Kent State Football Preview 2025: Another Reboot for the Golden Flashes

Miami Herald

19-05-2025

Three years ago, Kent State was coming off a disappointing 5-7 season.Four years ago, it went to a bowl game, won 22 games, and took home the 2019 Frisco Bowl under Sean Lewis. And then it all fell apart.Lewis - now the head coach at San Diego State - left to be Coach Prime's offensive coordinator at Colorado, Kenni Burs took over the Golden Flashes in an all-time do-over after losing just about everyone of note through the transfer portal, and it's been a struggle - to be nice.
Kent State went 1-23 under Burns, with the lone victory coming over Central Connecticut State from the FCS ranks. Out of the 22 losses to FBS teams - there was a loss last year to Saint Francis from the FCS - 21 of them were by double digits.Burns was let go after reports of alleged contract violations, offensive coordinator Mark Carney stepped in as the interim head man, and now Kent State is starting from scratch once again.It's been hard stretch to find the right transfers to fill in the gaps, there's no real depth, and it all means Carney can let it rip.Kent State went 1-21 in 1982 and 1983, and bounced back with a four-win 1984 season. Anything close to being competitive will be good enough.
Kent State Golden Flashes Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- Mark Carney will serve as the offensive coordinator, for now, along with the head coaching duties. He'll have to find something, anything that works, after finishing dead last in the nation in total offense, scoring offense, and third down conversions.Step One is to try piecing together a line that returns one starter, Dustyn Morell, a versatile blocker who can work at right tackle but might settle in at guard. The transfer portal will take care of the rest, desperately needing 6-6, 310-pound Junior Diallo (Emory and Henry) and Jamarcus Hill (SE Missouri) to be decent at tackle.
- The running game was the second-worst in college football - yay, Colorado - but it was dead last in yards per carry. Ky Thomas is done after being the only Golden Flash to run for more than 145 yards, and now it'll be up to Minnesota transfer Jordan Nubin to handle the work. He ran for 559 yards as a sophomore, but only managed 11 carries last year.- The quarterback situation will be a work in progress. CJ Montes from Fordham should be the best option, but Devin Kargman is a big option with a little experience. Neither one has top target Crishon McCray to throw to - he left for Michigan State - and with Luke Floriea also gone, just one touchdown catch from last year returns.Jay Jay Etheridge will work on the outside after making 14 grabs with that one score, and Dashawn Martin was fourth on the team with eight grabs. JUCO transfer Da'Realyst Clark and tight end Christian Berry from Davidson have to be factors right away.
Kent State Golden Flashes Preview 2025: Defense
- As bad as the offense was, the defense was even worse. Dead last in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, run defense - it was rough. For good and bad, there's more returning production to build around. It starts with the linebacking corps, where Mason Woods is back in the middle after finishing second on the team with 68 tackles, and with Canaan Williams adding 46 stops with a few plays behind the line.
- The secondary also has plenty of parts back. Top tackling safety Josh Baka is gone, but CJ Young is a promising option along with third-leading tackler Tevin Tucker, who made 65 tackles with two broken up passes. No corner picked off a pass, and now it'll be a mix of transfers to go along with sophomores Joel Boaham and Jaire Rawlison to come up with anyone who can produce. But they need help from …- The pass rush. There wasn't much last year, and the ones who generated any production are gone. Backups have to turn into key starters, especially on the outside, where seniors Antoine Campbell and Mattheus Campbell have to get behind the line. Southern Illinois transfer Jamond Mathis should help.There's little size inside, but 280-pound Pitt transfer Thomas Aden will be in the mix at one tackle next to 275-pound Mason Maddux.
Kent State Golden Flashes Key to the Season
Find SOMETHING that worksNo one's expecting Kent State to do much of anything, but there has to be a positive identity in some way. Opposing teams have to find something to worry about. It starts with being able to run the ball a little bit. Last year's team averaged over three yards per carry in just two games; there has to be a push. So …
Kent State Golden Flashes Key Player
Garrett Masterson, OG Jr.This isn't a big offensive line, but the interior should have a little bit of size. The ground game needs someone to reliably run behind, and the 6-6, 315-pound Materson has just enough experience to potentially be that guy.
Kent State Golden Flashes Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: CJ Montes, QB Sr.A terrific passer for Fordham in 2023, he threw for 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns with just one pick. He only played in three games last year, and now he'll push for the Kent State starting gig.Top Transfer Out: Kameron Olds, EDGE Sr.One of the few big producers last season, Olds led the team with six sacks to go along with 42 tackles. Now. He'll be a key part of the Kentucky defensive front.
Kent State Golden Flashes Key Game
Buffalo, Sept. 13The 21-game losing streak should come to an end in the opener against Merrimack, but the last win over an FBS team came at the end of 2022 against Buffalo. It would be a massive shot in the arm to start the season 2-1 for the first time since 2020 and the second time since 2012.- 2025 Kent State Schedule Breakdown
Kent State Golden Flashes Top 10 Players
1. Tevin Tucker, S Soph.2. Mason Woods, LB Sr.3. Jordan Nubin, RB Sr.4. Canaan Williams, LB Jr.5. Jay Jay Etheridge, WR Soph.6. Dustyn Morell, OG Jr.7. Dashawn Martin, WR/KR, Soph.8. Antoine Campbell, DE Sr.9. Semaj Cross, LB Sr.10. Devin Kargman, QB Jr.
Kent State Golden Flashes 2024 Fun Stats
- 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 142, Kent State 31
- Rushing Touchdowns: Opponents 35, Kent State 3
- 3rd Down Conversions: Opponents 72-of-146 (49%), Kent State 27-of-142 (19%)
Kent State Golden Flashes 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Kent State might have one of the roughest situations in all of college football coming into the season. It can't take anything for granted, but Merrimack has to be a win to start the campaign, and UMass is a must-get MAC home date in mid-October.There might be a stunner somewhere in the mix if the planets all align correctly on the right day, in this holding pattern season, getting to three wins would be a win.Set The Kent State Golden Flashes Win Total At … 2
Likely Wins: Merrimack50/50 Games: UMassLikely Losses: at Akron, at Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, at Florida State, at Northern Illinois, at Oklahoma, at Texas Tech, at Toledo
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