Charlotte Football Preview 2025: New Coaches, New Look, New Hope for the 49ers
A long-time assistant under Frank Solich at Ohio, Albin - who also won an NAIA National Championship at Northwestern Oklahoma State in 1999 - took over the reins in 2021, had a rough first year, and then went 30-10 with two bowl wins and a MAC Championship.This is still a young Charlotte program. It has plenty of positives, but this is a total building job - it's not even a rebuild - with almost no returning talent, a new staff, and …Hope. Albin is a good one. It might take a bit, but the 49ers will soon start winning.
Charlotte 49ers Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- The offense couldn't complete passes, couldn't keep the chains moving, and turned it over too much, but it started to pick it up late. The good and the bad news are pretty much the same - almost no one is back from last year's attack.- Step One is to get the offensive line in place. Under Albin, Ohio was 12th in the nation in rushing last season, but that team had the parts. Charlotte gets back Jonny King at center with the transfer portal helping to fill the key gaps. Don Chaney was a good running back at Miami and got in a little work at Louisville last year - he'll be the main man. There's decent depth for the rotation, and now …- There has to be a passing game, and that's ALL about the transfers. Conner Harrell (North Carolina) and Grayson Loftis (Duke) are each decent quarterback options, but all the new wide receivers - most are from Power Four schools - need some seasoning. Tight end Jake Young (Western Carolina) will be an instant target.
Charlotte 49ers Preview 2025: Defense
- Defensive coordinators Nate Faanes and Kurt Mattix were part of Albin's staff at Ohio. Their defense was ninth in the nation last year, first in the MAC in scoring D, and fourth in the nation against the run. They'll have to make magic with a whole slew of transfers, especially in the secondary.The corners are new, but there are options. The safeties should be the early stars - Caleb Curtain was fantastic over the last few years at Elon.- The tackles are relatively home grown, but there's not a lot of experience. Jaylon Johnson was a terrific pass rusher at the JUCO level last year, and Braden Mullen was an Ivy League all-star at Dartmouth over the last two years.- On a team that's almost completely starting over, the leading tackler is back. Reid Williford isn't huge, but he cleaned up in the middle of the linebacking corps with 77 stops and two sacks. Outside linebacker Gavin Willis was a tackling machine last season at Bucknell with 129 tackles.
Charlotte 49ers Key to the Season
Complete more passes.The 49ers couldn't move the chains last season mainly because the passing game couldn't hit the midrange throws. They were 131st in the nation in completion percentage, 129th in third down conversions, and even with that they were 4-2 when throwing for more than 200 yards and 0-5 when throwing for fewer, so …
Charlotte 49ers Key Player
Conner Harrell, QB Jr.Or Grayson Loftis. One of them has to take over the starting quarterback gig and be steady. Harrell got in a little work over the last two seasons at North Carolina hitting 61% of his throws for 560 yards and four scores with three picks, and he can run.
Charlotte 49ers Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Don Chaney, RB Jr.The veteran wasn't able to quite catch on with Louisville last year, but he was a solid part of the Miami rotation as a freshman, was out for most of the next two years, and ran for 478 yards and two scores in 2023. There's plenty of tread on the tires with the talent to be a statistical force in the attack.Top Transfer Out: O'Mega Blake, WR Sr.The passing game wasn't always bad last year. Blake averaged almost 25 yards per catch with a team-leading 795 yards and nine touchdowns. He would've been a much-needed no. 1 deep threat target, but now he's at Arkansas.
Charlotte 49ers Key Game
North Texas, Oct. 24Just how good will Charlotte be by the end of October? November will be a massive problem with three of the last four games on the road. If things are starting to progress in Albin's first year, winning at North Texas might just put the 49ers in a position to go bowling if they can pull this off.- 2025 Charlotte 49ers Schedule Breakdown
Charlotte 49ers Top 10 Players
1. Reid Williford, LB Sr.2. Don Chaney, RB Sr.3. Caleb Curtain, S Sr.4. Gavin Willis, LB Jr.5. Braden Mullen, EDGE Sr.6. Treyveon McGee, S Sr.7. Jaylon Johnson, EDGE Jr.8. Jake Young, TE Jr.9. Ja'Qurious Conley, S Sr.10. Conner. Harrell, QB Jr.
Charlotte 49ers 2024 Fun Stats
- Sacks: Opponents 34 for 267 yards, Charlotte 18 for 159- Fumbles: Charlotte's 15 (lost 7), Opponents 9 (lost 2)- Passing Yards: Charlotte 2,689, Opponents 2,674
Charlotte 49ers 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
It'll be a very, very uneven year.The coaching staff will be good, and there should be a few moments when everything clicks and all seems right, but there's too much turnover, and the schedule gets too tough, to push past the five wins of last year.The offense will be better, though, but can the defense hold up enough to pull out the close games?
It'll be better than Tim Albin's first year at Ohio - he went 3-9 - but there will be a few too tough losses to get to a bowl.Set The Charlotte 49ers Win Total At … 4.5Likely Wins: Monmouth, Rice50/50 Games: App State, at Army, at East Carolina, North Texas, Temple, UTSA,Likely Losses: at Georgia, North Carolina, at Tulane, at USF
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The 49ers need wide receiver help. Here are 31 options, from most likely to least
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers are poised to go shopping following the NFL's cutdown deadline Tuesday, and wide receiver is in bold at the top of their list. Three of the team's top six players at the position — Brandon Aiyuk, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins — aren't expected to be available for Week 1, while the other three — Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing — have dealt with injuries at some point this summer. Cowing did not practice Wednesday, and Pearsall appeared to narrowly avoid injury after a collision in the end zone. Advertisement Which players might be available when teams trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players? We asked beat writers from coast to coast to name the best wideout their team could cut on Tuesday. There's no guarantee all of the names below will be available to sign or claim off of waivers, but all are on or near their squad's roster bubble. San Francisco is also monitoring the trade market, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported. We've divided the list into four groups, ranging from players who would at least grab San Francisco's attention to those who are no better than the current 49ers receivers, whom they could likely land on their practice squad. All 31 teams are listed. Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots: This will be the name that most excites 49ers fans — and perhaps head coach Kyle Shanahan — given Bourne's productive four-year tenure in San Francisco. He also had his most prolific season (800 yards and five touchdowns) with Mac Jones and the Patriots in 2021. It's easy to envision a scenario in which Jennings and Pearsall begin the season as the starters with Bourne playing out of the slot. Bourne, 30, could be the odd man out should New England go with a younger core at the position. Could the 49ers trade for Bourne if the Patriots don't release him? They might look at that closer to the trade deadline when the team's murky receiver outlook is clearer. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Seattle Seahawks: New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak likes Valdes-Scantling, with whom he also worked in New Orleans. The question is whether the 30-year-old veteran will be happy with a backup role in the Seahawks' receiving corps. If not, Seattle could release him, making him a candidate in San Francisco. Valdez-Scantling still has deep speed as shown by his 22.6-yard receiving average last season and he'd be able to quickly step into the 49ers' offensive system given his background with Kubiak. Other Seahawks who could be available include Dareke Young and perhaps special teams ace Jake Bobo. Advertisement Dante Pettis, New Orleans Saints: Before you freak out — Shanahan loved Pettis' route-running ability. He wasn't as happy with the 2018 second-round pick's toughness, which is why Pettis was cut midway through 2020. Like the players listed above, Pettis would be able to get up to speed quickly given his background with Shanahan and Kubiak (2024 Saints). He also returns punts. Veteran Donovan Peoples-Jones also could be available. Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills: There's at least some chance the oft-injured Samuel will be available in some form — trade or release — over the next week. Though he's underachieved since arriving in Buffalo last year, the 49ers might like his versatility, including being able to take snaps at tailback. Robert Woods, Pittsburgh Steelers: Woods' numbers have steadily dropped since he had a 1,134-yard season with the Rams in 2019. But the 33-year-old would be familiar with the offense, having spent five seasons under one Shanahan lieutenant, Sean McVay, and two under another, Bobby Slowik (Houston, 2023-24). Woods could be a reliable bridge to when Robinson and Aiyuk return. Malachi Corley, New York Jets: The 49ers hosted Corley on a pre-draft visit last year, and he was drafted in the third round by Robert Saleh's Jets. He remains raw as a receiver, but his ability to break tackles will remind some of Deebo Samuel. Another one-time Saleh favorite, Xavier Gipson, also could be available. Courtney Jackson, Denver Broncos: Like Corley, Jackson is a developmental player, though one with special teams value along with impressive quickness. The rookie ran a 4.38-second 40 — with a 1.5-second 10-yard split — in the run up to the draft. Mitchell Tinsley, Cincinnati Bengals: Tinsley made a splash on national television Monday with two catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. The question now is whether the Bengals keep him, cut him or try to trade him. MITCHELL TINSLEY HAVE A DAY!!!! #CINvsWAS on @espn — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 19, 2025 Justin Watson, Houston Texans: He's never been prolific, but Watson, 29, has 21 starts (including playoffs) for the Chiefs over the last three seasons. He also had 54 receiving yards against the 49ers in the 2023 Super Bowl. Ronnie Bell, Detroit Lions: Yes, yes, yes — we know his stint in San Francisco didn't go swimmingly (see: 2024 game at Los Angeles Rams). But Bell knows all three receiver positions and could get up to speed quickly. Advertisement Jalen Reagor, Los Angeles Chargers: He's the most experienced — 27 career starts — of the Chargers who might be available. Another possibility: Brenden Rice, son of Jerry. If Rice replaced Terique Owens as a 49ers developmental receiver, it would be … poetic. Trey Palmer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Receivers who run 4.33 40s at 6 foot 1 don't grow on trees. Veteran Sterling Shepard also might be available next week. Diontae Johnson, Cleveland Browns: Johnson, who once had 107 catches in a single season, is on his fifth different team in the past 18 months and is expected to be cut. Of course, the 49ers would have to look into why the talent-starved Browns released him. Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs: The 2022 second-round pick could be available due to a lack of production this summer, coupled with a crowded Chiefs receiving corps. David Moore, Carolina Panthers: He's a journeyman who's been dependable wherever he's been. Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys: Good speed plus good size makes him a worthy developmental prospect. Tyler Scott, Chicago Bears: A 2023 fourth-round pick who had 17 catches as a rookie but just one last season, Scott also has return-man skills. Terrace Marshall Jr., Philadelphia Eagles: The 49ers had Marshall on their practice squad for a month and a half last year. River Cracraft, Washington Commanders: Having played for the 49ers and Dolphins in the past, he'd be dependable on an as-needed basis. Xavier Smith, Los Angeles Rams: Smith's 38-yard punt return against the 49ers in Week 3 last year set up his team's game-winning field goal. His time with the Rams signals he'd be able to mesh quickly with the 49ers' offense. Malik Heath, Green Bay Packers: He's been a fill-in over his career, but he's got good size (6-3, 213) and is familiar with the type of offensive system the 49ers run. Advertisement Laquon Treadwell, Indianapolis Colts: He's a big-bodied receiver who always seems to latch on to a roster. The 49ers hosted him on a pre-draft visit way back in 2016. David Sills V, Atlanta Falcons Lucky Jackson, Minnesota Vikings Tejhaun Palmer, Arizona Cardinals Anthony Miller, Baltimore Ravens Phillip Dorsett, Las Vegas Raiders James Proche, Tennessee Titans Lil'Jordan Humphrey, New York Giants Erik Ezukanma, Miami Dolphins Trenton Irwin, Jacksonville Jaguars (Photo of Kendrick Bourne: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
