Preview Of Monmouth Football's Season Opener At Eastern Washington

WEST LONG BRANCH—Monmouth University will travel 2,800 miles for its season opener against Eastern Washington University at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern time (ESPN+) on Thursday, August 29.

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY

The Hawks first two seasons in the Coastal Athletic Association haven’t been kind to them. In 2022, they finished 5-6 overall and 3-5 in conference play. Then, last season, they were 4-7 overall and 3-5 again in conference play.

There were plenty of missed opportunities a year ago and should-haves and could-haves that might’ve turned a losing season into a winning season - the margin of error in the CAA is razor-thin. But the fact of the matter is that they didn’t get the job done.

Gone are All-Americans Dymere Miller and Jaden Shirden, who accounted for 58 percent of Monmouth’s offense last season, and the bulk of last season's starters. There are some holes to fill for sure, but the Hawks are confident they have the personnel to do that. Just how good can the Hawks be this season? That’s hard to predict, given the turnover of starters they've had.

They were picked to finish tenth in the 16-team Coastal Athletic Association, but I think they’re being underrated, which may be a plus for them. The Hawks have the potential to be a really solid football team, but at the same time, with only three starters who started in Monmouth's season-ending loss to Albany a year ago back this season, it’s a cause for concern. That means the Hawks will field 19 new starters when they take the field Thursday night. Yikes.

However, there's no reason to panic, and here’s why:

GAME EXPERIENCE - Most of the new starters saw considerable action last season as backups or spot starters and are now more than capable of handling starting roles with the gameday experience they already have under their belts. Remember, players generally begin their careers as backups and mature into starting roles. Ideally, this would happen gradually in a perfect world, but it is what it is.

TRANSFER PORTAL – Monmouth’s two-deep depth chart has two starters and one backup on both sides of the ball who came to Monmouth through the transfer portal. Each brings a lot to the table, especially quarterback Derek Robertson, who transferred to Monmouth from the University of Maine. Make no bones about it; this is a massive acquisition for the Hawks. Robertson was a Coastal Athletic Association Honorable Mention selection a year ago when he threw for 2,933 yards and 25 touchdowns, going 258-of-404 through the air. His 266.6 passing yards per game were third in the CAA and 11th in the FCS. Robertson, selected as one of Monmouth’s seven team captains, quickly won over his teammates through his hard work, leadership qualities, and outgoing personality. Robertson developed instant chemistry this summer with wide receiver transfer Max James, who will start at one wideout spot. James, a big 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, spent two seasons at James Madison University before moving on to Lackawanna Junior College last season, where he caught 24 passes for 398 yards and five touchdowns – another big-time addition for the Hawks. Harvard transfer Logan Bednar started 10 games for the Crimson a year ago when they went 8-2 and shared the Ivy League title. He helped the offense to a number-one ranking in scoring and rushing yards and third in total offense. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Bednar will backup sophomore Matt Fries at left tackle but don’t be surprised if he works himself into the rotation.

On defense, safety Alex Odom transferred from Temple University, where he played 40 games across four seasons, totaling 199 tackles, including 119 solo stops, 10 TFL, and two interceptions. As big as the addition of Robertson is on offense, Odom is just as big on defense. In Monmouth’s final intrasquad game of the summer, Odom had a pick-six along with numerous tackles and defended passes. He’s an impact player who will have a profound effect on Monmouth’s young secondary. Bucknell transfer Tyler Alston gets the start at defensive end, and he’ll be backed up by Kennesaw State transfer Joel Parker. Alston played in 36 games at Bucknell with 28 starts. He led the defensive line in tackles as a junior (42) and a senior (52). Parker appeared in 39 games for the Owls, totaling 63 tackles, 28 solo, 16 for loss and four sacks. With the advent of the transfer portal, it has become increasingly challenging to gauge a team's strengths and weaknesses entering the season. But as far as I can tell, Monmouth’s additions through the portal this season will positively impact the team in many different areas.

OFFENSE

Monmouth is known for its high-octane offenses, that are perennially ranked atop the CAA in scoring and yardage. Once the motor starts humming, this year should be no different.

Starting running back Sone Ntoh backed up Shirden last season, but he was still an All-CAA second-team selection after rushing for 14 touchdowns, which was second in the CAA and eighth in the country. The 5-foot-11, 235-pound Ntoh ran for 411 yards on 56 carries for an average of 7.3 yards per attempt. Known for his short-yardage invincibility, Ntoh, a team captain, has deceptive speed and broke loose for touchdown runs of 92 and 66 yards last season. Speedster Makhi Green gives the Hawks a change of pace in the backfield, as does sophomore Rodney Nelson. They’ll backup Ntoh.

Senior wideout T.J. Speight was third on the team in receptions last season with 19 catches for 181 yards and is the leading returner. He’ll return kickoffs again this season after returning 10 last season for 315 yards, including a 98-yard return for a touchdown. The Hawks boast an array of young talent at wide receiver with a ton of potential; now, it's up to them to prove themselves. Sophomores Josh Derry and Tra Neal, junior Gavin Nelson, senior Will Silverman, and James make up a talented but unproven group of receivers.

Returning starting tight end Jack Neri is in his third season as a starter and brings a wealth of experience with 15 starts and 23 games played on his resume. Last season, he had 22 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown, and at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, he’s also an accomplished blocker. Sophomore Marcus Middleton, a dark horse after redshirting last season, won the backup role with an excellent camp.

Monmouth is known for its physical offensive lines and although the names have changed, the style of play will remain the same this season. Sophomore Matt Fries (6-foot-5, 275-pounds) at left tackle, sophomore Chris Moreno (6-foot-1, 300-pounds) at left guard, fifth-year senior Ed Gatling (6-foot-3, 320-pounds) at center, junior Shalik Hubbard (6-foot-4, 325-pounds) at right guard and fifth-year senior right tackle J.T. Cornelius (6-foot-6, 290-pounds) should be able to carry on the tradition of having dominate offensive lines.

DEFENSE

Under new defensive coordinator Lewis Walker, Monmouth’s defense is expected to take a huge step forward after years of being a doormat. If the defense plays with the enthusiasm and intensity it did during this summer and fall camp, Monmouth is going to surprise a lot of people.

Junior Miles Mitchell (6-foot-4, 250-pounds) has flashed moments of brilliance, but now it's time to do it more consistently. And some people in the know think he’s capable of it – he was just named to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List. So, now it’s up to him to prove them right. Last season, he started eight games, making 24 tackles, including 18 solo stops, with two sacks and six tackles for loss. Fifth-year senior Justin O’Bannon, who started 11 games as a junior, will back up Mitchell with little falloff when he enters the game. Senior Isaiah Rogers has put in his time and deservedly gets the start at tackle. Rogers saw action in all 11 games a year ago, totaling 18 tackles, eight solo stops, 0.5 sacks, and two TFL. Expect a big year from Rogers. Freshman Sebastien Acheampong, an early arrival, distinguished himself enough to win the backup role behind Rogers. Junior Chris King gets the starting nod at the other tackle spot. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder started out at the University of Buffalo before transferring to Monmouth in 2022. He appeared in nine games last season, and his quickness and strength stood out. He’s another player raring to go and make a name for himself. Fifth-year senior Sheku Tonkara (6-foot-2, 280-pounds) and junior Breandan Bigos (6-foot-4, 265-pounds) will also be in the tackle rotation. Tonkara is a veteran the Hawks can count on. He has 15 starts in 36 games played.

Graduate student linebacker Ryan Moran has been with the program since 2019 as a redshirt freshman and a starter since 2021. He has 28 starts in 33 games played. A captain, Moran can be overlooked at times, but his consistent play, fueled by his football smarts, athleticism, and leadership qualities, make him one of the team's most valuable members. Senior linebacker Remi Johnson is another player ready to break out in a big way now that he’s in a full-time starting role. In only six games (two starts) last season, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Johnson was fifth on the team in tackles with 33, including 23 solo stops. He's a big, powerful player whose quickness allows him to play sideline to sideline. Having played in 18 games the past two seasons, junior Sam Korpoi knows his way around the football field, and now that he’s a starter, the expectations for a huge season out of him are flying. Senior Daniel Gutin, junior Damir McCrary, and sophomore Ryan Alexander will also be in the rotation. McCrary, the 2021 South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year, appeared in five games as a true freshman and eight games last season.

A couple of sophomores, Israel Clar-White and Emmanuel Lane will man Monmouth’s starting cornerback spots. Clark-White saw action in three games last season as a true freshman, making four tackles (two solo) and had one pass defended. Lane did not see game action as a true freshman. Talking about getting thrown into the pressure cooker! This is obviously the position with the most question marks for the Hawks and has the potential to make or break the Hawks season. Stopping the pass is the name of the game in the CAA, so let's hope these youngsters are up for the challenge. Junior Dana Johnson Jr. and senior John England are second on the depth chart. Senior Justin Bennin will start at safety opposite Odom, and he appeared in 10 games a year ago, accumulating 19 tackles (12 solo stops), one TFL land FF. You can expect to see sophomore safety Deuce Lee in the rotation. As a true freshman a year ago, Lee totaled 35 tackles (20 solo), two defended passes and one interception.

At times, you can expect to see three sophomores in the secondary simultaneously, but as the old football adage goes, you play your best players. Junior Patrick Murphy and sophomore Ayden Martin will back up at the safety position.

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

From 2012 to 2021, the Eagles averaged nine wins per season and captured four Big Sky championships. Since then, they’ve gone 3-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play in 2022 and 4-7 overall and 3-5 in conference play a year ago. Eastern Washington was picked to finish eighth this season in the Big Sky Coaches Poll out of 12 teams. The Big Sky Conference is ranked second, seven points ahead of third-ranked Coastal Athletic Association by FloSports. EWU returns 16 total starters from the 2023 team, eight on offense and eight on defense.

OFFENSE

Like Monmouth, EWU’s offense has been its strength in recent years, while its defense has struggled. EWU’s offense was ranked third in the Big Sky in passing (263.4 yards per game) and fourth in total yards (417.6 yards per game) last season. They were also fourth in scoring with 32.3 points per game.

The Eagles offensive line returns four of five starters from a year ago who have a combined 96 starts between them. The offense will be led by FCS first-team Preseason All-American wide receiver Efton Chism III, who enters the season with 2,541 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns in his career. Last season he caught 84 passes for 932 yards and eight touchdowns. Returning running back Tuna Altahir rushed for 534 yards on 125 attempts with six touchdowns and wide receiver Nolan Ulm is back after catching 45 passes for 564 and four touchdowns a year ago.

Redshirt junior quarterback Kekoa Visperas had a breakout season a year ago when he was a Big Sky Honorable Mention selection after passing for 2,754 yards to lead the Big Sky Conference. He completed 250-of-379 passes with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Senior Michael Wortham was a second-team All-Big Sky selection as a kick returner. He had a total of 736 combined kick return yards which ranked first in the Big Sky and second in the nation.

DEFENSE

EWU’s defense ranked 10th out of 12 Big Sky teams in yards allowed per game (454.1) and points allowed per game (36.1), and its top three leading tacklers all graduated. It ranked 119th out of 122 FCS programs in yards per play allowed (6.7) last season. All-Big Sky cornerback Marlon Jones transferred to Vanderbilt but is out for the season with health issues.

Graduate student linebacker Adam Cohen, who transferred from UCLA in 2023 is the leading returning tackler with 51 tackles. Redshirt junior safety Kentrell Williams added 45 tackles, 3.5 TFL and one fumble return and junior defensive tackle Matt Brown chipped in with 36 tackles, six TFL and three sacks. Redshirt senior defensive end Brock Harrison recorded 27 tackles, 6.5 TFL and three sacks. Redshirt sophomore safety Drew Carter led the team with five pass breakups along with 23 tackles.

McKel Broussard (DB from UTEP), Anthony James (DL from Washington), and Caleb Manson (DL from Nevada) were brought in from the transfer portal to boost the defense.

PREDICTION: Monmouth 48, EWU 45

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