Ex Libertate Veritas | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

[Captain Canada]

That's a fucking class

[Caesar]

We gotta start asking questions about Coach Vaughn's ability to win big games when they matter.

[redsox907]

the future is bright

That's a fucking class

We gotta start asking questions about Coach Vaughn's ability to win big games when they matter.

He's 5-2 in the playoff and 5-2 in total bowls (not counting 1st round wins). And won a Natty

[redsox907]

Nomads No More - ACC Officially Introduces Coastal Carolina

The Atlantic Coast Conference today announced that its Board of Directors has approved Coastal Carolina University for full conference membership beginning with the 2030–31 academic year. The action concludes a two-year “prove-it” term agreement executed in 2027 and affirms that Coastal satisfied every competitive, compliance, and governance benchmark required for entry.

“Coastal Carolina met the standard—on the field and in the boardroom,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. “They embraced independent audits, NIL transparency, and enhanced integrity policies, and they won at the highest level while doing it. That combination strengthens our conference.”

In 2027 the ACC extended Coastal a conditional on-ramp in lieu of immediate admission at a reduced revenue share. The agreement required Coastal, while competing as an FBS Independent in 2028–29, to:

• Operate a third-party NIL clearinghouse with quarterly reports to the ACC;
• Maintain a formal gambling-funds firewall separating athletic personnel and NIL payments;
• Undergo annual independent compliance audits and publish public executive summaries;
• Incur no Level I or Level II infractions; and
• Play three ACC-designated opponents per year (separate from a non-conference Clemson series) to demonstrate competitive fit and television value.

The University checked every box. Independent auditors delivered clean opinions in both 2028 and 2029; the ACC Compliance Office received timely NIL reports and confirmed adherence to the gambling firewall; and the NCAA reported no Level I/II findings during the bridge period.

On the field, Coastal went 24–4 across the two independent seasons and captured the 2028 National Championship, confirming the program’s capacity not just to survive but to thrive against top-tier schedules. The Chanticleers delivered multiple ranked victories, robust home gates, and strong viewership in protected ACC windows.

“From day one, we embraced the ACC’s standards as our own,” said Coastal Chair of Athletics Joe Maglio. “Today’s vote reflects two years of transparent operations and championship performance.”

Membership & Integration Details
• Effective Date: July 1, 2030 (all sports).
• Revenue Share: As negotiated in 2027—approximately 70% of full distribution in 2030–31, 85% in 2031–32, and 100% beginning 2032–33.
• Media & Scheduling: Coastal’s home media rights are assigned to ACC partners effective immediately. Football will be scheduled with an emphasis on regional rivalries; the conference anticipates annual or frequent pairings with Clemson, North Carolina, NC State, Duke, Virginia and rotation across the broader slate.
• Governance & Oversight: Coastal will continue quarterly NIL reporting and annual external audits for the duration of the ramp period, consistent with the ACC’s integrity framework adopted in 2027.

“Our charge was simple—prove the model, protect the brand, and earn the right to join this league,” said Athletics Director Chance Miller. “The 24–4 record and 2028 title speak for themselves, but we’re equally proud of the clean audits and the trust we’ve built.”

Head coach Kade Vaughn added: “We asked for the toughest road and we got it. Two years of big-game hunting sharpened us for the ACC. Now it’s about raising the standard every Saturday and pushing this conference to new heights. ”

The ACC will release initial 2030 football matchups and Olympic-sport scheduling details later this month. A formal welcome event on campus in Conway, S.C., will be held in August in coordination with ACC Network.

Entering the ACC, Coastal Carolina profiles as an immediate contender. Under head coach Kade Vaughn, the Chanticleers are 64–9 over five seasons in Conway, 5–2 in bowls, and owners of the 2028 National Championship. After two Independent seasons spent deliberately scheduling the sport’s heaviest hitters—and winning—the question is less whether Coastal belongs and more whether the league can contain the surge.

On The Pat McAfee Show, Pat McAfee framed it this way:

“I know this is where they wanted to be, but are we sure everybody else in the ACC wanted them here? Coastal’s run the gauntlet, and only Florida State and Pitt have clipped ’em from this league. That doesn’t bode well for Miami—and, by the way, slime they’ve still got your chain—or for Clemson, who Vaughn hasn’t lost to. I’m just saying: be careful what you ask for.”

[Agent]

That’s what we like to see

[The JZA]

Welcome to the ACC, where the GOATS play

[djp73]

Will be fun to see some of those ACC matchups

[redsox907]

That’s what we like to see

Welcome to the ACC, where the GOATS play

Will be fun to see some of those ACC matchups

Vaughn walking into the ACC media day

[redsox907]

Spring Spotlight - Defense

Conway, SC. - “I watch the tape and it’s hard to believe these are the same guys I see out here every day, swarming and making plays,” new DC Tony White admitted after a recent Chanticleers spring practice. “Eight starters are back from last year’s defense, and I just can’t fathom how the wheels fell off.”

The falloff is still fresh in Conway. Under Jeremiah Johnson, Coastal had built its reputation on defense. Vaughn’s first two years were defined by stingy, tough-nosed units that kept the Chants alive while the offense searched for answers. Even in 2028, when Bryce Underwood was throwing picks all over the yard in the National Championship, Johnson’s group kept Clemson contained long enough to secure the title.

But 2029 was different. Everett Donaghy lit them up in Week 1. Then Frank Powell dropped 538 yards and five scores in Doak Campbell. By December, Coastal ranked 122nd nationally in yards allowed. “Unacceptable,” MLB Walt Reyna spat after the Orange Bowl debacle, his third straight Bednarik/Nagurski in hand but little else to celebrate.

Vaughn didn’t hesitate to shake things up, starting right at the top. Defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson was let go, paving the way for Tony White to take over the unit. “The writing was on the wall,” Vaughn admitted when asked when he first realized a change was necessary.

With a new voice leading the defense, Coastal had to forge a new identity — one that could mesh White’s scheme with the talent already in place. The staff went heavy into the portal, landing DT/DE James Ruggins to spark a pass rush that too often stumbled into sacks last fall, and linebackers Ty Oden and Evan Hemphill to help take some of the load off Walt Reyna. But the boldest move came from within: Vaughn and White shifting linebacker Caleb Karapateas to free safety, betting that his speed and instincts could erase the big plays that plagued the secondary last season.

“He’s got all the tools — speed, vision, instincts,” White explained. “I expect him to erase big plays on the back end. That’s the difference.” Vaughn added context: “Tony pointed out how fast CK went sideline-to-sideline on film. Then he asked me, ‘Imagine that speed at safety, cleaning up all these deep shots?’ That sold me.”

The early returns are promising. Karapateas has looked natural as the last line of defense, giving Coastal flexibility to lean into White’s man-heavy approach. “We’re going to get in your face — at the line and all the way downfield,” said sophomore CB Xavier Montague, who will be on an island opposite Jojo Tate. Montague showed flashes last year but gambled too often; White’s message this spring has been blunt: stick to your man.

Up front, veterans Mitch Dora, Don Vasher, and Eric Wheat return, with Ruggins sliding into a key edge role. At linebacker, Reyna remains the centerpiece, but Hemphill’s arrival from rival Liberty gives the unit balance it lacked. “Juan [Acker] could rush the passer, sure,” Vaughn said. “But we needed someone next to Walt who could make reads, not just fill gaps.”

The secondary, once again, will make or break this defense. Tate’s a proven starter. Montague and Mike Momah enter Year 2. AJ Dwumfour returns at safety. And now Karapateas, the wild card, brings experience and speed to a spot that bled explosives last season. If those pieces hold, the Chants believe they’ll have a defense worthy of their ACC debut.

White put it best: “Flies on shit. That’s the standard. If we’re in your face, we win. If we’re chasing, we lose.”

Defensive Depth Chart
94 Overall

DE Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
James Ruggins	SR	86	86	Speed Rusher	Star
Eric Wheat	JR	77	87	Pure Power	Star
Brooks Wheat	JR(RS)	84	87	Speed Rusher	Star
Joel Ramsay	SR(RS)	68	85	Pure Power	Star
Alfonso Smith	FR(RS)	83	83	Speed Rusher	Elite
Roosevelt Verner	SR(RS)	69	77	Pure Power	Normal
Jason Ivory	FR	76	76	Speed Rusher	Normal
Imani Wake	FR(RS)	70	74	Pure Power	Impact

DT Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Don Vasher	SR	90	93	Gap Specialist	Elite
Mitch Dora	JR(RS)	86	86	Gap Specialist	Impact
Joshua Talbott	SR(RS)	69	82	Gap Specalist	Impact
Lionel Ruggins	SO(RS)	76	80	Pure Power	Normal
Jermaine Uzomah	FR(RS)	79	79	Power Rusher	Star

LB Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Evan Hemphill	SR	94	94	Signal Caller	Elite
Cary Tatum	SO	78	79	Thumper	Normal
Craig Bragg	SO	75	78	Lurker	Normal
Carl Urbik	FR	78	78	Thumper	Star
Derek Chris	FR	77	77	Thumper	Impact
Damon Hakim	SO(RS)	68	74	Signal Caller	Normal

MLB Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Walt Reyna	SR	77	90	Signal Caller	Star
Ty Oden	JR(RS)	89	89	Thumper	Star
Nick Farrior	JR	77	81	Thumper	Impact
Jeremy Snyder	JR(RS)	68	80	Thumper	Impact
Anthony Atogwe	FR	80	80	Signal Caller	Star
Joel Spann	SR(RS)	67	78	Lurker	Normal
Demetrius Anger	JR(RS)	68	72	Lurker	Normal

CB Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Jojo Tate	SR(RS)	68	88	Boundary	Impact
Mike Momah	SO	76	85	Boundary	Elite
Xavier Montague	SO(RS)	75	83	Field	Star
Eric Stubbs	JR(RS)	64	79	Bump and Run	Impact
Emanuel Abrams	FR	78	78	Field	Star
John Landman	FR	78	78	Field	Star
Hugh Boselli	FR	75	75	Field	Normal

FS Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
AJ Drumfour	SO(RS)	76	81	Coverage Specialist	Impact
Sean Maggio	FR	77	77	Hybrid	Impact
Trevor Iverson	FR	75	75	Hybrid	Normal

SS Coastal_carOlina

Name	Class	Org OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Caleb Karapateas	JR	81	84	Box Specialist	Impact
Randy Granger	FR(RS)	81	81	Coverage Specialist	Normal
Ross Gossett	FR	74	74	Box Specialist	Normal

[redsox907]

Spring Spotlight - Offense

Conway, SC. - For all the wins and spectacular moments the Chanticleers have experienced in the last six seasons, one storyline has shadowed Kade Vaughn’s program into Year Six: quarterback stability.

Vaughn didn’t duck the issue this spring. “We’ve tried every cycle,” he admitted. “But when you’re playing the best every week, you can’t ease a guy along. It’s sink or swim.”

That’s why, after last year’s carousel of Mason Kelsay, Carter Smith, Neal Kennedy, and Andre Koloamatangi — and the turnovers that doomed them against Georgia — the relief is palpable inside Brooks Stadium: there is no competition this spring.

The job belongs to Nick Golladay.

The Memphis transfer reunited with his old coordinator, now DC Tony White, and immediately erased the uncertainty that fractured the locker room last fall. Vaughn called it “a weight off the program.” Scouts inside camp go further: if Golladay stays healthy, this offense has the balance to be elite again.

Behind him, the future is already sparking debate. Koloamatangi remains, but insiders are buzzing about freshman Frederick Meredith. “Frank, hands down,” one scout said. “Different zip, cleaner mechanics. Miles ahead of Andre at the same stage. If Nick went down, don’t be shocked if Frank trots out there.”

Golladay inherits a loaded supporting cast. Four offensive line starters return, Sidney Barkow is back as a Heisman contender, and the receiver room is both deep and hungry.

The big addition: Duke transfer Kamryn Petty, whose speed has jumped off the practice tape. “He made some of our guys look like they were moving in slo-mo,” Vaughn quipped. For a group that leaned on young talent last year — sophomores Carl Kopp and David Goedeke both forced into action — Petty gives them a true field-stretcher.

Tight end is another storyline. With Trishtin Glass gone, Percy LaRue has emerged as the next mismatch. Once projected as a defensive lineman, he’s now flashing soft hands and rare hops. At 6’1”, he’s a different build than Glass, but coaches think he could be just as dangerous. Add in 6’7” freshman Jamal Stephen, and the Chants will be throwing plenty of lobs in the red zone.

The backfield also has a new wrinkle. With transfer Floyd Priest on board, OC Dave Patenaude is planning to free Barkow for more creative usage. “With Floyd here, we don’t have to pound Sid into the line 30 times,” Patenaude said. “We can move him around, get him in space, let him wreck games.”

The vibe this spring is unmistakably different. A year ago, every practice felt like an audition. Players picked sides in the QB race, and it seeped into the locker room. Now? There’s a clarity that wasn’t there before.

“It’s a good vibe,” Vaughn said flatly. “We’re not wondering who’s under center. We’re just building chemistry.”

That chemistry will be tested quickly with ACC play looming, but the insiders leaving spring camp are unanimous: Coastal finally has stability at quarterback, speed outside, and the flexibility to unleash Sidney Barkow in ways the country hasn’t seen yet.

The pieces are here. And this time, no one is looking over their shoulder to see who’s taking the next snap.


2028 Coastal Carolina Offensive Depth Chart
96 Overall

QB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Nick Golladay	SR	86	86	Dual Threat	Impact
Andre Koloamatangi	SO(RS)	74	80	Dual Threat	Normal
Tobias Gallimore	SO(RS)	67	79	Pure Runner	Star
Fredrick Meredith	FR	76	76	Dual Threat	Impact

HB Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Sidney Barkow	SR(RS)	87	93	East/West Playmaker	Elite
Floyd Priest	JR(RS)	90	90	North/South Blocker	Star
Jason Toppins	SO	78	81	North/South Blocker	Impact
Duke Kryspin	FR(RS)	74	79	Backfield Threat	Normal
Justice Spear	FR	74	74	Backfield Threat	Elite
Emmett Abraham	SO(RS)	62	72	East/West Playmaker	Impact

WR Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Kamryn Petty	SR	91	91	Elusive Route Runner	Star
Terrence Rugamba	SR(RS)	85	87	Gadget	Impact
George Rabe	SR	66	85	Speedster	Star
Spencer Yeast	SR(RS)	63	85	Route Artist	Normal
Carl Kopp	SO	75	81	Speedster	Impact
David Goedeke	SO	74	81	Physical Route Runner	Normal
Bernie Bender	SO	75	81	Speedster	Impact
Matthew Hape	JR	74	79	Speedster	Impact
Dmitri Shakur	SO(RS)	65	78	Physical Route Runner	Normal
Frank DuBose	FR(RS)	74	79	Route Artist	Impact
Tyler Hagg	FR	76	76	Route Artist	Star
Tavares Tinker	FR	75	75	Speedster	Impact
Brayden Sharpe	FR	74	74	Gadget	Impact

TE Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Quincey Simonsen	SR(RS)	65	84	Pure Blocker	Normal
Percy LaRue	SO(RS)	77	79	Physical Route Runner	Normal
Jamal Stephen	FR	78	78	Pure Possession	Star

T Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Terrell Stork	SR(RS)	82	87	Well Rounded	Impact
Donte Duarte	SR(RS)	81	84	Agile	Impact
Benji Iosefa	SR(RS)	78	81	Pass Pro	Star
Antonio Tripucka	FR	79	79	Pass Pro	Elite
Lee Omameh	FR	77	77	Pass Pro	Normal
Devin Trinidad	FR	76	76	Agile	Impact
Rich Swenson	FR(RS)	65	73	Well Rounded	Impact

G Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
Cornell Glymph	SR(RS)	76	93	Pass Pro	Impact
Connor Payne	SO(RS)	75	89	Raw Strength	Star
Jesus Sosa	JR(RS)	86	86	Pass Pro	Impact
DeAndre Conte	FR	76	76	Raw Strength	Impact
Slade Levcik	FR(RS)	75	76	Raw Strength	Normal
Ty Sahara	FR	76	76	Agile	Impact
Darrell Briscoe	SO(RS)	65	73	Agile	Normal
Keelan LeCounte	FR	67	67	Raw Stength	Star

C Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
JD Blank	SR(RS)	79	82	Agile	Normal
DeAndre Conte	FR(RS)	77	77	Raw Stength	Impact
Clyde Self	JR(RS)	63	76	Well Rounded	Impact
Nick Cobb	FR(RS)	70	75	Agile	Star

K/P Coastal_Carolina

Name	Class	Orig OVR	Current OVR	Tendency	Dev Trait
K Jesus Mendez	SR		80	82	Power	Impact
P Nate Peter	FR	79	80	Power	Impact