It’s not as simple as James Madison made it appear to jump to the FBS. Kennesaw State, however, has the geographic market and fan/donor support to make it viable in the long run. It will ultimately depend on how the returning player responds to the increased size and pace of the opposition in the short term.
Kennesaw State has gained 297.6 running yards per game on average since 2015. Although the Owls haven’t faced much opposition, the number is larger than that of any FBS program in the state of Georgia during that time.
It goes without saying that quarterback performance will be key to the zone read/RPO offense. The only quarterback on the roster who completed a throw last season is rising junior Davis Bryson, since multi-year starter Jonathan Murphy graduated. The quarterback of the future will need to be agile. In 2023, the Owls ran 169 throw plays as opposed to 362 running plays, and on over thirty-three of those rushing attempts, the quarterback ran with the ball. It will also be necessary for a younger offensive line to be prepared for the difficulties the scheme poses when playing FBS opponents.
Running back Michael Benefield, a senior, will be important. With two touchdowns in each of the Owls’ final three games, he had a terrific season finale. Gabriel, the top returning receiver
Since the program’s inception in 2015, Brian Bohannon has served as head coach at Kennesaw State. He will now lead the team into the FBS. With four FCS postseason appearances, he is 71-30.
A Sneak Peek at Kennesaw State’s 2024 Defense
It’s difficult to evaluate the Owls defense on paper. The three games that Kennesaw State won during their brief nine-game schedule the previous season came against non-FBS opponents.
Donelius Johnson, a junior linebacker, will probably be the most significant returner after tallying 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and six stops for a loss. Johnson will be the defense’s leader after the two finest defensive players from the previous campaign, Deontre Morris and Keith Montgomery, left via transfers.
Fortunately, Donovan Westmoreland, a transfer linebacker from South Carolina, will also provide a big boost for the team. Westmoreland, who has a 247Sports composite score of 0.8915, is the highest-rated recruit in Kennesaw State history.
Kennesaw State defense linebacker Garland Benyard finished 2022 with 53 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. He redshirted last year and made four appearances before making a comeback.
A Sneak Peak at Kennesaw State’s Experts for 2024
In2023, the Owls’ placekicking was subpar, as they converted just 6 out of 16 field goal tries. Joshua Huiet, a senior punter, is a decent punter who averages 42.9 yards per punt with eight punts of 50 yards or more. Gabriel Benyard, who has rapidly broken school records for punt and kick return yardage since his arrival in the return game, is one to watch.
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