Ex Libertate Veritas | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

[The JZA]

So, we're going this route. I'm fucking with it.



This sched is story telling

[redsox907]

Let's pack this schedule

Goal is to schedule App State & Liberty every year. Then one team from each P5 conference (B12, B10, P12, SEC) plus three headline ACC games, a regional contest with Clemson. That gives us two leeway games to schedule top competition at our discretion. This year its #4 Miami and #10 Notre Dame as the discretionary games

So, we're going this route. I'm fucking with it.



This sched is story telling

Got the ACC storyline baked in - Underwood returning to Michigan - Clemson wanting to prove they run the Palmetto - running it back with Pittsburgh.

[redsox907]

Hunting, Not Hiding - Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 2028 Season Preview
By The Teal Report - July 2028

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have been on the rise since joining the FBS in 2017, but the underdog role is gone. After crashing last year’s College Football Playoff and rattling the establishment — all while enduring an NCAA investigation into their Atlantic City-fueled NIL machine — the Chants now enter the 2028 season as an independent program with the biggest target in school history squarely on their back.

And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Hunting Season in Conway

When players arrived at the Conway training facility for spring camp, they were met with a new addition: a wall lined with empty mounting plaques, one for every game on the schedule.

Head coach Kade Vaughn gathered his team in front of it with a simple message:

“It’s time to go hunting, boys.”

Each plaque will hold a symbol of the defeated opponent. But if the Chants lose? The trophy wall will display a mounted Chanticleer — a reminder they were the hunted that week. Vaughn couldn’t help but slip in a jab when asked about the new tradition.

“We’ll have to get creative pretty quick,” he joked. “I don’t think Chance [Miller] is going to let me hang a replica of a real person when we run the Mountaineers out of Brooks Stadium in Week 1.”

The bite behind the humor was clear. Appalachian State head coach Dowell Loggains was the whistleblower who triggered the NCAA investigation into Coastal’s NIL operation. The bad blood already ran deep, with Vaughn never forgetting that his alma mater chose not to retain him when Scott Satterfield left years ago.

That message bled into the fan base almost instantly. On Chants Up, Ripp Hamilton ran a contest asking fans to design the best “mounting plaque”–inspired sign for the opener against Appalachian State. The winning entry? A photoshopped picture of Vaughn at a teal-draped poker table, puffing a cigar with Mountaineers head coach Dowell Loggains’ face on the lit end.

“That App State pack gonna be in the air ALL YEAR!” Hamilton shouted when announcing the winner.

Between the plaques in the facility and the fans running with the imagery, the message is clear: this season isn’t just about surviving as independents — it’s about putting trophies, pelts, and rivals on the wall for everyone to see.

But while the Chanticleers are embracing their new role, Vaughn was quick to remind them about the other side of being the hunters.

As Vaughn put it: “We’re in new territory. We’re not just the hunters anymore — we’re also the hunted.”

To drive the point home, Vaughn brought in someone who knows that pressure better than anyone: Kevin Garnett.

The South Carolina native spent over an hour with the team, sharing lessons from his time in the NBA. His voice cut through the room with the raw honesty he’s known for.

Kevin Garnett walked into the room like he owned the air inside it. The players were buzzing, but when he started speaking, the noise cut quick.

“Listen to me,” Garnett barked, pacing in front of the Chanticleers like a man who’d carried both losing and winning on his shoulders. “Y’all think getting here is the hard part? Nah. Getting here? That’s the dream. Staying here? That’s the nightmare. You want to know what success feels like? It’s heavy, man. It’s bricks in your backpack. Every game, every practice, every minute. And guess what? You can’t take that pack off.”

The players shifted, some leaning forward, others locking eyes with him. Garnett’s tone never softened.

“When you’re at the bottom, people clap for you. They’re surprised when you win. It’s fun, it’s light. Everybody loves an underdog. But now? Y’all ain’t underdogs no more. You’re the hunted. You’re the team circled on the schedule. The game they’ve been dreaming about since January. When you line up across from them, they ain’t thinking about nothing but making a name off you. Taking your shine. Stealing your food off your plate.

And that’s the weight, man. You gotta carry it every damn day.”

He stopped pacing, stared dead at the front row, then raised his voice.

“I played years in Minnesota, grinding, hoping people would respect what we did. They didn’t. Winning felt like some luxury. Then I get to Boston — and it’s different. There, it’s championship or bust. Every year. No excuses. No down time. You either defend the banner or you die trying. That’s pressure. That’s weight. But you know what? That’s also glory.

See, when you accept that weight? When you embrace that target on your back? You flip it. You stop fearing it, you start using it. You break their hope. You take their will. You make them regret ever stepping on the field with you.”

He jabbed a finger at the wall lined with empty plaques.

“That’s what those plaques are. Not trophies. Not souvenirs. They’re reminders. Of who you broke. Who you carried the weight against. Who you sent home empty.

Now look around. You want your name on the wall? You want your story told like champions? Then carry that weight. Don’t complain, don’t run from it. Strap it to your back and walk through fire with it. Because that’s the only way success survives.”

For Coastal, the message was clear: as nomads without a conference, the only option is to make opponents sorry they ever penciled them in.

Offensive Outlook

The offense will look familiar even with coordinator Drew Hollingshead gone to Fresno State. This is still Kade Vaughn’s system, now executed with Dave Patenaude back in Conway. The maestro remains Bryce Underwood, last year’s Heisman winner, and with him the Chants will continue to light up scoreboards.

Underwood has only a few returning starters around him — TE Trishtin Glass, C Benry Wilson, and RB Michael Allen — but the pieces around him are loaded. Allen is back for a senior year, though he’ll share carries with Auburn transfer Dareon Doctson, Liberty transfer Jalen Likely, and sophomore Nate Serna.

The receiver room is rebuilt but dangerous: Talyn Taylor (Georgia) brings proven production (76 catches, 1,215 yards, 10 TDs last season), Jeremiah McClellan (USC) adds versatility in the slot, and steady vet Joey Bannon slides into a bigger role. Young speedsters George Rabe and Matthew Hape will push for snaps.

Up front, the question marks remain. Xavier Pate (Notre Dame) anchors the blind side while Sua Faalele, a Coastal original, finally steps into a starting role. Vaughn praised Faalele’s patience:

“He never stopped grinding, never looked for the easy way. He’s earned this.”

Defensive Outlook

Last year's Chanticleers defense finished ranked 2nd in the nation, but this year’s might be scarier. Jeremiah Johnson, a two-time Broyles winner, returns as DC, and the front seven has been reloaded.

Gone are edge terror Lugard Edokpayi and run-stuffer LJ McCray, but in their place stand Oklahoma’s David Stone and Auburn’s Kevin Wynn — two mammoth defensive tackles who solve last year’s run-stopping woes. With Darrion Hammer healthy again and Charlie Collins (Louisiana Tech) on the edge, sack parties should continue.

Linebacker is the big question. Walt Reyna, sensational as a freshman, is now the leader as a sophomore. He’ll be flanked by true freshman Caleb Karapateas, a speed demon with violent pop, and Virginia Tech transfer Juan Acker, sliding down from safety.

The secondary is the strength: Thorpe winner Jo’Ziah Edmond, veteran corner Josiah Persinger, and a deep bench of experienced safeties led by Dalton Dexter and transfer Gage Drummond.

Nomad Schedule

The Chanticleers’ 2028 slate leaves little room for comfort, opening with bitter rival Appalachian State before diving straight into a gauntlet. Coastal follows up with three straight high-profile matchups against No. 15 SMU, Liberty, and Florida, then heads west for a marquee road trip to No. 19 USC before finally getting a breather with a bye week. Things only get tougher in the middle of the season, with back-to-back showdowns against No. 4 Miami and No. 10 Notre Dame, capped off by a late-season rematch with No. 7 Pittsburgh — the team that ended Coastal’s magical playoff run in the Fiesta Bowl.

As Pat McAfee put it: “That four-week stretch — at USC, at Miami, at Notre Dame, then North Carolina, and THEN Pitt? Murderers’ Row. If they come out of that 3-2, they’re alive. If they come out 4-1? They’re dangerous.”

Final Word

Coastal Carolina bet on itself by staying independent, refusing quick conference security. Now the Chants must prove they belong among the nation’s elite. If Garnett’s words ring true, they won’t just survive the gauntlet — they’ll make opponents regret picking up the phone in the first place.

2028_Schedule

Week	Team	2027 Record
Week 1	Appalachian State	10-3
Week 2	@ #10 Notre Dame	11-2
Week 3	Liberty	5-7
Week 4	@ #21 Houston	10-4
Week 5	@ #19 USC	11-3
Week 6	BYE	-
Week 7	#14 North Carolina	10-3
Week 8	@ #4 Miami	15-1
Week 9	#17 Auburn	9-4
Week 10	@ #7 Pittsburgh	14-2
Week 11	#22 Clemson	7-6
Week 12	@ Michigan	8-5
Week 13	#18 Duke	8-5

2028 Coastal Carolina Depth Chart
Overall - 87 // Offense - 89 // Defense - 86

QB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Bryce Underwood	SR	87	87	Dual Threat	Star
Nate Kennedy	JR(RS)	81	81	Dual Threat	Impact
Andre Koloamatangi	FR	74	74	Dual Threat	Normal
Deon Cherry	FR(RS)	64	69	Pocket Passer	Normal
Tobias Gallimore	FR	67	67	Pure Runner	Star

HB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Michael Allen	SR	82	92	East/West Playmaker	Impact
Dareon Doctson	JR	90	90	East/West Playmaker	Elite
Jalen Likely	JR(RS)	81	81	East/West Playmaker	Impact
Nate Serne	SO	75	77	Backfield Threat	Normal
Vince Shurmur	FR(RS)	70	72	North/South Receiver	Normal
Emmett Abraham	FR	62	62	East/West Playmaker	Impact

WR Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Talyn Taylor	JR(RS)	91	91	Elusive Route Runner	Impact
Joey Bannon	SR	65	89	Route Artist	Star
Jeremiah McClellan	SR(RS)	87	87	Elusive Route Runner	Star
Greg Rabe	SO	66	74	Speedster	Star
Matthew Hape	FR	74	74	Speedster	Impact
Damion Clayborne	SR(RS)	69	71	Speedster	Normal
Spencer Yeast	SO(RS)	63	71	Route Artist	Normal
Steven Maples	FR(RS)	65	67	Route Artist	Normal
Dmitri Shakur	FR(RS)	65	68	Physical Route Runner	Normal

TE Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Trishtin Glass	JR(RS)	67	83	Vertical Threat	Impact
Quincey Simonsen	SO(RS)	65	81	Pure Blocker	Normal
Percy LaRue	FR	77	77	Physical Route Runner	Normal
David Yazzie	JR	65	67	Pure Possession	Normal

T Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Xavier Pate	SR(RS)	91	91	Pass Pro	Star
Terrell Stork	SO(RS)	82	82	Well Rounded	Impact
Daniel Jones	SR(RS)	67	78	Agile	Impact
Anton Burfict	SR	68	78	Pass Pro	Normal
Benji Iosefa	SO(RS)	78	78	Pass Pro	Star
Keenan Joslin	SO(RS)	65	66	Raw Strength	Normal
Matt Buzbee	FR	65	65	Agile	Normal

G Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Sua Faalele	JR	69	86	Pass Pro	Impact
Devin Harper	JR(RS)	81	81	Raw Strength	Impact
Luis Jacques	JR	80	80	Pass Pro	Impact
Cornell Glymph	SO(RS)	76	76	Pass Pro	Impact
Connor Payne	FR	75	75	Raw Strength	Star
Trevard Luck	SR(RS)	63	72	Agile	Normal
Cornell Glymph	FR(RS)	66	72	Pass Pro	Impact
Alonzo Droege	JR	66	72	Raw Strength	Normal
Darrell Briscoe	FR	65	65	Agile	Normal

C Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Benry Wilson	SR(RS)	77	77	Agile	Impact
Brayson McIver	SR(RS)	65	70	Well Rounded	Normal
Clyde Self	FR(RS)	63	68	Well Rounded	Impact

DE Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Charlie Collins	SR(RS)	90	90	Pure Power	Star
Darrion Hammer	JR	71	89	Power Rusher	Star
Eric Wheat	FR	77	77	Pure Power	Star
Jayden Bryant	SR(RS)	64	72	Speed Rusher	Normal
Roosevelt Verner	SO(RS)	69	75	Pure Power	Normal
Bradley Harris	JR(RS)	60	70	Power Rusher	Normal
Joel Ramsey	SO(RS)	68	73	Pure Power	Star

DT Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
David Stone	SR	96	96	Pure Power	Impact
Kevin Wynn	SR	94	94	Pure Power	Star
Joshua Talbott	JR	69	80	Gap Specialist	Impact
Matt Woodley	JR(RS)	61	78	Gap Specialist	Normal
Lionel Ruggins	FR	76	76	Pure Power	Normal

LB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Caleb Karapateas	FR	81	81	Thumper	Impact
Juan Acker	JR	82	82	Lurker	Impact
John Simonson	JR	68	74	Signal Caller	Normal
Damon Hakim	FR	68	68	Signal Caller	Normal
Paris Lincoln	JR	69	69	Lurker	Normal

MLB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Walt Reyna	SO	77	84	Signal Caller	Star
Enrique Ambrose	JR	66	79	Signal Caller	Impact
Nick Farrior	FR	77	77	Thumper	Impact
Geajorm Akpaloo	SR(RS)	64	73	Signal Caller	Normal
Joel Spann	SO(RS)	67	73	Lurker	Normal
Seth Byron	JR(RS)	63	72	Lurker	Normal
Jeremy Snyder	FR(RS)	68	72	Thumper	Impact
Demetrius Anger	FR(RS)	68	70	Lurker	Normal

CB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Josiah Persinger	SJRRS)	80	89	Bump and Run	Star
Jo’ziah Edmond	SR(RS)	87	90	Bump and Run	Star
Jojo Tate	SO(RS)	68	81	Boundary	Normal
Zach Cody	SR(RS)	67	78	Zone	Normal
Miles Northrop	SO(RS)	68	75	Boundary	Normal
Keenan Brightwell	FR	75	75	Boundary	Normal
Koren Roche	FR	75	75	Boundary	Impact
Xavier Montague	FR	75	75	Field	Star
Ezekiel Stubbs	FR(RS)	64	73	Bump and Run	Impact

FS Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Gabe Drummond	SR(RS)	86	86	Hybrid	Impact
Nick Rudd-Johnson	JR(RS)	61	77	Coverage Specialist	Normal
AJ Dwumfour	FR	76	76	Coverage Specialist	Normal

SS Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Dalton Dexter	JR	72	77	Box Specialist	Normal
Chase Jackson	SR(RS)	66	75	Coverage Specialist	Normal
Troy Chinn	FR(RS)	68	70	Box Specialist	Normal

K/P Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
K Jesus Mendez	SO		80	81	Power	Impact
P Logan Haines	JR(RS)	52	72	Accurate	Normal

[redsox907]

Coastal Carolina 2028 Pre-Season Recruiting

Coastal Carolina Recruiting Rankings
Championship Contender: A- 12th (15th 2027)
Program Tradition: C- 76th (77th 2027)
Campus Lifestyle: C (93rd)
Stadium Atmosphere: C- 70th (70th 2027)
Pro Potential: C 59th (48th 2027)
Brand Exposure: C+ 47th (66th 2027)
Academic Prestige: F (128th)
Conference Prestige: A- 4th (9th 2027)
Coach Stability: B+ 18th (100th 2027)
Coach Prestige: A 7th (11th 2027)
Athletic Facilities: D 97th (97th 2027)
Prestige: ( 2027)

Graduating Seniors: 20

-2028-Recruiting-Rankings

Ranking	Position	Name	Hometown	Tendency	NAT/STA/POS
	SS	Dimitri Bostic	Baltimore, MD	Coverage Specialist	36/2/1
	DT	Tavares Lanier	Atlanta, GA	Power Rusher	38/5/3
	QB	Denario Daniels	Hampton, GA	Pocket Passer	46/6/5
	LB	Kevin Kempfert	Honolulu, HI	Lurker	48/2/10
	ATH	Nick Cobb	El Paso, TX	Agile	59/12/4
	LT	Eric Overhausser	Nepture Beach, FL	Pass Pro	79/7/7
	LB	Craig Bragg	Orem, UT	Lurker	123/3/14
	WR	Carl Kopp	Vanceboro, NC	Speedster	129/6/20
	LB	Cory Tatum	Charleston, SC	Thumper	139/1/18
	HB	Jason Toppins	Liburn, GA	North/South Blocker	143/12/14
	DE	Troy Officer	Lena, IL	Speed Rusher	152/4/5
	WR	Felix Blade	Boston, MA	Speedster	155/4/31
	SS	Hakeem Nijman	Jacksonville, FL	Hybrid	162/15/3
	G	Slade Levick	Rock Hill, SC	Raw Strength	178/2/10
	DE	Ahmad Irving	Wake Forest, NC	Edge Setter	193/9/6
	DE	Leon Morris	Rochelle, GA	Speed Rusher	201/18/7
	LT	Zach Jackson	Evanston, IL	Agile	223/10/16
	WR	Bernie Bender	Abbeville, SC	Speedster	231/3/53
	ATH	Marco Monk	Jacksonville, FL	East/West Playmaker	257/31/26
	ATH	Cam Wall	Las Vegas, NV	Pure Possession	280/3/9
	SS	Cedrick Gastineau	Blythewood, SC	Hybrid	500/12/6
	LT	Laron Knox	Lawrenceville, GA	Agile	579/40/36
	ATH	Duke Kryspin	Raleigh, NC	Dual Threat	883/42/53
	DT	James Otton	Shelby, NC	Power Rusher	1,293/55/76

-2028-Recruiting-Rankings-

Ranking	Rank	Position	Name	Hometown	Tendency	Top 3
	1st	DT	Glenn Chick	Hoover, AL	Speed Rush	Ala/Aub/FSU
	2nd	DT	Tyree Trapp	Philadelphia, PA	Speed Rush	tOSU, TAMU, LSU
	3rd	LB	Rudy Creer	Marietta, GA	Thumper	ND/Clem/tOSU
	4th	LB	Evan Stingley	Aurora, IL	Signal Caller	LSU/ND/Mizz
	5th	FS	Tory Keke	Cincinnati, OH	Coverage Specialist	ND/tOSU/MSU
	6th	LT	Jacob Sanchez	Mansfield, TX	Agile	OU/Tex/ARK
	7th	CB	Nathan Ryans	Clackamas, OR	Field	ND/Ore/PSU
	8th	FS	Barak Shembo	Mesquite, TX	Coverage Specialist	LSU/tOSU/TAMU
	9th	QB	John Nwosu	Palmdale, CA	Dual Threat	Pre/Ala/Tex
	10th	LT	Sione Incoom	Newark, NJ	Raw Stength	PSU/tOSU/ND
	11th	LB	Malik Creech	Kennesaw, GA	Signal Caller	ND/UGA/LSU
	12th	LT	Colin Mixon	New Roads, LA	Pass Pro	Tex/Ala/TAMU
	13th	CB	Deron Anger	Paradise, TX	Bump & Run	ND/USC/OU
	14th	CB	Coco Mohammed	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Zone	UGA/MIA/Duke
	15th	HB	Matt Glennon	Cincinnati, OH	Contact Seeker	Pitt/PSU/ND

[YaBoyRobRoy]

After finishing up that schedule bro was like



Good luck this season, it’s going to be a tough one but if you guys make it through the gauntlet it will be hard to bet against you guys come playoff time.

[redsox907]

Around the NCAA - 2028 Preseason

Top 25
1 | Ohio State (36)
2 | Texas (2)
3 | Oklahoma (4)
4 | Miami
5 | Florida State
6 | Alabama
7 | Pittsburgh
8 | Penn State
9 | Ole Miss
10 | Notre Dame
11 | Texas A&M
12 | Oregon
13 | Coastal Carolina
14 | North Carolina
15 | SMU
16 | Nebraska
17 | Auburn
18 | Duke
19 | USC
20 | Maryland
21 | Houston
22 | Clemson
23 | Washington
24 | Indiana
25 | Kansas State

Others Receiving Votes
Tulane (130), Colorado (115), Michigan State (105), TCU (103), LSU (78), Boston College (44)

1st Team All Americans
QB | SO(RS) Ed Peace | Ohio State
HB | SR(RS) Kevin Riley | Alabama
HB | SR Zymear Smith | Penn State
WR | SO(RS) Daniel Lombardo | Ohio State
WR | SR(RS) Ashton Cozart | Ohio State
WR | SO(RS) Tyquan Pena | Clemson
TE | JR JJ Graves | Michigan
LT | SO(RS) Kyle Irving | Ohio State
LG | JR David Soroh | Oklahoma
C | SO(RS) Lorenzo Augustine | Ohio State
RG | SO(RS) Lane Spears | Ohio State
RT | SO(RS) Joel Iwuoma | Alabama
DE | SR(RS) Joseph Jonah-Ajonye | Texas A&N
DE | SR(RS) Booker Pickett | Clemson
DT | JR(RS) Jourdin Crawford | Notre Dame
DT | SR(RS) Jeremiah Beaman | Alabama
LB | SO Duke Coons | Ohio State
MLB | SR(RS) Kari Jackson | Penn State
LB | JR Dennis Walter | Georgia
CB | SR(RS) Koy Beasley | Ohio State
CB | JR(RS) Deyjhon Pettaway | Texas A&M
FS | SR(RS) Kingston Lopa | USC
SS | SR Rashad Johnson Jr | Texas A&M
K | JR James Rojas | Nebraska
P | JR Diego Dolegala | Nebraska

2nd Team All American
QB | JR(RS) Matt Zollers | Ohio State
HB | JR(RS) Dierre Hill | Penn State
HB | SO(RS) Pierre Square | Alabama
WR | SR(RS) Gekyle Baker | Ohio State
WR | SO(RS) Bill Brown | Ohio State
WR | SR(RS) Tyseer Denmark | Penn State
TE | JR(RS) Nate Roberts | Ohio State
LT | SO(RS) Jason Loville | Ohio State
LG | JR Jason Parris | Texas
C | SR(RS) Joseph Ionata | Alabama
RG | SR(RS) Daniel Calhoun | Georgia
RT | SO(RS) Shane Grossman | Penn State
DE | SR(RS) Nigel Smith II | Oklahoma
DE | SO(RS) Josh Firkser | Ohio State
DT | SR(RS) Liam Andrews | Penn State
DT | JR Christian Godwin | Nebraska
LB | SO(RS) Doug Carroo | Georgia
MLB | SR Christian Jones | Nebraska
LB | SR Zayden Walker | Florida State
CB | SR(RS) Cai Bates | Florida State
CB | SR(RS) Jarrelle White | Alabama
FS | SR(RS) DaShawn Spears | Texas A&M
SS | SR(RS) Jaiden Patterson | LSU
K | JR Sinilau Easy | Miami
P | FR(RS) Jason Barksdale | Oklahoma

[Agent]

preseason #13 is

[Bailey4mvp]

well damn, look at that recruiting class. That shit is fire.

[AJ_Josh]

Coach said no more underdog bs. He’s telling everyone what’s coming.

That schedule looks fun. Every week is going to be a challenge.

[Captain Canada]

Boy ain't dodging shit

Let's get to it!