Keeping the Standard - 2029 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Preview
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have climbed steadily each year under head coach Kade Vaughn. From six wins before his arrival, to 11, to 13 with a near-miss at the College Football Playoff, to 14 and their first playoff victory, and finally last year’s crowning achievement: a perfect 15-0 campaign capped by Orange and Peach Bowl trophies and a 35-31 national championship win over Clemson. For the first time in Vaughn’s tenure, there is no higher mountain to scale.
“All we can do now is hold the line,” Vaughn told his team before spring practice. “We’ve had a new goal every year, a new Everest to climb. Now we’re on the peak. The question is: do you want to be the team that lets the standard slip, or do you want to be the ones who hold the line and keep us at the top of the mountain?”
That challenge hits harder than usual. The Chants return only eight starters from last year’s title team, and while talent is plentiful in both the high school class and the transfer portal, the biggest question is the most obvious: who replaces Bryce Underwood?
Quarterback Question Marks
Replacing a two-time Heisman winner is never simple. Vaughn has been blunt with both players and media. “You can never really replace a guy like Bryce. He was one of one. No one here is expected to be him. They just need to be themselves. If they get caught comparing everything to Bryce, the season’s gone.”
Spring camp opened with four quarterbacks in the mix, but insiders already pegged redshirt freshman Andre Koloamatangi as a longshot. The real competition is between three names:
Carter Smith, the presumed frontrunner, brings high-end athleticism and the most accurate deep ball of the group. Think of him as a “budget Bryce” — not the same spark, but flashes of it.
Mason Kelsey, the USC transfer, has the biggest arm of the bunch. Coaches joke you can identify his throws by the sound alone. But the howitzer has a drawback: his accuracy remains inconsistent.
Neal Kennedy, the returning veteran, knows Vaughn’s system best and has the steadiest intermediate accuracy. But he lacks the mobility Vaughn loves in his quarterbacks, making him the “safe” but less dynamic choice.
Insiders say the Wake Forest opener is essentially a live-fire audition. Vaughn’s words to the media set the tone: “That first game is put up or shut up. They’ll all get run, and we’ll separate the men from the boys.”
Offense Reloaded
The quarterback spotlight may be blinding, but Coastal’s running game could steady the ship early. Iowa State transfer Sidney Barkow comes in with a reputation as a touchdown machine, having scored 21 last year despite splitting carries. Expectations are sky-high after Dareon Doctson turned in a 2,000-yard season before heading to the NFL. Jalen Likely returns as the third-down back, giving Coastal a reliable pass-catching option out of the backfield.
The receiver room is far less proven. Veterans George Rabe and Matthew Hape headline the group, though reports from camp suggest Hape has struggled adjusting without the mentorship of Jeremiah McClellan and Talyn Taylor. Transfer Terrence Rugamba (Minnesota) is expected to be a day-one starter, while Vaughn hasn’t been shy about throwing freshmen into the fire. Carolina products Bernie Bender and Carl Kopp, along with top targets Frank DuBose and David Goedeke, will all see the field early. Until someone in that group emerges, expect tight end Trishtin Glass — now the veteran anchor of the passing game — to carry a heavy workload.
The offensive line is the one unit with stability. Tackle Terrell Stork shifts to the left side, guards Luis Jacquez and Devin Harper return in hybrid roles, and transfers JD Blank and Dionte Duarte bring veteran snaps. Vaughn has praised their early chemistry, which may be the key to keeping whichever quarterback wins the job upright.
Same Defensive Scheme - New Pieces
Two-time Broyles Award winner Jeremiah Johnson returns to run the defense, and while there are new names across the board, the unit expects to be as aggressive as ever.
The linebackers are the backbone. Walt Reyna, already a two-time Bednarik and Nagurski winner, leads the unit and is poised to enter rarefied air as one of the best defenders of his era. He’s flanked by sophomore playmaker Caleb Karapateas and hybrid linebacker Juan Acker, giving Coastal speed, power, and versatility.
Up front, Vaughn dipped back into the portal. Don Vasher and Mitch Dora may not yet carry the cachet of last year’s NFL-bound trio (Stone, Wynn, and Collins), but Johnson is confident they’ll be household names by season’s end. Senior Darrion Hammer anchors the edge with the “Wheat twins” (Brooks and Brian) rotating opposite.
The secondary is the biggest swing spot. Losing All-Americans Josiah Persinger and Jo’Ziah Edmond leaves a void that transfer Jason Ramsay (East Carolina) and redshirt freshman Xavier Montague will try to fill. Coaches are excited about true freshman Mike Momah, a converted safety with footwork and instincts already turning heads. Veteran safety Dalton Dexter returns for a fourth year as a starter, alongside Nick Rudd-Johnson and redshirt freshman AJ Dwumfour. If the corners hold up in man coverage, this defense could again finish among the nation’s best.
Schedule Remains Difficult Early and Often
After last year’s gauntlet that stretched coast-to-coast, the 2029 slate looks slightly softer — but not by much. Coastal opens at home against Wake Forest, a game Vaughn has essentially circled as the quarterback sorting hat. Then comes a brutal early run: a road trip to No. 20 Florida State, a return home for Arizona State and Appalachian State, with a swing north to face rival North Carolina and a West Coast clash with No. 21 Washington in the mix.
A midseason bye offers the only breather before a five-week sprint to the finish: at Texas A&M, at Alabama, at Clemson in a National Championship rematch along with home against Notre Dame and Indiana, then finishing Senior Day against rival Liberty. Eight preseason Top-25 teams dot the calendar.
“On paper, it’s one of the tougher schedules in the country,” said Nick Saban on ESPN’s preseason coverage. “That’s the downside of being independent. No conference cupcakes, no weeks off. And the narrative after Bryce? People want to see if this was all about him, or if Vaughn can keep the machine humming.”
With a new quarterback, untested receivers, and a rebuilt defensive front, the easy narrative is to expect a step back. But Vaughn hasn’t built his program on easy narratives. If the Chanticleers’ quarterback battle produces even competent play and the defense holds serve, Coastal has the schedule — and the swagger — to defend its crown.
“If last year taught us anything,” Vaughn said after spring practice, “it’s that no one can beat us for four quarters. They can punch, they can swing, they can score — but we’ll still be standing in the end. That doesn’t change this year.”
The only question: can they keep standing on top of the mountain?
2029_Coastal_Carolina_Schedule
| Week | Team | 2028 Record |
| 1 | Wake Forest | 4-8 |
| 2 | @ #20 Florida State | 9-4 |
| 3 | Arizona State | 10-3 |
| 4 | @ #22 North Carolina | 9-4 |
| 5 | Appalachian State | 8-5 |
| 6 | @ #21 Washington | 10-3 |
| 7 | Bye | - |
| 8 | #12 Notre Dame | 10-3 |
| 9 | @ #1 Clemson | 13-2 |
| 10 | #16 Indiana | 9-4 |
| 11 | @ #6 Alabama | 10-3 |
| 12 | @#10 Texas A&M | 9-4 |
| 13 | Liberty | 6-7 |
2028 Coastal Carolina Depth Chart
Overall - 89 // Offense - 89 // Defense - 89
QB
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Carter Smith | SR(RS) | 86 | 86 | Pure Runner | Impact |
| Neal Kennedy | SR(RS) | 81 | 82 | Dual Threat | Impact |
| Mason Kelsay | SR(RS) | 82 | 82 | Dual Threat | Impact |
| Andre Koloamatangi | FR(RS) | 74 | 78 | Dual Threat | Normal |
| Deon Cherry | SO(RS) | 64 | 72 | Pocket Passer | Normal |
| Tobias Gallimore | FR(RS) | 67 | 74 | Pure Runner | Star |
HB
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Sidney Barkow | JR(RS) | 87 | 87 | East/West Playmaker | Elite |
| Jalen Likely | SR(RS) | 81 | 82 | East/West Playmaker | Impact |
| Jason Toppins | FR | 78 | 78 | North/South Blocker | Impact |
| Vince Shurmur | SO(RS) | 70 | 74 | North/South Receiver | Normal |
| Duke Kryspin | FR | 74 | 74 | Backfield Threat | Normal |
| Emmett Abraham | FR(RS) | 62 | 67 | East/West Playmaker | Impact |
WR
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Terrence Rugamba | JR(RS) | 85 | 85 | Gadget | Impact |
| George Rabe | JR | 66 | 81 | Speedster | Star |
| Spencer Yeast | JR(RS) | 63 | 79 | Route Artist | Normal |
| Dmitri Shakur | SO(RS) | 65 | 76 | Physical Route Runner | Normal |
| Matthew Hape | SO | 74 | 76 | Speedster | Impact |
| Bernie Bender | FR | 75 | 75 | Speedster | Impact |
| Carl Kopp | FR | 75 | 75 | Speedster | Impact |
| Frank DuBose | FR | 74 | 74 | Route Artist | Impact |
| David Goedeke | FR | 74 | 74 | Physical Route Runner | Normal |
| Steven Maples | SO(RS) | 65 | 69 | Route Artist | Normal |
TE
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Trishtin Glass | SR(RS) | 67 | 86 | Vertical Threat | Impact |
| Quincey Simonsen | JR(RS) | 65 | 81 | Pure Blocker | Normal |
| Percy LaRue | FR(RS) | 77 | 78 | Physical Route Runner | Normal |
| David Yazzie | SR | 65 | 68 | Pure Possession | Normal |
T
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Terrell Stork | JR(RS) | 82 | 86 | Well Rounded | Impact |
| Donte Duarte | JR(RS) | 81 | 81 | Agile | Impact |
| Benji Iosefa | JR(RS) | 78 | 79 | Pass Pro | Star |
| Juan Bentley | SR(RS) | 72 | 72 | Agile | Normal |
| Keenan Joslin | JR(RS) | 65 | 72 | Raw Strength | Normal |
| Matt Buzbee | FR(RS) | 65 | 69 | Agile | Normal |
| Rich Swenson | FR | 65 | 65 | Well Rounded | Impact |
G
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Cornell Glymph | HR(RS) | 76 | 88 | Pass Pro | Impact |
| Connor Payne | FR(RS) | 75 | 83 | Raw Strength | Star |
| Luis Jacques | SR | 80 | 88 | Pass Pro | Impact |
| Devin Harper | SR(RS) | 81 | 82 | Raw Strength | Impact |
| DeAndre Conte | FR | 76 | 76 | Raw Strength | Impact |
| Slade Levcik | FR | 75 | 75 | Raw Strength | Normal |
| Alonzo Droege | JR(RS) | 66 | 73 | Raw Strength | Normal |
| Darrell Briscoe | FR(RS) | 65 | 69 | Agile | Normal |
C
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| JD Blank | JR(RS) | 79 | 79 | Agile | Normal |
| Clyde Self | SO(RS) | 63 | 71 | Well Rounded | Impact |
| Nick Cobb | FR | 70 | 70 | Agile | Star |
DE
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Darrion Hammer | SR | 71 | 90 | Power Rusher | Star |
| Brooks Wheat | SO(RS) | 84 | 84 | Speed Rusher | Star |
| Eric Wheat | SO | 77 | 83 | Pure Power | Star |
| Roosevelt Verner | JR(RS) | 69 | 78 | Pure Power | Normal |
| Bradley Harris | SR(RS) | 60 | 70 | Power Rusher | Normal |
| Joel Ramsey | JR(RS) | 68 | 82 | Pure Power | Star |
| Imani Wake | FR | 70 | 70 | Pure Power | Impact |
DT
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Don Vasher | JR | 90 | 90 | Gap Specialist | Elite |
| Mitch Dora | SO(RS) | 86 | 86 | Gap Specialist | Impact |
| Joshua Talbott | JR(RS) | 69 | 83 | Gap Specialist | Impact |
| Lionel Ruggins | FR(RS) | 76 | 79 | Pure Power | Normal |
| Jermaine Uzomah | FR | 79 | 79 | Power Rusher | Star |
| Matt Woodley | SR(RS) | 61 | 78 | Gap Specialist | Normal |
LB
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Caleb Karapateas | SO | 81 | 82 | Thumper | Impact |
| Juan Acker | SR | 82 | 84 | Lurker | Impact |
| Craig Bragg | FR | 75 | 75 | Lurker | Normal |
| Cary Tatum | FR | 78 | 78 | Thumper | Normal |
| Damon Hakim | FR(RS) | 68 | 71 | Signal Caller | Normal |
MLB
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Walt Reyna | JR | 77 | 86 | Signal Caller | Star |
| Enrique Ambrose | SR | 66 | 84 | Signal Caller | Impact |
| Nick Farrior | SO | 77 | 80 | Thumper | Impact |
| Jeremy Snyder | SO(RS) | 68 | 76 | Thumper | Impact |
| Joel Spann | JR(RS) | 67 | 75 | Lurker | Normal |
| Demetrius Anger | SO(RS) | 68 | 72 | Lurker | Normal |
CB
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Jason Ramsay | SR(RS) | 88 | 88 | Boudnary | Impact |
| Jojo Tate | JR(RS) | 68 | 83 | Boundary | Normal |
| Xavier Montague | FR(RS) | 75 | 80 | Field | Star |
| Malik Northrop | JR(RS) | 68 | 78 | Boundary | Normal |
| Ezekiel Stubbs | SO(RS) | 64 | 78 | Bump and Run | Impact |
| Mike Momah | FR | 76 | 76 | Boundary | Elite |
| Seth Byron | SR(RS) | 74 | 74 | Boundary | Normal |
| Paul Lincoln | SR | 71 | 71 | Boundary | Normal |
FS
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Nick Rudd-Johnson | SR(RS) | 61 | 79 | Coverage Specialist | Normal |
| AJ Dwumfour | FR(RS) | 76 | 77 | Coverage Specialist | Normal |
SS
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| Dalton Dexter | SR | 72 | 77 | Box Specialist | Normal |
| Troy Chinn | SO(RS) | 68 | 72 | Box Specialist | Normal |
K/P
Coastal_Carolina
| Name | Class | Orig OVR | Current OVR | Tendency | Dev Trait |
| K Jesus Mendez | JR | | 80 | 81 | Power | Impact |
| P Logan Haines | SR(RS) | 52 | 72 | Accurate | Normal |
| P Nate Peter | FR | 79 | 79 | Power | Impact |