# Kent State Golden Flashes

Mid-American · Dix Stadium, Kent, OH
Head coach: Mark Carney · year 2 · 5-7 career over 2 seasons, all at KENT
Offense: Spread · Defense: 4-3

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 5-7 (4-4 in conference)
- National title odds: +125000 (#56 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 3.5 (over priced -118)
- Returning starter games: 35%
- Schedule difficulty: 70th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 35% | 23/65 | 8/15 |
| Offensive line | 57% | 31/54 | 5/10 |
| Defensive front | 15% | 12/81 | 11/22 |
| Secondary | 41% | 24/59 | 7/11 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Dru DeShields (QB), Clinton Robinson (SAF), Derrick Jackson III (DB), Jaxon Dunn (OL), Dustyn Morell (OL)
- Key departures (with destination): Terrell Miller (CB), Jamond Mathis (OLB) – TTU, Joel Boamah (CB) – MOSU, Mason Woods (LB), Jamarcus Hill (OL)
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Semaj Bridgeman (LB) – MSU, Hayden Dawahare (LB) – UK, Rocco Nicholl (LB) – USF

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Ardell Banks, Maurice Stephens, Teaunn Hunter
- WR-Z: Da'Realyst Clark, Jay Jay Etheridge
- WR-SL: Wayne Harris, Jared Kelley
- LT: Tyler Meadows, Cecil Wilson
- LG: Dustyn Morell, Boston Crowell, Donovan Dark
- C: Ben Midea, Max Gembus
- RG: Jaxon Dunn, Mason Imbt, Rico Steele
- RT: Mofe Adewole, Hudson Chasko
- TE: Hunter Hopperton, Terik Mulder, Zy'aire Fletcher, Garrett Long, Dakota Taylor
- QB: Dru DeShields, Nolan Good, Deante Ruffin, Ethan Thanthanavong
- RB: Mason King, Jakorion Caffey, Brandon White, Donovan Delaney Jr., Ayden Harris

### Defense

- LDE: Antonio Bottiggi, Mohammed Hazime
- LDT: Thomas Aden, Camdon Wilborn, Aiden Burgess
- RDT: Darian Blachewicz, Josue Cordoba
- RDE: Jaihien Roy, Garrett Dial, Bryce Griffin
- WLB: Hayden Dawahare, Sayed Abuhamdeh, Quan Rhodes-McKee
- MLB: Rocco Nicholl, Nate Gregory
- SLB: Semaj Bridgeman, Trey Rubinstein
- LCB: A'tiq Muhammad, Lennox Lemon, Lionel Burns III
- SS: Derrick Jackson III, Clinton Robinson
- FS: Joel Cordoba, Norey Johnson, Martell Buchanan
- RCB: Davion Pritchard, Angelo Stockstill
- NB: DJ Barnes

### Special Teams

- PT: Jake Stoeckel, Kolten Ford
- PK: Sean Leonard, Eli Tucker, Tommy Newcomb
- KO: Eli Tucker, Sean Leonard, Tommy Newcomb
- LS: Gus Goodell, Chase Mantooth
- H: Jake Stoeckel, Kolten Ford
- PR: Wayne Harris, Da'Realyst Clark
- KR: Da'Realyst Clark, Maurice Stephens

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | South Carolina | Away | SEC Network | KENT +36.5 |
| 2 | Wofford Terriers (FCS) | Home | ESPN+ | – |
| 3 | Ohio State | Away | FOX | – |
| 4 | Ball State | Home | – | – |
| 5 | Ohio | Home | – | – |
| 6 | Western Michigan | Away | – | – |
| 7 | South Florida | Away | – | – |
| 8 | Akron | Home | – | – |
| 9 | Sacramento State | Away | ESPN2 | – |
| 11 | Bowling Green | Away | – | – |
| 12 | Miami (OH) | Home | – | – |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan | Away | ESPN Networks | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/kent-state
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.