Offense
The quarterback position is settled with the return of Caden Creel. The dual threat signal caller is a good one. He threw for 1,514 yards, rushed for 1,075 yards, and accounted for 16 total touchdowns. With all the running he does, QB2 is an important role that should be manned by redshirt freshman Jack Moran.
The running back room loses CUSA MVP Cam Cook, but should still be the deepest unit on the offense. Justus Savage, Andrew Paul, Khristian Lando, Jalen Likely, and Lucas Farrington each have some experience. They will run behind a solid offensive line.
The wide receiver room returns experience in Deandre Johnson (30 receptions, 724 yards, six touchdowns), Dylan Gentry, Franklin Baret Jr., and Gabe Glover. Johnson is 6-foot-8 and quite the target. The additions of Ronnel Johnson (Missouri State), Jamill Williams (D2 Albany State), Darius Cannon (Murray State), and tight end David Alpers III (South Dakota State) are massive.
The offensive line returns experience in Jeremiah Orr, Lucas Mrachkovskiy, Lance Johnson, and Daylan Martin, among others. The additions of Ryan Walker (North Alabama), Caleb Holmes (Pittsburgh), Bo Burkes (North Carolina), Hadine Diaby (Nevada), Jackson Bunn (Kentucky), Cameron Stancil (Murray State), Amaril Atchison (Mercer), and Britin Witt (VMI) are key.
Defense
The defensive line room returns experience in Jawaun Campbell, Khurtiss Perry, Gharin Stansbury, and Quay Hood. The additions of Nii Addy (D2 Harding), Marquis Hood (North Carolina A&T), Andrew Rumph (UCF), Angel Toombs (Wisconsin), and Marvin Stringfellow (D2 Concordia-St Paul) are crucial.
The linebacker room returns plenty of experience in Mac Sanders (85 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss as a freshman), Walker O’Steen (84 tackles), Jacob Cruz, Myles Butler, Ian Mitchell, and Shane Payton Hodges. This is as good of a two-deep in CUSA and in the entire Group of Six. This group can be relied upon.
The secondary returns experience in Tre’Quan Fegans, Jaheim Jenkins, Marc Woods, and Caleb Nix (All-CUSA), among others. The additions of Kaden Cook (California), Rob Billings IV (Clemson), Legend Doggett (D3 LaGrange), Jonavan Carr (D2 Albany State), Vernon Woodward III (Illinois), and Keiyon Turner (D2 Fort Valley State) are big.
Specialists
Both kicker Garrison Rippa and punter Conor Donaghy return. Donaghy is solid, while Rippa was named a 1st Team All-CUSA performer last season. Murray State transfer Darius Cannon could play a major role as a return man as well.
2026 Schedule
- 8/29 at North Dakota State
- 9/5 Eastern Kentucky
- 9/12 at Ohio
- 9/19 Georgia Southern
- 9/26 Middle Tennessee State
- 10/7 at Kennesaw State
- 10/13 Florida International
- 10/28 at New Mexico State
- 11/7 Sam Houston
- 11/14 at Western Kentucky
- 11/21 Missouri State
- 11/28 at Delaware
Final Analysis
Jacksonville State has made three straight bowl games and back-to-back CUSA Title games. There is no doubt they belong at the FBS level. Charles Kelly did a great job after Rich Rod went back to West Virginia. Expect the Gamecocks to once again compete for the CUSA crown.
