2026 American Preseason Previews: Charlotte 49ers

2025 record: 1-11

2025 postseason: did not qualify

In 2025, 132 of 136 FBS teams won multiple games. The Charlotte 49ers were one of four programs to fall into the other undesirable category. Charlotte stumbled to a 1-11 finish, needing a game-winning touchdown with 90 seconds left to collect its lone victory over FCS Monmouth.

The 49ers entered the season with a glimmer of hope, bringing in head coach Tim Albin immediately after he guided the Ohio Bobcats to their first MAC championship since 1968. Instead, the already-struggling program produced its worst finish since joining the FBS ranks in 2015. Charlotte struggled from the get-go, but external factors only made things worse. By the team’s sixth game of the season, its availability report listed 12 players out for the season, including a slew of key starters.

The end result of a nightmare season: Charlotte was 133rd in scoring offense, 131st in scoring defense, 133rd in total offense, 135th in total defense, and 135th in scoring differential. Look up any stat, and there’s a good chance you can find the 49ers near the basement of the FBS rankings.

But there is one significant positive: 2026 is a new year. Charlotte is 0-0. Albin has familiarity with the program. The injury bug cannot get much worse. Factoring all this in, how far can Charlotte climb out of the cellar this fall? Since joining the FBS 11 years ago, the 49ers only have one winning season — a 7-6 finish in 2019. Now we’ll see how much new history can be created this fall for the young program.

Staff

Tim Albin is back for year two in Charlotte after spending 20 seasons at Ohio (16 as offensive coordinator, 4 as head coach). When Albin made his first move in two decades, he signed a 5-year deal through 2029. The deal closely resembled the one given to his predecessor Biff Poggi, who signed a 5-year deal two years prior. However, Poggi was axed 10 games into his second season after compiling a 6-16 record — a sign that Charlotte is eyeing a quick turnaround in the American Conference despite its past struggles. Thus, tangible progress is a must for Albin and his staff.

There is coordinator continuity in all three phases. Todd Fitch remains the offensive coordinator, Nate Faanes retains his role as the defensive coordinator, and Brian Haines is back as the special teams coordinator, and that continuity could pay dividends with less time working on installs in spring ball and fall camp.

Notable staff changes include the promotion of Tre’ Bell from cornerbacks coach to defensive backs coach and the hire of Victor Cabral as defensive ends coach (last served as West Virginia’s outside linebackers coach in 2024). The remainder of the position coaches stay intact from 2025 to 2026, giving Charlotte one of the more stable staffs in the American.

Offense

• Key arrivals: QB Cole Gonzales, RB Chance Williams, RB Khamani Alexander, WR Jaden Barnes, WR Cam Pedro, WR Zyheem Collick, WR Tank Boston, TE Lane Wadle, TE Logan Mauldin, C Luke Sandy, C Nic Cruji, G J’ven Williams
• Key departures: RB Rod Gainey Jr., WR Javen Nicholas, WR Sean Brown, WR E. Jai Mason, WR Justin Olson, WR Jayden McGowan, WR Miles Burris, C Jonny King, G Mo Clipper Jr., G Dallas Shirley, G Mason Bowers, OT Jesse Ramil, OT Tyler Gibson
• Key incumbents: QB Conner Harrell, QB Grayson Loftis, RB Henry Rutledge, RB Jariel Cobb, TE Gus McGee, OT Kristos Fernandez

Charlotte returns three offensive starters — the quarterback (whether that’s Conner Harrell or Grayson Loftis), tight end Gus McGee, and offensive tackle Kristos Fernandez. Extensive turnover isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the offense struggled mightily last year, averaging the fourth-fewest points and fourth-fewest yards in the FBS. In what has been a theme in each of the last four seasons, most of the 49ers’ starters are likely new portal arrivals.

Quarterback is one position Charlotte must decide between experienced incumbents and a portal addition. The 49ers retain Harrell and Loftis but also add Pitt backup quarterback Nick Gonzales to the roster. Harrell was QB1 to start last year and produced a 26-of-30, 382-yard, 3-touchdown stat-line in the 49ers’ lone victory over Monmouth. However, one week later, he tore his ACL and both menisci in his left knee while also suffering an MCL sprain. The recovery process extended through spring football, and although he moved without a brace in spring drills, the extent of his recovery for the Sept. 5 opener remains a mystery.

Loftis, who started five games for Duke in 2023, stepped in and started seven of Charlotte’s final eight games, posting 1,415 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions on a 55.2 completion rate. While Loftis has familiarity with the system, Gonzales is another option the 49ers could lean on. Prior to his one-year stint at Pitt, Gonzales produced back-to-back 2,500+ passing seasons as a starter at FCS Western Carolina, highlighted by an efficient 28-to-7 touchdown to interception ratio in 2023.

The running back room is still searching for a bellcow. Henry Rutledge (who suffered a season-ending lower body injury in September) and Jariel Cobb are among the returning tailbacks vying for more utilization in the offense. Charlotte also brought in two FBS portal backs in Chance Williams (Cincinnati) and Khamani Alexander (Appalachian State), who totaled 35 and 50 rushing yards in 2025, respectively.

Wide receiver was Charlotte’s strongest position group in 2025, but the 49ers are forced into a massive reset losing each of their top four receivers (Javen Nicholas, Sean Brown, E. Jai Mason, and Miles Burris) as well as the experienced receivers who suffered early-season injuries (Justin Olson and Jayden McGowan). Charlotte restocked well with App State’s receptions and receiving touchdowns leader Jaden Barnes (55 receptions, 608 yards, 7 TD in 2025), who dominated the 49ers’ secondary with 134 yards in the 2025 opener. The 49ers also consulted the FCS ranks, where they found Cam Pedro (814 yards at SE Missouri State) and Zyheem Collick (670 yards at Bryant). NC State transfer Tank Boston could also witness an exponential increase in production after seeing limited snaps in Raleigh.

Although there is a horde of experienced receivers, tight end is the group that possesses the most relative experience in the offensive two-deep. Gus McGee started nine games last fall and serves as the team’s returning leader in receiving yards. To further improve the room, the 49ers also added Georgia State’s backup tight end Lane Wadle and seventh-year senior Logan Mauldin, a former Coastal Carolina commit that gained significant playing time at FCS McNeese.

Offensive line will need refurbishing with versatile tackle Kristos Fernandez as the only starter back in the equation. Interior linemen Jonny King and Mo Clipper Jr. are the major losses here, and Charlotte targeted the interior the hardest in the portal. Luke Sandy accrued three seasons of experience at Wyoming and logged three starts at center during the Cowboys’ 9-4 campaign in 2023. Maine starting center Nic Cruji and Penn State reserve guard J’ven Williams are other notable faces that join the interior, hoping to fortify a run game that ranked third-to-last in rushing yards per game and yards per attempt in 2025.

Defense

• Key arrivals: DE Shaku Sangarie, DT Devin Ancrum, CB Jameel Croft Jr., FS Shamar McIntosh
• Key departures: DE Braden Mullen, DT Zion Shockley, ILB Shay Taylor, OLB Reid Williford, CB Dwight Bootle II, CB Thai Baldwin, FS Ja’Qurious Conley, FS Cary Grant, SS Randy Franklin, SS Treyveon McGee
• Key incumbents: DE Jaylon Johnson, DE Curtis Simpson, DE DJ Burgess, DT Jamarrion Solomon, DT Macyo Williams, ILB Gavin Willis, OLB Kadin Schmitz, CB CJ Clinkscales Jr., SS Collin Gill

Charlotte finished 131st last year in points allowed per game and struggled in a variety of defensive metrics. Every opponent managed at least 20 points, six opponents scored at least 35, four dropped at least 48, and offensive juggernauts North Texas and South Florida piled 54 points apiece on the struggling 49ers.

Tim Albin and defensive coordinator Nate Faanes engineered elite defenses in their two years working together at Ohio, so translating what worked in Athens to Charlotte is now this coaching staff’s principle task.

Four defenders that started at least seven games in 2025 return to the Queen City in 2026 — defensive end Jaylon Johnson, defensive tackle Jamarrion Solomon, outside linebacker Kadin Schmitz, and cornerback CJ Clinkscales Jr. Johnson and Solomon will be key cogs up front in the 4-2-5 defense, contributing 20 and 29 tackles, respectively, last year. Charlotte also returns a pair of defensive line starters who played sparingly in 2025 due to season-ending injuries — defensive end DJ Burgess who played one game and sixth-year senior Macyo Williams who suited up in four contests. Curtis Simpson, who ranked second on the team in sacks (2.5) and first among returning players, is also back in the fold, giving Charlotte an established foundation up front. If there’s a silver lining to all the injuries, the 49ers’ d-line has a lot more bodies with experience heading into 2026.

Linebacker was unquestionably the top position group on defense last season, and Reid Williford and Shay Taylor are massive losses. Kadin Schmitz, one of the Bobcats that followed Albin and Faanes from Ohio to Charlotte, should emerge as the new leader of this group. The outside linebacker ranked second on the 49ers with 66 stops last year, and he played a hand in the turnover battle with two picks and two forced fumbles (the only returning player that intercepted a pass last year). Gavin Willis, a two-game starter that accrued 54 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, is the seamless fit next to Schmitz at linebacker. Charlotte didn’t add any transfer linebackers, so that’s a position group that must grow organically via new recruits and returning backups, with Stellan Bowman (who transferred in from Ohio prior to 2025) as a particular name to keep an eye on.

Just like all areas of Charlotte’s defense, the secondary needs serious work after allowing 272 passing yards per game in 2025, warranting a national ranking of 131. Starting cornerback CJ Clinkscales Jr. is back after registering 40 solo tackles, and he’ll be the veteran leader in a unit that broke up the fourth-fewest passes in the FBS and logged only seven interceptions last year. Nickel Collin Gill is the other experienced face in the room after tacking on 35 tackles as a reserve. Some of the transfers joining Clinkscales and Gill in the secondary are seeking increased opportunity in a new setting. Those transfers include cornerback Jameel Croft Jr., who played 11 career games at Kansas, and safety Shamar McIntosh, who participated in six at Maryland — both arriving with three collegiate tackles on their résumés.

Special Teams

• Key arrivals: LS Henry Searcy
• Key departures: K Liam Boyd, PR Javen Nicholas
• Key incumbents: K Aiden Bui, P Bronson Long, KR Derrick Eley, KR Henry Rutledge

Relative to the rest of the FBS, Charlotte’s best attribute is probably its kick return game. The 49ers excelled last year with Derrick Eley handling duties, and he cashed in 18 attempts for 501 yards, highlighted by an 88-yard touchdown vs. UTSA. Charlotte also returns Henry Rutledge who ranked third in the entire FBS in kick return yards in 2024 before a knee injury limited his 2025 campaign to two games. Charlotte should be as lethal as anyone in the American in the return game, but other areas of special teams come with questions.

Aiden Bui is the only kicker listed on the roster after Liam Boyd transferred to Michigan State. Bui has yet to kick an extra point or field goal in a college uniform, and Charlotte hopes to make the kicking game more of a focal point after finishing 9-of-12 last season.

Charlotte averaged more punts per game than anyone in the FBS last year at 6.1, and while returning Bronson Long is a positive for the team, the 49ers hope to keep him sidelined more with an improved offense. Long allowed the 49ers to finish seventh in total punting yards and second in punting yards per game, booting a long of 59 in his first full season as the starter.

Schedule and Outlook

Charlotte opens its 2026 campaign against FCS competition, which could be helpful for building confidence after a 1-11 season. The 49ers are slated to be heavy favorites over The Citadel, paving an ideal pathway to match their 2025 win total before Labor Day.

The schedule significantly ramps up the following week with a trip to Ole Miss — one of the semifinalists in last year’s College Football Playoff. The odds are heavily stacked against the underdog 49ers in that matchup, but they can take comfort in returning to their home state for the next three weeks, which feature a road game at App State and home matchups vs. Louisiana and Memphis.

Charlotte’s conference schedule features a slew of difficult home games. Memphis, Tulane, East Carolina, and Navy are the programs visiting Jerry Richardson Stadium this year. The 49ers’ road lineup of North Texas, Temple, UAB, and Tulsa may be an easier slate to find wins.

The theme of the 2026 season for Charlotte is progress. While every school wants to compete for conference titles, jumping from 1-11 to the American Championship in one season is an arduous task. But climbing to the 5-6 win mark would show massive strides for a program seeking its second winning season in history. A good model to follow would be that of Kent State, which jumped from 0-12 to a competitive 5-7 last year. With staff continuity, better health, and new portal additions, Charlotte hopes to replicate — or even surpass — that level of progress.

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