Perform FCS All-American (Punt Returner) … All-Southern Conference … Preseason All-Southern Conference (Phil Steele) … Started 11 games at slot wide receiver … Ranked 14th nationally with 123.91 all purpose yards per game … Ranked 4th nationally with 861 combined kick return yards … Led team with 1,363 all purpose yards and eight touchdowns … Caught 32 passes for 425 yards and five scores … Logged 13 rushes for 73 yards and one touchdown … Returned 24 punts for 315 yards (13.1 average, 8th NCAA), and ranked second, nationally, with a pair of punt return touchdowns … Returned 23 kickoffs for 546 yards (23.7 average, 27th NCAA) … Tallied multiple receptions in 11 contests, including a season-high four receptions against Bethune-Cookman, The Citadel, Wofford and East Tennessee State … Amassed a season-high 83 receiving yards and one score at Bethune-Cookman … Registered multiple rushing attempts four times, including a season-high three carries (20 yards) against Western Carolina … Turned in 100 or more all-purpose yards five times, including a season-best 238 all-purpose yards against Presbyterian … Performance against the Blue Hose, which included a 75-yard punt return touchdown, earned him both FCS Stats Perform National Special Teams Player of the Week and Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week laurels … Amassed 196 all-purpose yards against Princeton, including a 64-yard punt return score.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in 10 games, including a pair of starts … Accounted for 285 all-purpose yards, including 98 kickoff return yards (5 returns) … Also caught 12 passes for 95 yards and logged six carries for 93 yards and a touchdown … Made collegiate debut at Ole Miss and recorded a 19-yard reception in the third quarter … Earned first start of the season at Western Carolina and responded with a season-best five catches for 36 yards, as well as a 16-yard run in the first quarter … Carried the ball twice for 60 yards at The Citadel, including a 50-yard touchdown gallop in the fourth period … Logged a season-longest 35-yard kickoff return against the Bulldogs as well … Also caught four passes for 34 yards in win over Samford.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Tattnall Square Academy for coach John Abernathy … Picked up second-straight allstate laurels as a senior after hauling in 51 catches for 1,024 yards … Earned Macon Touchdown Club Special Teams Player of the Year honors as a junior … Also registered 39 catches for 721 yards … Was also a standout track & field performer for the Trojans … Earned a state title as part of Tattnall’s 4x100m Relay squad.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer Nash and Nathan Smith … Has two brothers, Taylor and Tyler, and one sister, Evelyn … Maintained a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Tattnall Square Academy … A business major at Mercer.
AS A SOPHOMORE
JULIAN FOX
[R-SOPHOMORE • SAFETY] #10
6-1 | 220 | CORDELE, GEORGIA
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in 10 games, mainly as part of Mercer’s kickoff coverage team … Made collegiate debut in home opener with Morehead State, logging a pair of tackles (1 solo) … Saw action in a season-high seven plays against both VMI and Western Carolina … Assisted on a tackle against VMI.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Crisp County High School for coach Lawrence Smith … Earned second consecutive all-state laurels as a senior, while also being crowned region player of the year and county defensive player of the year … Also named defensive player of the game at the 2022 Georgia Elite Classic All-Star Game … Amassed 325 tackles over prep career, while also logging 12-1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles.
PERSONAL
The son of Justina and Harry Fox … Has two older brothers, Shad and Jayren, and one younger brother, Jordan … Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Crisp County High School ... An education major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
BRADEN
ATKINSON
[FRESHMAN • QUARTERBACK]
6-1 |
#11
215 | ROLESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Listed as 2-star recruit by Rivals.com … Picked up second-straight all-state and all-conference laurels as a senior, as well as team most valuable player laurels, after throwing for 3,925 yards and 53 touchdowns on 68.3 percent passing with just three interceptions … Also named Rolesville High School’s Offensive Most Valuable Player as a junior after throwing for 3,701 yards and 46 touchdowns … Logged more than 9,400 passing yards and 121 touchdowns across his prep career.
PERSONAL
The son of Michelle and Woody Atkinson … Has a younger brother, Canen ... Maintained a 4.3 cumulative grade point average at Gulf High School and graduated summa cum laude among the top five percent of his 310-member senior class … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
AIDEN HOLEWSKI
[FRESHMAN • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-3 | 240 | NEW PORT RICHEY, FLORIDA
#11
Rated as a 3-star edge by 247Sports … Prepped at Gulf High School for coach Sean Eperjesi … Earned all-conference and conference defensive player of the year honors as a senior after totaling 63 tackles (49 solo), including 28-1/2 tackles for loss … Also tallied 5-1/2 sacks … A two-way player, also registered 27 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns … Logged 86 tackles (46 solo) during junior campaign, including 21-1/2 tackles for loss … Turned in 11 sacks as well … Also caught 14 passes for 194 yards and two scores on offense … Lettered in basketball, weightlifting and wrestling for the Buccaneers as well … Was an all-conference selection on the wrestling mat.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer Thompson and Mark Holewski … Has a brother, Ethan … Maintained a 4.6 cumulative grade point average at Gulf High School and served as valedictorian of his 310-member senior class … An engineering major at Mercer.
Brayden SMITH
PLAYER PROFILES
JAKE
WILSON
[R-FRESHMAN • QUARTERBACK]
6-2 | 200 | TROPHY CLUB, TEXAS
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT PURDUE (2024)
Did not see game action … Named to Big 10 All-Academic Team.
AS A FRESHMAN AT PURDUE (2023)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#12
Prepped at Byron Nelson High School for coach Hunter Hughes … Earned second-straight district offensive most valuable player and all-area accolades following senior campaign … Also raked in all-state and THSCA Super Elite Team 6A laurels … Led the state in passing yards (4,143) and passing touchdowns (50) across final prep season, while also running for 407 yards and eight additional scores … Threw for 3,916 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior, while also tallying five rushing touchdowns … Finished prep career with a Northwest ISD record 103 passing touchdowns.
PERSONAL
The son of Sandy and Jack Wilson … Has an older sister, Madeline, and a younger sister, Ella … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Byron Nelson High School … A finance major at Mercer.
TOMMY
BLISS
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
#12
Played in all 14 games … Recorded 25 tackles (15 solo), while also recovering a pair of fumbles and a pass break-up … Tallied multiple tackles against five opponents, including a season-high seven stops (4 solo) at Alabama … Also broke up a pass against the Crimson Tide … Registered four tackles against both VMI (3 solo) and North Dakota State (2 solo) … Recovered two fumbles against Furman, including one that he returned 35 yards for a 1st-quarter touchdown.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in all 13 games … Recorded 27 tackles (9 solo), including 1-1/2 tackles for loss (-3 yards) … Turned in four or more tackles on three occasions, including season opener with North Alabama (4) … Tallied a season-best seven tackles (3 solo) in home opener with Morehead State, including 1-1/2 tackles for loss … Also posted four tackles (3 solo) at The Citadel.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in three games … Recorded six tackles (3 solo) … Made collegiate debut in home opener with Morehead State and registered a season-high five tackles (2 solo).
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Richmond Hill High School for coach Matt LeZotte … Earned all-region and team most valuable player laurels following final prep season … Logged 56 tackles as a senior, including four tackles for loss … Also turned in three pass break-ups, three blocked punts and a pair of blocked field goals … Invited to participate in Blitz Border Bowl … Was also an all-region performer in lacrosse for the Wildcats.
PERSONAL
The son of Karen and John Bliss … Has one sister, Jill, and one brother, Nick.
HIGH SCHOOL
BRAYLON #13
STEWART
[FRESHMAN • WIDE RECEIVER]
6-0 | 185 | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepped at Middle Creek High School for coach Andre Jacobs … Amassed more than 3,100 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns across illustrious prep career, while also turning in a pair of
Meet The Bears
kickoff return scores … Ranks as Middle Creek High School’s all-time leader in both receptions and receiving yards … Raked in all-conference, conference player of the year and all-state accolades as a senior after catching 64 passes for 1,039 yards and 11 touchdowns … Totaled 1,245 all-purpose yards, including 154 punt return yards (11 attempts) … Logged 1,651 all-purpose yards as a junior on the way to earning all-conference and all-state nods … Tallied 71 catches for 1,186 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also returning 11 kickoffs for 381 yards, including a 99-yarder … Also earned all-conference and all-state honors as a sophomore … Was also an all-conference baseball player for the Mustangs, and earned letters in basketball and track & field as well.
PERSONAL
The son of Keisha and Floyd Stewart … Has an older brother, Dorien … Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at Middle Creek High School and graduated in the top 22 percent of his 456-member senior class … A sports marketing & analytics major at Mercer.
JUWAN
JOHNSON
[SENIOR • SAFETY]
5-11 | 195 | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
#13
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Played in eight games, including one start at strong safety (Chattanooga) … Missed four games due to injury … Tallied a dozen tackles (11 solo), including one tackle for loss … Also added an interception and a pass break-up … Registered multiple tackles against three opponents, including a season-best four stops (3 solo) against Samford … Turned in his lone tackle for loss on the campaign at Bethune-Cookman … Produced a 40-yard interception return in the fourth quarter at Wofford, while also breaking up a pass later in the period.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2023)
Played in 12 games … Tallied 13 tackles (10 solo) … Logged at least one stop in nine contests, including a season-best five tackles at Ole Miss … Also registered a pair of stops against VMI and Gardner-Webb.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Played in five games … Turned in three tackles and a pair of interceptions … Tacked up an assist on a tackle against Gardner-Webb, while also hauling in an interception late in the fourth quarter … Followed it up with a solo tackle and another interception the following week against Wofford.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Calvary Day School for coach Mark Stroud … Raked in all-area and all-region laurels as a senior after amassing 36 tackles, including four behind the line, as well as five interceptions and four pass break-ups … Helped lead Calvary Day School to Region 3-A private title and the second round of the state playoffs … Was also a standout in basketball and track & field for the Cavaliers.
PERSONAL
The son of Tamika Wallace and Jurmon Johnson.
ETHAN
MCDOWELL
[R-SOPHOMORE • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-2
|
245 | NEWNAN, GEORGIA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT MIAMI, OHIO (2024)
Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN AT MIAMI, OHIO (2023)
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#14
Prepped at Trinity Christian High School for coach Kenny Dallas … Earned second consecutive all-county and all-region laurels as a senior after posting more than 50 tacklesm including seven tackles for loss … Also turned in seven sacks … Logged nearly 60 tackles as a junior, as well as nine sacks … Also lettered in track & field for the Lions.
PERSONAL
The son of Rosetta McDowell … Has a younger brother, Trevor … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Trinity Christian School … A communications major at Mercer.
Meet The Bears
MALIK
SIMMONS
[R-SENIOR • TIGHT END]
6-4 | 230 | BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OHIO
AS A JUNIOR AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2024)
#14
CHRISTIAN DAVIS
[R-JUNIOR • SAFETY]
5-11 | 190 | ATLANTA, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
CSC Academic All-District Team selection … Played in 12 games … Caught 12 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown … Recorded at least one reception in seven games, including a season-high four catches (season-high 34 yards) in the NCAA Division II Playoffs win over West Alabama … Also caught a 9-yard touchdown pass against the Tigers.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2023)
Played in nine games ... Logged 12 receptions for 132 yards and three scores … Registered at least one catch in seven games, including a season-high three receptions against both Fayetteville State (21 yards) and Wingate (37 yards) … Hauled in scoring passes against Carson-Newman, UVa. Wise and Wingate.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2022)
Named South Atlantic Conference (Piedmont Division) Offensive Freshman of the Year … Caught 10 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns … Hauled in at least one pass in seven games, including a season-high three receptions (18 yards) against Newberry … Logged touchdown catches against five opponents, including a 45-yard scoring reception in his collegiate debut against Virginia State.
AS A FRESHMAN AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2021)
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Bedford High School for coach Charles Saulter … Named team most valuable player as a senior after catching 17 passes for 300 yards and seven touchdowns … Logged 15 catches for 235 yards and five touchdowns as a junior … Was also an all-conference basketball player for the Bearcats and also lettered in track & field.
PERSONAL
The son of Tamyka and Michael Simmons … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Bedford High School … Earned a bachelor’s degree at Lenoir-Rhyne and is pursuing his MBA at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
KOBE MCINNIS
6-2 | 245 | MARIETTA, GEORGIA
Prepped at Wheeler High School for coach Bryan Love … Earned second consecutive all-region nods as a senior after amassing 71 tackles (48 solo), including 15 tackles for loss … Added six sacks and 14 quarterback hurries … Totaled 42 tackles during junior campaign, including 14 tackles for loss … Also posted eight sacks, a trio of quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.
PERSONAL
The son of Arlesha McKinney and Jarrid McInnis … Has three brothers – Jordan, Magic and Julius – and three sisters – Adrianna, Milania and Bella … Maintained a 3.58 cumulative grade point average at Wheeler High School … A finance major at Mercer.
Played in seven games … Recorded seven tackles (5 solo), including three tackles for loss … Also logged a forced fumble … Turned in a pair of tackles against both Bethune-Cookman (2 solo) and Alabama (1 solo) … Also forced a third-quarter fumble at Bethune-Cookman.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in nine games, primarily as a part of MU’s kickoff coverage and kickoff return special teams units … Also saw action in the secondary in his collegiate debut at Ole Miss … Made five tackles (4 solo), while also forcing a fumble … Logged a solo tackle against Ole Miss … Registered both a solo and an assisted tackle at Western Carolina … Forced a fumble on a first-quarter kickoff against WCU which was picked up and returned for a 24-yard touchdown.
AS A FRESHMAN AT ARMY (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at American Christian Academy for coach Cody Martin … Scored 18 touchdowns and logged more than 100 tackles as a senior.
PERSONAL
The son of Corlisa Cox and Fred Davis … Has one brother, Cayden … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at American Christian Academy … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
KALEB HUTCHINSON
[R-JUNIOR • SAFETY]
6-0 | 185 | AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in 13 games, with extensive action as part of every special teams unit … Tallied a dozen tackles (5 solo) … Also blocked a third-quarter punt at Wofford that resulted in a safety … Made multiple tackles against two opponents, including a season-best five stops (1 solo) at VMI … Also turned in two tackles (1 solo) at Alabama.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT COASTAL CAROLINA (2023)
Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN AT COASTAL CAROLINA (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Listed as a 3-star recruit by On3, while also being ranked as the 66th-best athlete by that recruiting service … Prepped at Westside High School for coaches Jon Wiley and Lee Hutto … Played on both side of the ball for the Patriots … Raked in area player of the year laurels as a senior, while also picking up all-state laurels for the second-straight season … Amassed 55 tackles during final prep campaign, including three tackles for loss, while also picking off four passes … Totaled more than 600 all-purpose yards, including 285 rushing yards (41 carries) and 221 receiving yards (19 catches) … Also returned eight kickoffs for 128 yards and three punts for 54 yards … Competed at U.S. National Football Team Selection combine in Spring 2021, while also getting an invite to National Preps Collegiate Showcase in Atlanta following junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Emmanuelle and Chris Hutchinson ... Has an older brother, CJ, and two younger brothers - Eli and Kam ... A sport management major at Mercer.
PLAYER PROFILES
HIGH SCHOOL
TRENTON JONES
[FRESHMAN • WIDE RECEIVER]
5-10 | 170 | HASTINGS, FLORIDA
#17
Rated a 3-star recruit by 247Sports ... Prepped at St. Augustine High School for coach Brian Braddock … Earned second consecutive all-state laurels as a prep senior after hauling in 74 catches for 1,223 yards and 12 touchdowns … Carried the ball six times for 103 yards and a rushing touchdown as well … Logged 62 catches for 1,103 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior … Also rushed seven times for 50 yards and an additional score … Amassed more than 3,000 total yards and 27 touchdowns across his last three prep seasons, including a quartet of kickoff return touchdowns.
PERSONAL
The son of Trista and Tomas Jones … Has two older siblings, Tomas and Keya, and a younger brother, Tayden … Maintained a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at St. Augustine High School … A business major at Mercer.
ADJATAY DABBS
[R-SOPHOMORE • WIDE RECEIVER]
6-0 | 170 | GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
#18
Played in 13 games, including a trio of starts at wide receiver … Caught 28 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns … Also logged three rushing attempts for 18 yards … Returned one punt for 26 yards and one kickoff for eight yards as well … Tallied multiple receptions against seven opponents, including a season-high eight receptions (181) yards against Furman … Also hauled in a pair of touchdown passes against the Paladins … Logged an 11-yard rush against Furman as well … Caught at least one pass in a dozen outings … Tallied Mercer’s lone offensive score in the FCS Playoffs matchup against Rhode Island, putting the Bears ahead for good with a 4-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Greeneville High School for coach Eddie Spradlen … Earned second consecutive all-state honors as a senior after registering 1,253 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games … Hauled in 35 catches for 786 yards and nine scores … Logged 28 receptions for 612 yards and seven touchdowns during junior campaign … Was also a two-time all-state basketball player for the Greene Devils.
PERSONAL
The son of Nakiasha Manuel and Braun Dabbs … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Greeneville High School … A communication major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
JUSTIN FERGUSON
[FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK]
#18
6-0 | 180 | WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepped at West Forsyth High School for coach Kevin Wallace … Earned all-conference, all-area and all-state laurels as a senior after posting 24 tackles (14 solo) to go along with eight pass break-ups … Logged 20 tackles during junior campaign … Closed out prep career with six interceptions.
PERSONAL
The son of Selena and Lawrence Ferguson … Has an older brother, Jalen, and an older sister, Jada … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at West Forsyth High School … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
JOHN #19
MCCONNELL
[R-SENIOR • PUNTER]
6-3 | 190 | MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Named semifinalist for FCS Punter of the Year laurels by the Augusta Sports Council … All-Southern Conference … Preseason All-Southern Conference pick by Phil Steele … Averaged 43.4 yards (16th NCAA) on a school record 78 punts, including 15 kicks of 50 or more yards … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 30 times, while also registering six touchbacks … Earned Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 50.8 yards on four punts at Bethune-Cookman, while also pinning the Wildcats inside the 20-yard line three times … Repeated as SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 45.4 yards on five punts at Wofford … Averaged a season-best 52.3 yards on three punts against Western Carolina, including a season-longest 62-yard boot in the fourth quarter … Logged a school record 10 punts against East Tennessee State, averaging 43.7 yards per kick.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT MARSHALL (2023)
All-Sun Belt Conference (Coaches) … Averaged 42.8 yards on 61 punts, including six kicks of 50 or more yards … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 15 times, while also registering three touchbacks … Averaged 48.9 yards on eight punts against James Madison, including a season-longest 74-yarder in the first quarter … Also registered a 52-yard punt on his second attempt of the afternoon … Averaged 46.8 yards on four punts in season opener with UAlbany, including a 62 yard kick in the opening period … Pinned the Great Danes inside the 20-yard line three times, while one other kick went for a touchback … Averaged 47.3 yards on four punts at Georgia State, pinning the Panthers inside the 20-yard line three times.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT MARSHALL (2022)
Averaged 39.2 yards on 71 punts, including six kicks of 50 or more yards … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 27 times, while six of his kicks resulted in touchbacks … Averaged 42.3 yards on six punts at Bowling Green, and pinned the Falcons inside the 20-yard line five times … Performance against BGSU also included a 51-yard kick in the fourth quarter ... Punted a season-high 10 times for 405 yards (40.5 yards/punt) at James Madison, including boots of 53 and 64 yards (season-longest) … Pinned Dukes inside the 20-yard line four times, while four other kicks resulted in touchback.
AS A FRESHMAN AT MARSHALL (2021)
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Morgantown High School for coach Sean Biser … Ranked fifth, nationally, coming out of high school by Chris Sailer Kicking … Averaged more than 43 yards per punt as a senior with a hang time in excess of 4-1/2 seconds … Averaged 36.4 yards on 22 punts as a junior, with a season-long 53-yarder … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line four times … Also averaged 53.7 yards on 39 kickoffs, including 16 touchbacks.
PERSONAL
The son of Elizabeth and John McConnell Sr. … Has an older brother, Frank … Maintained a 3.2 cumulative grade point average at Morgantown High School … A business major at Mercer.
John MCCONNELL
Meet The Bears
JP PICKLES
[R-FRESHMAN • QUARTERBACK]
6-1 | 215 | TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
AS A FRESHMAN AT UTEP (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#19
FABIAN SCOTT
[JUNIOR • CORNERBACK]
6-3 | 185 | MIAMI, FLORIDA
#21
Prepped at North Florida Christian High School for coach Brent Hill … Threw for 9,513 yards and 97 touchdowns on 633-of-1049 (60.3) passing across prep career (3-year starter), while also running for 2,037 yards and 25 additional scores … Accounted for 4,140 yards of total offense as a senior, including 2,891 passing yards, on the way to capturing Florida Player of the Year laurels … Threw for 3,382 yards and 39 touchdowns on 210-of-311 (67.5) passing with just 10 interceptions as a junior … Added 620 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground ... Also lettered in basketball and track & field for the Eagles.
PERSONAL
The son of Meaghan and John Pat Pickles … Has a younger sister, Regan, and two younger brothers – Jacob and Joey … An industrial management major at Mercer.
RYAN MCNALLY
[R-FRESHMAN • SAFETY]
5-9 | 170 | WINDER, GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#20
Prepped at Winder-Barrow High School for coach Robert Paxia … Earned second consecutive all-region accolades as a senior, while also being named to all-state team … Led team with 77 tackles (43 solo) … Also picked off three passes and registered six pass break-ups … Turned in 51 tackles (23 solo) as a junior … Also lettered in baseball for the Bulldogs.
PERSONAL
The son of Meggan and Dustin McNally … Has an older sister, Lauren … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Winder-Barrow High School … An engineering major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
CARLOS BENJAMIN
[FRESHMAN • RUNNING BACK]
| 170 | WINDER, GEORGIA
Rated as a 3-star running back by 247Sports … Prepped at Vigor High School for coaches John Mckenzie and Markus Cook … Earned second-straight all-region and all-state laurels following senior campaign … Ran for more than 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior … Led Wolves to a 12-2 record and a state semifinals appearance as a junior while carrying the ball 119 times for 1,409 yards and 17 touchdowns … Also caught 11 passes for 108 yards and an additional score … Also ran a leg on Vigor’s 4x100m Relay squad that claimed back-to-back state titles.
PERSONAL
The son of Stefaney Portis and Carlos Benjamin Sr. … Has one brother, Cash, and three sisters – Carleigh, Caliese and Cammie … Maintained a 3.9 cumulative grade point average at Vigor High School … A computer engineering major at Mercer.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (2024)
Played in five games … Totaled six tackles (3 solo) … Posted a pair of tackles against South Florida … Logged a season-high three tackles, including two solo stops, at Tulsa.
AS A FRESHMAN AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (2023)
Played in eight games … Registered seven tackles (2 solo), while also recovering a fumble … Made collegiate debut against Clemson … Tacked up a pair of assisted tackles at Charlotte … Also turned in two stops against both Tulane and Rice … Recovered a first-quarter fumble against the Green Wave as well.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Booker T. Washington High School for coach Tim Harris … Tallied a dozen stops as a senior, including a pair of tackles for loss … Also logged a 13-yard sack … Tallied one interception and four pass break-ups as well … Recorded 13 tackles as a junior, while also adding an interception, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
PERSONAL
The son of Taketha Lovest and Fabian Scott … Has a younger brother, Fabulis … Maintained a 3.2 cumulative grade point average at Booker T. Washington High School … A business major at Mercer.
CARTER KERMOTT
[R-FRESHMAN • SAFETY]
5-11 | 160 | CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at La Costa Canyon High School for coach Sean Sovacool … Also lettered in track & field for the Mavericks.
PERSONAL
The son of Krystal and Travis Kermott … Has a younger sister, Abby … Maintained a 4.3 cumulative grade point average at La Costa Canyon High School … A business major at Mercer.
[R-JUNIOR • RUNNING BACK]
5-11 | 160 | CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in 13 games, including one start at running back (VMI) … Ran for 404 yards and three touchdowns on 76 carries … Also caught six passes for 83 yards … Matched a season-high with 10 carries for 59 yards, and notched first touchdown of the season, against Western Carolina … Ran for 81 yards (season high) on 10 attempts in FCS Playoffs contest against Rhode Island … Caught two passes for 41 yards in the win over The Citadel, including a 37-yard reception in the opening period … Also logged a rushing touchdown at VMI.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in two games … Saw action on kickoff coverage teams in road matchups with Western Carolina and The Citadel.
PLAYER PROFILES
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Redshirted … Played in two games … Made collegiate debut against Morehead State, rushing for 24 yards on four carries … Ran for 105 yards (12 attempts) and one touchdown in win over VMI … Logged first collegiate touchdown on 4-yard run in third quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Gadsden City High School for coach Ali Smith … Earned a pair of all-county and all-state laurels for the Titans.
PERSONAL
The son of Erin Horton and Christopher Miller Sr. … Has four siblings - Alexis, Jasmine, Tommie and Khyrstonae.
SAM CONNELL
[R-FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK]
6-0 | 165 | AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#23
Prepped at Augusta Prep for coach Todd Booker … Missed senior season due to injury … Earned all-region laurels as a junior … Standout on both sides of the ball for the Cavaliers … Totaled 1,122 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, including 31 receptions for 476 yards … Also ran for 96 yards on eight carries, while also logging 550 return yards … Amassed 84 tackles (44 solo) and a pair of interceptions on defense … Also averaged 37.9 yards on 19 punts, including a season-longest 59-yard boot … Also lettered in basketball, soccer and track & field at Augusta Prep … Earned all-state laurels on the soccer field.
PERSONAL
The son of Kristi and Scott Connell … Has an older brother, Charles, and a younger brother, Benji … Maintained a 3.35 cumulative grade point average at Augusta Prep … Undecided on a major at Mercer.
TRAVION SOLOMON
[R-JUNIOR • WIDE RECEIVER]
6-1 | 190 | MACON, GEORGIA
#23
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Redshirted ... Missed season due to rehabilitation of offseason surgery.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2023)
Played in all 13 games, including one start … Caught 14 passes for 121 yards … Logged at least one catch in 11 outings … Earned the start at Ole Miss … Matched a season-best with two catches against the Rebels for 13 yards … Also caught a pair of passes against Furman and East Tennessee State … Hauled in a season-longest 31-yard pass in the fourth quarter against Samford to set up Mercer’s final touchdown of the contest.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Played in all 11 games … Caught seven passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns … Registered at least one reception against four opponents … Tallied a 15-yard touchdown reception in his collegiate debut against Morehead State … Established season-bests for both receptions (3) and yards (39) in outing with Chattanooga … Caught two passes for 18 yards in home matchup with Furman, including an 11-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Northeast High School for coach Jeremy Wiggins … Earned region player of the year laurels following last two prep seasons … Was also named as an all-state performer by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Named Macon Touchdown Club and Middle Georgia Player of the Year to cap prep career … Threw for 2,091 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior, while also running for 711 yards and 13 additional scores … Amassed 2,336 passing yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior, as well as 349 rushing yards and six touchdowns … Was also a standout basketball, baseball and track & field student-athlete for the Raiders.
PERSONAL
The son of Ashley Wiggins and Kory Solomon … Has two brothers, Jeremy and Jordan, and two sisters, Jaden and Alayiah.
Meet The Bears
ROMAN DOUTHIT
[R-FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK]
5-10 | 155 | ATLANTA, GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Lakeside High School for coach Morris Starr … Earned Viking Award for second-straight season as a senior after making 28 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns … Also tallied 50 tackles on defense to go along with two interceptions, a pair of forced fumbles and 11 pass break-ups … Logged 33 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass break-ups during junior campaign, while also recording 100 receiving yards and two scores … Also lettered in track & field at Lakeside High School.
PERSONAL
The son of Senya and Roderick Douthit … Has a younger sister, Logan … Maintained a 3.4 cumulative grade point average at Lakeside High School … A cyber security major at Mercer.
TYRELL COARD
[JUNIOR • RUNNING BACK]
6-0 | 205 | CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in 13 games, with one start at running back (Chattanooga) … Carried the ball 39 times for 136 yards and one touchdown … Also caught 15 passes for 171 yards and three additional scores … Amassed a season-high 57 all-purpose yards against The Citadel, rushing for 18 yards on five carries (matched season high), while also logging two catches for 39 yards and a pair of touchdowns … Ran for a season-best 36 yards (eight carries) at Bethune-Cookman, while also tallying 19 receiving yards (two catches) … Recorded a season-longest 31-yard reception in the win over Furman … Scored both a rushing (4 yards) and receiving (9 yards) touchdown in the season opener with Presbyterian.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Saw action in 10 games … Ran for 244 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries … Rushed for 21 yards on five carries in collegiate debut at Ole Miss … Logged 32 rushing yards (2 carries) and a fourth-quarter touchdown in home opener with Morehead State … Also scored a touchdown in home win over VMI (9 carries, 38 yards) … Tallied season bests for both carries (11) and yards (52) in regular season finale against Samford … Posted 51 yards on eight carries in playoff victory over Gardner-Webb.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Cox Mill High School for coach Shawn Baker … Named to North Carolina All-State Academic Team as a senior … Finished prep career with school record 33 rushing touchdowns … Ran for 468 yards and nine touchdowns on 91 carries as a senior, including a pair of 100+-yard rushing outings … Also caught eight passes for 145 yards and two additional scores … Scored three touchdowns on the way to leading Chargers to first playoff victory in eight seasons.
PERSONAL
The son of Jessica Peay and Tyron Coard ... Has two older sisters, Asia and Maya ... Maintained a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Cox Mill High School … A communication major at Mercer.
Meet The Bears
BUCK
COOPER
[R-SENIOR
• CORNERBACK]
6-0 | 180 | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
AS A SENIOR AT GEORGIA STATE (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
AS A JUNIOR AT GEORGIA STATE (2023)
#25
MICAH BELL
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Saw action in all 14 games … Logged 45 carries for 248 yards … Also caught one pass for two yards … Established season highs for both carries (12) and rushing yards (69) in the win at VMI … Ran for 30 yards on six carries in season opener with Presbyterian … Ran seven times for 42 yards at Bethune-Cookman, while also tallying a 2-yard reception.
Played in 11 games … Logged 19 tackles (16 solo), including one tackle for loss … Also turned in an interception, two pass break-ups and a quarterback hurry … Tallied multiple tackles against five opponents, including a season-high four stops against Georgia Southern … Registered his lone tackle for loss on the season against Coastal Carolina … Broke up a lone pass in consecutive games with Marshall and Georgia Southern.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT GEORGIA STATE (2022)
Played in 10 games, with a bulk of action coming on special teams … Tallied four tackles … Saw action in the secondary in outings with South Carolina, Louisiana Monroe and James Madison.
AS A FRESHMAN AT GEORGIA STATE (2021)
Played in nine games … Registered four tackles … Logged first collegiate tackle against Texas State … Also logged stops against Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State and in Camellia Bowl win over Ball State.
AS A FRESHMAN AT GEORGIA STATE (2020)
Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Jenkins High School for coach Jason Cameron … Won the Finocchiaro Award as the top player in Savannah and took home all-state laurels following senior campaign that saw him register 50 tackles (31 solo), including 1-1/2 tackles for loss … Also turned in two sacks, four interceptions and a quartet of pass break-ups … Forced two fumbles as well … A two-way player, he also hauled in 13 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns … Tallied 33 tackles (19 solo) as a junior, while also picking off three passes and logging a pass break-up … Named offensive player of the year after catching 15 passes for 218 yards and four scores … Also lettered in basketball for the Warriors.
PERSONAL
The son of Katrina and Ronald Cooper Jr. … Has three sisters – Kenyada, Rahnie and Madison … Maintained a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at Jenkins High School and graduated in the top 22 percent of his 257-member senior class … A teaching major at Mercer.
[R-JUNIOR • CORNERBACK]
5-10 | 165 | GRAY, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Did not see game action.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Jones County High School for coach Mike Chastain … A scholar-athlete for the Greyhounds … Caught 27 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns as a senior … Logged 16 catches for 143 yards during junior campaign … Was also a standout on the baseball diamond at Jones County High School.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer and Billy Mix … Has one brother, Jackson, and one sister, Ella Kate … Earned academic merit scholarship from Mercer, and was also the recipient of the Ralph & Nancy Voris Scholarship.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in 11 games … Carried the ball 67 times for 203 yards and one touchdown … Also caught two passes for 16 yards … Made Mercer debut in season opener with North Alabama … Logged a season-high 20 carries for 73 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown … Rushed six times for 37 yards in the win over VMI … Tallied 41 yards on eight rushing attempts against Chattanooga, while also hauling in a 10-yard pass in the second period.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in one game … Ran for nine yards on a pair of carries against Rice, including a 7-yard gainer.
HIGH SCHOOL
3-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports … Averaged 9.7 yards per carry over his prep career … Two-time team captain … Split time in backfield as a senior, but still managed to rush for 434 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries … Also caught two passes for 18 yards … Earned all-region nods following final prep campaign … Ran for 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, while also recording six catches for 43 yards … Tallied seven 100+yard rushing games … Named all-region and All-Atlanta Journal-Constitution at season’s end.
PERSONAL
The son of Falinda and Marcus Bell … Has four siblings – Madison, Marley, Kiara and Regina.
HIGH SCHOOL
RAFAEL LITTLE
[FRESHMAN • LINEBACKER]
6-1 | 215 | SENECA, SOUTH CAROLINA
Prepped at Seneca High School for coach David Crane … Earned second consecutive all-region laurels as a senior after posting 68 tackles (46 solo), including five tackles for loss … Also turned in five pass break-ups and a trio of forced fumbles … Lettered four times in baseball for the Bobcats as well.
PERSONAL
The son of Pamela and Benjamin Poole … Has a younger sister, Kendall … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Seneca High School … A business major at Mercer.
[R-FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK] #29
6-2 | 190 | CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
AS A FRESHMAN AT NEBRASKA (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated as a 3-star athlete by ESPN and 247Sports … Prepped at Cuthbertson High School for coach Duke Howell … Suffered season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of senior campaign … Earned all-conference accolades as a junior after logging one interception and one fumble recovery on defense, while also catching 38 passes for 528 yards and seven touchdowns.
PERSONAL
The son of Kenisia and Steven Taylor … Has a younger brother, Erik, and four sisters – Emerie, Doninique, Porshia and Stephanie … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Cuthbertson High School … A communications major at Mercer.
BRAYDEN #30
DUDLEY
[R-SENIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-2 | 255 | BUFORD, GEORGIA
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Played in all 14 games … Logged additional action as part of three special teams units … Tallied eight tackles (4 solo), including one tackle for loss … Registered an assist on a sack … Also turned in two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery … Tallied two tackles in season opener with Presbyterian, including an assist on a 5-yard sack in the fourth quarter … Recovered a fumble against Princeton … Registered an assist on a tackle for loss against Furman.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT WEST VIRGINIA (2023)
Did not see game action.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT WEST VIRGINIA (2022)
Played in two games … Made season debut against Towson … Registered an assisted tackle against Oklahoma State.
AS A FRESHMAN AT WEST VIRGINIA (2021)
Redshirted … Played in two games … Made collegiate debut against Long Island, recording two unassisted tackles for loss … Also saw playing time against Kansas.
HIGH SCHOOL
Ranked as the No. 73 player in Georgia by ESPN, No. 95 by 247Sports and No. 98 by Rivals … Also ranked as the No. 65 strong-side defensive end in the nation by 247Sports and the No. 81 defensive end by ESPN … Prepped at Mill Creek High School for coach Josh Lovelady … Limited to three games as a senior due to injury … Finished final prep campaign with 16 tackles, including 11 solos, one sack, one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry … Raked in all-county recognition as a junior after turning in 33 tackles (23 solo), including a pair of tackles for loss … Also posted five sacks and a dozen quarterback hurries, as well as three fumble recoveries and a pair of pass break-ups.
PERSONAL
The son of Risa and Brady Dudley … Has two older sisters, Shelby and Jordan … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Mill Creek High School … A risk management major at Mercer.
BEFORE MERCER
MARKUS
MEINCKE
[SOPHOMORE • PUNTER] #31
6-7 | 220 | HAMBURG, GERMANY
Played one season (2023) for UAB’s soccer program … Played in 74 minutes across eight games … Tallied an assist against Houston Christian … Played a season-high 19 minutes against Georgia Southern.
HIGH SCHOOL
Competed in Germany’s Regional Liga soccer league … Attended International School of Hamburg.
PERSONAL
The son of Bettina and Frank Meincke … Has a twin sister, Sophia … A finance major at Mercer.
KAI REYES
[R-FRESHMAN • CORNERBACK]
5-11 | 190 | JACKSONVILLE,
FLORIDA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Fletcher High School for coach Ciatrick Fason … Logged 24 tackles (21 solo) as a prep senior, while also registering an interception and six pass break-ups … Tallied 41 tackles (36 solo) and a quartet of pass break-ups during junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Bridget and Orestes Reyes … Has a younger sister, Gigi, and three brothers – Armani, Jr and Tico … Maintains a 3.9 cumulative grade point average at Fletcher High School … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
ANTONIO BUTTS JR.
[R-FRESHMAN • LINEBACKER] #33
6-1 | 215 | SAVANNAH,
GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Played in two games on the kick coverage unit … Made collegiate debut against Furman … Saw action at North Dakota State on punt return team as well.
HIGH SCHOOL
A two-time all-region player … Also picked up region player of the year laurels following senior campaign … Played senior prep campaign at Effingham County High School for coach John Ford … Logged 115 tackles during senior campaign, while also registering seven tackles for loss, six sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries … Also logged 618 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 63 carries … Played first three prep seasons at Calvary Day School for coach Mark Stroud … Compiled 277 tackles across three seasons in the starting lineup for the Cavaliers, including a 132-tackle (72 solo) sophomore season … Also recorded seven career sacks and six career interceptions at Calvary Day School.
PERSONAL
The son of Aisha and Antonio Butts Sr. … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Effingham County High School … A business major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
MAC BRADLEY
[FRESHMAN • LINEBACKER] #34
6-2
|
235 | BOGART, GEORGIA
Prepped at Prince Avenue High School for coach Greg Vandagriff … Raked in second-straight all-region and all-state nods following final prep season ... Logged 142 tackles (117 solo), including 11 tackles for loss … Added seven sacks and nine quarterback hurries, while also tallying three pass break-ups … Also forced and recovered a fumble … Finished with impressive numbers as a junior as well, amassing 152 tackles (116 solo), including a dozen tackles for loss … Registered six sacks, 15 quarterback hurries and two pass break-ups as well … Was also an all-region baseball player for the Wolverines.
PERSONAL
The son of Leslie and Adam Bradley … Has an older brother, Connor, and a younger sister, Luci … Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Prince Avenue High School … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
Meet The Bears PLAYER PROFILES
COLE ALLBAUGH
[FRESHMAN • KICKER]
5-9 | 175 | TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
Prepped at Florida State University High School for coach Jared Hickman … Earned all-area laurels as a senior, as well as his second-straight Tallahassee Quarterback Club Special Teams Player of the Year honor … Also earned an FACA All-Star Game invite following senior campaign … Led state of Florida and ranked among nation’s top 10 with 12 made field goals … Also ranked among nation’s top 25 kickers with a 45.2 average on 21 punts … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line seven times … Also notched 46 touchbacks on 62 kickoffs … Finished prep career with a 38-for-53 clip on field goal attempts, including a perfect tally inside the 40-yard line … Also connected on 148 of his 152 point-after attempts at Florida State High School, while turning in a 43.4 yard career punting average … Also lettered in baseball, soccer and weightlifting for the Tigers.
PERSONAL
The son of Candice and Anthony Allbaugh … Has two sisters, Carlee and Caroline, and an older brother, Chase … Maintained a 4.6 cumulative grade point average at Florida State University High School and graduated 11th in his 154-member senior class … A nursing major at Mercer.
BRYCE ADDISON
[R-JUNIOR • KICKER]
#36
5-9 | 175 | SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Saw action in three games as the kickoff specialist … Averaged 54.6 yards on 17 kickoffs, including one that resulted in a touchback … Also logged a solo tackle against Western Carolina … Averaged 56.4 yards on seven kickoffs against Princeton, including his lone touchback of the campaign.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Saw action in each of the last five games of the season as Mercer’s kickoff specialist … Averaged 56.0 yards on 24 kickoffs, two of which resulted in touchbacks … Averaged 58.4 yards on eight kickoffs in the upset win at Western Carolina ... Logged touchbacks in games with The Citadel and Gardner-Webb.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted ... Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Handled kickoff, field goal and punting duties for four seasons at Menendez High School for coach Matt Potak … Named tea’s special teams player of the year following sophomore and junior campaigns … Raked in a trio of scholar-athlete awards to cap first three prep seasons, and was lauded with Menendez’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award as a senior … Connected on a school-record 46-yard field goal as a junior … Earned invite to Special Teams All-American Bowl following senior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Kathleen and Thomas Addison … Has a sister, Brooke.
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Saw action against Furman … Ran for 53 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries in the fourth quarter against the Paladins … Scored on a 6-yard run up the middle with just less than 10 minutes remaining.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at David Emanuel Academy for coach Clint Inman … Earned second-straight all-region and all-state laurels as a senior … Recorded 16 touchdowns during final prep campaign, while also scoring points on a trio of 2-point conversion attempts … Also registered six interceptions on the defensive side of the ball … Turned in five touchdowns and as many interceptions during junior campaign … Excelled in basketball, track & field and baseball for the Eagles as well … Raked in a pair of all-region honors on the basketball court, and was a region placer in multiple
events as a part of the track & field squad … Also finished seventh in the Triple Jump at the state championships.
PERSONAL
The son of Allison and Will Martin …Has a younger sister, Lyla, and four brothers – John-Nathan, Samuel, Nicholas and Abel … Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at David Emanuel Academy and was valedictorian of his 17-member senior class … A civil engineering major at Mercer.
ISAAC #46
PRINCE
6-0 | 215 | SNELLVILLE, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in 11 games, including extensive action as part of four special teams units … Saw defensive snaps in six outings … Tallied five tackles (4 solo), as well as a quarterback hurry … Registered a season-high two tackles (2 solo) at Alabama … Turned in a quarterback hurry at Bethune-Cookman.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in 11 games … Collected 13 tackles (8 solo), including 1-1/2 tackles for loss (-7 yards) … Also turned in a sack, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry … Recorded multiple tackles in consecutive games with Morehead State, Furman and VMI … Logged four tackles (3 solo) in the home opener with the Eagles … Recovered a fumble on the game’s opening kickoff at Western Carolina … Registered a fourth-quarter sack at South Dakota State.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in three games … Saw action in seven plays against Morehead State and logged a trio of tackles (1 solo) … Also played in the fourth quarter at Samford.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Shiloh High School for coach Tino Ierulli … Amassed 290 tackles across prep career … Earned all-county, all-region, and all-state recognition as a senior after posting 97 tackles (60 solo) as a senior, including 11 tackles for loss … Also tallied three sacks, five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Recorded 107 tackles (63 solo), as well as 13 tackles for loss, as a junior … Also tallied six sacks, five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
PERSONAL
The son of Peace and Benjamin Prince … Has three brothers - Isaiah, Israel, and Immanuel.
WASSON
[SENIOR • LINEBACKER]
6-3 | 215 | GLENNVILLE, GEORGIA
#48
HIGH SCHOOL
MAX ALLEN
[FRESHMAN • LONG SNAPPER]
6-4 | 205 | HOLLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepped at Holly Springs High School for coach Robert Furth … Helped pace Golden Hawks to 14 wins across final two prep seasons … Also elected captain of the lacrosse team and lettered in wrestling.
PERSONAL
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Played in all 14 games as a member of four special teams units … Also saw defensive snaps against five opponents … Recorded 15 tackles (5 solo), while also registering a pass break-up … Turned in multiple stops four times, including a season-best four tackles (1 solo) at Alabama … Returned a blocked punt (Tripp Slaton) 20 yards for a touchdown in the win over East Tennessee State.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2023)
Played in 12 games, mainly as an integral part of all five special teams units … Logged nine tackles (5 solo), as well as a forced fumble and ensuing fumble recovery … Registered multiple tackles in four different contests, including a season-best three solo stops against VMI … Forced a fumble on a first-quarter kickoff at Western Carolina, and then returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown later in the period.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Played in all 11 games … Saw extensive time as one of the leaders on MU’s kickoff coverage, kickoff return and punt return units … Tallied 10 tackles … Made multiple stops in four games … Registered both a solo and an assisted tackle in his collegiate debut against Morehead State.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Pinewood Christian Academy for his father and coach, Keith Wasson … A multiple-threat weapon for Patriots who racked up 1,949 all-purpose yards as a senior on the way to raking in all-region and all-state honors … Threw for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,894 yards and 28 additional scores … Also logged 212 punt return and 107 kickoff return yards … Ran for 1,466 yards and 21 touchdowns during junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Amber and Keith Wasson … Has two brothers, Will and Sam … Earned academic achievement honor roll laurels at Pinewood Christian Academy.
Mic WASSON
The son of Susan and Jeff Allen … Has an older brother, Jake, and a twin brother Spencer … Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Holly Springs High School … A business major at Mercer.
DARRIAN KING
[R-SENIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-3 | 295 | OAK GROVE, MISSISSIPPI
AS A JUNIOR AT SAMFORD (2024)
Played in six games and logged 359 offensive snaps ... Played 65 or more offensive snaps in three contests, including a season-high 72 snaps against Mercer ... Graded out near 80 percent in the win over Alabama State.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT SAMFORD (2023)
Played in nine games and logged 298 offensive snaps … Played in a season-high 91 snaps against East Tennessee State, and logged 66 offensive snaps a week later at Wofford … Graded out near 80 percent in 37 offensive snaps against Chattanooga.
BEFORE SAMFORD
Played in 18 games across two seasons (2021-22) at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss. … Earned all-conference laurels as a sophomore … Led Lions to cumulative 17-4 mark across two seasons, as well as a conference title as a sophomore … EMCC boasted NJCAA’s 15th-best rushing attach (179.9 yards/game) during the 2021 season.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Oak Grove High School for coach Drew Causey … Raked in all-area and all-state laurels following senior campaign … Led Warriors to a 13-0 record and anchored a unit that paved the way for an offense that averaged 373.1 yards and 40.5 points per game … Also lettered in basketball for the Warriors.
PERSONAL
The son of Tracie King … Maintained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at Oak Grove High School … Earned his bachelor’s degree at Samford and is pursuing his MBA at Mercer.
CLARE
[R-JUNIOR • LINEBACKER]
6-2 | 225 | ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in 12 games, primarily as a part of four special teams units … Also saw defensive snaps against Alabama and Furman … Tallied nine tackles (2 solo), including one tackle for loss (sack) … Made multiple stops in three games, including Furman (2 solo) in which he also turned in a 2-yard sack … Also registered two assisted tackles against The Citadel and Alabama.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in all 13 games with a majority of action coming as an integral part of four special teams units … Saw extended action at linebacker against both Ole Miss and The Citadel … Logged a dozen tackles (9 solo), including 1-1/2 tackles for loss … Logged multiple stops in a pair of outings, including a season-best five tackles (4 solo) against Wofford … Tallied an unassisted tackle for loss against Furman … Also posted a trio of
Meet The Bears PLAYER PROFILES
stops at Ole Miss, including an assist on a tackle for loss.
AS
A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in three games … Registered three assisted tackles in collegiate debut against Morehead State.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Denmark High School for coach Neal Burkhart … Recorded 39 tackles as a senior, including nine tackles for loss … Also turned in two sacks, one fumble recovery and a trio of pass break-ups … Was also a standout on the baseball diamond for the Danes.
PERSONAL
The son of Teresa and Brian Clare … Has one sister, Madelyn.
WYATT HESTER
[R-FRESHMAN • LINEBACKER]
6-0 | 190 | NEWBERRY, FLORIDA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#52
Prepped at Newberry High School for coach Edward Johnson … Logged 90 tackles (40 solo) as a senior, including 20 tackles for loss … Added one sack, a pair of quarterback hurries, one interception and a pair of pass break-ups … Raked in all-area laurels following junior campaign … Turned in 87 tackles (37 solo) in junior campaign, including 13 tackles for loss … Also tallied a pair of sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a pass break-up.
PERSONAL
The son of Summer and Eric Hester … Has two older brothers, Bubba and Riley … Maintained a 4.3 cumulative grade point average at Newberry High School and graduated in the top 20 percent of his 125-member senior class … A business major at Mercer.
JUSTIN
GILBERT
6-3 | 245 | DALLAS, GEORGIA
#53
JUSTIN BRETT
[R-JUNIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE]
5-11 | 265 | SANDERSVILLE, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in four games, including playing time as part of two special teams units ... Saw offensive snaps against both VMI (4) and Furman (11).
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in one game … Made collegiate debut at center in fourth quarter of home opener with Morehead State.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Washington County High School for coach Joel Ingram … An all-state standout on both the offensive and defensive lines … Served as captain in Georgia/South Carolina Border Bowl game, and earned a start in the Georgia Elite Classic … Amassed 62 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a senior …. Logged a 95 percent blocking rate on the offensive line and yielded just one sack … Raked in all-region and all-state laurels as a junior on the offensive line as well … Also picked up a pair of all-region honors as a baseball player for the Golden Hawks.
PERSONAL
The son of Rose and Jeremy Brett … Has an older brother, Clay … Maintained a 3.98 cumulative grade point average at Washington County High School and ranked No. 4 in his 225-member senior class … A sports marketing and analytics major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
EAN JOHNSON-KELLEY
[FRESHMAN • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-1 | 270 | BRADENTON, FLORIDA
Listed as 3-star recruit by three different publications (ESPN.com, Rivals.com, 247Sports. com) … Prepped at Manatee High School for coach Jacquez Green … Amassed 42 tackles (34 solo), including 24 tackles for loss, as a senior on the way to picking up defensive player of the year and second-straight Iron Cane Award honors … Turned in six sacks and a trio of blocked kicks, while also forcing and recovering a fumble … Totaled 53 tackles (38 solo) as a junior, including 16 tackles for loss, five sacks and 18 quarterback hurries … Also blocked two kicks, forced a pair of fumbles and recovered three others … Tallied 194 tackles (144 solo) across his prep career to go along with 21-1/2 sacks.
PERSONAL
AS A JUNIOR (2024)
Played in three games, primarily as a part of two special teams units ... Logged defensive snaps against Furman ... Registered one tackle - an assisted stop at Alabama.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT SAVANNAH STATE (2023)
Played in nine games … Totaled 12 tackles (7 solo), including 1-1/2 sacks (-9 yards) … Also tallied a pair of quarterback hurries … Logged multiple tackles against four opponents, including a season-high four stops (all solo) against Central State … Performance against Marauders also included a quarterback hurry and a 6-yard sack in the third quarter.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT SAVANNAH STATE (2022)
Played in seven games … Recorded eight tackles (6 solo), including 3-1/2 tackles for loss (-22 yards) … Also posted a sack and a quarterback hurry … Tallied multiple stops against both Morehouse and Lane … Turned in 1-1/2 tackles for loss against Morehouse as well … Registered both a quarterback hurry and a 6-yard sack in second quarter against Fort Valley State.
AS A FRESHMAN AT SAVANNAH STATE (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at High School for coach Gary Varner … Named to all-region team following a senior campaign that saw him turn in 35 tackles (16 solo), as well as two tackles for loss … Also posted a sack and a pair of quarterback hurries … Forced and recovered a fumble as well … A standout on the track & field squad for the Buccaneers as well … Was a place-winner in Shot Put at state championships, and also shattered the school record in the Discus Throw.
PERSONAL
The son of Drs. Dana and Ed Gilbert … Has an older brother, Ed … Maintained a 3.87 cumulative grade point average at Allatoona High School … A computer science major at Mercer.
The son of Shakyrria Johnson and Timothy Kelley … Has three brothers – Timothy, Quentin and Jeremiah … Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at Manatee High School … Undecided on a major at Mercer.
JAIDEN HAMILTON
[JUNIOR • LONG SNAPPER]
6-2 | 215
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
#56
| CARROLLTON, GEORGIA
Played in all 14 games as the primary long snapper for two special teams units.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Saw action at long snapper in final six games … Made collegiate debut against Wofford with six snaps on field goal and extra point attempts, as well as three as part of the punt coverage team.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Carrollton High School for coach Joey King … Integral part of offensive unit that averaged more than 461 yards and 44 points per game on the way to 14 victories, a state championship game berth and a top-20 national ranking … Also served as a captain on the lacrosse team for the Trojans … Picked up all-region laurels as a senior.
PERSONAL
The son of Katie and Shane Hamilton … Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Carrollton High School and graduated in the top-5 percent of his 420-member senior class … An electrical engineering major at Mercer.
TYLER MURRAY
[SOPHOMORE • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-2 | 285 | ALTAVISTA, VIRGINIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
#57
All-Southern Conference … Started all 14 games at right guard … Logged 746 offensive snaps, as well as 75 snaps as a member of a special teams unit … Logged 65 or more snaps five times, including a season-high 73 snaps at VMI … Also posted 70 offensive snaps in the season opener with Presbyterian … Graded out near 80 percent in the win over VMI.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Liberty Christian Academy for coach Frank Rocco … Earned second consecutive all-state, all-region, all-district and all-conference accolades as a senior, while also picking up offensive player of the year honors … Integral part of a unit that opened holes for an offensive attack that averaged 44.5 points and nearly 375 yards (285.6 rushing) per game on the way to a perfect 14-0 season … Was also a standout in baseball and track & field for the Bulldogs … Won a pair of region championships in the Shot Put, and qualified for Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City.
PERSONAL
The son of Kristi and Jon Murray … Has an older sister, Katelyn … Maintained a 4.2 cumulative grade point average at Liberty Christian Academy and graduated in the top 9 percent of his 167-member senior class … A sports marketing & analytics major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
GAVIN MARKS
[FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE]
#60
6-3 | 305 | WENDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepped at Rolesville High School for coach Rainier Rackley … Earned second consecutive all-conference and all-state accolades as a senior … Anchored an offensive attack that tacked up nearly 400 yards and 42 points per game on the way to registering a 14-2 clip and an appearance in the state championship game … Rams averaged more than 239 rushing yards per game during junior campaign on the way to a 12-2 record.
PERSONAL
The son of Pam and Gregg Marks … Has an older brother, Tyler, and an older sister, Ally … Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Rolesville High School … A business major at Mercer.
TYLER MURRAY
[R-SOPHOMORE • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-5 | 300 | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
AS A FRESHMAN AT TEXAS TECH (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#62
JAMARI FREEMAN
[R-JUNIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-4 | 300 | FAIRBURN,
GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE AT TENNESSEE STATE (2024)
Played in all 13 games and 747 offensive snaps … Logged 60 or more offensive snaps in five games, including a season-high 72 snaps against UT Martin … Graded at or near 80 percent in three outings … Received a pass block grade at or above 80 percent in five games.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT TENNESSEE STATE (2023)
Played in all 11 games and 553 offensive snaps … Saw 60 or more offensive snaps in six outings, including a season-high 80 snaps against Charleston Southern … Graded at 84.8 percent across 61 snaps against Arkansas Pine Bluff … Graded at or near 80 percent in three other contests as well.
AS A FRESHMAN AT TENNESSEE STATE (2023)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Langston Hughes High School for coach Daniel “Boone” Williams … Ranked as the 12th best offensive lineman in the state of Georgia as a senior … Earned second-straight all-region nods as a senior, as well as offensive lineman of the year laurels …
As a senior, anchored offensive unit that paved the way for an offense that averaged nearly 367 yards per game, including 188.9 yards on the ground … Helped lead Panthers to 13 wins and a state championship berth in final prep season.
PERSONAL
The son of Stacey Willis and Joe Freeman … Has two sisters, Shunta and Denek … A psychology major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
GARRETT WEISGERBER
[FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-2
|
280 | LITHIA, FLORIDA
Prepped at Carrollwood Day School for coach Marshal McDuffie … Earned second-straight all-conference laurels as a senior … Started every game for Carrollwood High School across sophomore, junior and senior seasons … Anchored a unit that paved the way for an offensive attack that averaged nearly 450 yards and 29 points per game … Patriots grinded out more than 186 rushing yards per game during his junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer and Mike Weisgerber … Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at Carrollwood Day School … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
DENVER DEGONIA
[FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-1 | 245 | HARRIS COUNTY, GEORGIA
#66
Prepped at Brandeis High School for coach Charles Bruce … Unanimous first team all-district selection as a senior … Was also an all-district first team honoree as a junior … Garnered all-state accolades from the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) as a senior and third team honors by Padilla Poll … Did not allow a sack during junior campaign as Brandeis averaged nearly 180 yards per game on the ground as well.
PERSONAL
The son of Melissa Brown and Mike Murray … Has a sister, Makayla … Maintained a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Brandeis High School … A business major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Harris County High School for coach Tommy Watson … Earned second consecutive all-area and all-region honors as a senior after registering 51 pancake blocks on the offensive side of the ball, as well as 25 tackles on the defensive line … Tallied 37 pancake blocks and a pair of tackles as a junior … Was also an all-region wrestler for the Tigers.
PERSONAL
The son of Kimberly and John Degonia … Has two older brothers, John Robert and Spencer … Maintained a 4.35 cumulative grade point average at Harris County High School and graduated in the top 5 percent of his 434-member senior class … A neuroscience major at Mercer.
PIERSON SEARS
[R-FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE] #67
6-1 | 255 | CANTON, GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Creekview High School for coach Trevor Williams … Earned second consecutive all-state, all-region and all-county laurels as a senior after grading out at 96 percent for the season, while also tallying 130 pancake blocks … Paved the way for an offensive attack that averaged more than 365 total yards per game, including nearly 205 rushing yards an outing … Graded out at 91 percent during his junior campaign with 142 pancake blocks … Also lettered in track & field for the Grizzlies … Holds school record in Shot Put.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer and Mike Weisgerber … Maintained a 3.6 cumulative grade point average at Carrollwood Day School … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
BEFORE MERCER
BLAKE MARTIN
Rated as a 3-star transfer by 247Sports prior to participating in drills at Coastal Carolina in Spring 2025.
AS A JUNIOR AT WINGATE (2024)
Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference (Piedmont Division) selection … Started all 11 games for the Bulldogs and helped lead squad to 9-2 record, a SAC regular season title and a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs … Anchored a unit that paved the way for the nation’s 45th-best rushing attack (165.8 yards/game).
AS A SOPHOMORE AT WINGATE (2023)
All-South Atlantic Conference (Piedmont Division) honoree … Played in eight games … Led Bulldogs to eight wins, including an upset victory over No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne who was coached by current Mercer skipper Mike Jacobs … Bulldogs racked up nearly 180 yards per game on the ground (77th NCAA), including a pair of 200-yard rushing days.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT WINGATE (2022)
Played in 10 games as a true freshman … Helped pace Bulldogs to an 11-3 clip, a South Atlantic Conference regular season championship and a run to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals … Wingate averaged 156.7 yards per game on the ground, while also yielding just 1.36 sacks per game (32nd NCAA).
AS A FRESHMAN AT WINGATE (2021)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-year starter at Alexander Central High School for coach Butch Carter … Earned thirdstraight all-conference, as well as all-state, laurels as a senior after leading Cougars to a 10-3 record … Also lettered in baseball, swimming and wrestling at Alexander Central … An all-conference wrestler, Martin finished eighth at the state tournament to cap junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Heather and Allen Martin … Has one sister, Peyton … Maintained a 3.85 cumulative grade point average at Alexander Central High School … An interdisciplinary studies major at Mercer.
AS A SENIOR (2024)
XAVIER JENNINGS
[R-SENIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-2 | 305 | SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA
Redshirted … Started six games at left tackle, including FCS Playoffs contests against Rhode Island and North Dakota State … Logged 342 offensive snaps … Registered 68 or more snaps in three outings, including a season-best 72 in the win over East Tennessee State … Graded out at or above 80 percent in contests with Western Carolina and Furman … Graded out at 88 percent in pass protection against the Catamounts.
AS A JUNIOR AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2023)
Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference (coaches) … All-South Atlantic Conference … Started in all 15 games, including nine starts at left guard (six at left tackle) … Integral part of a steamroller unit that opened holes for NCAA Division II’s 21st-ranked rushing offense (202.9 yards/game) and allowed just 1.33 sacks per game (36th NCAA) … Bears amassed 200 or more rushing yards eight times, including a pair of 300+-yard rushing performances.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2022)
All-American (Don Hansen) … Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference (coaches) … All-South Atlantic Conference (coaches) … Started all 11 games at left tackle … Led a unit that paved the way for an offense that put up more than 35 points and 150 rushing yards an outing … Unit also surrendered less than two sacks per game … Bears turned in four 200+-yard performances, including 260 rushing yards in the win over Barton.
AS A FRESHMAN AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2021)
Started all 11 games at left tackle … Spearheaded an offensive attack that ranked 9th among NCAA Division II schools in rushing offense (237.9 yards/game), while also yielding just 1.45 sacks/game … L-R amassed 200-plus rushing yards seven times, including five performances of 283 or more rushing yards.
AS A FRESHMAN AT LENOIR-RHYNE (2020-21)
Started all four games at left tackle … Lenoir-Rhyne boasted NCAA Division II’s 27th-ranked rushing offense (150.8 yards/game), while also carrying the nation’s 16th-best pass-blocking squad (1.45 sacks/game allowed).
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Burns High School for coach David Devine … Led a unit that paved the way for a offensive attack that put up more than 38 points and 254 rushing yards per game.
PERSONAL
The son of Nicole Briscoe and William Jennings … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Burns High School … Pursuing his master’s degree in business administration (MBA) at Mercer.
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
A two-time first team all-region selection for coach Sheddrick Risper at Westside High School … Also named to Bibb County All-Star Team following each of last two prep seasons … Anchored an offensive line that paved the way for an offense that averaged more than 305 yards and 23 points per game … Seminoles offense featured a pair of 1,000-yard running backs … Named a WGXA Game Changer as a junior … Also lettered in basketball, track & field and wrestling at Westside High School … Finished fourth in the shot put at the GHSA state championships.
PERSONAL
The son of Shondonette and Michael Horton Jr. … Has two younger brothers, Anthony and Aaron … Maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Westside High School and ranked fourth among his 196-member senior class … A business management major at Mercer.
MICHAEL HORTON
KURT ARMSTRONG
[R-FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-4 | 325 | BAKER, FLORIDA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#73
WILLIAM COTNEY
[R-SOPHOMORE • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-1 | 260 | OCALA, FLORIDA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
A two-time all-state selection for coach Barry Gardner at Baker (Fla.) High School … Also picked up district player of the year laurels following senior campaign … Earned all-area recognition following each of last two prep seasons … A two-way player for the Gators … Logged 46 tackles and five sacks amid senior season … Paved the way for an offense that established a new school record for rushing yards during junior campaign … Also lettered in basketball at Baker High School.
PERSONAL
The son of Amber and Rob Armstrong … Has a younger brother, Kase … Maintained a 3.9 cumulative grade point average at Baker High School … A social studies major at Mercer.
AMARII ATCHISON
[R-SOPHOMORE • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-8 | 300 | DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
#74
Played in 11 games, including eight starts at left tackle and one start at right tackle … Logged 563 offensive snaps … Played 70 or more snaps in five outings, including a season-high 76 offensive snaps against Samford … Graded out near 87 percent on pass blocking against Wofford.
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Alexander High School for coach Oldwick Downs … Paved the way for an offensive attack that averaged nearly 350 yards per game … Was also a standout basketball player for the Cougars.
PERSONAL
The son of Juanita and Steven Atchison … Has two younger sisters, Aubrey and Ava … Maintained a 3.4 cumulative grade point average at Alexander High School … A cyber security major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
KELAN WASHINGTON
[FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-3 | 290 | MACON, GEORGIA
#75
Prepped at Walton High School for coach Darren Keith White … Paved the way for an offensive attack that averaged more than 36 points and 400 yards of total offense per game … Tallied 90 pancake blocks … Picked up all-area honors as a junior after posting 78 pancake blocks … Braves averaged nearly 390 yards and 37 points per game on the way to registering the best record (12-1) in school history … Also lettered in football and baseball at Walton High School.
PERSONAL
The son of Rosalyn Campbell and Byron Washington … Has two brothers, Jaylon and Skyler … Maintained a 3.4 cumulative grade point average at Walton High School … A business major at Mercer.
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at West Port High School for coach Greg Harper … Decorated with Burlsworth Award following final prep campaign … Captained the Wolf Pack as a senior … Picked up Alpha Wolf Award following junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Beth and Alan Cotney … Has three sisters – Emma, Katelyn and Isabela … Maintained a 4.72 cumulative grade point average at West Port High School … A finance major at Mercer.
LUKE SCHULTZ
[R-FRESHMAN • OFFENSIVE LINE]
6-7 | 295 | BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
A two-time all-conference offensive tackle for coach Matthew Forester at Briarwood Christian High School … Also picked up all-county, all-metro and all-region laurels as a senior … Helped lead Lions to an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs … Also lettered in basketball at Briarwood Christian.
PERSONAL
The son of Linda and David Schultz … Has two older sisters, Allowyn and Ainsley … Maintained a 4.42 cumulative grade point average at Briarwood Christian High School … A business major at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
TY DOUGHTY
[FRESHMAN • WIDE RECEIVER]
5-9 | 180 | MADISON, ALABAMA
Rated as a 2-star athlete by 247SportsPrepped at James Clemens High School for coach Chad McGhee … Captured all-state and team most valuable player accolades following junior and senior campaigns … Racked up 1,048 all-purpose yards as a senior, including 422 receiving yards (43 receptions) and three touchdowns … Also ran for 392 yards (51 carries) and three additional scores … Logged 1,337 all-purpose yards as a junior, including 739 receiving yards (56 catches) … Scored a dozen touchdowns, six of which came through the air and three more on kickoff and punt returns … Also lettered in track & field for the Jets.
PERSONAL
The son of Lakesha and Tracy Doughty … Has a younger sister, Skylar … Maintained a 4.1 cumulative grade point average at James Clemens High School … A neuroscience major at Mercer.
COLE SHAW
[SOPHOMORE • WIDE RECEIVER]
6-2 | 195 | THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Played in 13 games, with extended action as part of two special teams units … Made collegiate debut in season opener with Presbyterian, catching two passes for eight yards … Saw a season-high 14 offensive snaps against both VMI and Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
An all-state and two-time all-region and all-state selection for coach Jonathan DeLay at Thomasville High School … Also picked up region offensive player of the year laurels … Named ITG Next Outstanding Athlete for Thomasville High School … Crowned Bill Raney Male Athlete of the Year … Caught 31 passes for 712 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … Registered a quartet of 100+-yard receiving nights, including a 2-catch, 153-yard outing against Harlem … Logged multiple touchdown catches three times … Hauled in 43 receptions for 849 yards and six touchdowns during junior campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer and Ed Shaw … Has an older sister, Marcia … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Thomasville High School … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
CAMAURI SIMMONS
[R-FRESHMAN • WIDE RECEIVER]
SAWYER BURT
[R-JUNIOR • TIGHT END]
6-5 | 250 | FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in all 14 games … Caught four passes for 71 yards and one touchdown … Registered one reception against four opponents … Hauled in a 7-yard scoring reception in second quarter against Furman … Logged a season-longest 39-yard reception early in the third quarter against Western Carolina … Played a season-high 31 offensive snaps in FCS Playoffs outing against Rhode Island.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Saw action in all 13 games, including 10 starts … Tallied three catches for 37 yards … Hauled in a season-longest 16-yard catch in home opener with Morehead State … Also logged lone catches in consecutive games with Chattanooga and Wofford … Played a season-high 55 snaps in MU’s first round playoff game against Gardner-Webb … Also saw action in 40 or more snaps in two other contests.
#83
5-10 | 160 | HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Saw eight snaps in the fourth quarter of win over Furman. BEFORE MERCER
Attended Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Bluffton High School for coach Hayden Gregory … Picked up all-purpose player of the year laurels as a senior after tallying 814 all-purpose yards, including 649 receiving yards (57 receptions) … Earned a pair of all-region awards (100m Dash, 4x100m Relay) as a member of the track & field team for the Bobcats as well.
PERSONAL
The son of Monika and Cedric Simmons … Has a younger brother, Cyrie, and a younger sister, Malaya … Maintained a 4.4 cumulative grade point average at Bluffton High School and graduated in the top 25 percent of his 240-member senior class … A cyber security major at Mercer.
ZACHARY LOWE
[R-FRESHMAN • WIDE RECEIVER]
5-8 | 170 | APEX, NORTH CAROLINA
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Redshirted … Played four snaps in the fourth quarter of win over Furman.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Apex High School for coach John Mozerka … Caught 27 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns as a senior … Was also a standout on the track & field team for the Cougars.
PERSONAL
The son of Rebecca and James Lowe … Has a younger sister, Abigail … Maintained a 4.31 cumulative grade point average at Apex High School and graduated in the top 17 percent of his 626-member senior class … A mechanical engineering major at Mercer.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in three games … Made collegiate debut against Gardner-Webb and recorded a 12-yard catch that set up MU’s second touchdown of the afternoon … Played a season-high 16 snaps at VMI.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Fort Payne High School for coach Chris Elmore … Earned all-region laurels following his sophomore campaign.
PERSONAL
The son of Heather and Mike Burt … Has one brother, Carson, and one sister, Marleigh.
SAMUEL ALBEE
[JUNIOR • TIGHT END]
6-5 | 235 | DUNWOODY, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
#86
HIGH SCHOOL
COOPER BERRY
[FRESHMAN • TIGHT END]
6-2 | 235 | BUFORD, GEORGIA
Prepped at Buford High School for coach Bryant Appling … Earned second consecutive all-region nods as a senior after helping to pace the Wolves to a 12-2 record and a deep run in the state playoffs … Helped pave the way for a rushing attack that tacked up nearly 230 yards per game on the ground … Also caught four passes for 66 yards … Caught six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown during junior campaign.
Played in all 14 games, including a dozen starts at tight end … Registered 10 receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown … Logged multiple catches against three opponents, including 2-catch, 27-yard day at Samford … Performance included a 5-yard scoring reception late in the third quarter … Also caught a pair of passes against The Citadel (14 yards) and North Dakota State (6 yards) ... Played 35 or more snaps five times, including a season-high 43 offensive snaps against Furman.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in 13 games, including seven starts … Earned first collegiate start in home opener with Morehead State … Caught six passes for 40 yards … Recorded first collegiate catch on a 9-yard toss from Carter Peevy in opener with North Alabama … Tallied a pair of receptions against both Wofford (10 yards) and The Citadel (19 yards) … Performance against the Bulldogs included a season-longest 12-yard catch in second period.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Fellowship Christian School for coach Tim Mcfarlin … Amassed 60 tackles as a senior, including 38-1/2 tackles for loss (21 sacks) … Also posted a pair of fumble recoveries … Named 2A defensive player of the year … A two-way player, also logged 214 receiving yards and five scores … Logged 44 tackles as a junior, including eight sacks … Tallied 142 receiving yards and four touchdowns as well … Was also a standout pitcher on the baseball diamond for the Paladins.
PERSONAL
The son of Kristine and Todd Albee … Has two older brothers, Jackson and Charlie, and a younger brother, Joseph … Maintained a 4.5 cumulative grade point average at Fellowship Christian School … A bio-medical energy major at Mercer.
Samuel ALBEE
PERSONAL
The son of Samantha and Jamie Berry … Has a brother, Cade … Maintained a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Buford High School … A finance major at Mercer.
TY EVERSON
[JUNIOR • TIGHT END]
| 235 | BLACKSHEAR, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in all 14 games, including time as part of a special teams unit … Caught three passes for 16 yards … Tallied a pair of catches at Bethune-Cookman … Also caught a season-longest 13-yard pass against East Tennessee State … Played 20 or more snaps four times, including a season-high 29 snaps against Furman.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in 11 games … Made collegiate debut in season opener against North Alabama … Played a season-high 27 snaps in home outing with VMI.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Pierce County High School for coach Ryan Herring … Caught two passes for 67 yards and a touchdown as a senior as part of a run-heavy offense … Logged a receiving touchdown as a junior as well.
PERSONAL
The son of Courtney and Jarrod Everson … Has an older brother, Wyatt, and a younger sister, Ellie … Maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Pierce County High School … A communication major at Mercer.
IAN GARCIA
[R-JUNIOR • PUNTER]
6-0 | 210 | WINDERMERE, FLORIDA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Did not see game action.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Handled the punting duties in three games … Averaged 36.1 yards on 10 punts … Pinned opponent inside 20-yard line on one occasion, while two of his punts resulted in fair catches … Made collegiate debut in season opener with North Alabama, punting four times for 149 yards (37.5 yards/punt) … Averaged 37.0 yards on four punts at Ole Miss.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Foundation Academy for coach Andre Walker … Handled the kicking and punting duties for the Lions, while also playing defensive back … Averaged 37.7 yards on 25 punts, while also pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line on seven occasions … Also logged 59 kickoffs, with 25 of those resulting in touchbacks … Recorded 57 tackles (14 solo), including six tackles for loss … Also tallied a pair of forced fumbles and eight pass break-ups … Was also a standout in soccer and track & field at Foundation Academy.
PERSONAL
The son of Kelly Marcal and Sergio Garcia … Has one brother, Dylan.
TUCKER WILSON
[R-JUNIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE]
5-11 | 230 | SPRINGFIELD, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Did not see game action.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
#90
Prepped at Effingham County High School for coach John Ford … A two-time all-region and all-state performer for the Rebels … Was also a standout on the baseball diamond at Effingham County High School.
PERSONAL
The son of Kimberly and Trevor Wilson … Has one brother, Zachary, and two sisters, Martina and Ashley.
JORDAN SWAIN
[R-SENIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-3 | 290 | BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA
#91
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Glynn Academy for coach Rocky Hidalgo … An all-region and all-state performer for the Terrors … Was also a standout performer in track & field for Glynn Academy.
PERSONAL
The son of Jennifer and Seneca McGee … Has one sister, Alyssa.
SULLY CROKER
[R-SOPHOMORE • KICKER]
6-0 | 180 | AUBURN, GEORGIA
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2024)
Played in 13 games as kickoff specialist … Averaged 56.9 yards on 68 kickoffs, including three that resulted in touchback … Averaged 57.2 yards on 10 kickoffs in the season opener with Presbyterian … Averaged 58.0 yards on a trio of kicks at Chattanooga … Registered touchback boots at Chattanooga, East Tennessee State and Furman … Also averaged 57.6 yards on seven kickoffs at Bethune-Cookman.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered three times for head coach Joe Sturdivant at Providence Christian Academy ... Holds school records for field goals, punts and touchbacks ... Connected on a school record 50-yard field goal during senior campaign ... Went 9-for-13 on field goal attempts and 25-for-27 on PAT tries during final prep season ... Named all-state, all-region and all-county ... Also decorated with all-America honors from Kohl’s Kicking Camp ... Named Kohl’s National Player of the Week ... Was also an all-state, all-region and all-county soccer player for the Storm.
PERSONAL
The son of Courtney and Todd Croker ... Has an older brother, Bailey, and a younger sister, Addie Grace ... Maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average at Providence Christian Academy ... An engineering major at Mercer.
AS A SENIOR (2024)
Redshirted … Played in five games, including FCS Playoffs matchups with Rhode Island and North Dakota State … Also started four contests … Tallied seven tackles (2 solo), including one tackle for loss … Also turned in a quarterback hurry … Made multiple tackles in three outings, including a pair of assisted tackles against Rhode Island … That performance included an assist on a 1-yard tackle for loss in opening period … Registered a quarterback hurry at Bethune-Cookman.
AS A JUNIOR (2023)
Played in all 13 games, including 10 starts at defensive tackle … Recorded 30 tackles (13 solo), including four tackles for loss (-13 yards) … Also turned in 1-1/2 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up … Tallied a blocked kick (25-yard field goal) in season opener with North Alabama … Block preserved a 10-7 lead for the Bears … Registered at least one tackle in all 13 games, including seven outings with three or more stops … Registered at least one assisted or unassisted tackle for loss in six games … Turned in a season-best four tackles against Chattanooga … Tallied a solo quarterback sack in second quarter of contest with Samford.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2022)
Played in all 11 games … Totaled 23 tackles (8 solo), including one tackle for loss (-3 yards) … Also posted a quarterback hurry … Tallied at least one stop in eight outings, including a season-best five tackles against both The Citadel and Samford … Also logged lone tackle for loss of season in third quarter against the Bulldogs.
AS A FRESHMAN (2021)
Played in nine games … Registered 14 tackles (8 solo), including one tackle for loss (-1 yard) … Also tallied a quarterback hurry … Logged at least one tackle in seven outings, including a quartet of multi-tackle performances … Registered an unassisted stop in his collegiate debut at Alabama … Tallied a season-best five stops (3 solo) at Furman … Recorded two solo tackles against Wofford, including a 1-yard stop behind the line in the fourth quarter.
AS A FRESHMAN (2020-21)
Played in nine games … Amassed 22 tackles (6 solo), including 3-1/2 tackles for loss (-10 yards) … Also registered an assist on a 2-yard quarterback sack against Chattanooga … Tallied at least one tackle in all nine outings, including a trio of multiple-tackle performances … Turned in a trio of assisted tackles in collegiate debut against Jacksonville State … Posted a season-best 10 stops (3 solo) at Army, including a pair of tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
PLAYER PROFILES Meet The Bears
REICE GRIFFITH
[JUNIOR • KICKER]
5-11 | 170 | PACE, FLORIDA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in all 14 games as extra point and field goal specialist … Led team with a school record-matching 102 points scored (74th NCAA) … Connected on all 54 of his point-after attempts, including a perfect 9-for-9 night in season opener with Presbyterian … Also went 7-for-7 on PAT tries in win over Furman … Went 16-for-20 on field goal attempts, including a season-longest 40-yarder in the fourth quarter against Western Carolina … Scored a season-high 14 points against the Catamounts, including a 5-for-5 mark on PAT attempts, while also connecting on field goal tries of 30, 23 and 40 yards … Earned Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after netting 13 points in the victory over East Tennessee State, including 36-, 36- and 31-yard field goals … Shattered a school record by converting his 52nd-straight PAT attempt against The Citadel.
AS
A FRESHMAN (2023)
Played in all 13 games … Handled field goal and extra-point attempts in all 13 outings … Served as kickoff specialist in first eight games, while handling the punting duties for the Bears in each of the last five games … Connected on all 37 of his point-after attempts, including a 6-for-6 day at Western Carolina … Went 5-for-5 on PAT attempts against both VMI and The Citadel … Went 10-for-15 on field goal attempts, including a season-long 44-yarder in the fourth quarter at Western Carolina … Logged a perfect 5-for-5 clip on field goals of 20-29 yards, and went 2-for-3 from 40-49 yards … Averaged 38.5 yards on 28 punts, including a pair of 50+-yard boots … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 10 times … Averaged a season-best 41.7 yards on seven punts at South Dakota State … Averaged 54.8 yards on 40 kickoffs, including a pair that went for touchbacks.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Pace High School for coach Kevin Smith … Rated as a 5-star kicker by Kohl’s Professional Football Camps … Named first team all-state as a kicker, while also nabbing all-region laurels as both a kicker and a punter … Averaged 42.9 yards on 28 punts, while also pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line 14 times … Went 51-of-53 on point-after attempts, while also connecting on 4-of-5 field goal opportunities including a season-long 49-yarder … Named all-area as both a kicker and a punter as a junior … Went 35-for-37 on point-after attempts, while also logging an 8-for-11 clip on field goal attempts … Also played soccer for the Patriots.
PERSONAL
The son of Ginger and Charlie Griffith … Has one sister, Mary Claire … Maintained a 4.04 cumulative grade point average at Pace High School and graduated in the top 25 percent of his 495-member senior class … A communications major at Mercer.
MARIUS LANDSFELD
[R-SOPHOMORE • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-4 | 270 | BRÜHL, GERMANY
AS A FRESHMAN AT LIBERTY (2024)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
BEFORE LIBERTY
Attended Fork Union Military Academy for one season (2022).
HIGH SCHOOL
Did not participate in organized prep sports at St. Ursula Gymnasium.
PERSONAL
The son of Sabine and Christoph Landsfeld … Has a brother, Benjamin … A business major at Mercer.
DELANO MARCELUS
[R-SENIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE]
6-2 | 275 | COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
AS A JUNIOR AT WEST LIBERTY (2024)
Played in all 11 games … Registered 61 tackles (25 solo), including 6-1/2 tackles for loss (-34 yards) … Also produced five sacks, a trio of quarterback hurries and one forced fumble … Logged a blocked punt as well … Turned in six or more tackles six times, including a season-best 13 stops (3 solo) against Charleston, W.Va. … Recorded a season-best five solo tackles at Glenville State, including a 6-yard sack … Turned in a season-best 1-1/2 sacks against West Virginia Wesleyan.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT WEST LIBERTY (2023)
Played in all 10 games … Ranked third on team with 44 tackles (27 solo), including eight tackles for loss … Turned in 2-1/2 sacks as well … Also tallied an interception, four quarterback hurries, a pass break-up and a forced fumble … Tacked up a blocked point-after attempt as well … Amassed five or more tackles against five opponents, including a season-high seven stops against Notre Dame, Ohio … Notched at least one tackle for loss assist in seven outings … Produced lone interception of the campaign in season finale against Wheeling.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT WEST LIBERTY (2022)
Played in all 11 games … Turned in 24 tackles (16 solo), including 6-1/2 tackles for loss … Also tallied one sack, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble … Turned in a blocked field goal against both Alderson Broaddus and Fairmont State … Recorded multiple tackles against six opponents, including a season-best seven stops (2 TFL) at West Virginia State … Recorded first career sack, an 11-yard drop, against Wheeling.
AS A FRESHMAN AT WEST LIBERTY (2021)
Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Colts Neck High School for coach Matt Ahearn … Finished among state’s top 3 tacklers with 76 stops as a senior, including seven tackles for loss … Also logged five sacks, 23 quarterback hurries and one pass break-up … Forced and recovered a fumble as well … Amassed 91 tackles (15 solo) across junior campaign, including 10 tackles for loss … Turned in six sacks, as well as 28 quarterback hurries, while also picking off a pass and logging four pass break-ups … Also lettered in basketball and track & field for the Cougars.
PERSONAL
The son of Joelle and Wisler Marcelus … Has three younger brothers – Aiden, Nolen and Sebastian … Maintained a 4.32 cumulative grade point average at Colts Neck High School … Pursuing his MBA at Mercer.
HIGH SCHOOL
Meet The Bears PLAYER PROFILES
MYLES DIXON
[FRESHMAN • DEFENSIVE LINE]
#96
6-3 | 290 | HOLLY HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA
Prepped at Newton High School for coach Joshua Skelton as a senior … Played his junior campaign at Heritage High School and coach Ryan Andrews … Earned second consecutive all-region nod as a senior after logging 36 tackles (20 solo), including 15 tackles for loss … Also posted five sacks and a forced fumble … Also logged an all-region award on the offensive side of the ball.
PERSONAL
The son of Zelphine Smith Dixon and Marki Dixon … Has one brother, Mason, and a sister, Megan … Maintained a 4.1 cumulative grade point average at Newton High School and graduated in the top 6 percent of his 678-member senior class … A biology major at Mercer.
KODY ARNOLD
[JUNIOR • PUNTER]
5-10 | 175 | BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
CADEN CAMESE
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Played in all 14 games … Caught four passes for 71 yards and one touchdown … Registered one reception against four opponents … Hauled in a 7-yard scoring reception in second quarter against Furman … Logged a season-longest 39-yard reception early in the third quarter against Western Carolina … Played a season-high 31 offensive snaps in FCS Playoffs outing against Rhode Island.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2023)
#97
Handled punting duties for the Bears in nine games … Averaged 38.3 yards on 31 punts, including a trio of 50+-yard kicks … Pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line on a trio of occasions, while four of his kicks resulted in touchbacks … Made collegiate debut at Ole Miss, punting three times for 108 yards (36.0 average) … Averaged 41.0 yards on three punts in home opener with Morehead State … Tacked up season bests for both punts (7) and punting average (44.7) in MU’s mid-October home matchup against Chattanooga … Tallied three punts of at least 50 yards against the Mocs, including a 53-yard boot in the third quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Glynn Academy for coach Rocky Hidalgo … Named region punter of the year as a senior, while also raking in preseason and postseason all-area accolades for the second-straight season … Averaged 42.3 yards on 38 punts during final prep campaign, while 39 of his 46 (.848) kickoff attempts resulted in touchbacks … Averaged 41.0 yards on 47 punts during junior season.
PERSONAL
The son of Tammy and Jimmy Arnold … Has an older sister, Madison … Maintained a 4.3 cumulative grade point average at Glynn Academy and graduated in the top 15 percent of his 410-member senior class … A kinesiology major at Mercer.
[R-SOPHOMORE
| 280 |
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT AUSTIN PEAY (2024) Did not see game action.
AS A FRESHMAN AT EASTERN MICHIGAN (2023) Redshirted … Did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com and a two-star by Rivals … Prepped at North Central High School for coach Kevin O’Shea … Recorded 31 tackles with six tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass break-up during his senior season… Named an All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference selection during his junior and senior seasons … Also lettered in basketball and swimming for the Panthers.
PERSONAL
The son of Christique and Michael Wellington … Has a sister, Chozley … Maintained a 3.4 cumulative grade point average at North Central High School … A criminal justice major at Mercer.
Played in 11 games … Logged 15 tackles (5 solo), including a pair of tackles for loss (-4 yards) … Also registered an assist on a sack and two fumble recoveries … Tallied multiple tackles against three opponents, including a season-best five stops (2 solo) in season opener against North Alabama … Also tallied a pair of assisted tackles for loss, included in which was a 4-yard sack in the fourth period … Recovered a fourth-quarter fumble against VMI, as well as a third-quarter fumble in playoff win over Gardner-Webb.
AS A FRESHMAN (2022)
Redshirted … Played in three games … Assisted on a tackle in his collegiate debut against Morehead State.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Bellevue West High School for coach Michael Huffman … Earned third consecutive all-state nods following final prep campaign … Amassed 51 tackles (31 solo) as a senior, including nine tackles for loss … Also tallied three sacks, a forced fumble and one pass break-up … Turned in 11 tackles amid a pandemic-shortened junior campaign, while also posting a sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass break-ups … Led Thunderbirds to four district championships, while also culminating sophomore campaign with state title.
PERSONAL
The son of Nicole Davenport and Tony Lindahl.
Caden CAMESE
Coaching Staff HEAD COACH MIKE JACOBS
MIKE JACOBS
Head Coach
Ohio State, 2001
A 22-year collegiate coaching veteran with footprints of success throughout each stop of his storied career, Mike Jacobs was announced as the 21st head coach in the history of the Mercer football program on Jan. 18, 2024.
Jacobs, who has compiled an 85-20 (.810) record across head coaching stops at Notre Dame (Ohio), Lenoir-Rhyne and Mercer, boasts the nation’s sixthbest winning percentage among active coaches at the NCAA Divisions I and II levels.
In just nine campaigns as a collegiate head coach, Jacobs has mentored 13 student-athletes to all-America nods, and his NCAA Division II squads at both Notre Dame and Lenoir-Rhyne also raked in 17 all-region laurels. His programs have also boasted 100 all-conference awards, including 62 in four seasons at Notre Dame, and seven Academic All-America crowns.
Former Notre Dame running back Jaleel McLaughlin was a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, including a runner-up finish in 2019, while former L-R wide receiver Dareke Young was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. MU cornerback TJ Moore culminated his senior season in 2024 by finishing runner-up in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award which honors the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
A four-time conference coach of the year recipient, he was also tabbed as the National Coach of the Year in 2018 by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. He was also a finalist for the 2024 Eddie Robinson Award which is presented annually to the national coach of the year in Division I FCS college football.
Utilizing one of the nation’s top defensive units that helped it bully its way through the league gauntlet and stake claim to the first conference championship in the 51-season history of the program, Mercer
paced all 123 FCS teams in five defensive statistical categories in 2024, including school-record marks for forced turnovers (34), passes intercepted (25) and rushing defense (70.8 rushing yards/game allowed). On the other side of the ball, the Bears averaged more than 400 yards and 33 points per game behind a balanced offense that was anchored by senior transfer Dwayne McGee who shattered the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,187 yards on the ground.
The Bears opened the Mike Jacobs Era with a record six-straight wins on the way to an 11-3 record and a run to the quarterfinals round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Nineteen student-athletes earned a spot on either the coaches’ or Phil Steele All-Southern Conference squads at season’s end, while six of those players went on to grab all-America laurels.
Jacobs, who succeeded former MU head coach Drew Cronic as the leader of the program at Lenoir-Rhyne prior to the 2020 campaign, skippered the Bears to a 32-9 record from 2019-23, as well as the 2023 South Atlantic Conference championship and a trio of league divisional titles. L-R capped its most recent campaign, one which included the school’s first NCAA postseason road victory, with a No. 4 national ranking as well.
Tenacious defensive units proved to be the calling card for Lenoir-Rhyne’s success under the leadership of Jacobs as the Bears limited opponents to just 288.5 yards per game across his 41-game tenure in Hickory, including just 105.7 yards per game on the ground. L-R boasted the nation’s 9th-ranked total defense (258.5 yards allowed/game) during its run to the 2023 NCAA Division II Semifinals, as well as NCAA Division II’s 7th-best scoring defense (14.7 points allowed/game).
The Bears were equally as impressive on the offensive side of the ball under Jacobs’s direction, averaging 433.8 yards an outing across his time in western North Carolina, including an impressive 348.8 passing yards per game across that span. Lenoir-Rhyne showcased the nation’s 5th-best total offense (488.7 yards/game) during its run to eight victories and an NCAA postseason berth in 2021. The Bears tacked up 38.5 points per game (13th NCAA) during that campaign as well.
The JACOBS File
Year In Coaching: 23rd
Year As Head Coach: 10th
Year At Mercer: 1st
Hometown: Maumee, Ohio
Spouse: Lacey
Children: Luke,
Ohio
Bachelor’s
Purdue
Master’s
Jacobs led Notre Dame to a dominant run of success from 2016-19 as evidenced by a cumulative 42-8 (.840) record and a pair of Mountain East Conference championships. The Falcons racked up a 13-1 record and advanced all the way through to the semifinal round to cap the program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA postseason in 2018, and returned to the sport’s biggest stage the following season on the way to a 12-2
record and a berth into the NCAA quarterfinals.
Jacobs’s Notre Dame squads exhibited a similar level of dominance in South Euclid, Ohio, but relied more on an unrelenting ground attack. The Falcons registered 431.2 yards and of total offense and 34.4 points per game across a 50-game stretch for Jacobs in northeast Ohio, including nearly 235 yards per outing from its infantry. Notre Dame carried NCAA Division II’s 12th-best rushing offense during both the 2017 (264.6 rushing yards/game) and 2018 (232.5) seasons, and then boasted the nation’s 17thbest ground game (239.4) en route to an appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2019.
HEAD COACH MIKE JACOBS Coaching Staff
Defensively, the Falcons were just as stout, especially when it came to the front line. Opponents mustered just 103.5 rushing yards per game against Notre Dame from 2016-19, and the Falcons toted a pair of top-10 rushing defenses across the latter two campaigns. NDC limited opponents to just 82.9 rushing yards per game (5th NCAA) during its run to the NCAA semifinals in 2018, and then allowed just 90.0 rushing yards an outing on the way to the quarterfinal round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Jacobs has stints on the coaching staffs at four other collegiate institutions as well, including one as a graduate assistant coach and offensive line assistant at Eastern Michigan for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He later served as an assistant coach at Wilmington
NOTRE DAME (OHIO) 2016-19
2016 (9-2, 8-2 MEC)
Date Opponent Score W/L
9/3 Charleston 44-17 W
9/10 at UVa.-Wise 35-29 W
9/17 at Malone 49-21 W 9/24 #4 Shepherd 38-17 L 10/1 at Glenville State 34-28 W 10/8 West Virginia State 48-21 W
10/15 at Concord 14-10 W
10/22 West Liberty 30-14 W
10/27 at #20 Fairmont State 23-19 L 11/5 Urbana (Ohio) 35-14 W 11/12 at West Virginia Wesleyan 26-21 W
(Ohio), Purdue and California (Pa.), before accepting a position as the defensive line coach at Notre Dame in time for the 2014 season. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Falcons prior to the 2015 campaign.
A former standout on the offensive line for coaches John Cooper and Jim Tressel at Ohio State from 1997-01, Jacobs was a five-year member and two time letter-winner at the Ohio State University from 1997-2001. He was an offensive lineman and a long snapper for both John Cooper and Jim Tressell. During his career, he played in over 30 games, including two Sugar Bowls.
The Maumee, Ohio, native earned his bachelor’s
2017 (8-3, 8-2 SAC)
Date Opponent Score W/L 9/2 at #7 Shepherd 54-49 L 9/9 Glenville State 35-10 W 9/16 at West Virginia State 47-35 W 9/23 Concord 44-13 W 9/28 at West Liberty 24-19 W 10/7 Fairmont State
degree in education from Ohio State in 2001, and completed his graduate work in education at Purdue in 2008.
Coach Jacobs and his wife, Lacey, are the proud parents of two sons, Luke and Knox.
2019 (12-2, 9-1 MEC)
Date Opponent Score W/L
9/7 Concord 33-10 W
9/12 at West Liberty 43-24 W
9/21 Fairmont State 61-49 W
9/28 at Urbana (Ohio) 40-20 W
10/5 West Virginia Wesleyan 52-6 W
10/12 at Charleston 63-53 W
10/19 Wheeling 51-13 W
10/26 Findlay 24-19 W
11/2 at Frostburg State 35-13 W
11/9 Glenville State 23-20 (OT) L
11/16 at West Virginia State 31-14 W
11/23 ! #22 West Chester 31-24 W
11/30 ^ at #17 Kutztown 20-17 W 12/7 $ at #8 Slippery Rock 65-59 L
LENOIR-RHYNE 2020-23
2020-21 (3-1, 3-0 SAC)
Date Opponent Score W/L 3/12 at Newberry 27-20 (2OT) W 3/20 Barton
2018 (13-1, 10-0 MEC)
2022 (8-3, 7-2 SAC)
Date Opponent Score W/L
9/3 Virginia State 38-19 W
9/10 #1 Ferris State 27-5 L 9/17 at Erskine 42-20 W 9/24 Carson-Newman 34-13 W 9/30 at UVa.-Wise 42-10 W 10/8 Limestone 51-30 W 10/15 at Barton 34-0 W 10/22 #16 Newberry 38-24 L 10/29 Wingate 24-21 L 11/5 at Catawba 62-10 W 11/12 Tusculum 34-14 W
2023 (13-2, 8-1 SAC)
Date Opponent Score W/L 9/2 Saint Augustine’s 45-7 W 9/9 at Fayetteville State 24-10 W 9/16 Erskine 62-0 W 9/23 at Carson-Newman 24-7 W 9/30 UVa.-Wise 56-3 W 10/7 at Limestone 31-28 W 10/14 Barton 47-3 W 10/21 at Newberry 24-10 W 10/28 at Wingate 34-30 L 11/4 Catawba 28-7 W 11/11 at Tusculum
W 11/18 ! Shepherd 63-17 W 11/25 ^ at #4 Benedict 35-25 W 12/2 $ at #14 Valdosta State 35-7 W 12/9 + at #3 Harding 55-14 L
2021 (8-3, 6-2 SAC)
Date Opponent Score W/L 9/4 at Virginia State
W 9/18 at Newberry 28-21 L 9/25 Mars Hill 31-16 W 10/2 at UVa.-Wise 35-28 L 10/9 Tusculum 38-31 W 10/16 at Carson-Newman 59-0 W 10/23 Limestone 45-3 W 10/30 at #16
2024 (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)
Date Opponent Score W/L 8/29 Presbyterian 63-10 W 9/7 at Bethune-Cookman 31-2 W 9/14 at #14 Chattanooga 10-3 W 9/21 The Citadel 38-21 W 9/28 at #23 Wofford 22-3 W 10/12 Princeton 34-7 W 10/19 at Samford 55-35 L 10/26 #24 Western Carolina 44-34 W 11/2 #23 East Tennessee State 37-31 W 11/9 at VMI 34-0 W 11/16 at #9 Alabama 52-7 L 11/23 Furman 49-23 W 12/7 > #10 Rhode Island 17-10 W 12/14 $ at #2 North Dakota State 31-7 L
Coaching Staff ASSISTANT COACHES
SHAWN CHAFFEE
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH LINEBACKERS
Coach_Chaffee
A 12-year coaching veteran with previous stops at six other collegiate institutions, Shawn Chaffee begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his eighth season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the associate head coach and linebackers coach for the Bears. Chaffee joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2024 after spending the previous four seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Chaffee’s linebacker corps played a pivotal role on a dominant defensive unit in 2024 as the Bears paced all 123 FCS teams in five defensive statistical categories, including school-record marks for forced turnovers (34), passes intercepted (25) and rushing defense (70.8 rushing yards/game allowed). Mercer’s linebackers accounted for nearly 35 percent of the team’s total tackles and more than 25 percent of its stops behind the line, including seniors Isaac Dowling and Ken Standley, as well as junior Dainsus Miller, who all earned a spot on the All-Southern Conference squad.
Chaffee trekked to Middle Georgia from Hickory, N.C., where he held the reins of a dominating defense at Lenoir-Rhyne for the previous four seasons. The Bears ranked among NCAA Division II’s top total defenses with Chaffee at the helm, including an impressive 2023 campaign that saw Lenoir-Rhyne limit opponents to just 258.5 yards (9th NCAA) and 14.7 points (7th) NCAA per game. L-R also ranked fifth among NCAA Division II in tackles for loss (8.3/game) and eighth in forced turnovers (28).
Lenoir-Rhyne’s stop unit raked in 14 all-conference and five all-region honors under Chaffee’s watch, while two student-athletes – defensive lineman Andre Jefferson and linebacker Jon Ross Maye – combined to earn a quartet of all-American laurels. Former defensive tackle Amari Houston also picked up South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades following a dominant senior campaign in 2021.
Prior to his move to western North Carolina, Chaffee served as the defensive line coach at Notre Dame (Ohio) for two seasons (2018-19), and was an integral part of a coaching staff that paced the Falcons to a 25-3 clip, two Mountain East Conference championships and a pair of NCAA postseason appearances, including an appearance in the NCAA semifinals in 2018. Notre Dame limited opponents to just 86.4 rushing yards per game with Chaffee roaming the sidelines, and accumulated 90 sacks (3.2/game) across the 2018 and 2019 seasons as well.
Chaffee developed four all-conference standouts while in South Euclid, Ohio, including Sha’haun Williams who was named to three all-America teams following both his junior and senior campaigns. Williams recorded an NCAA-best 20 sacks (3rd all-time NCAA) during the 2018 campaign, while also finishing second, nationally, with 24-1/2 tackles for loss.
Chaffee served graduate assistant roles at three different colleges, including a two-year stint as a defensive line and linebackers coach at Ball State during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, before attaining his first full-time gig in 2015 as the defensive line and linebackers coach for Methodist. The Monarchs tacked up 2.9 sacks per game (28th NCAA) and 7.2 tackles for loss an outing during his lone season in Fayetteville, N.C.
A three-year mainstay on the offensive and defensive lines at The College of Wooster from 2009-12 under head coach Mike Schmitz, Chaffee was a starter at both center and nose guard for the Fighting Scots during his junior and senior seasons. He logged 38 tackles during his senior season, while also forcing a fumble and breaking up four passes.
Chaffee earned his bachelor’s degree in history from The College of Wooster in 2013. He completed his graduate work in education at Carthage College in 2015. Shawn and his wife, Erin, have one daughter, Adalyn.
A 14-year coaching veteran with previous stops at five other collegiate institutions, Jahmal Brown begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his seventh season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Bears. Brown joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2024 after spending the previous two seasons in a similar role at Youngstown State.
Utilizing one of the nation’s top defensive units that helped it bully its way through the league gauntlet and stake claim to the first conference championship in the 51-season history of the program, Mercer paced all 123 FCS teams in five defensive statistical categories in 2024, including school-record marks for forced turnovers (34), passes intercepted (25) and rushing defense (70.8 rushing yards/game allowed).
Mercer sent nine defensive standouts to All-Southern Conference recognition, including defensive linemen Brayden Manley and Andrew Zock who also hauled in the league’s defensive player and freshman of the year honors, respectively. Four of those student-athletes went on to be crowned with all-America laurels.
Youngstown State boasted one of the nation’s stingiest rushing defenses with Brown at the reins, including a 2023 campaign that watched the Penguins limit opponents to just 120.2 rushing yards per game (10th NCAA). YSU also ranked among the nation’s elite pass rushing squads during both seasons, amassing 63 sacks (2.6/game) across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Penguins turned in five or more sacks five times across that span, including seven quarterback drops in a rout of Southern Illinois on Oct. 7, 2023.
Prior to trekking to Ohio, Brown put together a dominant defensive unit at Lenoir-Rhyne during the Spring and Fall 2021 campaigns as the Bears amassed a cumulative 11-4 clip, including an 8-3 record during a fall season that concluded in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. L-R boasted the nation’s 5th-best passing efficiency defense (95.32) that season, while also holding opponents to just 16.4 points per game (16th NCAA). The Bears ranked fourth, nationally, during the pandemic-shortened spring season, while also ranking eighth among NCAA Division II squads in fumble recoveries.
Brown dove into a role as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame (Ohio) under head coach Mike Jacobs in time for the 2018 campaign and helped lead the Falcons to a 25-3 record across two seasons (2018-19), two Mountain East Conference championships and a pair of deep runs in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, including an appearance in the semifinals that capped his first year in South Euclid, Ohio. Brown mentored four different student-athletes to a pair of all-region honors at NDC, including defensive lineman Sha’haun Williams who went on to pick up all-America accolades following both his junior and senior seasons.
Brown transitioned into the coaching world as a graduate assistant coach at Bowling Green (2011-13) where he helped pace the Falcons to the 2013 Mid-American Conference Championship, as well as berths in both the 2012 Northrup and Gruman Military Bowl and the 2013 Little Cesars Pizza Bowl. He coached the defensive backs and linebackers at Saginaw Valley State during the 2014 and 2015 seasons before making the move to Notre Dame.
A four-year starter for Bowling Green as a safety, Brown played in 50 consecutive games (48-straight starts) from 2006-09 and captained the Falcons during a senior season that produced an award as the team’s most valuable defensive back. He was invited to participate in the Detroit Lions Rookie Mini-camp prior to the start of the 2009 National Football League season as well.
A product of Cleveland, Ohio, Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green in 2010, and completed his graduate work in sports administration at BGSU in 2014. Jahmal and his wife, Janelle, have two daughters, Ayanna and Amara.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2011-13 Bowling Green State (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Backs)
2014-15 Saginaw Valley State (Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs
A 12-year coaching veteran with previous stops at four other collegiate institutions, Anthony Soto begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Bears. Soto joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2024 after spending the previous four years in a similar role at Lenoir-Rhyne.
The Bears thrived under Soto’s leadership in 2024, averaging more than 400 yards and 33 points per game behind a balanced offense that was anchored by senior transfer Dwayne McGee who shattered the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,187 yards on the ground. The Orange & Black recorded 400 or more yards of offense four times and ranked 10th, nationally, in red zone offense with an 89.8 percent success rate. MU also paced the 9-team Southern Conference with a 145.79 team passing efficiency rating as well.
Soto created offensive fireworks across four seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne as the Bears averaged 433.9 yards of total offense per game with him at the reins, including 240.5 yards an outing through the air. The Bears showcased NCAA Division II’s 5thbest total offense (488.7 yards/game) in his first full season (non-pandemic) on the sidelines, as well as the nation’s 9th-best rushing offense. L-R exhibited impeccable ball protection under his watch as well, turning the ball over just 50 times in four seasons, including just 10 turnovers (two fumbles) across the 15-game 2023 campaign.
Soto played an integral role in leading the Bears to a 32-9 record from 2020-23, as well as the 2023 South Atlantic Conference championship and a trio of league divisional titles. L-R capped the latter campaign, one which included the school’s first NCAA postseason road victory and a run to the NCAA quarterfinals, with a No. 4 national ranking as well. Soto’s offensive players raked in 17 all-conference accolades during his time in Hickory, N.C., including one who was eventually decorated with all-America laurels.
Prior to his move to North Carolina, Soto skippered the offensive line at Notre Dame (Ohio) for four seasons and was a part of a dominant run for the Falcons. From 201619, Notre Dame amassed a cumulative 42-8 (.840) record and a pair of Mountain East Conference championships. The Falcons racked up a 13-1 record and advanced all the way through to the semifinal round to cap the program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA postseason in 2018, and returned to the sport’s biggest stage the following season on the way to a 12-2 record and a berth into the NCAA quarterfinals.
Soto’s offensive line played a big part of the success for NDC. The Falcons registered 234.7 yards per game on the ground (5.2 yards/attempt), including a 2018 campaign that saw NDC average 5.8 yards per rush on the way to a 3,700-yard season on the ground (264.6 yards/game). The Falcons also yielded just 29 sacks (1.03/ game) across Soto’s last two seasons in South Euclid, Ohio, as well.
A product of Fresno, Calif., Soto transitioned into the coaching world in 2013 as the wide receivers coach at Hoover High School in Fresno, Calif., then made his way onto the college sidelines as the offensive quality control coach at UC Davis for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Soto played four seasons (2009-12) in the wide receiver rotation at UC Davis, logging 107 career receptions for 1,269 yards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in community & regional development from UC Davis in 2012.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2013 Hoover (Calif.) High School (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers) 2014-15
A 13-year coaching veteran with previous stops at three other collegiate institutions, Fred Jones begins his fourth year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his second season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bears. Jones originally joined the coaching staff in Macon prior to the start of the 2022 campaign as a member of former MU head coach Drew Cronic’s staff.
Jones has been the architect behind an effective rushing attack over the last three seasons in Macon, averaging nearly 167 yards per game on the ground while also tacking up 1.6 rushing touchdowns an outing as well. The Bears have boasted one of the nation’s top-40 rushing offenses since Jones arrived in Middle Georgia, and the program produced its first 1,000-yard back in 2024 when all-American Dwayne McGee amassed a school record 1,187 yards on the ground. The 2022 version of MU’s ground game also registered the most rushing yards per attempt (5.1) in the modern day history of the program (since 2013).
Jones has mentored a pair of All-Southern Conference selections across his time in the Orange & Black, including McGee who went on to claim all-America status as well. Al Wooten II and Austin Douglas both picked up all-league laurels from Phil Steele after productive seasons in 2022.
Prior to making the move to Middle Georgia, Jones enjoyed a stellar career as both the running backs coach (2015-16) and offensive coordinator (2017-21) at Reinhardt. The Eagles amassed 71 victories with Jones on the sidelines in Waleska, Ga., and raked in 40 offensive all-conference accolades, including 14 all-league running backs, and six all-Americans. Reinhardt captured seven-straight conference titles from 2015-21, while also making an appearance in the 2017 national championship game.
With Jones leading the running back corps for the Eagles, Reinhardt averaged 278.0 yards per game on the ground across the 2013 and 2014 campaigns, including a 2014 season that watched RU tack up nearly 3,000 rushing yards while showcasing the nation’s 4th-best ground attack (292.8 yards/game). Jones was promoted to offensive coordinator in time for the 2017 season.
Reinhardt compiled a cumulative 49-9 record From 2017-21 behind a relentless offensive attack that averaged 415.9 yards, including more than 342 yards on the ground, and 39.1 points per game. The Eagles boasted a top-10 scoring offense four times across Jones’s tenure as offensive coordinator, while also displaying one of NAIA’s top-4 rushing attacks five times. Reinhardt, twice, led the nation in rushing yards per game, including 456.2 rushing yards an outing in 2017.
Jones transitioned into the coaching world as a student assistant running backs coach at Tusculum for the 2012 season, and spent the next 2-1/2 seasons in various roles on the staff at Clark Atlanta, including one as the wide receivers coach for the Panthers in 2013. He was promoted to a full-time role at CAU as the running backs coach in 2014, and served as the interim offensive coordinator the following spring.
A native of Appling, Ga., Jones played four seasons (2007-11) in the running backs rotation at Tusculum, and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the prestigious institution in 2013. Fred and his wife, Shannin, have two children, Lee and Naomi.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2012 Tusculum (Student Assistant Coach)
Clark
(Graduate Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers)
Atlanta (Assistant Coach/Running Backs)
Reinhardt (Assistant Coach/Running Backs)
Reinhardt (Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator) 2022-Present Mercer (Assistant Coach/Running Backs)
Coaching Staff ASSISTANT COACHES
MATT ULRICH
ASSISTANT COACH
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR
CoachMattUlrich
A 12-year coaching veteran with previous stops at three other collegiate institutions, Matt Ulrich begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his fourth season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the special teams coordinator for the Bears. Ulrich joined the coaching staff in Macon in February 2024 after spending the previous two seasons as the defensive line coach at Eastern Washington.
Mercer’s special teams units were key in its run to the quarterfinals round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2024 as the Bears boasted the nation’s 20th-ranked punt return team (12.22 yards/return), while also allowing just 5.72 yards per return (25th NCAA) on the other side of the ball. All-American Brayden Smith ranked fourth among the nation’s most electric return specialists while totaling 861 combined kick return yards. A trio of specialists were decorated with all-conference accolades following the 2024 campaign, including return specialist Brayden Smith who went on to claim a pair of all-America awards.
Eastern Washington’s defensive linemen thrived under Ulrich’s tutelage during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns as his unit raked in a pair of all-conference accolades in just his first season in Cheney, Wash. EWU limited five opponents to 156 rushing yards or fewer during the 2023 season which played a key role in back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked opponents in mid-September, but the finest performance on the defensive front for the Eagles came two weeks later when their stop unit held Idaho State to just 49 yards on the ground.
Prior to trekking to the west coast, Ulrich served four years (three seasons) as the co-defensive coordinator at NCAA Division II power Winona State. While in Minnesota, he helped engineer one of the nation’s most unforgiving rush defenses, including a 2021 campaign that watched the Warriors yield just 97.4 yards per game (17th NCAA) to opposing ground attacks.
Ulrich mentored 16 all-conference selections while at Winona State, including linebacker Carter Duxbury who went on to capture conference defensive player of the year laurels in 2021, while also grabbing a spot on both the Associated Press and National Football Coaches Association All-America teams.
Ulrich transitioned into the coaching world as the defensive line coach for Winona State in 2012, before joining the staff at Notre Dame (Ohio) as a graduate assistant defensive line coach for both the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Following a one-season stint as a defensive quality control assistant at UC Davis, he returned to South Euclid, Ohio, as special teams coordinator during the 2016 season, before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the Falcons in time for the 2017 campaign.
Ulrich turned in an illustrious playing career at Winona State as well, logging time in 44 games from 2007-11, while amassing 112 career tackles (49 solo), including 191/2 tackles for loss (6-1/2 sacks). A 4-year starter, he was a three-time all-conference performer and was named an all-American after his senior campaign. He also earned an invitation to participate in the Minnesota Vikings Rookie Camp prior to the 2012 NFL season.
Ulrich earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing at Winona State in 2011, and completed his graduate work in education at Notre Dame (Ohio) in 2015. Matt and his wife, Megan, have one son, Ty.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2012 Winona State (Assistant Coach/Defensive Line)
A nine-year coaching veteran with previous stops at four other collegiate institutions, Devin Figaro begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26 as the wide receivers coach for the Bears. Figaro joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2024 after spending the previous four years in a similar role at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Mercer’s wide receivers were key in 2024 as the Bears racked up nearly 210 yards per game through the air, including a pair of games in which they amassed 350 or more passing yards. MU’s wide receivers corps alone amassed more than 2,200 receiving yards, while also averaging 13.5 yards per reception. Senior Kelin Parsons, an all-conference selection by Phil Steele, ranked among the nation’s best pass catchers with 646 receiving yards.
The wide receiver corps at Lenoir-Rhyne thrived under Figaro’s leadership. From 2020-23, the Bears averaged more than 237 receiving yards per game to key one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, including nearly 12-1/2 yards per completion. Lenoir-Rhyne showcased NCAA Division II’s 11th-best passing offense in just his first season in Hickory, N.C.
As co-special teams coordinator for the Bears, Figaro assembled a dangerous kickoff return unit that routinely ranked among the nation’s best. Lenoir-Rhyne was listed among NCAA Division II’s top-20 kickoff return squads through his first three seasons on the sidelines, and led the country with a 36.8 yard return average in 2020. L-R averaged 23 yards per kickoff return or better during both the 2021 and 2022 campaigns as well.
Figaro mentored six all-conference players in western North Carolina, including wide receiver Dareke Young who was taken in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The list of postseason honorees also included DeAree Rogers who claimed a spot on the all-region squad to culminate his final season at L-R. Figaro’s recruiting radar was impeccable in Hickory as well, as he raked in a pair of eventual Harlon Hill Award (D2 Heisman) finalists.
Prior to trekking to the Southeast, Figaro spent the 2019 campaign as the wide receivers coach at Valparaiso. That stint followed a two-year stay (2017-18) as the wide receivers coach at Notre Dame under then-head coach Mike Jacobs. While in South Euclid, Figaro mentored junior Marvelle Ross who finished the 2018 season ranked 10th among NCAA Division II leaders with 1,203 receiving yards.
Figaro transitioned into coaching in 2016 as a graduate assistant coach at San Diego. The Toreros made NCAA history during his lone season in southern California when they became the first non-scholarship program to register a win in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
Figaro played his first two collegiate seasons (2009-10) in the wide receiver rotation at Tulane, before transferring to nearby Louisiana Lafayette in time for the 2011 campaign. The Lafayette, La., native helped lead the Ragin’ Cajuns to three R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl championships, while also captaining his wide receiver unit as a senior in 2013.
Figaro earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies from Louisiana Lafayette in 2014. Devin and his wife, Brittany, have one son, Noah.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2016 San Diego (Graduate Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers) 2017-18 Notre Dame, Ohio (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers)
An 11-year coaching veteran with previous stops at four other collegiate institutions, Jimmy Long begins his sixth year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his second season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach for the Bears. Long originally joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2020 as a member of former MU head coach Drew Cronic’s staff.
The Bears have ranked among the nation’s top 25 teams in total defense in three of the last four campaigns, while also boasting one of FCS’s stingiest run-stopping units as well. Mercer has yielded just 125.7 yards per game on the ground with Long on the sidelines, while also amassing 6.6 tackles for loss and 2.2 sacks per game across that span as well. MU led the nation by surrendering just 70.8 rushing yards per game on the way to the quarterfinals round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2024, while also ranking first and second among FCS squads in sacks (3.29) and tackles for loss (8.1) per game, respectively.
Long’s defensive line unit has raked in 11 All-Southern Conference awards during his time in Macon, including Solomon Zubairu who was lauded with an all-league crown following each of his four seasons in Middle Georgia. Zubairu also exited Macon owning or sharing six school records, including program superlatives for both career sacks (co) and quarterback hurries. Two defensive linemen - Brayden Manley and Arias Nash - both claimed all-American awards following the 2024 campaign as well.
Prior to trekking to Macon, Long assembled one of NCAA Division II’s most dominant defensive lines while on staff at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears held opponents to just 104.8 yards per game on the ground across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, while also racking up more than seven tackles for loss an outing, including nearly 3-1/2 sacks. L-R boasted the nation’s 18th-ranked total defense during the 2019 campaign, while also ranking eighth in rushing yards allowed per game (81.9) and fourth in sacks (3.6/game). The Bears also ranked among NCAA Division II’s top-10 teams in forced turnovers during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons as well.
Long began his coaching career with three separate graduate assistant coaching assignments, including his first as a special teams assistant at The Citadel for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He also spent one season (2016) as a graduate assistant coach at the University of the South and one more as a defensive line assistant at NC State for the 2017 campaign.
A native of Haymarket, Va., Long served as a team captain for Lenoir-Rhyne as a senior in 2013 and helped guide the Bears to a berth into the national championship game. He was also a part of three-straight (2011-13) South Atlantic Conference championships, and picked up all-conference and all-America accolades along the way as well.
Long graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Lenoir-Rhyne in 2014.
ASSISTANT COACH
TIGHT ENDS
ShaedonMeadors
A six-year coaching veteran with a previous collegiate stop, Shaedon Meadors begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26 as the tight ends coach for the Bears. Meadors joined the coaching staff in Macon in February 2024 after spending the previous two seasons as the wide receivers coach at Wingate.
Mercer’s corps of tight ends proved fruitful in 2024 as the three-person attack amassed 40 catches while also playing a pivotal blocking role for the NCAA’s 37th-best rushing offense as well.
Meadors provided the tutelage for a unit at Wingate that ranked among the nation’s best as the Bulldogs boasted NCAA Division II’s 39th-best passing offense (233.1 yards/game) in 2023 on the way to recording eight victories. Wingate’s wide receivers accounted for 16 touchdowns on the campaign, while redshirt sophomore Tremel Jones picked up All-South Atlantic Conference accolades after posting nearly 78 receiving yards per game, including a trio of 100+-yard performances.
Prior to his move to southern North Carolina, Meadors served a stint as an assistant coach for three seasons (2019-21) at Clover High School in northwest South Carolina where he assembled a wide receivers unit that keyed the Blue Eagles to 20 victories across three seasons, including a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. In just his first season at the prep institution, Clover boasted a passing offense that tacked up 288 yards per game and finished a 12-win campaign with 51 touchdown receptions.
An outstanding pass catcher at Appalachian State, Meadors closed out his career in Boone, N.C., with 82 receptions for 1,442 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite missing the first five games of his collegiate career with an illness, the Duncan, S.C., native still tacked up 15 catches and 287 yards, including a 4-catch, 90-yard performance in his collegiate debut against Liberty. He raked in All-Sun Belt Conference laurels as a junior after hauling in 45 catches for 716 yards and two touchdowns. He finished out his career as a graduate transfer at Illinois.
Meadors earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, government and justice studies from Appalachian State in 2017. He earned his master’s degree in sports management at Illinois in 2018. Meadors and his wife, Cierra, have a daughter, Layken.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Coaching Staff ASSISTANT COACHES
BRIAN FOLKERTS
ASSISTANT COACH
OFFENSIVE LINE
BrianFolkerts
A four-year coaching veteran who also boasts 14 years of playing experience on both the collegiate and professional levels, Brian Folkerts begins his first year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his first alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the offensive line coach for the Bears. Folkerts joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2025 after spending the previous season in a similar role at Northern Iowa.
Northern Iowa’s offensive front and rushing attack flourished under the leadership of Folkerts during the 2024 campaign as the Panthers averaged nearly 150 yards per game on the ground, while also ranking among the nation’s best pass protection squads with just 1.75 sacks allowed per game. UNI ran for 200 or more yards in four outings, including a 365-rushing yard performance in a season-opening rout of Valparaiso. The dominance by the unit paid dividends at season’s end as four student-athletes picked up all-conference accolades in the always-tough Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).
Prior to making the move to Cedar Falls, Iowa, Folkerts spent two seasons (202223) as the offensive line coach at NCAA Division II powerhouse Wingate where he helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of 8-win campaigns, as well as 14 wins inside South Atlantic Conference (SAC) play. Wingate totaled 378 yards per game during the 2023 campaign, including nearly 150 rushing yards an outing, and sent a pair of offensive linemen to All-SAC honors. Porfirio Acosta earned a spot on the D2CCA All-Southeast Region squad as well.
A four-time All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) selection as a starting tackle at Washburn, Folkerts helped lead the Ichabods to 32 wins from 2008-11, including a 2011 campaign that culminated with a second round appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. He logged all-America accolades from D2Football.com at the conclusion of his senior campaign as well.
Following his collegiate playing career, Folkerts signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints, and later spent time with four other National Football League teams. A two-time NFC South Champion as a part of the Carolina Panthers organization, Folkerts appeared in 28 regular season and three playoff games on the offensive line, as well as a key member of the special teams units. He also played three seasons (2019-20, 2023) in the XFL and AAF leagues as a member of the San Antonio Commanders, the St. Louis BattleHawks and the XFL Champion Arlington Renegades.
Following his professional career, Folkerts returned to Topeka, Kan., as an assistant offensive line coach in 2021 at his alma mater, and roamed the sidelines as Washburn churned out a 9-3 clip and secured its first berth in the NCAA postseason in a decade.
Folkerts earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washburn in 2018. Brian and his wife, Lindsey, have four daughters – Ruby, June, Iris, and Etta. The Folkerts will celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary in March 2025.
CHRISTOPHER VEGA
ASSISTANT COACH CORNERBACKS
_CoachVega
A seven-year coaching veteran with previous stops at three other collegiate institutions, Christopher Vega begins his first year at Mercer in 2024-25, as well as his second season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the cornerbacks coach for the Bears. Vega joined the coaching staff in Macon in February 2024 after spending the previous season in a similar role at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Mercer boasted a nation’s-best and school record 21 interceptions in 2024, including seven by eventual all-American TJ Moore who went on to finish runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award which honors the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. MU yielded 166 or fewer passing yards in four outings, while also registering at least one interception against a dozen opponents. Moore was joined on the All-Southern Conference squad by fellow corner Dainsus Miller.
Lenoir-Rhyne boasted one of NCAA Division II’s most feared secondaries in 2023 as the Bears posted the nation’s 18th-best passing defense (161.5 passing yards allowed/game), while also registering 16 interceptions which ranked 22nd among the more-than 160 NCAA Division II football squads. L-R yielded 80 or fewer passing yards five times across the campaign on the way to 13 victories, while junior safety James Ussery was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference squad at season’s end after posting 46 tackles, one interception and a trio of pass break-ups.
Vega enjoyed similar success in his prior post at Kutztown for the 2022 season as the Bears yielded just 171.6 passing yards per game (30th NCAA Division II), while also picking off nine passes. KU held six opponents to 130 passing yards or fewer to fuel an 8-3 season. Redshirt junior safety C.J. Brown was an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference performer as he ranked fifth on the squad with 44 tackles, while also registering one interception and four pass break-ups.
A product of Mountain Top, Pa., Vega dove into the coaching world at Wilkes in northeast Pennsylvania where he was charged with the tutelage of the defensive backs for the Colonels for four seasons (2017-20) before taking on defensive coordinator duties prior to a seven-win campaign in 2021. Wilkes boasted one of the Middle Atlantic Conference’s most imposing defenses with Vega at the helm as the Panthers limited opponents to just 150 passing yards an outing while also recording 14 interceptions.
A regular in the defensive back rotation at Delaware Valley from 2010-13, Vega played in 33 games for the Aggies and amassed 109 career tackles (75 solo) while adding nine interceptions and 17 pass break-ups. He helped pace DVU to 35 wins across his collegiate career, as well as a pair of NCAA Division III playoff berths and two ECAC Southeast Bowl appearances.
Vega earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Delaware Valley in 2014.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
COACHING EXPERIENCE
TEAM PERSONNEL
KAYLA VICK Coordinator of On-Campus Recruiting / Creative Services
SAM SCOBIE Director of Football Equipment
CAITLIN BAMBERGER Academic Advisor for Student-Athletes
TODD ANDERSON Football Athletic Communications
GLEN JENKINS Operations & Event Management
DELANEY RYAN Director of Student-Athlete Support Services
DANIEL TATE General Manager
BENNETT HOUSTON Director of Football Operations
EJ FOSTER Assistant Director of Football Training
BRAD DRAKE Associate AD for Sports Medicine
AUSTIN ALDRIDGE Operations Assistant
EVAN BARR Director of Strength & Conditioning
MEREDITH BRIDGES Director of Operations & Event Management
STEVE MCCALL Operations & Event Management
HANNAH ZECH Associate Athletic Trainer
KIMBERLY WYNN Assistant Athletic Trainer
MACON – Junior DJ Smith accounted for more than 350 yards of total offense on the way to registering the most impressive debut by a quarterback in Mercer history and leading the Mercer football team to a 63-10 rout of visiting Presbyterian in the season opener for both teams on Thursday evening at Five Star Stadium.
The Bears (1-0) moved to 9-3 in season openers since football returned to campus in 2013, while also improving to 9-3 in home openers across that same span as well. It was the third-straight series loss for the Blue Hose (0-1) who returned 17 starters from last season’s squad, including all 11 starters on the defensive side of the ball.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Presbyterian 3 0 7 0 10
Mercer 14 14 14 21 63
Scoring Summary:
Record: 0-1 (0-0 PFL)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 SoCon)
1st 11:42 MER - Dwayne McGee 3 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:45 0-7
1st 5:17 PRE - Mack Mikko 24 yd field goal
6 plays, 54 yards, TOP 2:14 3-7
1st 1:08 MER - Kelin Parsons 13 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:02 3-14
2nd 8:40 MER - DJ Smith 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
4 plays, 47 yards, TOP 1:45 3-21
2nd 1:16 MER - Tyrell Coard 4 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:00 3-28
3rd 13:45 MER - Brayden Smith 68 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:10 3-35
3rd 4:57 MER - Tyrell Coard 9 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
13 plays, 83 yards, TOP 7:37 3-42
3rd 3:34 PRE - Cincere Gill 24 yd pass from Ty Englehart (Mack Mikko kick)
5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:23 10-42
4th 10:48 MER - Parker Wroble 7 yd pass from Hess Horne (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 37 yards, TOP 4:05 10-49
4th 3:58 MER - Chris Joines 0 yd fumble recovery (Reice Griffith kick) No drive information 10-56
1st 1:39 MER - Brayden Smith 75 yd punt return (Reice Griffith kick) No drive information 10-63
RUSHING: PRE - Edwards, D. 6-15; Englehart, T. 8-8; Wright, A. 5-8; Johnson, CJ 2-6; Switzer, Z. 2-5; Jennings, Q. 2-3; Leslie, M. 1-2; Hurst, C. 4-(-6); Team 1-(-48). MERMcGee, D. 16-57; Bell, M. 6-30; Smith, DJ 6-25; Smith, B. 1-11; Coard, T. 3-9; Miller, CJ 3-5; Horne, H. 1-2.
PASSING: PRE - Englehart, T. 7-19-2-84; Hurst, C. 3-4-0-60. MER - Smith, DJ 20-24-1331; Horne, H. 5-6-0-30.
RECEIVING: PRE - Levicki, N. 1-57; Wright, A. 1-49; Gill, C. 4-25; Kibby, D. 3-14; Atkins, BJ 1-(-1). MER - Smith, B. 3-83; Harris, K. 5-72; Parsons, K. 2-49; Coard, T. 2-36; Cook, A. 2-22; Wroble, P. 2-22; Dabbs, A. 2-21; George, J. 2-15; Miller, CJ 1-15; Burt, S. 1-10; McGee, D. 1-8; Shaw, C. 2-8.
TACKLES (UA-A): PRE - Russ-Martin, Bro. 4-4; Herriott, A. 4-3; Francis, C. 4-1; Lewis, M. 0-4; Russ-Martin, Bra. 3-1; Hajduk, N. 2-2; Stroup, Z. 4-0; Elmore, K. 0-4; Lewis, C. 0-4; McCray, R. 2-2. MER - Thomas, M. 4-3; Manley, B. 2-3; Dowling, I. 2-3; Standley, K. 2-3; Redding, M. 2-2; Bliss, T. 2-1; Griffin, C. 1-2; Zock, A. 2-1; Evans, RJ 1-2; Watkins, D. 1-1.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Visiting Mercer used a 21-point second quarter to emerge from an early slump and limited Bethune-Cookman to just 156 yards of total offense on the afternoon to key a 31-2 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at Daytona Stadium.
The Bears (2-0) tacked up more than 480 yards of total offense on the afternoon and limited Bethune-Cookman (0-2) to just 29 yards on the ground on the way to improving to 8-4 in FCS road openers since football returned to campus in 2013. Ten of Bethune-Cookman’s drives on Saturday spanned five plays or less, including seven 3-and-outs. MU’s stop unit limited the hosts to just 70 yards of total offense in the first half.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4
Score
Mercer 0 21 7 3 31
Bethune-Cookman 0 0 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
Record: 2-0 (0-0 SoCon)
Record: 0-2 (0-0 SWAC)
2nd 6:06 MER - Brayden Smith 50 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:20 7-0
2nd 1:25 MER - Parker Wroble 14 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
6 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:26 14-0
2nd 1:02 MER - Kelin Parsons 35 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick) 1 play, 35 yards, TOP 0:05 21-0
3rd 6:46 MER - Dwayne McGee 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
11 plays, 94 yards, TOP 5:52 28-0
3rd 3:32 BCU - TEAM Safety No drive information 28-2
4th 4:35 MER - Reice Griffith 28 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:11 31-2
12
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 3 1 of 1 Red Zone Scores-Chances 3-4 0-1
Sacks By: Number-Yards 3-15 4-22
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 19-102; Bell, M. 7-42; Coard, T. 8-36; Smith, DJ 10-24; Harris, K. 1-14; Smith, B. 1-12; Parsons, K. 1-9. BCU - Reese, C .11-20; Bazil, J. 4-9; Ransom, C. 10-0; Deas, D. 1-0.
PASSING: MER - Smith, DJ 17-22-1-237; Horne, H. 2-3-0-7. BCU - Ransom, C. 14-29-1127.
RECEIVING: MER - Smith, B. 4-85; Parsons, K. 3-63; Dabbs, A. 1-29; Wroble, P. 2-21; Coard, T. 2-19; McGee, D. 2-14; George, J. 1-6; Everson, T. 2-3; Bell, M. 1-2; Harris, K. 1-2. BCU - Stewart, K. 1-50; Huggins, M. 3-33; Washington, K. 1-18; Nance, T. 1-13; Reese, C. 5-9; Jones, A. 1-7; Stewart, O. 1-5; Bazil, J. 1-(-8).
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Dowling, I. 2-4; Thomas, M. 4-0; Joines, C. 2-2; Standley, K. 3-1; Weston, M. 3-1; Manley, B. 1-2; Moore, TJ 2-1; Fox, J. 2-1; Nash, A. 0-2; O’neal, C. 1-1. BCU - Woodie, R. 7-2; Volmar, A. 4-4; Watts, A. 4-3; Mejia-Paster, T. 1-5; Patu, O. 2-3; Washington, K. 1-4; Brown, E. 3-2; Miller, E. 0-4; Thomas, D. 3-0; Lafontant, J. 3-0.
GAME SUMMARIES
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Visiting and 23rd-ranked Mercer limited preseason Southern Conference favorite Chattanooga to its fewest rushing yards in seven years and used a second-quarter rushing touchdown from Brayden Smith to take the lead for good as the Bears toppled the 14th-ranked Mocs, 10-3, at Finley Stadium.
Mercer (3-0, 1-0 SoCon) held an opponent to 29 or fewer rushing yards for the third time in as many games this season, this time limiting Chattanooga (0-3, 0-1) to just 19 yards (20 carries) on the ground – its lowest rushing total since being held to seven rushing yards in a 2017 loss to Furman. The win snapped a two-game series skid for the Orange & Black as well.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Mercer 0 7 0 3 10
Chattanooga 0 3 0 0 3
Scoring Summary:
Record: 3-0 (1-0 SoCon)
Record: 0-3 (0-1 SoCon)
2nd 5:55 MER - Brayden Smith 9 yd run (Reice Griffith kick) 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 5:39 7-0
2nd 3:24 UTC - Jude Kelley 32 yd field goal
5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:31 7-3
4th 5:30 MER - Reice Griffith 35 yd field goal
5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 2:28 10-3
MER UTC
FIRST DOWNS 17 11
RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 52-184 20-19
PASSING YARDS (NET) 103 259
Passes Comp-Att-Int 12-17-1 16-34-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS 69-287 54-278
Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards 1-13 0-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards 2-26 2-43
Interception Returns-Yards 1-0 1-12
Punts (Number-Avg) 7-43.7 7-37.4
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 8-50 4-45
Possession Time 36:17 23:43
Third-Down Conversions 6 of 16 0 of 12
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 1 1 of 2
Red Zone Scores-Chances 2-2 1-2
Sacks By: Number-Yards 4-25 2-9
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 24-86; Smith, DJ 13-34; Bell, M. 4-26; Miller, CJ 5-24; Smith, B. 3-16; Coard, T. 1-4; Team 2-(-2). UTC - Davis, R. 8-24; Wyche, J. 3-8; Durant, J. 3-4; Whatley, J. 1-(-1); Artopoeus, C. 5-(-16).
PASSING: MER - Smith, DJ 12-17-1-103. UTC - Artopoeus, C.16-34-1-259.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 3-46; Cook, A. 2-17; Harris, K. 2-17; Coard, T. 2-12; Wroble, P. 1-6; Smith, B. 2-5. UTC - Domercant, C. 5-115; Phillips, S. 6-81; McIntyre, J. 2-39; Whatley, J. 3-24.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Dowling, I. 4-2; Moore, TJ 5-1; Standley, K. 4-1; Joines, C. 2-2; Redding, M. 3-0; Miller, D. 3-0; Manley, B. 1-1; Nash, A. 2-0; Watkins, D. 2-0; Hanson, C. 1-1. UTC - Mitchell, A. 9-2; Lowery, R. 4-5; Walker, J. 4-2; Taylor, M. 3-2; Victor, C. 4-1; Brown, K. 3-1; Smallwood, T. 1-3; Battle, J. 3-1; Wiggles, Q. 0-3; Bakhole, J. 2-1.
MACON – Junior D.J. Smith amassed nearly 330 yards of total offense, including a pair of touchdown passes to sophomore Tyrell Coard, as 14th-ranked Mercer stayed perfect through four games for the first time since 2013 with a 38-21 victory over The Citadel at Five Star Stadium.
It was the fifth-straight series win for the Bears (4-0, 2-0 SoCon) in their 22-game-old series with The Citadel (2-2, 0-1), and Mercer won 12th time in its last 14 games in Macon as well. It marked the fourth-straight season that the Orange & Black has won each of its first two home games.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
The Citadel 0 14 7 0 21
Mercer 14 14 7 3 38
Scoring Summary:
Record: 2-2 (0-1 SoCon)
Record: 4-0 (2-0 SoCon)
1st 7:22 MER - Tyrell Coard 22 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:23 0-7
1st 0:01 MER - DJ Smith 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
2nd 4:09 CIT - Johnny Crawford 6 yd run (Ben Barnes kick)
4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:11 14-14
2nd 1:05 MER - Tyrell Coard 15 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:04 14-21
2nd 0:51 MER - TJ Moore 39 yd interception (Reice Griffith kick) No drive information 14-28
3rd 8:14 CIT - Garrison Johnson 1 yd run (Ben Barnes kick) 12 plays, 99 yards, TOP 4:57 21-28
3rd 3:58 MER - DJ Smith 20 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:07 21-35
4th 7:26 MER - Reice Griffith 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 7:28 21-38
Passes Comp-Att-Int
Punt Returns-Yards
Penalties-Yards
Third-Down Conversions
Fourth-Down Conversions
Red Zone Scores-Chances 5-5 3-3 Sacks By: Number-Yards 2-12 1-4
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 15-89; Smith, DJ 10-76; Coard, T. 5-18; Miller, CJ 3-1; Team 4-(-4). CIT - Johnson, G. 4-35; Wallace, C. 9-29; Crawford, J. 5-18; Bennett, J. 6-11; Ibrahim, C. 2-2; Team 1-(-1), Graves-Billips, J. 1-(-5).
PASSING: MER - Smith, DJ 19-25-1-253. CIT - Bennett, J. 17-38-1-304; Platte, J. 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 5-75; Miller, CJ 2-41; Wroble, P. 2-40; Coard, T. 2-39; Smith, B. 4-19; Harris, K. 1-18; Albee, S. 2-14; McGee, D. 1-7. CIT - Graves-Billips, J. 4-105; Pesnell, D. 2-69; Taylor, M. 1-36; Jones, R. 1-29; Cherry, T. 2-22; Ibrahim, C. 1-17; Wallace, C. 2-12; Knauth, B. 1-6; Banks, A. 1-5; Crawford, J. 2-3.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Dowling, I. 4-2; Moore, TJ 5-1; Standley, K. 4-1; Joines, C. 2-2; Redding, M. 3-0; Miller, D. 3-0; Manley, B. 1-1; Nash, A. 2-0; Watkins, D. 2-0; Hanson, C. 1-1. CIT - Mitchell, A. 9-2; Lowery, R. 4-5; Walker, J. 4-2; Taylor, M. 3-2; Victor, C. 4-1; Brown, K. 3-1; Smallwood, T. 1-3; Battle, J. 3-1; Wiggles, Q. 0-3; Bakhole, J. 2-1.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Visiting and 12th-ranked Mercer limited 23rd-ranked Wofford to just 146 yards of total offense, including a paltry 16 yards on the ground, to fuel a 22-3 win over the Terriers on September 28 and tack up its best start in the 51 seasons of the program.
The triumph gave Mercer (5-0, 3-0 SoCon) its seventh-straight victory against a Southern Conference opponent, while also giving the Bears their third win in the last four outings against nationally-ranked FCS opponents, including a pair of wins this season (Chattanooga). It was the fourth-straight series loss for the Terriers (2-2, 0-1) who fell to 1-2 against top-20 opponents in 2024, including a road victory earlier this season at then-No. 14 Richmond.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Mercer 3 3 2 14 22
Wofford 3 0 0 0 3
Scoring Summary:
1st 13:09 WOF - Devery Cagle 28 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 1:31 0-3
1st 2:06 MER - Reice Griffith 22 yd field goal 13 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:46 3-3
2nd 6:28 MER - Reice Griffith 36 yd field goal 9 plays, 47 yards, TOP 4:04 6-3
3rd 6:00 MER - 0 yd safety No drive information 8-3
Record: 5-0 (3-0 SoCon)
Record: 2-2 (0-1 SoCon)
4th 13:27 MER - Juwan Johnson 40 yd interception (Reice Griffith kick) No drive information 15-3
4th 11:48 MER - Brayden Smith 21 yd pass from Hess Horne (Reice Griffith kick) 2 plays, 23 yards, TOP 0:42
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 17-55; Miller, CJ 8-29; Coard, T. 5-12; Bell, M. 1-10; Smith, B. 2-9; Smith, DJ 6-8; Wroble, P. 1-6; Horne, H. 1-2; Dabbs, A. 1-(-1). WOF - Ingram, R. 9-8; Watkins, K. 1-6; Corriston, B. 1-3; Seeley, P. 1-3; Smith, JT 2-0; Odom, A. 6-(-4).
PASSING: MER - Horne, H. 10-17-1-100; Smith, DJ 5-7-1-57. WOF - Odom, A. 9-22-3-67; Seeley, P. 7-14-1-63
RECEIVING: MER - Harris, K. 6-59; Smith, B. 4-48; Dabbs, A. 1-31; Wroble, P. 1-14; Cook, A. 1-3; Coard, T. 2-2. WOF - Scott, I. 3-32; Pinnix, K. 2-25; Djete, D. 1-22; Smith, JT 4-16; Davis, J. 2-15; Parker, T. 2-13; Watkins, K. 2-7. TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Redding, M. 4-1; Standley, K. 4-1; Zock, A. 4-1; Thomas, M. 2-2; Nash, A. 1-2; Dowling, I. 2-1; Hanson, C. 3-0; Watkins, D. 2-0; Miller, D. 2-0; Joines, C. 2-0. WOF - Marshall, J. 8-0; Pulley, M. 7-0; Coombes, CJ 7-0; Powers, D 6-0; Mananga, M. 4-0; Maina, B. 4-0; Annoor, A 3-0; Mynatt, J. 3-0; Wadsworth, I. 2-0; Boyles, J. 2-0.
MACON – Home-standing and seventh-ranked Mercer limited visiting Princeton to just 196 yards of total offense and got contributions from its offense, defense and special teams amid a 17-point first quarter as the Bears tacked up their school-record sixthstraight victory with a 34-7 win over the Tigers on October 12 at Five Star Stadium.
The triumph marked the fifth-straight home win for Mercer (6-0, 3-0 SoCon) who moved to 46-20 all-time at Five Star Stadium with the result as well. It was the second-straight loss for Princeton (1-3, 0-1 Ivy League) who mustered just 65 yards of total offense in the opening half. Mercer will travel to Princeton, N.J., to take on Princeton next season.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Princeton 0 7 0 0 7
Mercer 17 0 3 14 34
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:46 MER - Reice Griffith 27 yd field goal
9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:41 0-3
Record: 1-3 (0-1 Ivy League)
Record: 6-0 (3-0 SoCon)
1st 4:41 MER - Brayden Smith 49 yd punt return (Reice Griffith kick)
No drive information 0-10
1st 0:18 MER - Brayden Dudley 0 yd fumble recovery (Reice Griffith kick) No drive information 0-17
2nd 1:57 PRI - Ethan Clark 1 yd run (Sam Massick kick)
8 plays, 33 yards, TOP 3:58 7-17
3rd 5:04 MER - Reice Griffith 21 yd field goal
9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:59 7-20
4th 11:05 MER - Dwayne McGee 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:21 7-27
4th 4:52 MER - Whitt Newbauer 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
5 plays, 35 yards, TOP 2:28 7-34
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 1 1 of 1
Red Zone Scores-Chances 1-2 4-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards 2-12 6-50
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 19-115; Miller, CJ 5-25; Coard, T. 4-21; Bell, M. 3-21; Newbauer, W. 2-7; Smith, B. 1-5; Parsons, K. 1-3; Team 2-(-4); Horne, H. 2-(-12). PRI - Cark, E. 21-117; Jordan, K. 2-3; Hipa, B. 9-(-33).
PASSING: MER - Horne, H. 9-17-1-70; Newbauer, W. 7-11-0-125. PRI - Hipa, B. 8-21-4109.
RECEIVING: MER - Wroble, P. 3-48; Smith, B. 2-42; Cook, A. 1-21; McGee, D. 2-15; Burt, S. 1-15; Dabbs, A. 1-14; Coard, T. 1-13; Miller, CJ 2-12; Harris, K. 2-10; Parsons, K. 1-5. PRI - Barber, AJ 3-51; Geer, J. 1-31; Hulstein, C. 1-8; Brackin, S. 1-8; Colella, L. 1-7; Clark, E. 1-4.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Nash, A. 1-7; Dowling, I. 2-6; Thomas, M. 4-4; Joines, C. 2-5; Standley, K. 4-2; Redding, M. 2-3; Johnson, J. 3-0; Hanson, C. 2-0; Griffin, C. 0-2; Zock, A. 1-1. PRI - Christopher, C. 7-4; Miller, K. 6-2; Owens, T. 5-2; Pigford, AJ 3-1; Scarano, M. 2-1; Newman, J. 1-2; Irons, C. 2-1; Taylor, C. 2-1; Haynie, E. 1-2; Richard, A. 2-1.
Princeton to just and special school-record sixthStadium. who moved second-straight offense in next season.
Ivy League) SoCon) 3-21; New- Cark, E.
B. 8-21-4McGee, D. 2-15; Parsons, K. Colella, L. 1-7;
Joines, C. 2-5; 0-2; Zock, Scarano, 2-1.
GAME SUMMARIES 2024 Review
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford scored a quartet of touchdowns in the game’s first 6-1/2 minutes and never looked back as the Bulldogs snapped visiting and seventh-ranked Mercer’s school record six-game win streak with a 55-35 victory over the Bears on October 19 at Pete Hanna Stadium.
The result marked the third-straight road loss in the series for the Bears (6-1, 3-1 SoCon) who fell to 2-6 all-time against the Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1) in Birmingham, Ala. Saturday’s outcome also marked the first loss for the Bears against a SoCon rival since a 22-10 home setback against Chattanooga on Oct. 14, 2023.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Mercer 7 0 21 7 35 Record: 6-1 (3-1 SoCon)
Samford 28 14 0 13 55
Scoring Summary:
Record: 3-3 (2-1 SoCon)
1st 12:15 SAM - DJ Rias 15 yd pass from Quincy Crittendon (Wilson Beaverstock kick)
5 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:22 0-7
1st 11:32 SAM - DJ Rias 15 yd pass from Quincy Crittendon (Wilson Beaverstock kick)
1 play, 15 yards, TOP 0:08 0-14
1st 10:59 SAM - E. Jai Mason 24 yd pass from Quincy Crittendon (Wilson Beaverstock kick)
3 plays, 26 yards, TOP 0:28 0-21
1st 8:25 SAM - Iaan Cousin 77 yd pass from Quincy Crittendon (Wilson Beaverstock kick)
1 play, 77 yards, TOP 0:10 0-28
1st 0:18 MER - DJ Smith 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 4:20 7-28
2nd 4:22 SAM - Damonta Witherspoon 2 yd run (Wilson Beaverstock kick) 15 plays, 73 yards, TOP 5:53 7-35
2nd 0:22 SAM - Damonta Witherspoon 4 yd run (Wilson Beaverstock kick)
6 plays, 89 yards, TOP 1:45 7-42
3rd 11:38 MER - Dwayne McGee 1 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:52 14-42
3rd 5:38 MER - Dwayne McGee 2 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
1 play, 2 yards, TOP 0:04 21-42
3rd 2:25 MER - Samuel Albee 5 yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith kick)
4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:31 28-42
4th 11:43 SAM - Gavin Morris 55 yd fumble return (kick failed) No drive information. 28-48
4th 6:33 SAM - Noah Martin 26 yd interception return (Wilson Beaverstock kick)
5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:52 28-55
4th 1:42 MER - Brayden Smith 5 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
RUSHING: MER - Newbauer, W. 7-39; McGee, D. 11-15; Bell, M. 1-6; Miller, CJ 2-5; Smith, B. 1-2; Team 1-(-1); Smith, DJ 11-(-27). SAM - Witherspoon, D. 19-47; Crittendon, Q. 10-24; Kelly, M. 3-2; Team 1-(-5).
PASSING: MER - Smith, DJ 17-28-1-263; Newbauer, W. 7-11-1-89. SAM - Crittendon, Q. 23-37-3-378.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 6-106; Smith, B. 3-49; Dabbs, A. 2-39; Cook, A. 2-34; McGee, D. 2-31; Wroble, P. 3-28; Albee, S. 2-27; Harris, K. 3-23; Miller, CJ 1-15. SAMCousin, I. 2-79; Rias, DJ 5-61; Jenkins, B. 3-56; Witherspoon, D. 3-52; Mason, E. 3-41; Bird, P. 2-33; Vinson, R. 2-24; Martin, S. 2-22; Taylor, T. 1-10. TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Nash, A. 1-7; Redding, M. 4-4; Thomas, M. 2-5; Joines, C. 1-6; Manley, B. 1-4; Dowling, I. 0-5; Standley, K. 4-1; Johnson, J. 3-1; Watkins, D. 1-2; Moore, TJ 3-0. SAM - Martin, N. 5-5; Mosley, J. 2-4; Russell, J. 0-6; Johnson, J. 0-6; Pollard, D. 3-2; Smith, K. 3-2; Cunningham, C. 2-3; Nelson, J. 2-2; Nurse, X. 2-2; Gaither, M. 0-4.
MACON – Home-standing and 14th-ranked Mercer rendered its most rushing yards in nearly two seasons and used 27-straight points to rally back from an early 24-7 deficit on the way to a 44-34 victory over 24th-ranked Western Carolina on October 26 at Five Star Stadium.
The triumph marked the ninth-straight series victory for the Bears (7-1, 4-1 SoCon) who also tacked up their seventh-straight home win in the process as well. Western Carolina (4-4, 3-1) fell to 1-5 all-time in Macon with the result, and have not tasted a victory over the Bears since a 24-21 nailbiter in Cullowhee, N.C., on Oct. 10, 2015.
2nd 3:52 MER - Dwayne McGee 64 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:40 24-14
2nd 0:55 MER - Whitt Newbauer 2 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:00 24-21
3rd 13:26 MER - Dwayne McGee 59 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
3 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:30 24-28
3rd 8:58 MER - Reice Griffith 30 yd field goal
6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:49 24-31
3rd 2:07 MER - Reice Griffith 23 yd field goal
12 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:39 24-34
4th 9:52 WCU - Zion Booker 3 yd pass from Cole Gonzales (Paxton Robertson kick) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:38 31-34
4th 8:14 MER - Reice Griffith 40 yd field goal
4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 1:27 31-37
4th 5:22 WCU - Paxton Robertson 44 yd field goal
8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:45 34-37
4th 1:52 MER - CJ Miller 31 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:25 34-44 WCU MER
FIRST DOWNS 30 22
Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards 1-7 2-21
Kickoff Returns-Yards 6-93 3-90
Interception Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punts (Number-Avg) 4-44.8 3-52.3
Fumbles-Lost
Penalties-Yards
Possession Time 29:41 30:19
Third-Down Conversions 8 of 18 3 of 11
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 3 0 of 1
Red Zone Scores-Chances 6-7 5-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards 2-14 4-18
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 18-223; Miller, CJ 10-59; Smith, B. 3-20; Dabbs, A. 1-8; Bell M. 3-7; Wroble, P. 1-0; Newbauer, W. 4-(-1); Team 2-(-2). WCU - Adams, B. 12-89; Gonzales, C. 12-53; Dickens, T. 4-28; Williams, J. 5-21; Johnson, I. 1-4; Cochran, M. 3-(-8).
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 10-21-234-0. WCU - Gonzales, C. 25-47-395-0.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 4-102; Smith, B. 2-45; Burt, S. 1-39; Dabbs, A. 1-24; McGee, D. 1-22; Harris, K. 1-2. WCU - Booker, Z. 7-78; Colombo, AJ 5-66; Tamarez, D. 2-60; Jones, C. 1-49; Adams, B. 3-39; Johnson, I. 1-36; Knight, M. 2-26; Boyd, J. 2-20; Young, J. 1-15; Cochran, M. 1-6. TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Manley, B. 2-6; Redding, M. 4-4; Thomas, M. 4-4; Joines, C. 5-3; Dowling, I. 5-2; Moore, TJ 4-3; Standley, K. 3-3; Zock, A. 0-5; Nash, A. 2-2; Camese, C. 0-3. WCU - McQueen, H. 3-5; Turner, A. 4-4; Simpson-Nealy, B. 2-2; Dukes, S. 3-1; Pierre-Louis, J. 1-3; Monroe, B. 3-1; Sudipo, M. 1-2; Williams, CJ 2-1; Nelson, M. 2-1; Fisher, C. 1-1.
2024 Review
MACON – Home-standing and 12th-ranked Mercer scored 20 points off of four East Tennessee State turnovers and limited the nation’s 8th-ranked rushing offense to just 13 yards on the ground as the Bears tacked up their eighth-straight home win with a 37-31 triumph over the 23rd-ranked Buccaneers on November 2.
It was the program-record fourth Top-25 win of the season for the Bears (8-1, 5-1) who have now captured four of the last five matchups in the 10-game-old series with East Tennessee State (5-4, 3-2). The Buccaneers fell to 0-2 this season against nationally-ranked teams, including a 38-35 home loss to then-No. 2 (now No. 1) North Dakota State in September.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
East Tennessee State 14 0 7 10 31
Mercer 3 14 14 6 37
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:49 MER - Reice Griffith 36 yd field goal
4 plays, 7 yards, TOP 1:17 0-3
Record: 5-4 (3-2 SoCon)
Record: 8-1 (5-1 SoCon)
1st 10:34 ETS - Hakeem Meggett 68 yd pass from Jaylen King (Ewan Johnson kick)
1 play, 68 yards, TOP 0:09 7-3
1st 2:02 ETS - Gino English 1 yd run (Ewan Johnson kick)
9 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:41 14-3
2nd 13:29 MER - Brayden Manley 0 yd fumble recovery (Reice Giffith kick) No drive information. 14-10
2nd 12:16 MER - Marques Thomas 25 yd interception return No drive information. 14-17
3rd 9:22 MER - Kelin Parsons 34 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:12 14-24
3rd 4:38 MER - Mic Wasson 20 yd blocked punt return (Reice Griffith kick) No drive information. 14-31
3rd 2:40 ETS - AJ Johnson 18 yd pass from Gino English (Ewan Johnson kick)
5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:50 21-31
4th 12:44 MER - Reice Griffith 36 yd field goal
5 plays, 10 yards, TOP 1:34 21-34
4th 5:55 ETS - AJ Johnson 9 yd pass from Gino English (Ewan Johnson kick)
5 plays, 79 yards, TOP 0:50 28-34
4th 1:37 MER - Reice Griffith 31 yd field goal 12 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:18 28-37
4th 0:45 ETS - Ewan Johnson 44 yd field goal 4 plays, 49 yards, TOP 0:52 31-37 ETS MER
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 25-124; Miller, CJ 6-20; Smith, B. 2-2; Coard, T. 1-2; Parsons, K. 1-0; Team 1-(-1); Smith, DJ 3-(-3); Newbauer, W. 3-(-14). ETS - Irby, B. 7-11; Houston, D. 7-10; Laborn, K. 1-(-1); King, J. 9-(-2); English, G. 6-(-5).
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 11-18-0-124; Smith, DJ 7-11-0-38. ETS - English, G. 1419-1-267; King, J. 11-25-2-192.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 4-60; Smith, B. 4-40; Harris, K. 5-28; Dabbs, A. 2-20; Everson, T. 1-13; Cook, A. 1-1. ETS - Johnson, AJ 10-162; Floyd, E. 6-112; Meggett, H. 4-108; Gaillardetz, X. 2-57; Laborn, K. 2-16; Page, K. 1-4.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Dowling, I. 2-5; Moore, TJ 5-2; Standley, K. 1-6; Thomas, M. 2-4; Redding, M. 1-4; Nash, A. 2-2; Bliss, T. 2-2; Manley, B. 2-1; Joines, C. 3-0; Hill, C. 0-3. ETS - McRainey, W. 3-9; Coney, R. 4-6; West, Z. 5-3; Hunter, N. 3-3; LeBlanc, B. 1-4; Howard, D. 2-2; Woods, J. 0-3; Bowdry, J. 1-2; Whitehead, R. 2-1; Anderson, T. 2-1.
LEXINGTON, Va. – Visiting and 10th-ranked Mercer racked up more than 500 yards of total offense and pitched its first road shutout in more than a decade as the Bears clinched at least a share of their first conference title in 92 years with a 34-0 shutout of VMI on Saturday at Foster Stadium.
It was the seventh victory in the last eight regular season road outings for the Bears (9-1, 6-1 SoCon) who also matched a program superlative with their sixth conference win of the season as well. With the win, as well as Western Carolina’s loss at East Tennessee State earlier Saturday, the Orange & Black clinched at least a share of its first SoCon title in program history, as well as its first league title since capturing the 1932 Dixie Conference crown.
VMI (1-9, 1-5) fell to 1-5 all-time at home against the Orange & Black, and has now dropped three-straight meetings in the series – all by 34 or more points.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Mercer 3 14 10 7 34 Record: 9-1 (6-1 SoCon)
VMI 0 0 0 0 0 Record: 8-1 (5-1 SoCon)
Scoring Summary:
1st 0:23 MER - Reice Griffith 32 yd field goal
5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:43 3-0
2nd 7:54 MER - CJ Miller 4 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:59 10-0
2nd 0:17 MER - Kelin Parsons 4 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick) 13 plays, 88 yards, TOP 3:00 17-0
3rd 11:24 MER - Parker Wroble 69 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
2 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:41 24-0
3rd 5:49 MER - Reice Griffith 30 yd field goal
6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:47 27-0
3rd 9:32 MER - Parker Wroble 28 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
2 plays, 49 yards, TOP 0:41
Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards 2-20 1-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards 1-32 6-82
Interception Returns-Yards 2-0 0-0
Punts (Number-Avg) 7-56.6 1-64
Fumbles-Lost
Penalties-Yards
Possession Time
Third-Down Conversions
Fourth-Down Conversions
Red Zone Scores-Chances 4-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards 5-27 2-12
RUSHING: MER - Bell, M. 12-69; McGee, D. 9-67; Newbauer, W. 8-42; Miller, CJ 4-17; Coard, T. 5-16; Wroble, P. 1-15; George, J. 2-10. VMI - Rice, H. 17-52; Crump, J. 3-14; Boehling, L. 3-13; Shipe, A. 1-(-2); Wilson, C. 8-(-19).
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 15-30-0-282. VMI - Wilson, C. 11-25-1-35; Crump, J. 1-3-1-18.
RECEIVING: MER - Wroble, P. 3-102; Cook, A. 1-55; Harris, K. 3-51; Parson, K. 3-43; Albee, S. 1-13; Coard, T. 1-9; George, J. 1-5; Dabbs, A. 2-4. VMI - Rice, H. 2-23; Horne, E. 1-8; Shipe, A. 3-7; DaSilva, J. 1-5; Thorpe, I. 2-4; Nelson, E. 2-3; McPhaul, M. 1-3. TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Standley, K. 3-9; Dowling, I. 1-6; Thomas, M. 3-4; Nash, A. 1-4; Redding, M. 4-1; Moore, TJ 2-3; Hutchinson, K. 1-4; Bliss, T. 3-1; Manley, B. 1-2; Zock, A. 1-2. VMI - Rankin, E. 2-4; Cole, J. 3-2; Jones, S. 2-3; Riveros, S. 2-2; Johnson, J. 1-3; Locks, A. 2-2; Dean, S. 1-3; Babich, A. 0-4; Berling, H. 2-2; Covert, J. 1-3.
GAME SUMMARIES 2024 Review
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Ninth-ranked Alabama amassed more than 500 yards of total offense and scored 21 points off of a trio of turnovers by seventh-ranked Mercer on the way to a 52-7 victory over the visiting Bears on November 16 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The setback snapped a three-game win streak for the Orange & Black (9-2) who still managed to put the finishing touches on their best road record (4-2) in 93 years. It was the third-straight win for the Crimson Tide (8-2) who moved to 5-0 all-time in the series with Mercer.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Mercer 0 7 0 0 7 Record: 9-2 (6-1 SoCon)
Alabama 14 17 7 14 52 Record: 8-2 (4-2 SEC)
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:48 ALA - Ryan Williams 29 yd run (Graham Nicholson kick)
4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:16 0-7
1st 4:08 ALA - Ryan Williams 14 yd pass from Jalen Milroe (Graham Nicholson kick)
9 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:21 0-14
2nd 12:37 ALA - Robbie Ouzts 44 yd pass from Jalen Milroe (Graham Nicholson kick)
5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:03 0-21
2nd 8:45 ALA - Zabien Brown 68 yd fumble return (Graham Nicholson kick) No drive information. 0-28
2nd 1:58 MER - Kendall Harris 31 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:05 7-28
2nd 0:55 ALA - Graham Nicholson 45 yd field goal
5 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:03 7-31
3rd 10:33 ALA - Jalen Milroe 3 yd run (Graham Nicholson kick) 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:21 7-38
4th 12:54 ALA - Richard Young 1 yd run (Graham Nicholson kick) 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:27 7-45
4th 3:36 ALA - Rico Scott 31 yd pass from Austin Mack (Graham Nicholson kick) 16 plays, 79 yards, TOP 7:43 7-52
RUSHING: MER - Miller, CJ 8-44; Bell, M. 4-15; McGee, D. 7-11; Coard, T. 3-3; Wroble, P. 1-1; Newbauer, W. 1-(-12). ALA - Milroe, J. 6-43; Haynes, J. 6-37; Williams, R. 1-29; Young, R. 7-26; Miller, J. 8-24; Simpson, T. 2-14; Hill, D. 4-13; Gardner, JR 2-5; Riley, K. 3-4; Lorino, M. 1-3, Law, K. 2-(-9).
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 15-22-1-140. ALA - Milroe, J. 11-16-0-186; Simpson, T. 5-10-0-71; Mack, A. 2-3-0-39; Lonergan, D. 5-6-0-23.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 6-39; Harris, K. 2-32; Wroble, P. 3-32; Dabbs, A. 2-23; Coard, T. 1-9; McGee, D. 1-5. ALA - Bernard, G. 4-81; Cuevas, J. 2-46; Ouzsts, R. 1-44; Scott, R. 2-37; Williams, R. 3-36; Odom, C. 2-20; Miller, J. 1-11; Dippre, CJ 1-11; Riley, K. 2-9; Prentice, K. 2-8; Hampton, B. 1-6; Lindsey, J. 1-5; Lockwood, T. 1-5. TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Standley, K. 5-5; Moore, TJ 7-2; Bliss, T. 4-3; Dowling, I. 1-5; Joines, C. 5-1; Thomas, M. 4-1; Nash, A. 1-3; Wasson, M. 1-3; Redding, M. 2-1; O’neal, C. 2-1. ALA - Campbell, J. 5-4; Jefferson, J. 2-3; Keenan, T. 2-2; Russaw, Q. 2-1; Moore, M. 2-1; Jackson, D. 2-0; Hubbard, B. 1-1; Smith, J. 1-1; Okoronkwo, J. 1-1; Payne, D. 1-1.
MACON – Eighth-ranked Mercer amassed more than 500 yards of total offense and forced a trio of turnovers on the way to a 49-23 victory over visiting Furman on Saturday evening at Five Star Stadium. The win allowed the Orange & Black to claim the 2024 Southern Conference outright, and give MU its first league title bringing home the 1932 Dixie Conference crown.
It was the ninth-straight home win for the Bears (10-2, 7-1 SoCon) who claimed the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA postseason two weeks ago with a shutout win at VMI. The setback snapped a two-game series win streak for the Paladins (3-8, 2-5) who fell to 5-6 all-time in Macon.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Furman 10 3 3 7 23
Mercer 21 7 14 7 49
Scoring Summary:
Record: 3-8 (2-5 SoCon)
Record: 10-2 (7-1 SEC)
1st 10:42 FUR - Colton Hinton 30 yd pass from Gavin Hall (Ian Williams kick)
3 plays, 42 yards, TOP 1:01 7-0
1st 8:12 MER - CJ Miller 3 yd run (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:30 7-7
1st 2:39 MER - Ian Williams 22 yd field goal 14 plays, 66 yards, TOP 5:28 10-7
1st 0:42 MER - Adjatay Dabbs 46 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:57 10-14
1st 0:22 MER - Tommy Bliss 35 yd fumble return No drive information 10-21
2nd 1:19 MER - Sawyer Burt 7 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:55 10-28
2nd 0:09 FUR - Ian Williams 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 1:04 13-28
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 15-74; Martin, B. 12-53; Miller, CJ 8-36; Bell, M. 4-22; Dabbs, A. 1-11; Coard, T. 2-11; Wroble, P. 2-10; Parsons, K. 1-3; Team 1-(-1); Newbauer, W. 2-(-6). FUR - Hall, G. 11-50; Hughes, B. 5-32; Hicks, M. 6-14; Garcia, N. 1-(-2); Hedden, T. 4-(-21).
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 18-28-1-257; Smith, DJ 2-2-0-33. FUR - Hedden, T. 1941-1-210; Hall, G. 1-1-1-30; Garcia, N. 1-1-0-9.
RECEIVING: MER - Dabbs, A. 8-181; Coard, T. 1-31; Wroble, P. 3-29; McGee, D. 1-16; Parsons, K. 1-12; Harris, K. 1-8; Albee, S. 1-8; Burt, S. 1-7; Cook, A. 3-(-2). FUR - Hinton, C. 9-109; Harris, E. 4-86; Ferguson, B. 4-25; Pryor, J. 3-20; Hester, D. 1-9.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Standley, K. 3-6; Dowling, I. 2-5; Joines, C. 4-3; O’neal, C. 2-3; Moore, TJ 2-2; Thomas, M. 2-2; Nash, A. 2-1; Redding, M. 1-2; Griffin, C. 1-1; Zock, A. 1-1. FUR - DiMaggio, E. 10-8; McLeod, T. 5-4; Earl, R. 2-7; Williams, C. 2-4; Achina, A. 2-4; Clark, L. 2-4; Dalton, H. 2-3; Perkins, M. 4-0; Schuck, T. 1-3; Jackson, J. 1-2.
MACON – Myles Redding got Mercer on the board with a 25-yard interception return in the opening quarter, and Dwayne McGee turned in a 33-yard scamper late in the third quarter to set up a go-ahead touchdown, as the No. 7 national-seeded Bears outlasted No. 10 national seed Rhode Island, 17-10, in FCS Playoffs action on December 7 at Five Star Stadium.
It was the school record-breaking 10th-straight home win for the Bears (11-2) who also registered their program-best 11th win of the season in the process as well. The setback snapped a three-game win streak for the Rams (11-3) who rolled into the weekend averaging 160.2 rushing yards per game, but were held to just 49 on Saturday.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Rhode Island 0 3 7 0 10
Mercer 7 0 0 10 17
Scoring Summary:
1st 3:33 MER - Myles Redding 25 yd interception return No drive information 0-7
2nd 0:00 URI - Ty Groff 17 yd field goal 12 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:29 3-7
Record: 11-3 (7-1 CAA)
Record: 11-2 (7-1 SoCon)
3rd 2:33 URI - Marquis Buchanan 56 yd pass from Hunter Helms (Ty Groff kick)
1 play, 56 yards, TOP 0:08 10-7
4th 14:19 MER - Adjatay Dabbs 4 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 21-114; Miller, CJ 10-81; Wroble, P. 1-4; Smith, DJ 4-(-1); Team 3-(-3); Newbauer, W. 7-(-13). URI - Grant, M. 13-36; Harris, S. 1-7; Helms, H. 7-7; Sloat, G. 2-5; Smith, T. 1-0; Silas, D. 2-(-6).
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 10-20-0-57. URI - Helms, H. 22-33-1-266.
RECEIVING: MER - Dabbs, A. 5-23; Albee, S. 1-17; Parsons, K. 1-8; Smith, B. 2-8; Coard, T. 1-1. URI - Buchanan, M. 11-119; Gaines, G. 5-81; Walker, O. 2-36; Sloat, G. 2-18; Grant, M. 1-6; Smith, T. 1-6.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Dowling, I. 4-8; Standley, K. 2-8; Redding, M. 2-5; Joines, C. 5-2; O’neal, C. 4-1; Thomas, M. 1-3; Manley, B. 1-2; Nash, A. 1-2; Watkins, D. 1-1; Moore, TJ 1-1. URI - Hightower, D. 5-2; Pena, AJ 4-3; Gomes, E. 5-1; Brockwell, C. 3-2; Neal, W. 5-0; Salomons, G. 3-1; Mankins, C. 2-2; Miles, H. 1-3; Johnson, A. 3-0; Filaoye, S. 2-1.
FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State scored touchdowns on each of its first two possessions and held visiting Mercer at arm’s length for the rest of the afternoon as the No. 2 national seed Bison advanced to the NCAA semifinals round with a 31-7 win over the No. 7 national seed Bears on December 14.
The setback snapped a two-game win skein for the Orange & Black (11-3) who are set to return 14 starters for the 2025 season, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. North Dakota State (12-2) will suit up to host Missouri Valley Football Conference rival South Dakota State in next week’s semifinal contest.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Mercer 7 0 0 0 7 Record: 11-3 (7-1 SoCon)
North Dakota State 14 10 0 7 31 Record: 12-2 (7-1 MVFC)
Scoring Summary:
1st 12:03 NDS - Bryce Lance 40 yd pass from Cam Miller (Griffin Crosa kick)
4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:57 0-7
1st 9:31 NDS - Bryce Lance 4 yd pass from Cam Miller (Griffin Crosa kick)
2 plays, 74 yards, TOP 0:30 0-14
1st 7:01 MER - Kelin Parsons 38 yd pass from Whitt Newbauer (Reice Griffith kick)
5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:25 7-14
2nd 12:01 NDS - Cam Miller 34 yd run (Griffin Crosa kick)
RUSHING: MER - McGee, D. 14-59; Miller, CJ 4-58; Coard, T. 1-8; Smith DJ 3-6; Parsons, K. 1-4; Wroble, P. 1-(-3); Newbauer, W. 7-(-23). NDS - Brown, C. 11-58; Miller, C. 11-40; Kpeenu 16-32; Marshall, TK 3-3.
PASSING: MER - Newbauer, W. 8-18-1-90; Smith DJ 2-2-0-(-4). NDS - Miller, C. 16-252-259; Nelson, R. 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: MER - Parsons, K. 1-38; Harris, K. 1-17; Albee, S. 3-17; Dabbs, A. 1-8; Wroble, P. 2-5; Smith, B. 2-1. NDS - Collins, M. 4-119; Lance, B. 5-73; Nelson, R. 2-39; Henderson, B. 3-20; Harris, C. 1-10.
TACKLES (UA-A): MER - Thomas, M. 5-4; Joines, C. 3-6; Redding, M. 3-5; Moore, TJ 4-4; Dowling, I. 2-4; Miller, D. 4-2; Zock, A. 4-2; Standley, K. 2-2; Bliss, T. 2-2; Manley, B. 1-2. NDS - Chideme-Alfaro, A. 2-4; Kubitz, N. 3-3; Gulley, M. 3-2; Givance, D. 3-1; Kopp, L. 2-2; Mostaert, E. 1-3; Roques, L. 1-3; Anene, T. 1-3; Sibomana, E. 2-1; Jones, R. 3-0.
at Bethune-Cookman D. Smith McGee Albee B. Smith Parsons
at Chattanooga D. Smith Coard Cook B. Smith
THE CITADEL D. Smith McGee Albee Burt
Adcock
E. Johnson at Wofford D. Smith McGee Albee B. Smith
PRINCETON Horne McGee Bell B. Smith Parsons
Mukwiza Adcock Murray E. Johnson at Samford D. Smith McGee Albee B. Smith
Adcock Murray Edwards
WESTERN CAROLINA Newbauer McGee Albee B. Smith Parsons
Adcock Murray Atchison EAST TENNESSEE STATE D. Smith McGee Albee B.
at VMI Newbauer Miller Albee Wroble
at Alabama Newbauer McGee Albee Wroble
FURMAN Newbauer McGee Albee Wroble
RHODE ISLAND Newbauer McGee Albee B. Smith
at
THE CITADEL Nash Hill Manley Zock
EAST TENNESSEE STATE Nash Camese Manley Zock
FURMAN Nash Hill Manley Zock
RHODE ISLAND Nash Camese Manley Zock
at North Dakota State Nash Swain Manley Zock
TEAM STATISTICS 2024
3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS
4TH DOWN CONVERSIONS
Date Opponent
Dec. 14
TIME OF POSSESSION
Sept. 14 at Chattanooga W, 10-3 36:17 08:27
Sept. 21 The Citadel W, 38-21 33:34 08:59
Sept. 28 at Wofford W, 22-3 33:47
Oct. 12 Princeton W, 34-7 33:08 08:37
Oct. 19 at Samford L, 55-35 31:13 11:18
Oct. 26 Western Carolina W, 44-34 30:19 01:48
Nov.
Nov.
Nov. 16
Nov. 23 Furman W, 49-23 35:33 06:11
Dec.
Dec.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
MU GIVEAWAYS/TAKEAWAYS
OPENING DRIVES - OFFENSE
OPENING DRIVES - DEFENSE
Punt
Punt Princeton Field
Punt at Samford Punt Touchdown Western
East
Punt Touchdown
State Punt Touchdown at VMI Punt Punt at Alabama Turnover Punt Furman Turnover Punt
Rhode Island Punt Punt at
Punt Punt
DEFENSIVE GAME-BY-GAME
TACKLES
Caden Camese
Drew Clare
Brayden Dudley
Jordan Swain
Tripp Slaton
Sully Croker
Senior Myles Redding logged an NCAA-best and school record nine interceptions, while also amassing a school record 111 interception return yards.
Senior Ken Standley (15) recorded a team-best 96 tackles across the 2024 season and exited Macon atop the program’s all-time list for total tackles (388) and solo tackles (180).
2024 Review DEFENSIVE STATISTICS /
DEFENSIVE GAME-BY-GAME
TACKLES FOR LOSS
SACKS
PARTICIPATION GAME-BY-GAME
0
1
3
3
5
7
7
8
8
9
12
PARTICIPATION 2024 Review
PARTICIPATION GAME-BY-GAME (Continued)
2024
MERCER SEASON HIGHS
Rushes 25 Dwayne McGee vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
Yards Rushing 223 Dwayne McGee vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
TD Rushes 2 Dwayne McGee vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
2 Dwayne McGee at Samford (10/19/2024)
2 DJ Smith vs The Citadel (09/21/2024)
Long Rush 64 Dwayne McGee vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Pass Attempts 30 Whitt Newbauer at VMI (11/09/2024)
Pass Completions 20 DJ Smith vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024)
Yards Passing 331 DJ Smith vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024)
TD Passes 3 Whitt Newbauer vs Furman (11/23/2024)
3 DJ Smith at Bethune-Cookman (09/07/2024)
3 DJ Smith vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024)
Long Pass 69 Whitt Newbauer at VMI (11/09/2024)
Receptions 8 Adjatay Dabbs vs Furman (11/23/2024)
Yards Receiving 181 Adjatay Dabbs vs Furman (11/23/2024)
TD Receptions 2 Adjatay Dabbs vs Furman (11/23/2024)
2 Parker Wroble at VMI (11/09/2024)
2 Tyrell Coard vs The Citadel (09/21/2024)
Long Reception 69 Parker Wroble at VMI (11/09/2024)
Punts 10 John McConnell vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
Punting Avg 52.3 John McConnell vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Long Punt 62 John McConnell vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Punts Inside 20 4 John McConnell at Chattanooga (09/14/2024)
4 John McConnell at Bethune-Cookman (09/07/2024)
Long Punt Return 75 Brayden Smith vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024)
Long Kickoff Return 58 Brayden Smith vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Tackles 12 Ken Standley at VMI (11/09/2024)
Tackles For Loss 3 Andrew Zock at Wofford (9/28/2024)
MERCER GAME HIGHS
Rushes 52 at Chattanooga (9/14/2024)
Yards Rushing 314 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Yards Per Rush 7.5 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
TD Rushes 4 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Pass Attempts 39 at Samford (10/19/2024)
Pass Completions 25 vs. Presbyterian (8/29/2024)
Yards Passing 361 vs. Presbyterian (8/29/2024)
Yards Per Pass 12.0 vs. Presbyterian (8/29/2024)
TD Passes 4 vs. Presbyterian (8/29/2024)
Total Plays 78 vs. Furman (11/23/2024)
Total Offense 548 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Yards Per Play 8.7 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Points 63 vs. Presbyterian (8/29/2024)
Sacks By 6 Princeton (10/12/2024)
First Downs 27 vs. Furman (11/23/2024)
Penalties 15 at Bethune-Cookman (9/7/2024)
Penalty Yards 134 at Bethune-Cookman (9/7/2024)
Turnovers 5 at Samford (10/19/2024)
Punts 10 vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
Punting Avg, 52.3 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Long Punt 62 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Punts Inside 20 4 at Chattanooga (9/14/2024) 4 at Bethune-Cookman (9/7/2024)
Long Punt Return 75 vs. Presbyterian (8/29/2024)
OPPONENT SEASON HIGHS
Rushes 21 Ethan Clark vs Princeton (10/12/2024)
Yards Rushing 117 Ethan Clark vs Princeton (10/12/2024)
TD Rushes 2 Damonta Witherspoon at Samford (10/19/2024)
Long Rush 42 Branson Adams vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Pass Attempts 47 Cole Gonzales vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
PAss Completions 25 Cole Gonzales vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Yards Passing 395 Cole Gonzales vs Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
TD Passes 4 Quincy Crittendon at Samford (10/19/2024)
Long Pass 77 Quincy Crittendon at Samford (10/19/2024)
Receptions 10 AJ Johnson vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
Yards Receiving 162 AJ Johnson vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
TD Receptions 2 Bryce Lance at North Dakota State (12/14/2024) 2 AJ Johnson vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024) 2 DJ Rias at Samford (10/19/2024)
Long Reception 77 Iaan Cousin at Samford (10/19/2024)
Field Goals 3 Ian Williams vs Furman (11/23/2024)
Long Field Goal 57 Ian Williams vs Furman (11/23/2024)
Punts 11 Ben Shrewsbury at VMI (11/09/2024)
Punting Avg 48.0 Ty Englehart vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024)
Long Punt 58 Brady Clark vs Princeton (10/12/2024)
Punts Inside 20 4 Nate Brackett vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024) 4 Anthony Frederique at Bethune-Cookman (09/07/2024)
Long Punt Return 18 Jaylen Mbakwe at Alabama (11/16/2024)
Long Kickoff Return 45 Zach Switzer vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024) Tackles 18 Evan DiMaggio vs Furman (11/23/2024) Sacks 2 Zach West vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024) 2 Xavier Nurse at Samford (10/19/2024) 2 Ejike Brown at Bethune-Cookman (09/07/2024)
Tackles For Loss 3 AJ Pigford vs Princeton (10/12/2024) 3 Jalen Marshall at Wofford (9/28/2024)
Interceptions 1 Anthony Chideme-Alfaro at North Dakota State (12/14/2024) 1 Tre’ McLeod vs Furman (11/23/2024)
1 Qua Russaw at Alabama (11/16/2024) 1 Noah Martin at Samford (10/19/2024)
1 Jaden Mosley at Samford (10/19/2024)
1 Torian Roberts vs Princeton (10/12/2024)
1 Javis Mynatt at Wofford (9/28/2024)
1 Jalen Marshall at Wofford (9/28/2024)
1 Dominick Poole vs The Citadel (09/21/2024)
1 Kameron Brown at Chattanooga (09/14/2024)
1 Raymond Woodie III at Bethune-Cookman (09/07/2024)
1 Alex Herriott vs Presbyterian (08/29/2024)
OPPONENT GAME HIGHS
Rushes 42 at Alabama (11/16/2024)
Yards Rushing 189 at Alabama (11/16/2024)
Yards Per Rush 5.1 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
TD Rushes 3 at Alabama (11/16/2024)
Pass Attempts 48 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Pass Completions 25 vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024) 25 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Yards Passing 459 vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
Yards Per Pass 10.4 vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024)
TD Passes 4 at Samford (10/19/2024)
Total Plays 85 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Total Offense 582 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Yards Per Play 6.8 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Points 55 at Samford (10/19/2024)
Sacks By 6 at Samford (10/19/2024)
First Downs 30 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Penalties 11 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Penalty Yards 104 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Turnovers 6 vs. Princeton (10/12/2024)
Punts 11 at VMI (11/09/2024)
Punting Avg 44.8 vs. Western Carolina (10/26/2024)
Long Punt 58 vs. Princeton (10/12/2024)
Punts Inside 20 4 vs. East Tennessee State (11/2/2024) 4 at Bethune-Cookman (09/07/2024)
Long Punt Return 23 vs. Rhode Island (12/7/2024)
SEASON SUPERLATIVES 2024 Review
MERCER’S LONGEST PLAYS
Rushing *64 Dwayne McGee vs. Western Carolina (Oct. 26, 2024)
Passing *69 Whitt Newbauer to Parker Wroble at VMI (Nov. 9, 2024)
Field Goal 40 Reice Griffith vs. Western Carolina (Oct. 26, 2024)
Punt 62 John McConnell vs. Western Carolina (Oct. 26, 2024)
Punt Return *75 Brayden Smith vs. Presbyterian (Aug. 29, 2024) (TD)
Kickoff Return 58 Brayden Smith vs. Western Carolina (Oct. 26, 2024)
Interception Return *40 Juwan Johnson at Wofford (Sept. 28, 2024)
Fumble Return 0 Six times, two for touchdown * = play resulted in touchdown
MERCER’S LONGEST RUSHES
MERCER’S SCORING DRIVES
Date Opponent Quarter Plays-Yards TOP Drive Ended 9/7 Bethune-Cookman 3rd 11-94 5:52 Touchdown
MERCER’S LONGEST PASS PLAYS
MERCER’S LONGEST RETURN PLAYS
Date Opponent MU Player
(Punt)
(Punt)
(Kickoff)
Princeton Brayden Smith (Punt)
Samford Myles Redding (Interception)
9/28 Wofford Juwan Johnson (Interception)
(Interception)
8/29 Presbyterian Brayden Smith (Kickoff)
11/9 VMI Javarius George (Kickoff)
12/7 Rhode Island Brayden Smith (Kickoff)
9/28 Wofford Brayden Smith (Kickoff)
10/19 Samford Myles Redding (Interception)
(Interception)
(Kickoff)
OPPONENTS’ LONGEST PLAYS
Rushing 42 Branson Adams, vs. Western Carolina (Oct. 26, 2024)
Passing 77 Quincy Crittendon to Iaan Cousin, at Samford (Oct. 19, 2024)
Field Goal 57 Ian Williams, vs. Furman (Nov. 23, 2024)
Punt 58 Brady Clark, vs. Princeton (Oct. 12, 2024)
Punt Return 9 AJ Barber, vs. Princeton (Oct. 12, 2024)
Kickoff Return 45 Zach Switzer, vs. Presbyterian (Aug. 29, 2024)
Interception Return 43 Dominick Poole, vs. The Citadel (Sept. 21, 2024)
Fumble Return *55 Gavin Morris, at Samford (Oct. 19, 2024)
* = play resulted in touchdown
2024 Review SOCON / NCAA RANKINGS
INDIVIDUAL
Brayden Smith ranked fourth among all NCAA FCS return specialists with 861 combined kick return yards, but also ranked second, nationally, with two punt return touchdowns.
Isaac Dowling captained a Mercer defense that led all of NCAA FCS in five defensive statistical categories, including rushing defense, turnovers gained and defensive touchdowns.
Record Book INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
RUSHING RECORDS
Most Rushes
Game
41, John Russ at Samford, 11/12/16
Season 230, Dwayne McGee, 2024
Career 533, John Russ, 2013-16
Rushing Yards
Game
RECEIVING RECORDS
Receptions
Game
276, Fred Davis vs. Samford, 10/2/21
Season 1,187, Dwayne McGee, 2024
Career 2660, Tee Mitchell, 2014-15/2017-18
Yards Per Attempt
Game
14, Devron Harper vs. Furman, 11/12/22 14, Ty James at East Tennessee State, 10/7/23
Season 78, Devron Harper, 2022
Career 175, Marquise Irvin, 2015-18
Receptions Per Game
Season
13.7, Al Wooten II vs. VMI, 9/30/23
Season 6.95, Austin Douglas, 2022
Career 6.20, Payton Usher, 2013-16
Yards Per Game
Season
7.1, Devron Harper, 2022
Career 4.7, Devron Harper, 2021-23
Receiving Yards
Game
92.2, Alex Lakes, 2014
Career 63.3, Tee Mitchell, 2014-15/2017-18
100-Yard Games
Season 6, Alex Lakes, 2014
Career 10, Tee Mitchell, 2014-15/17-18
Rushing Yards By A Freshman
Game
202, JaTarii Donald at Davidson, 11/2/13
Season 1,107, Alex Lakes, 2014
Rushing Yards By A Quarterback
Game
185, John Russ at Samford, 11/12/16
Season 903, John Russ, 2013
Career 2336, John Russ, 2013-16
Rushing Touchdowns
Game
351, Ty James at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 1,130, Ty James, 2023
Career 3,364, Ty James, 2020-23
Yards Per Reception
Game
40.7, David Durden at Yale, 10/13/18
Season 23.5, Ty James, 2021
Career 19.7, Ty James, 2020-23
100-Yard Games
Season 5, Ty James, 2022 5, Ty James, 2023
Career 13, Ty James, 2020-23
TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDAGE RECORDS
Game
5, Fred Davis vs. Samford, 10/2/21
Season 17, Alex Lakes, 2014
Career 32, Alex Lakes, 2014-17
PASSING RECORDS
Passing Attempts
Game
51, Fred Payton at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 359, John Russ, 2016
Career 1,128, John Russ, 2013-16
Pass Completions
Game
552, Fred Payton at Samford, 11/19/22 (514 passing, 38 rushing)
Season 3,180, Fred Payton, 2022 (3,019 passing, 161 rushing)
Career 10,905, John Russ, 2013-16 (8,569 passing, 2,336 rushing)
ALL-PURPOSE YARDAGE RECORDS
Game
30, John Russ at Wofford, 10/29/16
30, Fred Payton at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 216, Fred Payton, 2022
Career 641, John Russ, 2013-16
Completion Percentage
Game
84.2 (16-19), John Russ vs. Stetson, 9/12/15
Season 66.5 (216-325), Fred Payton, 2022
Career 63.1 (328-520), Fred Payton, 2021-22
Passer Efficiency Rating
Game
302.2, John Russ vs. Stetson, 9/12/15
Season 172.1, Fred Payton, 2022
Career 159.7, Fred Payton, 2021-22
Passing Yards
Game
514, Fred Payton at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 3,019, Fred Payton, 2022
Career 8,569, John Russ, 2013-16
Passing Yards Per Game
Season
274.5, Fred Payton, 2022
Career 223.0, Fred Payton, 2021-22
300-Yard Games
Season
3, Fred Payton, 2022
Career 5, Fred Payton, 2021-22
Touchdown Passes
Game 5, Fred Payton vs. East Tennessee State, 10/15/22
Season
Career
32, Fred Payton, 2022
78, John Russ, 2013-16
564, Ty James at Samford, 11/19/22 (351 receiving, 13 rush)
Game 3, nine times last: Reice Griffith vs. East Tennessee State, 11/2/24
Season 16, Cole Fisher, 2016 16, Reice Griffith, 2024
Career 35, Cole Fisher, 2015-18
Most Points By A Kicker
Game
14, Devin Folser at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 102, Alex Lakes, 2014 102, Reice Griffith, 2024
Career 212, Cole Fisher, 2015-18
DEFENSIVE RECORDS
Total Tackles
Game
21, Sidney Otiwu vs. Samford, 11/2/19
Season 110, Lee Bennett, 2017
Career 388, Ken Standley, 2019-24
Tackles By A Lineman
Game
21, Jack Raines vs. Chattanooga, 10/5/19
Season 53, Jack Raines, 2019
Career 179, Solomon Zubairu, 2019-23
Tackles By A Linebacker
Game
21, Sidney Otiwu vs. Samford, 11/2/19
Season 110, Lee Bennett, 2017 Career 388, Ken Standley, 2019-24
Tackles By A Defensive Back
Game 20, Lance Wise vs. Abilene Christian, 10/31/20
Season 90, Eric Jackson, 2019
Career 321, Lance Wise, 2019-23
Tackles For Loss
Game
4.0, Solomon Zubairu vs. Samford, 11/11/23
Season 18.0, Brayden Manley, 2024
Career 40.5, Ken Standley, 2019-24
Interceptions
Game 3, T.J. Moore vs. Princeton, 10/12/24
Season 9, Myles Redding, 2024
Career 12, Myles Redding, 2021-24
Sacks
Game
3.5, Brayden Manley vs. Western Carolina, 10/26/24
Season 10.0, Tosin Aguebor, 2013
Career 23.5, Tosin Aguebor, 2013-16 23.5, Solomon Zubairu, 2019-23
Forced Fumbles Game
2, Tunde Ayinla at Stetson, 9/13/14 2, Zach Jackson, vs. Tennessee Tech, 9/17/16 2, Stephen Houzah at Samford, 11/12/16 2, Lee Bennett at The Citadel, 10/7/17 Season 4, Tosin Aguebor, 2013 Career 6, Tosin Aguebor, 2013-16
Pass Break-Ups Game 5, Harrison Poole vs. VMI, 10/19/19 Season 16, Alex Avant, 2014 Career 30, Alex Avant, 2013-15
Quarterback Hurries Game 5, Andrew Zock, 11/2/24 Season 15, Arias Nash, 2024 Career 21, Solomon Zubairu, 2019-23
PUNTING RECORDS
Most Punts Game 10, Reice Griffith vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/25/23 10, John McConnell vs. East Tennessee State, 11/2/24 Season 78, John McConnell, 2024 Career 122, Grant Goupil, 2017-20
Punting Average Game 57.5 (4 punts), Trey Turk vs. The Citadel, 9/17/22 Season 44.5, Trey Turk, 2022 Career 43.8, Matt Shiel, 2015/2018
PUNT RETURN RECORDS
Punt Returns Game 5, Tucker Cannon vs. VMI, 10/19/19 Season 27, Devron Harper, 2023 Career 44, Devron Harper, 2021-23
Punt Return Yards Game 136 (5 returns), Devron Harper vs. VMI, 9/30/23 Season 371 (27 returns), Devron Harper, 2023 Career 625 (44 returns), Devron Harper, 2021-23
Punt Return Average Game
39.0 (3 returns), Chandler Curtis at Samford, 10/4/14 Season 24.6 (11 returns), Chandler Curtis, 2014 Career 18.2 (29 returns), Chandler Curtis, 2014-17
KICKOFF RETURN RECORDS
Kickoff Returns Game 7, David Durden vs. Wofford, 11/9/19 Season 29, David Durden, 2019 Career 54, Devron Harper, 2021-23
Kickoff Return Yards Game 177 (3 returns), Stephen Houzah at Chattanooga, 11/10/18 Season 750 (29 returns), David Durden, 2019 Career 1,346 (54 returns), Devron Harper, 2021-23
Kickoff Return Average Game 59.0 (3 returns), Stephen Houzah at Chattanooga, 11/10/18 Season 29.76 (17 returns), Chandler Curtis, 2014 Career 26.24 (37 returns), David Durden, 2018-19
Record Book TEAM RECORDS
RUSHING RECORDS
Rushing Attempts
Game 68 vs. Western Carolina, 3/20/21
Season 562, 2013
Per Game 277.9, 2013
Rushing Yards
Game 539 vs. Point, 9/2/21
Season 3,335, 2013
Yards Per Carry
Game 9.4 (38-359) vs. Morehead State, 8/27/22
Season 5.9 (562-3,335), 2013
PASSING RECORDS
Most Attempts
Game 51 at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 395, 2019
Most Completions
Game
30 at Wofford, 10/29/16
30 at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 224, 2024
Fewest Attempts
Game 11 (10-11) vs. Warner, 11/15/14
Season 225, 2021
Fewest Completions
Game 7 (7-17) vs. Wofford, 11/9/19
Season 131, 2021
Passing Yards
Game 514 (30-51) at Samford, 11/19/22
Season 3,109 (223-338), 2022
Per Game 282.6 (11 games), 2022
Completion Percentage
Game
90.9 (10-11) vs. Warner, 11/15/14
Season 66.0 (223-338), 2022
Yards Per Attempt
Game 17.7 (11-195) vs. Warner, 11/15/14
Season 9.2, 2022
Yards Per Completion
Game 24.5 (13-318) vs. VMI, 9/30/17
Season 15.4 (134-2,060), 2013
Passes Had Intercepted
Game 4 at Marist, 11/16/13 4 at Chattanooga, 10/22/22
Season 17, 2019
TOTAL OFFENSE RECORDS
Total Offense
Game 778 vs. Point, 9/2/21
Season 5,395, 2013
Offensive Plays
Game 92 at Samford, 11/12/16
Season 820, 2013
Per Game 73.8, 2016
Yards Per Play
Game 10.8 (58-625) vs. Morehead State, 8/27/22
Season 6.9 (747-5,175), 2022
Fewest Turnovers
Game 0, many times; last vs. Rhode Island, 12/7/24
Season 10, 2015
Per Game 0.91, 2015
Scoring
Game 69 vs. Point, 9/2/21
Season 459, 2013
Per Game 38.3, 2013
The Bears tacked up a school record 778 yards of total offense in the 2021 season opener against Point, including a program-best 539 rushing yards. A dozen players recorded at least 14 rushing yards in that outing.
Touchdowns
Game 10 vs. Point, 9/2/21
Season 60, 2013 Per Game 5.1, 2022
Rushing Touchdowns
Game 7 vs. Point, 9/2/21
Season 33, 2013 Per Game 2.8, 2013
Passing Touchdowns
Game 5 vs. Morehead State, 8/27/22 5 vs. East Tennessee State, 10/15/22
Season 33, 2022
Per Game 3.0, 2022
DEFENSIVE RECORDS
Rushing Yards Allowed
Game 6 (33 carries) vs. Berry, 9/21/13
Season 1,321, 2022
Per Game 117.3, 2013
Rushing Attempts Allowed
Game 15 (54 yards) at Samford, 11/12/16
Season 314, 2020
Per Game 28.5, 2020
Rushing Yards Per Attempt
Season 3.47, 2022
Passing Yards Allowed
Game 14 vs. The Citadel, 11/1/14
Season 1,322, 2022 Per Game 177.4, 2014
Completions Allowed
Game 1 (2 attempts) vs. The Citadel, 11/1/14
Season 170, 2021 Per Game 14.6, 2014
Sacks Game 7.0 at VMI, 10/1/16 Season 35.0, 2013 Per Game 2.9, 2013
Points Allowed
Game 0, 88 times; last at VMI, 11/9/24
Season 227, 2021 Per Game 21.6, 2015
Touchdowns Allowed
Game0, many times; last at East Tennessee State, 10/7/23 Season 28, 2018/2022 Per Game 2.5, 2018/2022
Yards Allowed Game 58 vs. Berry, 9/21/13 Season 3,275, 2021 Per Game 327.5, 2021
SPECIAL TEAMS RECORDS
Made Field Goals
Game 3, seven times; last vs. East Tennessee State, 11/2/24 Season 16, 2016 Per Game 1.5, 2016
Field Goal Percentage
Game 1.000, many times; last vs. Rhode Island (1-1), 11/4/23
Season 81.2 (13-16), 2013
Punt Attempts
Game 10 vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/25/23 10 vs. East Tennessee State, 11/2/24
Season 73, 2023
Punting Average
Punt Return Yards Game
57.5 vs. The Citadel, 9/17/22
44.1, 2015
141 vs. VMI, 9/30/23
375, 2023
Game 28.8, 2023
Kickoff Return Yards Game
216 vs. Austin Peay, 9/14/19 Season 1,084, 2019 Per Game 87.3, 2019
LONGEST PLAYS Record Book
ALL PLAYS
Yards Player Pos. Cl. TD Play Opponent Date
100 Deondre Johnson RB Jr. Y KO Return at Jacksonville St. 10/10/20
99 Chandler Curtis WR Fr. Y Punt Return Samford 10/4/14
98 Sebastian Hicks DB Fr. N PAT Return Davidson 11/2/13
98 Rob Lake WR Jr. Y Reception Presbyterian 9/7/19
98 Deondre Johnson RB So. Y KO Return Chattanooga 10/5/19
95 David Durden WR So. Y KO Return Western Carolina 10/20/18
93 Josh Jones WR Fr. Y Reception Valparaiso 10/12/13
93 Devron Harper WR Jr. Y KO Return Morehead St. 8/27/22
91 Chandler Curtis WR Fr. Y KO Return Reinhardt 8/28/14
91 Stephen Houzah WR Sr. N KO Return Chattanooga 11/10/18
RUSHING
Yards Player Pos. Cl. TD Opponent Date
76 Al Wooten II RB Jr. Y VMI 9/30/23
75 Carter Peevy QB Jr. Y at Ole Miss 9/2/23
72 Carter Peevy QB Jr. Y Gardner-Webb 11/25/23
72 Tayshaun Shipp RB Fr. Y at The Citadel 10/30/21
71 John Russ QB Fr. N at Campbell 10/26/13
69 Tee Mitchell RB Fr. Y Stetson 9/12/15
66 Jabari Scruggs RB Fr. Y Carnegie Mellon 10/19/13
65 Payton Usher RB Fr. Y Berry 9/21/13
65 Alex Lakes RB So. N at Austin Peay 9/5/15
65 Deondre Johnson RB So. Y Campbell 9/28/19
65 Austin Douglas RB So. Y Morehead St. 8/27/22
RECEIVING
Yards Receiver Passer TD Opponent Date
98 Rob Lake Robert Riddle Y at Presbyterian 9/7/19
93 Josh Jones John Russ Y Valparaiso 10/12/13
90 Ty James Fred Payton Y Morehead St. 8/27/22
85 Tucker Cannon Robert Riddle Y at Western Carolina 8/31/19
83 Marquise Irvin John Russ Y at Chattanooga 10/8/16
80 Tee Mitchell John Russ Y Austin Peay 10/11/14
79 Tee Mitchell Kaelan Riley Y VMI 9/30/17
78 Chandler Curtis John Russ Y Warner 11/15/14
75 David Durden Kaelan Riley Y at Yale 10/13/18
75 Drake Starks Carter Peevy Y The Citadel 2/27/21
75 Ty James Carter Peevy Y Morehead St. 9/9/23
FIELD GOALS
Yards Player Cl. Opponent Date
51 Devin Folser Jr. at Western Carolina 10/9/21
50 Cole Fisher So. at Samford 11/12/16
49 Cole Fisher So. Tennessee Tech 9/17/16
48 Jagger Lieb Fr. The Citadel 11/1/14
47 Cole Fisher So. The Citadel 9/1/16
46 Cole Fisher So. Furman 11/19/16
45 Caleb Dowden So. Campbell 9/28/19
45 Caleb Dowden Jr. Western Carolina 3/20/21
45 Devin Folser Jr. at Furman 9/25/21
44 Will Roper Sr. Western Carolina 10/18/14
44 Caleb Dowden Jr. Abilene Christian 10/31/20
PUNTS
Yards Player Cl. Opponent Date
73 Matt Shiel Fr. VMI 10/24/15
70 Matt Shiel Fr. Samford 11/21/15
70 Trey Turk So. The Citadel 9/17/22
68 Caleb Dowden Jr. VMI 10/19/19
62 John McConnell Jr. Western Carolina 10/26/24
61 Matt Shiel Fr. at Tennessee Tech 9/19/15
60 Matt Shiel Sr. East Tennessee St. 11/3/18
60 Trey Turk So. at Auburn 9/3/22
59 Trey Turk Fr. VMI 10/16/21
58 Rob East Fr. Berry 9/21/13
58 Tyler Zielenske Sr. at Austin Peay 10/22/16
58 Matt Shiel Sr. at VMI 9/29/18
58 Reice Griffith Fr. at South Dakota St. 12/2/23
58 John
KICKOFF RETURNS
Yards
PUNT RETURNS
INTERCEPTION RETURNS
FUMBLE RETURNS
LONGEST PLAYS AGAINST
Record Book RUSHING RECORDS
RUSHING YARDS - GAME
Yards
202
RUSHING
RUSHING YARDS - SEASON
RUSHING YARDS -
RUSHING ATTEMPTS - GAME
100+-YARD RUSHING GAMES
RUSHING ATTEMPTS - SEASON
100+-YARD RUSHING GAMES - CAREER
RUSHING ATTEMPTS - CAREER
PASSING RECORDS Record Book
PASSING YARDS - GAME
Yards
514
406
383
375
347
336
335
333
331
330
PASSING YARDS - SEASON
Yards
COMPLETIONS - CAREER
PASSING YARDS - CAREER
COMPLETIONS - GAME
30
25 John Russ Sr. 36 249 at VMI 10/1/16
25 Robert Riddle So. 37 347 The Citadel 9/22/18
24 John Russ Sr. 38 225 at Georgia Tech 9/10/16
23 John Russ Jr. 41 277 Wofford 10/3/15
23 John Russ Sr. 35 259 Tennessee Tech 9/17/16
23 Robert Riddle So. 34 316 at Samford 9/15/18
23 Fred Payton Jr. 35 383 East Tennessee St. 10/15/22
23 Carter Peevy Jr. 29 238 Wofford 10/21/23
COMPLETIONS - SEASON
ATTEMPTS - CAREER
Record Book PASSING RECORDS
PASSING EFFICIENCY
300+-YARD PASSING GAMES - SEASON
300+-YARD PASSING GAMES -
Fred Payton registered five 300+-yard passing games in just two seasons (2021-22) with the Bears, and threw a school record 32 touchdown passes amid a prolific senior campaign.
RECEPTIONS - GAME
TOUCHDOWN
RECEPTIONS - SEASON
RECEPTIONS -
TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
RECEIVING YARDS - GAME
100+-YARD RECEIVING GAMES -
100+-YARD RECEIVING GAMES -
Record Book
TOTAL TACKLES - GAME
DEFENSIVE RECORDS
QUARTERBACK SACKS - GAME
TOTAL TACKLES - SEASON
QUARTERBACK SACKS - SEASON
TOTAL TACKLES - CAREER
QUARTERBACK SACKS -
FOR LOSS - GAME
Solomon Zubairu
DEFENSIVE RECORDS Record Book
INTERCEPTIONS - GAME
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
- SEASON
3
2
5
FORCED FUMBLES -
FORCED FUMBLES -
LONGEST PUNT
FIELD
Record Book SPECIAL TEAMS
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE - SEASON
LONGEST FIELD GOAL
44
PAT PERCENTAGE - SEASON
Chandler Curtis became the first football
A MERCER TEAM...
Scored 50+ Points 63 vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023 (63-10)
Scored 60+ Points 63 vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023 (63-10)
Shut out opponent at home vs. The Citadel, Sept. 17, 2022 (17-0)
Shut out conference opponent at home 17-0, vs. The Citadel, Sept. 17, 2022 (17-0)
Shut out opponent on the road at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024 (34-0)
Shut out conference opponent on the road at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024 (34-0)
Shut out opponent in the 1st Quarter at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Shut out opponent in the 1st Half at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Shut out opponent through 3 quarters at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Played in an overtime game at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022 (L, 50-44 2OT)
Recorded 30+ First Downs 33 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 50+ Rushing Attempts 52 at Chattanooga, Sept. 14, 2024
Recorded 60+ Rushing Attempts 61 at VMI, Oct. 29, 2022
Recorded 70+ Rushing Attempts N/A
Recorded 200+ Yards Rushing 213 vs. Furman, Nov. 23, 2024
Recorded 300+ Yards Rushing 314 vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Recorded 400+ Yards Rushing 539 vs. Point, Sept. 2, 2021
Recorded 500+ Yards Rushing 539 vs. Point, Sept. 2, 2021
Recorded Less Than 100 Yards Rushing 76 at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Recorded Less Than 50 Yards Rushing 0 vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 14, 2023
Recorded Less Than 25 Yards Rushing 0 vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 14, 2023
Recorded 40+ Pass Attempts 51 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 50+ Pass Attempts 51 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 30+ Pass Completions 30 vs. Wofford, Oct. 21, 2023
Recorded 300+ Yards Passing 361 vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023
Recorded 400+ Yards Passing 514 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 500+ Yards Passing 514 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 500+ Yards Total Offense 518 at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Recorded 600+ Yards Total Offense 695 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 700+ Yards Total Offense 778 vs. Point, Sept. 2, 2021
Recorded Less Than 200 Yards Total Offense 151 at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Recorded Less Than 150 Yards Total Offense 144 vs. Wofford, Nov. 9, 2019
Recorded 90+ Offensive Plays 90 vs. Western Carolina, March 20, 2021
Recorded 80+ Offensive Plays 86 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Beat a Top 25 Team vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024 (37-31)
Beat a Top 20 Team at No. 14 Chattanooga, Sept. 14, 2024 (10-3)
Beat a Top 15 Team at No. 14 Chattanooga, Sept. 14, 2024 (10-3)
Beat a Top 10 Team at No. 10 Western Carolina, Oct. 28, 2023 (45-38)
Beat a Top 5 Team vs. No. 3 Chattanooga, Nov. 7, 2015 (17-14)
Forced 5 Turnovers
Forced 6 Turnovers
Forced 7 Turnovers
6 vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
6 vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
7 vs. Drake, Sept. 28, 2013
Intercepted 3 Passes 3 vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Intercepted 4 Passes
4 vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
Held opponent to fewer than 10 first downs 8 at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Had 0 turnovers at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
A MERCER PLAYER (PASSING)...
Had 300+ Yards Passing 331, DJ Smith vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023
Had 300+ Yards Passing In A Half 336, John Russ, 1st Half at Stetson, Sept. 12, 2015
Had 400+ Yards Passing 514, Fred Payton at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 500+ Yards Passing 514, Fred Payton at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 30+ Completions 30, Fred Payton at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 40+ Completions N/A
Had 30+ Attempts 31, Carter Peevy vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 14, 2023
Had 40+ Attempts 51, Fred Payton at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 50+ Attempts 51, Fred Payton at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Threw 50+ Yard Pass 50, DJ Smith to Brayden Smith at Bethune-Cookman, Sept. 7 2023
Threw 60+ Yard Pass 68, DJ Smith to Brayden Smith vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023 (TD)
Threw 70+ Yard Pass 75, Carter Peevy to Ty James vs. Morehead State, Sept. 9, 2023 (TD)
Threw 80+ Yard Pass 85, Robert Riddle to Rob Lake at Presbyterian, Sept. 7, 2019 (TD)
Threw 90+ Yard Pass 90, Fred Payton to Ty James vs. Morehead State, Sept. 9, 2023 (TD)
Had 3+ TD Passes 3, Whitt Newbauer vs. Furman, Nov. 23, 2024
Had 4+ TD Passes 4, Fred Payton at VMI, Oct. 29, 2022
Had 5+ TD Passes 5, Fred Payton vs. East Tennessee State, Oct. 15, 2022
Had 4+ TD Passes In A Half 4, Robert Riddle, 1st Half at Western Carolina, Aug. 31, 2019
A Non-QB Threw Touchdown Pass 32, Josh Jones to John Russ vs. Stetson, Nov. 23, 2013
A MERCER PLAYER (RUSHING)...
Had 100+ Yards Rushing 124, Dwayne McGee vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Had 100+ Yards Rushing At Halftime 118, Dwayne McGee vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Had 200+ Yards Rushing 223, Dwayne McGee vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Had 200+ Yards Rushing In A Half N/A
Quarterback Rushed For 100 Yards 119, John Russ vs. Furman, Nov. 19, 2016
Two 100-Yard Rushers 155, Tyray Devezin and 129, Tee Mitchell at VMI, Sept. 29, 2018
Had A Run Of 50+ Yards 61, Dwayne McGee at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Had A Run Of 60+ Yards 61, Dwayne McGee at VMI, Nov. 9, 2024
Had A Run Of 70+ Yards 72, Carter Peevy vs. Gardner-Webb, Nov. 25, 2023
Had A Run Of 80+ Yards N/A
Had 20+ Rushing Attempts 25, Dwayne McGee vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Had 30+ Rushing Attempts 38, Tyray Devezin vs. Samford, Nov. 2, 2019
Had 40+ Rushing Attempts 41, John Russ at Samford, Nov. 12, 2016
Had 2+ Rushing Touchdowns 2, Dwayne McGee vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Had 3+ Rushing Touchdowns 3, Carter Peevy vs. Samford, Nov. 11, 2023
Had 4+ Rushing Touchdowns Tyray Devezin at East Tennessee State, Nov. 16, 2019
Had 5+ Rushing Touchdowns Fred Davis vs. Samford, Oct. 2, 2021
A MERCER PLAYER (RECEIVING)...
Caught 10+ Passes 14, Ty James at East Tennessee State, Oct. 7, 2023
Two Players Caught 10+ Passes 13, Ty James and 12, Devron Harper at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 100+ Yards Receiving 181, Adjatay Dabbs vs. Furman, Nov. 23, 2024
Had 100+ Yards Receiving At Halftime 165, Ty James at ETSU, Oct. 7, 2023
Had 100+ Yards Receiving In 2nd Half 125, Adjatay Dabbs vs. Furman, Nov. 23, 2024
Had 200+ Yards Receiving 285, Ty James at East Tennessee State, Oct. 7, 2023
Had 300+ Yards Receiving 351, Ty James at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
2 Players With 100+ Receiving Yards 146, Ty James vs. Morehead State, Sept. 9, 2023 100, Devron Harper vs. Morehead State, Sept. 9, 2023
Had 2+ Touchdown Receptions 2, Adjatay Dabbs vs. Furman, Nov. 23, 2024
Had 3+ Touchdown Receptions 3, Ty James vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022
Had 4+ Touchdown Receptions N/A
100+ Yards Receiving By A Running Back 110, Ethan Dirrim vs. Furman, April 3, 2021
Had 100+ Yards Rushing And Receiving N/A
A MERCER PLAYER (DEFENSE)...
Had 15+ Tackles 18, Ken Standley at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 20+ Tackles 20, Lance Wise Jr. vs. Abilene Christian, Oct. 31, 2020
Had 10+ Solo Tackles 12, Isaac Dowling at Chattanooga, Oct. 22, 2022
Had 2+ Interceptions 3, TJ Moore vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
Had 3+ Interceptions 3, TJ Moore vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
Returned Interception For Touchdown 25, Marques Thomas vs. East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Returned Fumble For Touchdown 35, Tommy Bliss vs. Furman, Nov. 23, 2024
Had 3.0+ Tackles For Loss 3.0, Andrew Zock at Wofford, Sept. 28, 2024
Had 4.0+ Tackles For Loss 4.0, Solomon Zubairu vs. Samford, Nov. 11, 2023
Had 2.0+ Sacks 2.5, Brayden Manley vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Blocked A Punt 1, Tripp Slaton, vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Blocked A Field Goal 1, Dainsus Miller at Chattanooga, Sept. 14, 2024
Blocked A PAT 1, Harrison Poole vs. Furman, Nov. 17, 2016
A MERCER PLAYER (MISCELLANEOUS)...
Returned Kickoff For Touchdown 93, Devron Harper vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022
Returned Punt For Touchdown 49, Brayden Smith vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
Returned Opening Kick For Touchdown 100, Deondre Johnson at Jacksonville State, Oct. 10, 2020
Returned Blocked Punt For Touchdown 20, Mic Wasson vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Returned Blocked Field Goal For Touchdown N/A
Returned PAT For Score 1, Sebastian Hicks at Davidson, Nov. 2, 2013
Player Scored 3+ TDs Carter Peevy vs. Samford, Nov. 11, 2023
Played Scored 4+ TDs 5, Fred Davis vs. Samford, Oct. 2, 2021
Played Scored 5+ TDs 5, Fred Davis vs. Samford, Oct. 2, 2021
Passed For 200/Rushed For 100 217 (P)/145 (R) John Russ vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 9, 2013
100-Yard Rusher/100-Yard Receiver 192 (rec.) Ty James vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022 140 (rush) Austin Douglas vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022
60+ Yard Punt
70+ Yard Punt
70, Trey Turk vs. The Citadel, Sept. 17, 2022
70, Trey Turk vs. The Citadel, Sept. 17, 2022
50+ Yard Field Goal 51, Devin Folser at Western Carolina, Oct. 9, 2021
Two 50+ Yard Field Goals 50 and 51, Devin Folser at Western Carolina, Oct. 9, 2021
70+ Yard Punt Return 75, Brayden Smith vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2024
80+ Yard Punt Return 87, Devron Harper at VMI, Oct. 29, 2022
90+ Yard Punt Return 99, Chandler Curtis at Samford, Oct. 4, 2014
70+ Yard Kickoff Return 93, Devron Harper vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022 (TD)
80+ Yard Kickoff Return 93, Devron Harper vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022 (TD)
90+ Yard Kickoff Return 93, Devron Harper vs. Morehead State, Aug. 27, 2022 (TD)
Record Book
AN OPPOSING TEAM...
Scored 50+ Points
Scored 60+ Points
Scored 70+ Points
Scored 80+ Points
Scored 90+ Points
52, at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024 (52-7)
73, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023 (73-7)
73, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023 (73-7)
92, at Auburn, Oct. 14, 1916 (92-0)
92, at Auburn, Oct. 14, 1916 (92-0)
Shut Out Mercer In Macon vs. Georgia, Sept. 27, 1941 (81-0)
Shut Out Mercer In Macon (Conference) vs. Samford, Oct. 16, 1936 (0-0)
Shut Out Mercer At Opponent Home at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023(41-0)
Shut Out Mercer At Opponent Home (Conference) at Samford, Oct. 9, 1937 (7-0)
Shut Out Mercer In 1st Quarter at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024
Shut Out Mercer In 1st Half at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Shut Out Mercer Through 3 Quarters at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Shut Out Mercer In 2nd Half at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Recorded 30+ First Downs 30 vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Recorded 40+ Rushing Attempts 42, at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024
Recorded 50+ Rushing Attempts 52 at VMI, March 13, 2021
Recorded 60+ Rushing Attempts 63 at Army, Oct. 24, 2020
Recorded Less Than 25 Yards Rushing 19 at Chattanooga, Sept. 14, 2024
Recorded Less Than 50 Yards Rushing 19 at Chattanooga, Sept. 14, 2024
Recorded Less Than 100 Yards Rushing 89 vs. The Citadel, Sept. 21, 2024
Recorded 200+ Yards Rushing 346 at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Recorded 300+ Yards Rushing 346 at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Recorded 400+ Yards Rushing 410 at East Tennessee State, Nov. 16, 2019
Recorded 40+ Pass Attempts 44 vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Recorded 50+ Pass Attempts 52 at Western Carolina, Oct. 28, 2023
Recorded 60+ Pass Attempts 70 vs. VMI, Sept. 29, 2018
Recorded 70+ Pass Attempts 70 vs. VMI, Sept. 29, 2018
Recorded Less Than 100 Yards Passing 45 at East Tennessee State, Oct. 7, 2023
Recorded Less than 200 Yards Passing 144 vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023
Recorded 300+ Yards Passing 319, at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024
Recorded 400+ Yards Passing 459 vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Recorded 500+ Yards Passing 524 at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Had Less Than 150 Yards Of Total Offense 137 vs. Presbyterian, Aug. 29, 2023
Had Less Than 200 Yards Of Total Offense 166 at Bethune-Cookman, Sept. 7 2023
Recorded 500+ Yards Of Total Offense 508, at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024
Recorded 600+ Yards Of Total Offense 667 at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Recorded 700+ Yards Of Total Offense N/A
Recorded 80+ Offensive Plays 85 vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Recorded 90+ Offensive Plays 101 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Recorded 100+ Offensive Plays 101 at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Forced 5+ Mercer Turnovers 5 at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024
Intercepted 3+ Mercer Passes 3 at VMI, Oct. 29, 2022
Intercepted 4+ Mercer Passes 4 at Chattanooga, Oct. 22, 2022
Had 0 Turnovers at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024
AN OPPOSING PLAYER (PASSING)...
Had 300+ Yards Passing 395, Cole Gonzales, vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 26, 2024
Had 400+ Yards Passing 454, Michael Hiers, at Samford, Nov. 19, 2022
Had 500+ Yards Passing N/A
Had 30+ Completions 32, Cole Gonzales, at Western Carolina, Oct. 28, 2023
Had 40+ Completions N/A
Had 30+ Attempts 37, Quincy Crittendon at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024
Had 40+ Attempts 51, Cole Gonzales, at Western Carolina, Oct. 28, 2023
Had 50+ Attempts 51, Cole Gonzales, at Western Carolina, Oct. 28, 2023
Had 60+ Attempts 70, Reece Udinski, at VMI, Sept. 29, 2018
Had 80+ Attempts 70, Reece Udinski, at VMI, Sept. 29, 2018
Threw A 50+ Yard Pass 77, Quincy Crittendon to E. Jai Mason, at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024 (TD)
Threw A 60+ Yard Pass 77, Quincy Crittendon to E. Jai Mason, at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024 (TD)
Threw A 70+ Yard Pass 77, Quincy Crittendon to E. Jai Mason, at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024 (TD)
Threw A 80+ Yard Pass 94, Devlin Hodges to Emmanuel Obajimi, vs. Samford, Nov. 21, 2015 (TD)
Threw A 90+ Yard Pass 94, Devlin Hodges to Emmanuel Obajimi, vs. Samford, Nov. 21, 2015 (TD)
Had 4+ TD Passes 4, Quincy Crittendon at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024
Had 5+ TD Passes 5, Cole Gonzales, at Western Carolina, Oct. 28, 2023
Had 6+ TD Passes N/A
Had 3+ Passing Touchdowns 3, Jarquez Hunter, at Auburn, Sept. 3, 2022
Had 4+ Passing Touchdowns 4, Lorenzo Long, vs. Wofford, Nov. 22, 2014
Two Players Caught 10+ Passes 11, Kris Thornton and 10, Javeon Lara, at VMI, Sept. 29, 2018
100+ Yards Receiving 105, Javonte Graves-Billips vs. The Citadel, Sept. 21, 2024
Two Players With 100+ Yards Receiving 162, AJ Johnson vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024 112, Ephraim Floyd vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024 108, Hakeem Meggett vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Three Players With 100+ Yards Receiving 162, AJ Johnson vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024 112, Ephraim Floyd vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024 108, Hakeem Meggett vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
100+ Yards Receiving By Running Back 102, Connell Young, vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 20, 2018
Had 200+ Yards Receiving 218, Aaron Sanders, vs. VMI, Oct. 24, 2015
Had 3+ TD Catches 4, Tre Harris, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Had 4+ TD Catches 4, Tre Harris, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Had 5+ TD Catches N/A
Had 3+ Rushing Touchdowns 3, Jarquez Hunter, at Auburn, Sept. 3, 2022
Had 4+ Rushing Touchdowns 4, Lorenzo Long, vs. Wofford, Nov. 22, 2014
Had 5+ Rushing Touchdowns N/A
AN OPPOSING PLAYER (RUSHING)...
Had 100+ Yards Rushing 117, Ethan Clark, vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
Had 200+ Yards Rushing 255, Quay Holmes, at East Tennessee State, Nov. 16, 2019
Had 250+ Yards Rushing 255, Quay Holmes, at East Tennessee State, Nov. 16, 2019
Quarterback Rushed For 100+ Yards 144, Jaylan Adams, at The Citadel, Feb. 27, 2021
Two Players With 100+ Yards Rushing 117, Isaiah Davis, at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023 107, Amar Johnson, at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Had A 50+ Yard Run 80, Angel Johnson, at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Had A 60+ Yard Run 80, Angel Johnson, at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Had A 70+ Yard Run 80, Angel Johnson, at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Had A 80+ Yard Run 80, Angel Johnson, at South Dakota State, Dec. 2, 2023
Had A 90+ Yard Run 94, K’rondis Larry, at Samford, Nov. 21, 2015
Had 20+ Rushing Attempts 21, Ethan Clark, vs. Princeton, Oct. 12, 2024
Had 30+ Rushing Attempts 32, Ailym Ford, vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 5, 2019
Had 40+ Rushing Attempts N/A
Had 3+ Rushing Touchdowns 3, Jarquez Hunter, at Auburn, Sept. 3, 2022
Had 4+ Rushing Touchdowns 4, Lorenzo Long, vs. Wofford, Nov. 22, 2014
Had 5+ Rushing Touchdowns N/A
AN OPPOSING PLAYER (DEFENSE)...
Had 15+ Tackles 18, Evan DiMaggio, vs. Furman, Nov. 24, 2024
Had 20+ Tackles 20, Christian Snyder, at Chattanooga, March 27, 2021
Had 2+ Interceptions 2, Alex Oliver, at VMI, Oct. 29, 2022
Had 3+ Interceptions N/A
Had Interception Returned For TD 26, Noah Martin, at Samford, Oct. 19, 2024
Had 2+ Interceptions Returned For TD 2, Kendel Jackson, vs. Austin Peay, Sept. 14, 2019
Had Fumble Returned For TD 68, at Alabama, Nov. 16, 2024
Had 3.0+ Tackles For Loss 3.0, Jalen Marshall, at No. 23 Wofford, Sept. 28, 2024
Had 4.0+ Tackles For Loss 4.0, Ty French, vs. Gardner-Webb, Nov. 25, 2023
Had 5.0+ Tackles For Loss 5.0, Landon Moore, at Marist, Nov. 16, 2013
Had 2.0+ Sacks 2.0, Zach West, vs. #23 East Tennessee State, Nov. 2, 2024
Had 3.0+ Sacks 3.0, Ty French, vs. Gardner-Webb, Nov. 25, 2023
Had 4.0+ Sacks N/A
Blocked A Punt 2, Teddy Wilson, at East Tennessee State, Oct. 7, 2023
Blocked Two Punts 2, Teddy Wilson, at East Tennessee State, Oct. 7, 2023
Blocked A Field Goal 1, Jack Barton, at Furman, Sept. 23, 2023
Blocked a PAT Attempt 1, Joshua Long, at Samford, April 17, 2021
AN OPPOSING PLAYER (MISCELLANEOUS)...
Returned Kickoff For Touchdown 94, Reid Johnson, vs. The Citadel, Sept. 22, 2018
Returned Punt For Touchdown 70, Jordan Watkins, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Returned Blocked Punt For Touchdown 33, Jase McClellan, at Alabama, Sept. 11, 2021
Returned Blocked Field Goal For Touchdown N/A
Returned PAT For Score N/A
Scored 3+ Touchdowns 4, Tre Harris, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Scored 4+ Touchdowns 4, Tre Harris, at Ole Miss, Sept. 2, 2023
Passed For 200/Rushed For 100 360/185, Tyrie Adams, vs. Western Carolina, Oct. 20, 2018
Had A 60+ Yard Punt 60, Austin Hendley, vs. Gardner-Webb, Nov. 25, 2023
Had A 70+ Yard Punt 80, Ryan Belden, at San Diego, Oct. 5, 2013
Had An 80+ Yard Punt 80, Ryan Belden, at San Diego, Oct. 5, 2013
Had A 50+ Yard Field Goal 50, Jon Croft Hollingsworth, vs. Furman, Sept. 6, 2014
Made 4+ Field Goals 5, Clayton Crile, vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 14, 2023
Made 5+ Field Goals 5, Clayton Crile, vs. Chattanooga, Oct. 14, 2023
1892
Coach: Dave Beggs Record: 1-2
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Jan. 30 L at Georgia 0-50 Athens, Ga.
March 27 L Savannah St. Library Assoc. 2-20 Macon
Nov. 5 W Georgia Tech 12-6 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 14-76
1893 NO TEAM
1894
Coach: George T. Stallings Record: 0-1
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Nov. 11 L at Georgia Tech 6-10 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 6-10
1895 NO TEAM
1896
Coach: D.J. Winston Record: 0-2-1 (SIAA: 0-2-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 6 L *Auburn 0-46 Macon
Oct. 31 L *Georgia Tech 4-6 Macon
Nov. 21 T *at Georgia Tech 4-4 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 8
1897
Coach: Gordon Saussy Record: 0-1 (SIAA: 0-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 23 L *Auburn 0-26 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 0-26
1898-1902 NO TEAM
1903
Coach: N/A
Record: 0-1 (SIAA: 0-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 10 L at Georgia Tech 0-46 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 0-46
1904-05 NO TEAM
1906
Coach: E.E. Tarr
Record: 2-3 (SIAA: 0-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 8 W Gordon Prep 28-5 Macon
Nov. 3 L *Georgia 0-55 Macon
Nov. 10 L at The Citadel 0-10 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 16 W Florida 12-0 Macon
Nov. 24 L Georgia Tech 0-61 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 40-131
1908
Coach: Frank Blake Record: 3-4 (SIAA: 0-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 3 W Locust Grove Institute 56-0 Macon
Oct. 10 W Florida 24-0 Macon
Oct. 17 L *Auburn 0-23 Macon
Oct. 31 L *at Georgia 0-10 Athens, Ga.
Nov. 17 L The Citadel 0-10 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 19 L *Georgia Tech 6-16 Macon
Nov. 26 W Samford 45-0 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 131-59
1909
Coach: Frank Blake Record: 3-4 (SIAA: 0-4)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 2 L *at Vanderbilt 5-28 Nashville, Tenn.
Oct. 9 W Norman College 26-0 Macon
Oct. 16 L *Auburn 5-23 Macon
Oct. 23 L *Samford 5-6 Macon
Nov. 6 W Chattanooga 10-2 Macon
Nov. 13 L *Georgia Tech 0-35 Macon
Nov. 20 W South Carolina 5-3 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 56-97
1910
Coach: C.C. Stroud Record: 6-3 (SIAA: 3-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 24 W Locust Grove Institute 32-0 Macon
Oct. 1 W *at Clemson 3-0 Clemson, S.C.
Oct. 8 W Georgia Medical College 22-0 Macon
Oct. 15 L *at Georgia Tech 0-46 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 22 W Florida 13-0 Macon
Oct. 29 L *at Georgia 0-21 Athens, Ga.
Nov. 5 L Chattanooga 0-6 Macon
Nov. 12 W *at The Citadel 21-0 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 24 W *Samford 28-0 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 119-73
1911
Coach: C.C. Stroud Record: 4-6-1 (SIAA: 2-5)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 23 W Locust Grove Institute 25-0 Macon
Sept. 30 W Gordon State 12-0 Macon
Oct. 7 L *at Auburn 0-29 Auburn, Ala.
Oct. 14 L *vs. The Citadel 0-5 Savannah, Ga.
Oct. 21 L *at Georgia Tech 0-17 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 28 L *at Georgia 5-8 Athens, Ga.
Nov. 4 L *Ole Miss 0-34 Macon
Nov. 11 L vs. Columbia (Fla.) 5-6 Valdosta, Ga.
Nov. 18 W *vs. Clemson 20-6 Columbus, Ga.
Nov. 25 T at Columbia (Fla.) 6-6 Lake City, Fla.
Nov. 30 W *Samford 29-0 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 102-111
1912
Coach: C.C. Stroud
Record: 5-3-1 (SIAA: 2-3-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 28 W Gordon State 29-6 Macon, Ga.
Oct. 5 L *vs. Auburn 0-56 Columbus, Ga.
1907
Coach: H.R. Shencker
Record: 3-3 (SIAA: 0-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 12 W at Florida 6-0 Gainesville, Fla.
Oct. 19 L *Georgia 6-26 Macon
Oct. 24 L *vs. Mississippi State 0-75 Columbus, Miss.
Nov. 2 W Samford 11-6 Macon
Nov. 9 L at Auburn 0-63 Auburn, Ala.
Nov. 16 W Gordon State 5-0 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 28-170
Oct. 12 W *at Samford 36-0 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 19 L *Georgia Tech 6-16 Macon
Oct. 26 W vs. Stetson 6-0 Waycross, Ga.
Nov. 2 W Columbia (Fla.) 71-0 Macon
Nov. 9 W *Tennessee 27-14 Macon
Nov. 16 L *Clemson 13-21 Macon
Nov. 28 T *vs. Florida 0-0 Jacksonville, Fla.
TOTAL POINTS 188-113
1913
Coach: Lewis Hardage Record: 2-5-1 (SIAA: 0-4-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 4 L *at Auburn 0-53 Auburn, Ala.
Oct. 11 W 10th District A&M School (Ga.) 44-0 Macon
Oct. 18 L *at Georgia Tech 0-33 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 25 T *vs. The Citadel 7-7 Savannah, Ga.
Nov. 1 W Alabama Presbyterian 33-0 Macon
Nov. 8 L vs. Stetson 6-13 Jacksonville, Fla.
Nov. 17 L *vs. Clemson 0-52 Macon
Nov. 27 L *vs. Florida 0-24 Jacksonville, Fla.
TOTAL POINTS 90-182
1914
Coach: Fred A. Robins Record: 5-4 (SIAA: 0-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 26 W Gordon Prep 44-0 Macon
Oct. 4 L *Chattanooga 0-16 Macon
Oct. 10 L at Georgia Tech 0-105 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 21 W King (Tenn.) 27-7 Macon
Oct. 24 W at Georgia Military College 26-0 Milledgeville, Ga.
Oct. 31 W Furman 39-0 Macon
Nov. 7 L *at Mississippi State 0-66 Starkville, Miss.
Nov. 14 W at Stetson 44-0 DeLand, Fla.
Nov. 26 L *at Florida 0-14 Gainesville, Fla.
TOTAL POINTS 180-208
1915
Coach: Jake Zellars Record: 5-4 (SIAA: 2-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 25 W Gordon State 6-0 Macon
Oct. 2 L at Georgia Tech 0-52 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 11 W *Wofford 13-6 Macon
Oct. 23 L *at Chattanooga 6-20 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 30 W *Samford 14-7 Macon
Nov. 6 L at Auburn 0-45 Auburn, Ala.
Nov. 12 W at South Georgia State 20-0 Douglas, Ga.
Nov. 18 L *at South Carolina 0-47 Columbia, S.C. TOTAL POINTS 14-282 ! = D.R. Peacock’s first game as coach
1917-18
NO TEAM: WORLD WAR I
1919
Coach: Robert Maxwell James Record: 0-2 (SIAA: 0-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 18 L *at Florida 0-48 Gainesville, Fla.
Oct. 25 L at Oglethorpe 0-73 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 0-121
1920
Coach: Josh Cody Record: 2-7 (SIAA: 0-4)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 1 W at Gordon State 19-6 Macon
Oct. 9 W at Lanier 59-0 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 16 L *at Samford 13-33 Macon
Oct. 23 L *at Chattanooga 0-20 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 30 L *vs. Florida 0-30 Valdosta, Ga.
Nov. 6 L Stetson 0-14 Macon
Nov. 13 L *Oglethorpe 0-42 Macon
Nov. 20 L Wake Forest 0-14 Macon
Nov. 25 L Erskine 6-20 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 97-179
1921
Coach: Josh Cody Record: 3-6 (SIAA: 1-5)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 1 L *at Georgia 0-28 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 8 L *at Vanderbilt 0-42 Nashville, Tenn.
Oct. 15 L *at Florida 0-7 Gainesville, Fla.
Oct. 21 W Birmingham Southern 20-0 Macon
Oct. 29 W Stetson 41-0 Macon
Nov. 5 L *at Furman 0-37 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 12 L *at Oglethorpe 6-7 Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 19 W *Chattanooga 18-0 Macon
Nov. 26 L at Fort Benning 7-24 Fort Benning, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 92-145
1922
Coach: Josh Cody Record: 5-6 (SIAA: 1-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 23 W Piedmont 24-3 Macon
Sept. 30 L at Georgia 0-41 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 7 W North Georgia 31-0 Macon
Oct. 14 W at Birmingham Southern 17-14 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 21 L at Auburn 6-50 Auburn, Ala.
Oct. 28 L *at Vanderbilt 0-25 Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 3 W Maryville (Tenn.) 12-0 Macon
Nov. 11 L *at Chattanooga 6-13 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 18 W *Oglethorpe 18-16 Macon
Nov. 25 L at Carson-Newman 7-12 Jefferson City, Tenn.
Dec. 2 L at Fort Benning 13-27 Columbus, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 134-205
1923
Coach: Stanley Lewis “Robbie” Robinson Record: 5-6 (SIAA: 1-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 23 W Piedmont 24-3 Macon
Sept. 30 L at Georgia 0-41 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 7 W North Georgia 31-0 Macon
Oct. 14 W at Birmingham-Southern 17-14 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 21 L at Auburn 6-50 Auburn, Ala.
Oct. 28 L *at Vanderbilt 0-25 Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 3 W Maryville, Tenn. 12-0 Macon
Nov. 11 L *at Chattanooga 6-13 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 18 W *Oglethorpe 18-16 Macon
Nov. 25 L at Carson-Newman 7-12 Jefferson City, Tenn.
Dec. 2 L at Fort Benning 13-27 Columbus, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 134-198
1924
Coach: Stanley Lewis “Robbie” Robinson Record: 5-3-2 (SIAA: 4-1-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 27 L at Georgia 7-26 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 4 L at Syracuse 0-6 Syracuse, N.Y.
Oct. 11 W *at Furman 23-0 Greenville, S.C.
Oct. 18 W *at Chattanooga 33-0 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 25 W *Samford 14-5 Macon
Nov. 1 T at Loyola (La.) 0-0 New Orleans, La.
Nov. 8 W *Wofford 16-0 Macon
Nov. 15 W Florida 10-0 Macon
Nov. 22 L *at Oglethorpe 0-25 Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 27 T *Mississippi College 7-7 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 110-69
1925
Coach: Stanley Lewis “Robbie” Robinson Record: 3-6 (SIAA: 3-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 26 L Georgia 0-32 Macon
Oct. 3 L at Florida 0-21 Gainesville, Fla.
Oct. 10 W *Rollins 14-0 Macon
Oct. 17 L *at Chattanooga 7-12 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 24 L North Carolina 0-3 Macon, Ga.
Oct. 31 L *vs. The Citadel 0-16 Augusta, Ga.
Nov. 7 W *Furman 17-0 Macon, Ga.
Nov. 21 W *at Oglethorpe 21-6 Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 27 L at Marquette 0-30 Milwaukee, Wisc.
TOTAL POINTS 59-120
1926
Coach: Bernie Moore Record: 4-3-2 (SIAA: 2-1-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 25 L at Georgia 0-20 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 2 L *The Citadel 7-12 Macon
Oct. 16 W Florida 7-3 Macon
Oct. 23 W *Samford 3-0 Macon
Oct. 30 L at Fort Benning 13-21 Columbus, Ga.
Nov. 6 T *at Furman 13-13 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 11 W *at Rollins 58-0 Sanford, Fla.
Nov. 20 W at Oglethorpe 31-7 Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 27 T Parris Island Marines 0-0 Savannah, Ga.
1927
Coach: Bernie Moore
TOTAL POINTS 132-76
Record: 5-4 (SIAA: 2-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 24 W North Georgia 77-0 Macon
Oct. 1 W *vs. The Citadel 6-0 Savannah, Ga.
Oct. 8 L *Furman 13-27 Macon
Oct. 15 W *Presbyterian 27-6 Macon
Oct. 22 L *Samford 0-14 Macon
Oct. 29 L at Florida 6-32 Gainesville, Fla.
Nov. 11 W Oglethorpe 21-6 Macon
Nov. 19 L at Georgia 7-26 Athens, Ga.
Nov. 24 W vs. Wake Forest 34-0 Asheville, N.C.
1928
Coach: Bernie Moore
TOTAL POINTS 191-111
Record: 3-5-1 (SIAA: 2-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 28 W *at Presbyterian 7-6 Clinton, S.C.
Oct. 6 L at Georgia 0-52 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 13 L *Samford 7-15 Macon
Oct. 20 L at Florida 0-73 Gainesville, Fla.
Oct. 27 T Birmingham-Southern 20-20 Macon
Nov. 3 L at Duke 18-38 Durham, N.C.
Nov. 9 L *Oglethorpe 0-15 Macon
Nov. 17 W *vs. The Citadel 7-0 Savannah, Ga.
Nov. 29 W vs. Wake Forest 14-12 Asheville, N.C.
TOTAL POINTS 73-231
1929
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 2-7 (SIAA: 2-5)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 29 L Duke 6-19 Macon
Oct. 4 L *at Presbyterian 0-6 Clinton, S.C.
Oct. 12 L *at Birmingham-Southern 7-39 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 19 W *Samford 7-2 Macon
Oct. 26 L *Chattanooga 0-7 Macon
Nov. 9 W *Rollins 59-0 Macon
Nov. 16 L *at The Citadel 13-21 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 23 L *at Oglethorpe 0-26 Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 30 L vs. Wake Forest 0-13 Asheville, N.C.
TOTAL POINTS 92-133
1930
Coach: Lake F. Russell Record: 5-5 (SIAA: 1-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 27 L *Presbyterian 7-9 Macon
Oct. 4 L at Georgia 0-51 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 11 W vs. Florida Southern 33-0 Tampa, Fla.
Oct. 18 L *at Chattanooga 6-8 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 25 W vs. Wake Forest 77-0 Wilmington, N.C.
Nov. 1 L *Birmingham-Southern 0-21 Macon
Nov. 7 W *at Stetson 13-6 DeLand, Fla.
Nov. 15 W Carson-Newman 33-0 Macon
Nov. 22 L Oglethorpe 6-13 Macon
Nov. 29 W Georgia Southern 2-0 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 177-108
1931
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 7-2-1 (Dixie: 6-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 19 W *Erskine 20-6 Macon
Sept. 26 W *at The Citadel 26-0 Charleston, S.C.
Oct. 3 W *Stetson 28-7 Macon
Oct. 9 W *at Presbyterian 21-7 Clinton, S.C.
Oct. 16 T at John Carroll 0-0 University Heights, Ohio
Oct. 24 W *at Wofford 25-7 Spartanburg, S.C.
Oct. 31 L *at Centre 0-3 Danville, Ky.
Nov. 6 W *Birmingham-Southern 12-0 Macon
Nov. 14 L *at Chattanooga 27-19 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 26 W at Oglethorpe 20-0 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 179-49
1932
DIXIE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 7-2 (Dixie: 3-0)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 24 L at Vanderbilt 7-20 Nashville, Tenn.
Oct. 1 W *Samford 21-6 Macon
Oct. 8 W Presbyterian 51-0 Macon
Oct. 15 W at Erskine 42-0 Due West, S.C.
Oct. 22 L Furman 0-2 Macon
Oct. 29 W at Parris Island Marines 57-0 Savannah, Ga.
Nov. 5 W *at Centre 8-0 Danville, Ky.
Nov. 11 W *at Chattanooga 25-0 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 24 W at Oglethorpe 7-6 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 219-34
1933
Record Book
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 4-3-2 (Dixie: 2-0-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 23 W *at Spring Hill 44-3 Mobile, Ala.
Sept. 30 L at Army 6-19 West Point, N.Y.
Oct. 7 L at Navy 6-25 Annapolis, Md.
Oct. 14 T *at Birmingham-Southern 0-0 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 20 L Georgia 12-13 Macon
Oct. 28 T at Furman 6-6 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 11 W *at Chattanooga 7-0 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 18 W vs. Clemson 13-0 Savannah, Ga.
Nov. 30 W Oglethorpe 31-0 Macon
1934
Coach: Lake F. Russell
TOTAL POINTS 125-66
Record: 3-6-1 (Dixie: 0-3-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 29 L Presbyterian 6-7 Macon
Oct. 5 L *at Loyola (La.) 0-21 New Orleans, La.
Oct. 13 L *at Birmingham-Southern 0-14 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 20 L at Furman 3-9 Greenville, S.C.
Oct. 27 W vs. Stetson 6-0 Jacksonville, Fla.
Nov. 3 W Washington & Jefferson 30-7 Macon
Nov. 10 T *at Chattanooga 13-13 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 17 L vs. Clemson 0-32 Savannah, Ga.
Nov. 24 L *at Centre 13-16 Danville, Ky.
Nov. 29 W at Oglethorpe 7-6 Atlanta, Ga.
TOTAL POINTS 78-125
1935
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 4-5 (Dixie: 1-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 28 L at Georgia 0-31 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 5 L at Navy 0-27 Annapolis, Md.
Oct. 12 W *Birmingham-Southern 14-0 Macon
Oct. 19 W Presbyterian 14-7 Macon
Oct. 26 L at Furman 0-32 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 2 L vs. Clemson 0-13 Augusta, Ga.
Nov. 9 L *at Chattanooga 7-12 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 15 W Troy 21-7 Macon
Nov. 28 W Oglethorpe 19-0 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 75-129
1936
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 3-6-1 (Dixie: 0-2-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 18 W Georgia Southern 40-0 Macon
Sept. 26 L at Georgia 6-15 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 2 W vs. Oglethorpe 20-6 Albany, Ga.
Oct. 10 L *at Birmingham-Southern 0-6 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 16 T *Samford 0-0 Macon
Oct. 24 L at Furman 9-20 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 7 L *at Chattanooga 0-6 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 23 W Presbyterian 20-6 Macon
Nov. 28 L at Mississippi State 0-32 Starkville, Miss.
Nov. 30 L at Miami (Fla.) 0-13 Coral Gables, Fla.
1937
Coach: Lake F. Russell
TOTAL POINTS 95-104
Record: 4-5 (Dixie: 0-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 24 W Georgia Southern 77-0 Macon
Oct. 2 L at Georgia Tech 0-28 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 9 L *at Samford 0-7 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 15 L *vs. Birmingham-Southern 0-7 Columbus, Ga.
Oct. 23 L at Georgia 0-19 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 29 W Oglethorpe 13-6 Macon, Ga.
Nov. 5 W at Presbyterian 25-13 Clinton, S.C.
Nov. 11 W at Tampa 20-0 Tampa, Fla.
Nov. 25 L *at Chattanooga 7-19 Chattanooga, Tenn.
TOTAL POINTS 142-89
1938
Coach: Lake F. Russell
Record: 3-6 (Dixie: 0-3)
RESULTS
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 24 W Wofford 15-0 Macon, Ga.
Oct. 1 L at Georgia Tech 0-19 Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 7 L *vs. Birmingham-Southern 0-7 Columbus, Ga.
Oct. 15 L at Georgia 19-28 Athens, Ga.
Oct. 22 L at Tulane 0-51 New Orleans, La.
Oct. 29 W Oglethorpe 33-7 Macon
Nov. 5 W Presbyterian 28-0 Macon
Nov. 11 L *Mississippi College 21-26 Macon
Nov. 24 L *at Chattanooga 7-9 Chattanooga, Tenn.
TOTAL POINTS 123-147
1939
Coach: Lake F. Russell Record: 3-7 (Dixie: 1-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 23 W at Wofford 12-0 Spartanburg, S.C.
Sept. 29 L Presbyterian 0-7 Macon
Oct. 6 W Carson-Newman 7-0 Macon
Oct. 14 L at Alabama 0-20 Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Oct. 21 W *Birmingham-Southern 10-0 Macon
Oct. 28 L at Tennessee 0-17 Knoxville, Tenn.
Nov. 3 L at Georgia 6-19 Athens, Ga.
Nov. 11 L at Mississippi College 0-15 Clinton, Miss.
Nov. 16 L *vs. Samford 3-7 Albany, Ga.
Nov. 30 L *at Chattanooga 18-21 Chattanooga, Tenn.
TOTAL POINTS 56-106
1940
Coach: Lake F. Russell Record: 1-7 (Dixie: 0-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 28 L at Tennessee 0-49 Knoxville, Tenn.
Oct. 5 L at Alabama 0-20 Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Oct. 19 L at LSU 0-20 Baton Rouge, La.
Oct. 26 W Erskine 45-0 Macon
Nov. 2
L vs. Presbyterian 2-3 Albany, Ga.
Nov. 9 L Mississippi College 6-26 Macon
Nov. 15 L *Samford 6-14 Macon
Nov. 28 L *at Chattanooga 6-20 Chattanooga, Tenn.
TOTAL POINTS 65-152
1941
Coach: Bobby Hooks Record: 3-6 (Dixie: 0-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 27 L Georgia 0-81 Macon
Oct. 10 W Georgia Southern 25-0 Macon
Oct. 18 W Wofford 20-14 Macon
Oct. 24 L at Rollins 0-52 Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 1 W Presbyterian 19-12 Macon
Nov. 8 L at Mississippi College 19-27 Clinton, Miss.
Nov. 14 L at Newberry 13-32 Newberry, S.C.
Nov. 20 L *at Samford 6-27 Birmingham, Ala.
Nov. 26 L *at Chattanooga 13-40 Chattanooga, Tenn.
TOTAL POINTS 115-285
1942-2012 NO TEAM
ALL-TIME RESULTS Record Book
2013
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 10-2 (Pioneer: 6-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 31 W Reinhardt 40-37 Macon
Sept. 14 W Warner 61-0 Macon
Sept. 21 W Berry 43-0 Macon
Sept. 28 W *Drake 31-17 Macon
Oct. 5 L *at San Diego 13-45 San Diego, Calif.
Oct. 12 W *Valparaiso 35-21 Macon
Oct. 19 W Carnegie Mellon 54-21 Macon
Oct. 26 W *at Campbell 38-31 Buies Creek, N.C.
Nov. 2 W *at Davidson 51-26 Davidson, N.C.
Nov. 9 W *vs. Jacksonville 45-42 Macon
Nov. 16 L *at Marist 7-33 Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Nov. 23 W *Stetson 41-14 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 459-287
2014
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 6-6 (SoCon: 1-6)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 28 W Reinhardt 45-42 Macon
Sept. 6 L *#17 Furman 20-25 Macon
Sept. 13 W at Stetson 49-0 DeLand, Fla.
Sept. 20 W Ave Maria 42-21 Macon
Sept. 27 W *at VMI 27-24 Lexington, Va.
Oct. 4 L *at Samford 18-21 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 11 W Austin Peay 49-21 Macon
Oct. 18 L *Western Carolina 21-35 Macon
Oct. 25 L *at #14 Chattanooga 31-38 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 1 L *The Citadel 26-28 Macon
Nov. 15 W Warner 56-0 Macon
Nov. 22 L *at Wofford 6-34 Spartanburg, S.C.
TOTAL POINTS 390-299
2015
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 5-6 (SoCon: 2-5)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 5 W at Austin Peay 28-7 Clarksville, Tenn.
Sept. 12 W Stetson 57-14 Macon
Sept. 19 L at Tennessee Tech 22-29 Cookeville, Tenn.
Oct. 3 L *Wofford 33-34 (OT) Macon
Oct. 10 L *at Western Carolina 21-24 Cullowhee, N.C.
Oct. 17 W *East Tennessee State 52-0 Macon
Oct. 24 L *VMI 21-28 Macon
Oct. 31 L *at The Citadel 19-21 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 7 W *#3 Chattanooga 17-14 Macon
Nov. 14 W *at Furman 27-20 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 21 L *Samford 21-47 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 318-238
2016
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 6-5 (SoCon: 4-4)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 1 L *#15 The Citadel 23-24 Macon
Sept. 10 L at Georgia Tech 10-35 Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 17 W Tennessee Tech 34-27 Macon
Oct. 1 W *at VMI 33-30 (OT) Lexington, Va.
Oct. 8 L *at #3 Chattanooga 31-52 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 15 W *Western Carolina 38-24 Macon
Oct. 22 W at Austin Peay 41-34 Clarksville, Tenn.
Oct. 29 L *at Wofford 21-31 Spartanburg, S.C.
Nov. 5 W *East Tennessee State 21-13 Macon
Nov. 12 L *at #18 Samford 19-24 Birmingham, Ala.
Nov. 19 W *Furman 27-24 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 298-318
2017
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 5-6 (SoCon: 4-4)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 31 W Jacksonville 48-7 Macon
Sept. 9 L *#10 Wofford 27-28 Macon
Sept. 16 L at #15 Auburn 10-24 Auburn, Ala.
Sept. 23 L *at East Tennessee State 23-26 (OT) Johnson City, Tenn.
Sept. 30 W *VMI 49-14 Macon
Oct. 7 W *at #17 The Citadel 24-14 Charleston, S.C.
Oct. 14 W *Chattanooga 30-10 Macon
Oct. 21 L *at Furman 21-28 Greenville, S.C.
Nov. 4 L *#15 Samford 3-20 Macon
Nov. 11 W *at #25 Western Carolina 35-33 Cullowhee, N.C.
Nov. 18 L at #1 Alabama 0-56 Tuscaloosa, Ala.
TOTAL POINTS 270-260
2018
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 5-6 (SoCon: 4-4)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 1 L at Memphis 14-66 Memphis, Tenn.
Sept. 8 W Jacksonville 45-3 Macon
Sept. 15 W *at #9 Samford 30-24 Birmingham, Ala.
Sept. 22 L *The Citadel 31-38 Macon
Sept. 29 W *at VMI 48-38 Lexington, Va.
Oct. 13 L at Yale 28-35 New Haven, Conn.
Oct. 20 W *Western Carolina 59-46 Macon
Oct. 27 L *at #7 Wofford 21-42 Spartanburg, S.C.
Nov. 3 L *#22 East Tennessee State 18-21 Macon
Nov. 10 W *at Chattanooga 13-9 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nov. 17 L *Furman 30-35 Macon
TOTAL POINTS 337-357
Mercer opened the modern era of its football program on Aug. 31, 2013, with a 40-37 victory over visiting Reinhardt at Five Star Stadium. The Bears racked up more than 400 yards of offense in that outing and used a 31-yard field goal from Josh Shutter with three seconds left to register the program’s first win in nearly 72 years.
2019
Record Book ALL-TIME RESULTS
Coach: Bobby Lamb Record: 4-8 (SoCon: 3-5)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 31 W *at Western Carolina 49-27 Cullowhee, N.C.
Sept. 7 W at Presbyterian 45-7 Clinton, S.C.
Sept. 14 L Austin Peay 34-48 Macon
Sept. 21 L *at #15 Furman 10-45 Greenville, S.C.
Sept. 28 L Campbell 27-34 Macon
Oct. 5 L *Chattanooga 17-34 Macon
Oct. 19 W *VMI 34-27 Macon
Oct. 26 L *at The Citadel 24-35 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 2 W *Samford 36-33 (OT) Macon
Nov. 9 L *#23 Wofford 7-41 Macon
Nov. 16 L *at East Tennessee State 33-38 Johnson City, Tenn.
Nov. 23 L at North Carolina 7-56 Chapel Hill, N.C.
TOTAL POINTS 323-425
2020-21
Coach: Drew Cronic Record: 5-6 (SoCon: 5-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Oct. 10 L at Jacksonville State 28-34 Jacksonville, Ala.
Oct. 24 L at Army 3-49 West Point, N.Y.
Oct. 31 L Abilene Christian 17-20 Macon
Feb. 20 L *at #16 Wofford 14-31 Spartanburg, S.C.
Feb. 27 W *The Citadel 42-28 Macon
March 13 L *at VMI 14-41 Lexington, Va.
March 20 W *Western Carolina 45-28 Macon
March 27 W *at #9 Chattanooga 35-28 Chattanooga, Tenn.
April 3 W *#17 Furman 26-14 Macon
April 10 W *#20 East Tennessee State 21-13 Macon
April 17 L *at Samford 20-44 Birmingham, Ala.
TOTAL POINTS 265-330
2021
Coach: Drew Cronic Record: 7-3 (SoCon: 6-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Sept. 2 W Point 69-0 Macon
Sept. 11 L at #1 Alabama 14-48 Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Sept. 25 W *at Furman 24-3 Greenville, S.C.
Oct. 2 W *Samford 45-42 Macon, Ga.
Oct. 9 W *at Western Carolina 34-24 Cullowhee, N.C.
Oct. 16 L *VMI 7-45 Macon, Ga.
Oct. 23 W *Wofford 45-14 Macon
Oct. 30 W *at The Citadel 34-7 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 13 W *#19 Chattanooga 10-6 Macon
Nov. 20 L *at #8 East Tennessee State 35-38 Johnson City, Tenn.
TOTAL POINTS 317-227
2022
Coach: Drew Cronic Record: 7-4 (SoCon: 5-3)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 27 W Morehead State 63-13 Macon
Sept. 3 L at Auburn 16-42 Auburn, Ala.
Sept. 17 W *The Citadel 17-0 Macon
Sept. 24 W at Gardner-Webb 45-14 Boiling Springs, N.C.
Oct. 1 W *at Wofford 42-7 Spartanburg, S.C.
Oct. 8 W *Western Carolina 49-6 Macon
Oct. 15 W *East Tennessee State 55-33 Macon
Oct. 22 L *at #7 Chattanooga 21-41 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 29 W *at VMI 55-14 Lexington, Va.
Nov. 12 L *#16 Furman 13-23 Macon
Nov. 19 L *at #9 Samford 44-50 (OT) Birmingham, Ala.
TOTAL POINTS 420-243
2023
NCAA PLAYOFFS: 2ND ROUND
Coach: Drew Cronic
Record: 9-4 (SoCon: 6-2)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 26 W vs. North Alabama 17-7 Montgomery, Ala.
Sept. 2 L at Ole Miss 7-73 Oxford, Miss.
Sept. 9 W Morehead State 48-22 Macon
Sept. 23 L *at Furman 14-38 Greenville, S.C.
Sept. 30 W *VMI 38-3 Macon
Oct. 7 W *at East Tennessee State 24-6 Johnson City, Tenn.
Oct. 14 L *Chattanooga 10-22 Macon
Oct. 21 W *Wofford 31-17 Macon
Oct. 28 W *at Western Carolina 45-38 Cullowhee, N.C.
Nov. 4 W *at The Citadel 38-16 Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 11 W *Samford 28-21 Macon
NCAA PLAYOFFS
Nov. 25 W Gardner-Webb 17-7 Macon
Dec. 2 L at #1 South Dakota State 0-41 Brookings, S.D.
TOTAL POINTS 300-304
2024
NCAA PLAYOFFS: QUARTERFINALS SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Coach: Mike Jacobs
Record: 11-3 (SoCon: 7-1)
DATE W-L-T OPPONENT SCORE SITE
Aug. 29 W Presbyterian 63-10 Macon
Sept. 7 W at Bethune-Cookman 31-2 Daytona Beach, Fla.
Sept. 14 W *at #14 Chattanooga 10-3 Chattanooga, Tenn.
Sept. 21 W *The Citadel 38-21 Macon
Sept. 28 W *at #23 Wofford 22-3 Spartanburg, S.C.
Oct. 12 W Princeton 34-7 Macon
Oct. 19 L *at Samford 35-55 Birmingham, Ala.
Oct. 26 W *#24 Western Carolina 44-34 Macon
Nov. 2 W *#23 East Tennessee State 37-31 Macon
Nov. 9 W *at VMI 34-0 Lexington, Va.
Nov. 16 L at #9 Alabama 7-52 Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Nov. 23 W *Furman 49-23 Macon
NCAA PLAYOFFS
Dec. 7 W #10 Rhode Island 17-10 Macon
Dec. 14 L at #2 North Dakota State 7-31 Fargo, N.D.
TOTAL POINTS 428-282
The Bears closed out the 2023 regular season with four-straight victories to secure the program’s first berth into the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
Record Book AWARDS LISTING
NFL FREE AGENT CONTRACT
2024 TJ Moore NY Giants
2023 Ty James Minnesota Vikings Devron Harper Minnesota Vikings
2021 Jason Poe San Francisco 49ers
CFL FREE AGENT CONTRACT
2024 Alvin Ward Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2017 Lee Bennett BC Lions
NFL ROOKIE CAMP INVITATION
2024 TJ Moore NY Giants Myles Redding Baltimore Ravens
2023 Tavion McCarthy Philadelphia Eagles
2018 Sam Walker Atlanta Falcons
WALTER PAYTON AWARD FINALIST
2024 Dwayne McGee 16th
2023 Ty James T-21st
2022 Devron Harper T-14th
BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD FINALIST
2024 TJ Moore 2nd
2023 Lance Wise 20th
JERRY RICE AWARD FINALIST
2024 Andrew Zock 4th
2020-21 Isaac Dowling 4th
2017 Kaelan Riley 17th
2014 Alex Lakes 8th Chandler Curtis 13th
2013 John Russ 5th
EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD FINALIST
2024 Mike Jacobs 5th
2013 Bobby Lamb 11th
FCS ACADEMIC ALL-STAR TEAM
2024 Ken Standley Riley Adcock
2023 Ken Standley
THE SPORTS NETWORK NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
2013 John Russ November 11
RETURN SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PERFORMANCE)
2014 Chandler Curtis
HERO SPORTS SOPHOMORE ALL-AMERICA
2022 Ty James Isaac Dowling
2021 Lance Wise
2020-21 Lance Wise
2018 Tyray Devezin
PHIL STEELE FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
2021 Fred Davis Running Back, 3rd Team
2019 Zach Lassiter Long Snapper, 1st Team John Thomas Offensive Line, 4th Team
2018 David Durden Wide Receiver, 3rd Team
HERO SPORTS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
2022 Fred Davis
2020-21 Ty James Isaac Dowling
2018 David Durden
STATS PERFORM FCS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
2024 Andrew Zock
PHIL STEELE PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
2024 Ken Standley Defense, 3rd Team
Isaac Dowling Defense, 4th Team
2023 Ty James Wide Receiver, 1st Team
Devron Harper Punt Returner, 1st Team
Devron Harper Wide Receiver, 2nd Team
Devron Harper Kick Returner, 2nd Team
2022 Devron Harper Punt Returner, 4th Team
COLLEGESPORTSMADNESS.COM
PRESEASON
STATS PERFORM FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA 2014 Ken Standley 2nd Team Isaac Dowling 3rd Team 2023 Devron Harper 1st
President William D. Underwood has led Mercer during a period of dynamic growth and development for the University. Since his appointment as Mercer’s 18th president in 2006, enrollment has increased by over 25 percent to more than 9,000 students. Mercer has launched second and third medical school campuses (Savannah and Columbus), initiated a master’s-level physician assistant program and a doctoral-level physical therapy program, and added Ph.D. programs in Clinical Psychology, Nursing, Counseling, Community Medicine, Educational Leadership, and Curriculum and Instruction.
U.S. News & World Report today ranks Mercer among the top tier of National Research Universities. Reflecting an increased emphasis on research, Mercer has been reclassified as a research university with high levels of research activity (R2) by the Carnegie Foundation. Over the past decade, the number of Ph.D. students has increased sevenfold, from fewer than 35 to more than 250, while the amount of annual externally funded research expenditures has grown to more than $50 million. In addition to increased levels of funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, Mercer scientists for the first time were funded as eminent cancer scientists by the Georgia Cancer Coalition, while other Mercer scientists are now receiving funding to support their research through the Georgia Research Alliance, a consortium of Georgia’s leading research universities that admitted Mercer to membership in 2014. Mercer has been named among the 35 leading institutions nationally for undergraduate research. In 2015 Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, awarded Mercer a chapter, placing the University in a cohort of the nation’s most respected academic institutions.
The University has intensified its longstanding commitment to service-learning and community engagement under President Underwood’s leadership. The College Hill Corridor initiative – which is revitalizing a two-mile area between Mercer’s Macon campus and downtown – is supported by more than $7.5 million in funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and has won international awards for community redevelopment and has leveraged more than $200 million in public-private investment. The groundbreaking Mercer On Mission program, launched in 2007, has been recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative as “an exemplary approach to addressing a specific global challenge.” Mercer earned the highest federal recognition for community engagement by the Corporation for National and Community Service – the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Mercer became the first university in Georgia to receive the Carnegie Foundation’s designation for “Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnerships.”
During President Underwood’s tenure, student
20TH YEAR AT MERCER
NAMED MERCER UNIVERSITY’S 18TH PRESIDENT IN 2006 EARNED J.D. DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
achievement levels have reached new highs. During the 2020-21 academic year, five students won prestigious Fulbright Scholarships, three engineering students were named Goldwater Scholars, the most of any engineering school in the country, 12 students received appointments to the Peace Corps, prompting that organization to name Mercer among the five highest producers among Peace Corps prep sites, and 36 students were admitted to Phi Beta Kappa. One student was named a Rhodes Scholar finalist, another a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, and nearly 75 percent of the entering class of 2014 remained to graduate from Mercer – among the highest matriculation to graduation retention rates in the Southeast.
Under President Underwood’s leadership, Mercer resumed competition in intercollegiate football in 2013 after a 72-year hiatus. During the inaugural season, Mercer established a new NCAA Division I record for wins by a start-up program by going 10-2. Mercer was admitted to membership in one of the oldest and most prestigious intercollegiate athletic associations when it became a member of the Southern Conference in 2014.
During his tenure as president, the University has raised over $500 million in gifts. The endowment has tripled, to more than $500 million. Facilities projects totaling more than $300 million have been completed during President Underwood’s tenure, including the Spearman C. Godsey Science Center, the Stembridge Center for Student Success, the Hoskins Medical Education and Research Center, the Center for Clinical Research, the Tattnall Square Center for the Arts, the McDuffie Center for Strings, the Myers Admissions and Welcome Center, Drake Fieldhouse, Five Star Stadium, OrthoGeorgia Park, the Center for Collaborative Journalism, Legacy Residence Hall, the Engineering and Science Center, a new intramural complex, medical education and research facilities in Columbus and Savannah, and loft housing to accommodate more than 900 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. The University has also made significant investments that have contributed to a rapidly revitalizing Downtown Macon. It has repurposed the former Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Thomas Jefferson Building into clinical facilities for the Mercer School of Medicine, renovated a historic Second Street building to house the McEachern Art Center, and restored the iconic Capricorn Sound Studios as Mercer Music at Capricorn.
In 2019, the 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia presented President Underwood with the Sam Hart, Sr. Community Impact Award, and in 2013 the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce honored him with its Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his service to the community. The Macon Telegraph in 2016 named him as its Middle Georgian of the Year. Georgia Trend magazine has named him among the 100 Most Influential Georgians for 10 consecutive years, from 2013-2022. He was named in 2014 as recipient of the Leadership Character Award by the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and has
served as a member of the NCAA Division I Presidential Advisory Group and as Chair of the Southern Conference President’s Council.
Prior to joining Mercer, President Underwood served at Baylor University as interim president and held the prestigious Leon Jaworski Chair at the Baylor School of Law. President Underwood is an accomplished educator and scholar. He was designated a Master Teacher at Baylor in recognition of extraordinary classroom teaching over an extended period. In 2008, the Baylor Alumni Association presented him with its W.R. White Distinguished Service Award.
An elected member of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Foundation, President Underwood was awarded the J.D. degree summa cum laude by the University of Illinois College of Law in 1985, where he graduated as class salutatorian and was an editor of the University of Illinois Law Review. Following graduation, he clerked for the Honorable Sam D. Johnson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, prior to practicing law with the Carrington, Coleman law firm in Dallas. He and his spouse Lesli have been married for 40 years. They are the proud parents of two children, Jessica, who is an attorney practicing trial law in Texas, and William, who is a Ph.D. student studying the philosophy of religion at the University of Chicago.
JIM COLE
Director of Athletics
Mercer, 1993
Jim Cole assumed duties as Director of Athletics for Mercer University on July 1, 2010. Prior to being named to his current post, Cole served as Mercer’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs where he headed up the Mercer Athletics Foundation, while also serving as a state representative in Georgia and working in private business.
During his time as Director of Athletics, Cole has imparted visionary leadership which has helped vault Mercer into the upper echelon of Division I athletic programs. Since his arrival, Mercer student-athletes have made NCAA Tournament appearances in baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, men’s golf and women’s golf. The 14th-seeded men’s basketball team made a splash on the national landscape in 2014 with a stunning 78-71 defeat of third-seeded and sixthranked Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Cole’s tenure has seen numerous postseason successes from the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Mercer men’s basketball is the only program in the nation to win a game in each of the four postseason tournaments – CIT (2012), NIT (2013), NCAA (2014) and CBI (2015). The women’s basketball team continued their championship ways in the 2021-22 season by claiming their fourth Southern Conference Tournament title across a five-year span, while also advancing to the NCAA Tournament to face top-seeded UConn in Storrs, Conn. It was also Mercer’s sixth Southern Conference crown over a dominant seven-year stretch.
The 2023-24 athletic year was a great success for numerous teams. The men’s soccer squad rolled through the Southern Conference Tournament unscathed, while the women’s lacrosse team claimed both the Big South regular season and tournament crowns. The football team was ranked as high as 17th in the national rankings, and used a late-season surge to earn its first berth into the NCAA postseason which included a first-round win over visiting Gardner-Webb.
Cole helped expand the department to 18 intercollegiate programs with the introduction of football, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, track & field and beach volleyball during his tenure. Most notably, he played a key role in the University’s revival of the football program, which took the field in the fall of 2013 after a 72-year hiatus from the gridiron. The Bears went on to post a stellar 10-2 record in their first season back, setting an NCAA record for single-season wins by a Division I start-up program.
16TH YEAR AT MERCER
FORMER GEORGIA STATE CONGRESSMAN (2004-10) MLB DRAFTEE (MILWAUKEE BREWERS, 1993)
Mercer made a landmark transition into the Southern Conference, one of the oldest and most prestigious conferences in the South, in 2014, and has found great success in both athletics and academics. The Bears are proud affiliates of the Southern Conference, which prides itself in a tradition of academic excellence and has a storied history of programs that have established success in the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference afterward.
Multiple Mercer student-athletes have gained national, regional and conference recognition since transitioning into the Southern Conference, including Kyle Lewis who was crowned college baseball’s national player of the year in 2016 when he won the 39th Golden Spikes Award given annually to the nation’s top amateur baseball player. Lewis was selected No. 11 overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Numerous facility upgrades have also taken place under Cole’s watch, including the construction of the Moye Family Football & Lacrosse Complex and the installation of state-of-the art LED video scoreboards at the football, basketball and baseball venues. Mercer unveiled the stateof-the-art 1,500-seat OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field prior to the 2017 baseball season, and Cole has also secured funds for upcoming major renovations to the program’s baseball, men’s & women’s tennis and men’s & women’s golf facilities.
Arguably the most impressive accomplishment across Cole’s tenure, Mercer has created a high standard in academics as a Southern Conference member. Mercer University won its 10th-consecutive Barrett-Bonner Award from the Southern Conference following the 2024-25 academic year which is given to the SoCon member with the highest percentage of its student-athletes on the league’s academic honor roll. The Bears have led the SoCon in honor roll recipients every year dating back to their inaugural season in 2014-15.
Sixteen Mercer student-athletes have earned CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-America honors during Cole’s tenure, more than triple the amount prior to his arrival.
A native of Augusta, Cole came to Mercer as a student-athlete on academic scholarship in 1990 and lettered in baseball from 1990-93. He was recipient of the Charles C. Morgan Outstanding Student-Athlete Award and graduated with honors from the University in 1993. He was drafted as a pitcher by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1993.
An active community leader throughout the state, Cole has served as a board member for local chapters of the Salvation Army and Methodist Children’s Home. He is also a member of Forsyth United
Methodist Church and serves on the Pastor Parrish Relationship Committee.
Cole is married to the former Gaylyn Lawson, a coach and teacher at Macon’s Stratford Academy. The couple resides in Forsyth and has two children - Caroline, a graduate of and current law student at Mercer, and Lawson, a senior business administration major and pitcher on the Mercer baseball team.
