Charlotte 49ers football spring practice overview 

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

The Charlotte 49ers return their top three quarterbacks from 2025, including Conner Harrell, who missed most of the season after leg surgery.

Spring is in the air and Charlotte football is back. 

The 49ers’ spring session is underway and as with every new season comes hope, optimism and the unknown. Coach Tim Albin, who enters his second season after finishing 1-11 in year one, is optimistic about the season ahead.

“The first day of spring ball, I am very excited,” he said. “There’s unbelievable energy. I’m sure it is that way across the board everywhere, but just watching them move around, [I knew] it was going to be a really good first day. … They’re in helmets and jerseys, so I can’t see their faces. I don’t know all the jersey numbers yet. Half of them got new numbers anyway, so I’m a trainwreck out there, but we are going to power through. But, for the first day, I tell you, it is much different.”

Who will lead the offense?

When quarterback Conner Harrell went down in week four, it left the 49ers scrambling and alternating reserves Grayson Loftis and Zach Wilcke. Harrell, who underwent surgery, was warming up and stretching at the start of spring practice. 

“I don’t want to say [Harrell is] ahead of schedule. I’d say he’s on schedule,” Albin said. “He’s battling, and with the injury that he had, being able to be out there today says a lot about him and our training staff. Hopefully, he keeps progressing.”

Like last year, Albin will be tasked with finding a QB1 with a roster that features two returning quarterbacks in Harrell and Loftis along with a transfer and a freshman. Cole Gonzales comes to the 49ers from Pittsburgh, where he saw limited game action. 

“It’s day one. I'd like to see the tape,” Albin said. “Just on what I see today for it being his first day, and all new verbiage with the huddle component of it. I’m not sure how many snaps he's got, really in a huddle offense. I thought he did some really good things.”

Freshman Jaylen White, an early enrollee, is a three-star recruit from Clearwater High School in Florida. 

Health is the top priority and added depth

A big issue last season was injuries to key players like running back Henry Rutledge, defensive lineman Taz Williams and offensive lineman Jonny King. 

“Just looking at the (linemen), on paper, we’re 20-25 pounds bigger,” Albin said. “We’ve got to develop, but without question, we are faster on both sides. We don’t have any returners in the secondary, but we seem to be a lot faster, and that’s exciting.”

The 49ers added 46 new players in the offseason, which Albin feels they addressed roster needs in the offseason. It was also important to get freshman on campus early. 

“It's a different world now,” Albin said. “Our football team is here. We had, I want to say in the 70s, as far as roster in the spring. We were worried about even having spring ball in January. … We were at 100 or 99 I think [now] … we've got 15 early enrollees here in high school, as a part of the 99. That's unbelievable. That’s exciting to me… they’re here and using our resources which is invaluable. You can’t put a price tag on it.”

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