Charlotte 49ers football ‘on schedule’ ahead of fall camp 

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

The Charlotte 49ers are targeting a defensive overhaul after allowing an average of 36.6 points per game in 2025, coach Tim Albin's first season in Charlotte.

Tim Albin feels the Charlotte 49ers are on schedule for improvement in his second season as coach. 

“I would say we’re on schedule coming out of spring ball,” he said. “We had 12 more days with the strength staff and then 12 more with the team after the fourth of July. After that they will get about eight days off before the start of fall camp. … Everybody across the country is doing basically the same thing right now. The big thing for us — and I don’t want to give you the coach speak — the formula is not turning the ball over, winning the field position battle… and Charlotte can’t beat Charlotte.”

No changes were made among the coordinators: Todd Fitch (offense), Nate Faanes (defense) and Brian Haines (special teams). Albin said at the end of the 2025 season that he had full confidence in his staff and didn’t feel that was a part of the issue. 

Albin’s first 49ers team couldn’t seem to catch a break in going 1-11. Injuries were a major factor with quarterback Conner Harrell, running back Henry Rutledge and defensive lineman Taz Williams losing significant time. Williams — although on the roster — will miss the 2026 season. 

Offense

One of the big questions is the receiver room and who will be key players at that position. Albin recognized the losses from a season ago but feels some key additions will be helpful.

“Guys like Sean Brown, we are going to miss him,” Albin said. “But this season I think with the guys we have we will be able to stretch the field a little bit. [J.D. Barnes] I am going to hold my tongue on him a little but obviously he has some really good film from App State. We saw that firsthand [last year in a season-opening loss]. I was on the sideline for some of that. He has a lot of talent, and we are excited to have him. I think the receiver room as a whole, we are a lot faster, but … we have to have other positions that play well so they can play well. The o-line has to block well, and the quarterbacks have to get the ball to them accurately.”

The 49ers lost Javen Nicholas, E. Jai Mason, Miles Burgess along with Brown from the 2025 team. 

At quarterback, it’s a three-man race for the starting job between Harrell, who is recovering after an ACL tear last year, Grayson Loftis and transfer Cole Gonzales.

“Grayson has the most snaps,” Albin said. “It’ll be a great competition. Conner is coming through rehab and we will see how that goes. No one has worked harder than him to get back and you’ll see him at some point, but it is too early to tell right now. Then we have Cole, who has a lot of experience. He played a lot of ball at Western Carolina, then transferred to Oklahoma before going to Pitt. They elected to play their freshman kid, so he got back in the portal and we were able to get him. He took the majority of the snaps in the spring and did a great job. We threw the whole playbook at him.”

The running back corps is deep with Henry Rutledge and Jariel Cobb returning. Some additions include Chance Williams, Khamani Alexander and D’Mariun Perteet, who Albin is excited about. Williams and Alexander totaled 35 and 50 rushing yards respectively in 2025. 

“We have four guys who could be the starter,” Albin said. “Khamani. Chance, the transfer from Cincinnati. Then you have Perteet from Coastal Carolina. We recruited him out of junior college, and he went to Coastal. He had shoulder surgery, but he is a powerful kid. I like him. Then we got Rutledge back. We also have Cobb, who played a lot for us. So, it’s going to be a mess out there as far as who gets the reps and all that, but I will say we are in a much better spot at running back than we were a year ago.”

At tight end, the 49ers will rely heavily on Gus McGee, a 6-5, 250-pound graduate student. He played in all 12 games with nine starts last season and took nearly double the snaps as the next closest tight end. 

“Gus has worked his tail off,” Albin said. “I am very happy with where Gus is. He is one of our leaders on offense both on and off the field. He has had a really good offseason. We brought in Logan Mauldin from McNeese, who is a Charlotte kid. He has had a really good spring and is maybe just a little faster than Gus. The third guy, the true freshman Brody Dawyot, he is going to play some for us.”

When it comes to the offensive line, the 49ers looked to bolster the position. Albin said across the board the group will be taller and an average of 17 pounds heavier than in 2025. Key contributors are Kristos Fernadez, Rod Green, Isaiah Bullerdick, Nic Cruji, J’Ven Williams, Luke Sandy and Reginhard Pierre-Nau. 

Defense

Charlotte needs vast improvement after allowing 436 points in 2025 — an average of 36.3 per game. 

The 49ers lost several contributors, including defensive end Braden Mullen, linebackers Shay Taylor and Reid Williford, safeties Ja’Quirous Conley and Randy Franklin and defensive tackle Zion Shockley among others. Charlotte returns end Curtis Simpson, linebacker Kadin Schmitz, cornerback C.J. Clinkscales Jr. and tackle Jamarrion Solomon. 

“At linebacker we return [Schmitz],” Albin said. “Gavin Willis, he will have the blue dot on his helmet at the Mike linebacker spot. With the new rule the NCAA implemented a few weeks ago, he will have another year, which we are super excited about. Sellen Bowman has had an unbelievable offseason. Pound-for-pound he is the biggest and fastest kid we’ve got. We’ve got to find Parker Startz a role. He has been really good in the offseason and will be a key player for us as well.” 

On the defensive line, Taz Williams’ absence of will hurt the interior, but Albin and Faanes are figuring out the best solution to his absence.

“Jayden Johnson played a lot last year,” Albin said. “Curtis Simpson played a lot. Those two guys will have a key role and be big factors for us. D.J. Burgess at defensive end, he played basically every snap against App State last year, but he didn’t play after that game. He had surgery and was out for the year. I am really excited about Khalif Spencer from junior college. All of those guys will be key, and we will have a good rotation. 

“Then on the interior, guys like Jamarrion Solomon will be big for us. Ayo Tifase from Florida State will be important for us as well. Caleb Irving will be important for us as well.”

At safety, Albin said Dy’Lon Womack, Colin Gill and Shamar McIntosh will be impact players while McIntosh will probably play nickel. 

At cornerback, arguably the most key returner is Clinkscales.

“C.J. had shoulder surgery in the spring,” Albin said. “He hasn’t done anything in a minute, but he is a returner that played the most minutes. We’ll see how that plays out. Tradarius Smith is a guy who has had a really good spring. DeQuinder Williams is going to factor. He had a really good spring and knocked it out of the park with his test results coming out of the spring into the summer. I think you might see Chase Usher, the true freshman. You’ll see Caden Cato, another freshman. You’ll see those two on special teams for sure and you might see them at corner to be honest.”

Special teams and 2026 outlook

The 49ers lost their starting kicker in Liam Boyd to the transfer portal and punt returner Javen Nicholas. Currently kicker Aiden Bui is the only kicker listed on the roster. The 49ers only made nine field goals which ranked last in the American Conference last season. 

Charlotte returns punter Bronson Long who averaged over 40 yards per punt in 2025. Charlotte averaged 6.1 punts per game last season. 

Having Rutledge to return kicks will be big for Charlotte who was third in the nation in kick return yards in 2024. 

2026 schedule: 

September 
5 vs. The Citadel
12 at Ole Miss
19 at Appalachian State
26 vs. Louisiana

October
3 vs. Memphis
10 at North Texas
17 at Temple
30 vs. Tulane

November
7 at UAB
14 vs. East Carolina
21 at Tulsa
28 vs. Navy

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