Gap Down Backer.

[Soapy]

2026 Kennesaw State Owls Records
Career Passing Yards -- QB Skyler Williams, 4209 (Previous Record: 3638, QB Chandler Burks, 2015-18)
Career Passing Touchdowns -- QB Skyler Williams, 38 (Previous Record: 33, QB Chandler Burks, 2015-18)
Season Passing Yards -- QB Skyler Williams, 4209 (Previous Record: 3195, QB Dexter Williams, 2025)
Season Passing Touchdowns -- QB Skyler Williams, 38 (Previous Record: 22, QB Dexter Williams II, 2025)
Season Receptions -- TE Tyrone Hoyt, 66 (Previous Record: 57, Christian Moss, 2025)
Game Passing Touchdowns -- QB Skyler Williams, 6 (Previous Record: 4, QB X Shepherd, 2021)
Game Receptions -- TE Tyrone Hoyt, 13 (Previous Record: 11, WR Tukeem Wallace, 2025)

2026 Kennesaw State Owls All-Americans
First Team
LB Donelius Johnson (R-Sr)
LB Thomas Durbin (Fr)
S Deon McKinley (R-Sr)

Freshman
TE Tyrone Hoyt (Fr)
LB Thomas Durbin (Fr)
CB Zion Armstead (R-Fr)

2026 Kennesaw State Owls All-Conference USA
First Team
TE Tyrone Hoyt (Fr)
C JaDarious Lee (R-Sr)
RT Nikola Milovac (R-Jr)
LB Donelius Johnson (R-Sr)
LB Thomas Durbin (Fr)
CB Ethan Tookes (R-Jr)
CB Zion Armstead (R-Fr)
S Deon McKinley (R-Sr)

Second Team
QB Skyler Williams (R-Fr)
HB Kyshon Franklin Jr. (Jr)
DT Jaiden Grimes (Jr)
CB Markese Moon (R-Fr)
S T.J. McGill (R-Jr)

Freshman
QB Skyler Williams (R-Fr)
WR Hasheem Nwokeji (Fr)
TE Tyrone Hoyt (Fr)
DT Tobias Singleton (Fr)
LB Thomas Durbin (Fr)
CB Zion Armstead (R-Fr)
CB Markese Moon (R-Fr)

2026 Kennesaw State Owls Stats
Passing
QB Skyler Williams (R-Fr): 386-602, 4209 yards, 38 TD, 9 INT, sacked 28 times, 140.6 passer rating

Rushing
HB D.J. Scott (R-Jr): 189 carries, 893 yards, 6 TD, 2 fumbles
HB Kyshon Franklin Jr. (Jr): 173 carries, 1006 yards, 5 TD, fumble
QB Skyler Williams (R-Fr): 90 carries, 188 yards, 5 TD, 6 fumbles
HB Joshua Troupe (Soph): 54 carries, 277 yards, TD

Receiving
TE Tyrone Hoyt (Fr): 66 receptions, 741 yards, 7 TD, 5 drops
WR K.J. Parker (R-Soph): 61 receptions, 477 yards, 4 TD, 11 drops
WR Davis Bryson (R-Sr): 53 receptions, 733 yards, 8 TD, 10 drops
WR Eric Weatherly (R-Sr): 45 receptions, 365 yards, TD, 5 drops
WR Ali Joyner (Soph): 37 receptions, 384 yards, 3 TD, 4 drops
HB Kyshon Franklin Jr. (Jr): 33 receptions, 328 yards, 5 TD, drop
TE Everett Hunter (Sr): 30 receptions, 482 yards, 2 TD, 6 drops
WR Hasheem Nwokeji (Fr): 28 receptions, 302 yards, 3 TD, 2 drops
WR Javon Rogers (Jr): 20 receptions, 307 yards, drop

Blocking
LT Chrisdasson Saint-Jean (R-Soph): 10 sacks allowed, 1133 snaps, 14 GP, 14 GS
LG Chase Stevens (R-Soph): 3 sacks allowed, 663 snaps, 11 GP, 11 GS
C Jadarious Lee (R-Sr): Sack allowed, 891 snaps, 12 GP, 12 GS
RG Brandon Best (R-Sr): 2 sacks allowed, 1138 snaps, 14 GP, 14 GS
RT Nikola Milovac (R-Jr): 3 sacks allowed, 1155 snaps, 14 GP, 14 GS
IOL Clay Anthony (R-Jr): Sack allowed, 544 snaps, 4 GP, 4 GS

Defensive
LB Donelius Johnson (R-Sr): 100 tackles, 35 TFL, 9 sacks, 3 PBU
LB Thomas Durbin (Fr): 100 tackles, 30 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 3 PBU
S T.J. McGill (R-Jr): 97 tackles, 9 TFL, INT, 9 PBU
S Deon McKinley (R-Sr): 97 tackles, 21 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 6 PBU
CB Markese Moon (R-Fr): 91 tackles, 13 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 7 PBU
CB Zion Armstead (R-Fr): 89 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 INT, 14 PBU
CB Ethan Tookes (R-Jr): 68 tackles, 6 TFL, INT, 20 PBU
LB Josh Anglin (Jr): 48 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU
LB Quincy Hewitt (Fr): 44 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 PBU
LB Jaiden Kimble (Jr): 43 tackles, 12 PBU, 3 sacks, 3 PBU
EDGE Byron Jackson (Soph): 41 tackles, 17 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 PBU
DT Jaiden Grimes (Jr): 38 tackles, 19 TFL, 9 sacks
EDGE Marcus Patterson (R-Sr): 29 tackles, 13 TFL, 1.5 sacks, PBU
S Shakir Boudreaux (Fr): 28 tackles, TFL, 4 PBU
DT Kris Carruthers (R-Soph): 26 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, PBU
DT Tobias Singleton (Fr): 17 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks

Kicking
K Erik Calvillo (R-Jr): 26/34, 47 FG Lng, 100% XP

Punting
P Matthew Choules (R-Fr): 67 punts, 38.5 Net Avg, 19 inside the 20, 4 touchbacks, 57 Lng

Returning
WR Ali Joyner (Soph): 29 kick returns, 684 yards, 59 punt returns, 641 yards, TD
HB Greg Spiller (R-Soph): 26 kick returns, 489 yards

Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 34.5 PPG
Third Down Conversion: 41%
Fourth Down Conversion: 65%
Two Point Conversion: 33%
Red Zone Efficiency: 48%
Scoring Defense: 24.9 PAPG
Total Defense: 362.2 YPGA
Passing Defense: 238 YAPG
Rushing Defense: 124.2 YAPG
Sacks: 44
Fumbles: 13
Interceptions: 6

[Captain Canada]

Boys folded like some laundry in that one, tough way to end the season

[Soapy]

BREAKING: Kennesaw State head coach Bubba Mack expected to return as Owls head coach
KingHootMan -- KSUOwlHowl.com Football Contributor

Kennesaw State head coach Bubba Mack has withdrawn his name from consideration of the Liberty head coaching job and is expected to return to Kennesaw State as the Owls head coach. This was first reported by The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The AJC previously reported that Mack had obtained permission from the university to interview with Georgia Tech, Tulane and most recently the University of South Florida and that an interview was being scheduled with Liberty to replace Jamey Chadwell.

The university was in the process of reviewing Liberty's request when Mack, according to AJC, met with Owls athletic director Milton Overton and informed him that he intended to return to Kennesaw State. Shortly after, Mack formally withdrew his name from consideration.

Mack and the rest of his staff are expected to be back recruiting for the program in the upcoming days.

[Soapy]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach Hirings
Jamey Chadwell
Kenny Dillingham
Jay Norvell
Alex Golesh
Lane Kiffin
Ben Siliga
Brian Kelly
Mark Stoops
Tony Elliott
Finau Chen
Mike Norvell

[Captain Canada]

I know you was lowkey hype when Miami made that run. UCLA as Natty champs just feels wrong

[Soapy]

Owls QB Skyler Williams shuns transfer portal, to return to Kennesaw State following the return of head coach Bubba Mack
Keke Hagg
Jan 10, 2026, 11:23 AM ET

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KENNESAW, Ga. -- The Kennesaw State Owls lost eighteen players to the transfer portal last season, including All-American JeRico Washington Jr. who went on to start at cornerback for the Michigan Wolverines this past season. With head coach Bubba Mack returning for his third year with the program, the transfer portal losses this season have dwindled with just three players entering the transfer portal with the window approaching its deadline.

Among notables names that didn't jump into the portal is quarterback Skyler Williams, who set school records in his first year as a starter. The Owls also bring out their top rushers from last year as well as top receiver K.J. Parker.

The group is led by defensive tackle Kris Carruthers, who the Owls signed out of the portal last season from Marshall. Carruthers was a big time contributor for KSU this past season, recording 26 tackles with ten tackles for loss and three sacks. Carruthers could be looking at a potential jump to the P4 level as a backup or a solid contributor to a higher tier G6 program.

They also lose out on two backups in quarterback Raheim Jeter, who they signed in the portal last year, and Que Billingsley who had twelve tackles as a rotational safety.

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2027 Kennesaw State Owls Transfer Portal Entries

Player	Position	Class	Hometown	Height	Weight	Stats
Kris Carruthers	DT	Rs Soph	Jacksonville, FL	6'3"	314lbs	26 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks
Que Billingsley	S	Rs Jr	Phenix City, AL	6'0"	192lbs	12 tackles, 2 PBU
Raheim Jeter	QB	Rs Jr	Spartanburg, SC	6'4"	224lbs	1-1, 5 yards

2027 Kennesaw State Owls Recruiting Class

Player	Position	Rank	Hometown	Height	Weight	Class
Marquez Faulk	HB		Leesburg, GA	5'8"	187lbs	HS Sr
Paul Gado	LB		Fort Valley, GA	6'3"	212lbs	HS Sr
Sean Branson	ATH (WR)		Alpharetta, GA	6'2"	212lbs	HS Sr
Thaddeus Yancey	EDGE		Pensacola, FL	6'1"	231lbs	HS Sr

2027 Kennesaw State Owls Recruiting Board

Player	Position	Rank	Hometown	Height	Weight	Class	Top Schools
Rudy Starks	EDGE		Miami, FL	6'5"	244lbs	HS Sr
Elias Castro	EDGE		Fort Lauderdale, FL	6'6"	247lbs	HS Sr
Juan Snead	WR		Fort Lauderdale, FL	6'5"	189lbs	HS Sr
Amani Gold	LB		Valdosta, GA	6'3"	225lbs	HS Sr
Keenan Wimbley	C		Fort Lauderdale, FL	6'3"	315lbs	HS Sr
Jose Montague	QB		Griffin, GA	6'0"	184lbs	HS Sr
Quentin Firkser	CB		Watkinsville, GA	5'11"	174lbs	HS Sr
Walt Trask	LB		Opa Locka, FL	6'4"	214lbs	HS Sr

2027 Kennesaw State Owls Recruiting Losses

Player	Position	Rank	Hometown	Height	Weight	Class	Commitment
Garrison Merritt	LB		Chesapeake, VA	6'4"	219lbs	HS Sr
Enrique Worilds	OT		Hollywood, FL	6'4"	291lbs	HS Sr

[Captain Canada]

Keeping Skylar is huge. Depending on this class, we can take a big jump next season.

[Caesar]

At what point do we start questioning Coach Mack's ability to recruit? It seems like his message isn't resonating with the youngsters. Kennesaw might've been better off letting him go to Liberty to weaken their main C-USA rival.

[Soapy]

Keeping Skylar is huge. Depending on this class, we can take a big jump next season.

IN SKYLAR WE TRUST!

Also kept a lot of our other guys. surprised they didn't jump, the transfer portal screen was looking tough in those final weeks. i wonder if we had a jump in the background or something because even after the bowl game, i had a bunch of players (probably like ~20) that were at high risk.

At what point do we start questioning Coach Mack's ability to recruit? It seems like his message isn't resonating with the youngsters. Kennesaw might've been better off letting him go to Liberty to weaken their main C-USA rival.

say less.

[Soapy]

I know you was lowkey hype when Miami made that run. UCLA as Natty champs just feels wrong

i lowkey don't even check the page until its time for me to take a screenshot

we're so far from competing in the playoffs that the national landscape is out of my purview right now