After a breakthrough season in 2019, can Charlotte Football get back to the postseason and continue ascending as a program?
In 2019, the Charlotte 49ers made their first bowl game in program history and looked to be a program on the rise in the C-USA. However, with COVID came a lot of complications and Charlotte could not overcome all of the challenges and suffered a down year, only winning two games in 2020.
Charlotte football fans are hoping that the program can get back on track and they can return to the postseason and be a surprise team in the C-USA.
If Charlotte is going to get back to their winning ways, the offense might have to lead the way. The 49ers return a really good group of receivers and should have solid quarterback play.
The passing offense should be one of the best in the conference and that can be enough to beat some of the teams on their schedule. Where the team needs to improve is on the defensive side of the ball. Charlotte football had one of the worst defenses in the country and just simply could not stop anybody. For Charlotte to improve, they need to get back to playing defense as the 49ers have in the past.
It was a big win for the program to keep head coach Will Healy for another season in Charlotte, as he was one of the hot coaching candidates around the country. Some teams might be doubting Healy’s ability after only two wins in 2020, but if you take a closer look, this was a program that could not put together a consistent season because of COVID.
Healy is a very good offensive coach and I think that he should help the program continue trending upward. The schedule is not easy, as there are a lot of toss-up games that could make or break the season and it could be the case that Charlotte is a good team, but the record might not necessarily reflect it.
Passing attack will lead the way for Charlotte in 2021
Charlotte has been producing good offenses ever since Will Healy was hired in 2019 and this one should be no different.
At quarterback, Chris Reynolds is back after being the starter last season and Reynolds was a solid player for the 49ers last season, throwing for over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns.
The one criticism that can be made of Reynolds is that he is not the most accurate quarterback, completing 55% of his passes. A name to keep an eye will be James Foster, the transfer quarterback from Texas A&M. If Reynolds were to struggle, Foster could step in, as he is very talented and likely the future starter for the program.
The running game is a bit of a question mark heading into 2021. The lead back should be Iowa State transfer Shadrick Byrd, but it could also be sophomore Calvin Camp. Camp played sparingly last season, but he has the most experience in the room.
The wide receivers are going to be the strongest position group on the entire team. Victor Tucker was the leading receiver for the 49ers and was a second-team all C-USA last season and could be even better. Alongside Tucker, look for Cameron Dollar, Tre’ Goode, and tight end Taylor Thompson to be effective too. This is a deep group that should be one of the league’s best.
The offensive line returns three starters but was not a good unit last season, so expect some competition heading into camp. The running game and offensive line are big question marks heading into the season and finding answers there could help determine a lot.
Defense remains a huge question mark heading into 2021
While the offense should be a very good unit for Charlotte in 2021, the defense has a lot of questions to answer. It was just a dreadful unit from top to bottom and there were not a lot of good takeaways, The good news is that there is nowhere to go but up.
The one starter that is back on the defensive is Markees Watts. Watts led the team in sacks last season and is expected to again in 2021. Alongside Watts, look for Notre Dame transfer Kofi Wardlow to get the start on the other edge spot. On the interior, Charlotte has another Iowa State transfer in Joshua Bailey and the other tackle should be senior Siah Sa’o.
The linebackers are another unit that is going to have its fair share of transfers as well. Justin Whisenhunt is coming from Troy and I expect him to compete right away. The other two starters are going to be seniors Luke Martin and Tyler Murray. Both of those guys are going to have to improve because Charlotte ranked 109th in rushing defense last season.
The secondary is going to look different than it did last season. Safety Jonathan Alexander is transferring in from Kansas State and should play right away. Shedrick Ursery and Lance McMillan are going to be the starters at corner, while Davondre Robinson should slot in at the other safety.
The defense is going to rely on an influx of transfers to help them take another step forward, but that is a lot to expect in 2021.
Lots of toss-up games will determine Charlotte’s fate in 2021
The schedule for the 49ers is not a terribly difficult one, but there are a lot of coin flip games. Having so many evenly matched games could be the difference between going to a bowl game and only winning three games.
- Game 1: Duke (L)- I actually think Charlotte can win this game, but I think Duke will have a good enough defense to win.
- Game 2: Gardner-Webb (W)- This is the easiest game on the schedule and Charlotte should win big.
- Game 3: At Georgia State (L)- The Panthers are going to be a good team in 2021 and will be too much for Charlotte.
- Game 4: Middle Tennessee (W)- This will be a close one, but Charlotte gets the edge due to its offense.
- Game 5: At Illinois (L)- Illinois is not expected to be a great team in 2021, but they’ll have enough to beat Charlotte.
- Game 6: At FIU (L)- The Panthers are due for a bounceback season and will win this one at home.
- Game 7: FAU (L)- Another team that is going to bounce back, Willie Taggart could have a big second year in Boca Raton.
- Game 8: At Western Kentucky (L)- The Hilltoppers will have another very good defense and that will be the difference.
- Game 9: Rice (L)- The Owls are stout defensively and that is a bad matchup for the 49ers.
- Game 10: At Louisiana Tech (L)- Charlotte can win this game, but I will give the edge to the Bulldogs at home.
- Game 11: Marshall (L)- I expect Marshall to win the C-USA and Charlotte does not have a good shot at winning this one.
- Game 12: At Old Dominion (L)- A toss-up game that should be close, but I can’t trust Charlotte’s defense.
Final Record: 2-10, 1-7 C-USA
Charlotte’s record could be a lot better, but it is hard to trust a team to win a lot of close games with such a bad defense.