Ex Libertate Veritas | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Meredith Ready to Defend the Crown

Conway, SC. - As the draft declarations rolled in, one after another, it seemed the teal dynasty was finally coming apart. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers — fresh off their second national championship in five years — were watching the pillars of their 2032 title team walk out the door.

First came the expected farewells: Mike Momah, Conner Payne, Manu Filimoeatu — defensive anchors turned NFL-bound veterans. In all, 13 starting seniors said goodbye to the teal turf of Conway, closing the book on one of the most dominant senior classes in program history.

Then came the wave of early declarations.
Justice Spear, fresh off his National Championship record 252-yard performance and the ACC single-season rushing record, announced his decision to go pro, flanked by offensive linemen Antonio Tripucka and Zach Jackson.

With each post, the realization hit harder: the 2032 Chanticleers were breaking apart.

And yet, through the chaos of thank-you videos and farewell posts, one name remained silent — Fredrick Meredith.

The sophomore quarterback, 19-1 as a starter, nearly 10,000 passing yards, 107 touchdowns, hadn’t said a word. Neither had his three closest teammates: receivers Tavares Tinker, Tyler Hagg, and tight end Jamal Stephen — the so-called “Teal Triplets” who’d arrived in Conway together and helped redefine Coastal’s offense.

That silence finally broke on a quiet Friday afternoon.

Without warning, Meredith dropped a single post on Instagram titled simply:
“Conway, it’s been real.”

For a few tense seconds, it looked like another goodbye.

The video opened like all the others, a cinematic montage of Meredith throwing touchdown passes to Tinker, Hagg, and Stephen. A swelling instrumental track underscored the highlights, each throw landing like a flashback. Then, suddenly, the screen glitched like an old VHS tape skipping. The music cut out.

When the feed returned, Meredith was on-screen, sitting on a throne made of teal and black helmets, a crown tilted on his head, smirking at the camera.

“You didn’t think we were gonna take the crown and not defend it, did you?” he laughed, leaning forward.

Seconds later, the camera panned to reveal Tinker, Hagg, and Stephen, each donning black hoodies with "Teal Trio" emblazoned across the chest.

“Last season was real, Conway,” Meredith continued, “but this year? Put the kids to bed. It’s gettin’ X-rated on The Teal — starring yours truly and the Teal Trio.”

The post exploded instantly — millions of views within the hour, countless reposts, and one clear message: the kings were coming back.

Moments later, the defensive side joined in.

MLB Anthony Atogwe and the entire defensive line shared a matching clip, each one captioned:

“You can’t defend the Teal without The Real.”

By nightfall, Coastal’s social media was in full meltdown mode.

Despite losing 25 total players from the 2032 championship roster, the returns of Meredith, Atogwe, and the “Bad Boys” have reloaded Coastal with enough firepower to make another title run — and perhaps the most anticipated season in program history.

“I don’t see how anyone isn’t putting these guys as the No. 1 favorite in Vegas,” said Pat McAfee on his show the next morning. “Did you see that video? Meredith and those boys pulled off the bait-and-switch like pros. Forget the ‘lackluster’ Natty — the kid’s got almost 10K passing yards and 107 touchdowns in two years. Now he’s a junior, he’s got his guys, and he’s still got Vaughn. I know where my money’s going.”

The message was loud and clear: the teal dynasty wasn’t done — it was reloading.

“We don’t want just one,” Tavares Tinker grinned in the closing seconds of the video. “We’re in our Miami era. Not one, ya feel me?”

Bold words — but that’s exactly how Kade Vaughn’s Chanticleers have built their legend.

They talk the talk.

They walk the walk.

And they’re not giving up the crown without a fight.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Departures
SR CB Mike Momah (97) | NFL Draft (1st)
SR(RS) G Connor Payne (95) | NFL Draft (1st)
SO(RS) HB Justice Spear (95) | NFL Draft (2nd)
SO(RS) LT Antonio Tripucka (94) | NFL Draft (2nd)
SR LB Manu Filimoeatu (94) | NFL Draft (2nd)
SR C Rashard Dragos (94) | NFL Draft (2nd)
JR(RS) T Zach Jackson (92) | NFL Draft (4th)
SR(RS) CB Craig Avant (92) | NFL Draft (4th)
SR(RS) G Will Doubs (90) | NFL Draft (7th)
SR(RS) DT Tyrone Acker (90) | NFL Draft (6th)
SR(RS) CB Xavier Montague (89) | Graduation
SR(RS) WR Denard Cruise (89) | Graduation
SR MLB Colt DeLuca (89) | Graduation
SR(RS) HB David Agudosi (89) | Graduation
SR P Nate Peter (87) | Graduation
FR(RS) HB Jalen Rawls (86) | Playing Time
SR WR Carl Kopp (86) | Graduation
SR WR David Goedeke (85) | Graduation
SR(RS) FS AJ Dwumfour (84) | Graduation
SR(RS) TE Percy LaRue (82) | Graduation
SR(RS) TE Jeremy Parris (82) | Graduation
SR(RS) DT Lionel Ruggins (81) | Graduation
SR LB Cary Tatum (81) | Graduation
FR G Dustin McKie (74) | Playing Style

NFL Draft Results
G Connor Payne | 1st Round
CB Mike Momah | 1st Round
HB Justice Spear | 2nd Round
C Rashard Dragos | 2nd Round
T Antonio Tripucka | 2nd Round
LB Manu Filimoeatu | 2nd Round
T Zach Jackson | 3rd Round
CB Craig Avant | 4th Round
G Will Doubs | 5th Round
DT Tyrone Acker | 5th Round
CB Xavier Montague | 6th Round
HB David Agudosi | 7th Round
MLB Colt DeLuca | 7th Round

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Mike Buddie Announced As Chance Miller's Successor At Coastal Carolina

Conway, SC. - Fresh off a perfect 16–0 season and their second College Football Playoff National Championship, Coastal Carolina wasted no time solidifying the next phase of the Chanticleer dynasty. On Tuesday morning, the university announced the hiring of Mike Buddie as its next Athletic Director, succeeding Chance Miller, who was reassigned to a senior university role following the ACC Championship Game in December.

Buddie joins the program after a successful tenure as TCU’s athletic director, where he was credited with modernizing the Horned Frogs’ brand, overseeing a surge in NIL efficiency, and establishing a culture rooted in “discipline, professionalism, and sustained excellence.” Before his time in Fort Worth, Buddie spent five years as AD at Army, earning widespread respect for his balanced approach to athletic and academic leadership.

The timing of Buddie’s arrival raised eyebrows across the ACC. While Coastal officially conducted interviews with Buddie, Louisville AD Josh Heird, South Carolina AD Jeremiah Donati, and ACC Senior Vice President Nina King, multiple sources confirmed that the decision to move on Buddie came exceptionally swiftly — leading many to believe that university leadership had been building a shortlist well before Chance Miller’s reassignment was publicly announced.

According to university president Dr. James Winebreak, the intent was to ensure leadership continuity ahead of the critical offseason NIL and transfer portal cycle, which officially opens next week.

“We felt it was essential to enter this next phase with complete alignment,” Winebreak said. “Coastal Carolina’s athletic success has placed us among the sport’s elite. Our leadership structure must reflect that same standard — prepared, unified, and forward-thinking.”

At his introductory press conference, Buddie made clear that his arrival at Coastal wasn’t just about maintaining the Chanticleers’ on-field dominance — it was about refining the brand that has come to define it.

“Winning is paramount,” Buddie said, pausing as a grin briefly softened his otherwise businesslike tone. “But only when matched with professionalism, consistency, and honor in our day-to-day proceedings as well. This university has built something truly remarkable — now our job is to ensure that success is sustainable, respectable, and representative of what Coastal Carolina and the Atlantic Coast Conference stands for.”

That message was widely interpreted as a direct — if diplomatic — contrast to the fiery personality of head coach Kade Vaughn, whose confrontational style and outspoken commentary have made him both a national lightning rod and the architect of the most successful run in school history.

Buddie’s hiring signals a clear philosophical pivot for Coastal — from the freewheeling, media-stirring Miller era to a more buttoned-up, process-driven approach.

While Buddie’s reputation as a no-nonsense administrator with a history of “tight ship” operations is widely respected across the college landscape, several insiders have already wondered aloud how his methodical, compliance-first style will mesh with Vaughn’s unapologetic swagger.

“Mike’s all about image, precision, and accountability,” one source close to the program noted. “Kade’s about energy, emotion, and results. They’re polar opposites. That’s not necessarily bad — but it’s definitely combustible.”

Complicating matters further is the status of Vaughn’s expiring contract. The two-time national champion enters the final year of his deal, which was originally negotiated under Miller’s administration. Sources confirm Miller and Vaughn had been working on a seven-year extension projected to rank among the richest in the ACC — a deal that was abruptly paused after Miller’s reassignment in December.

When asked Tuesday about the prospect of extending Vaughn, Buddie struck a measured tone:

“It’s absolutely on the list of things we’ll address,” he said. “Coach Vaughn has done incredible things here, and I look forward to those discussions. But I also believe in process — and right now, my focus is on evaluating where we stand as a department before entering negotiations. When the time is appropriate, Coach Vaughn and I will talk.”

The statement fell short of guaranteeing Vaughn a new deal before the season, a move many around the program interpreted as a calculated assertion of authority from the new AD.

“Buddie’s a culture guy,” one ACC administrator remarked. “He’s not walking into that building to play second fiddle. That ‘we’ll talk later’ comment? That’s a line in the sand. Play by my rules, or find somewhere else to do it.”

For now, the national champions appear unified in public. Buddie’s introduction was attended by key university officials, several players, and even Coach Vaughn, who offered a polite handshake and brief congratulations before quietly slipping out of the press room.

But beneath the polished smiles and championship banners, Coastal Carolina enters 2033 standing at a crossroads: a team at the peak of college football, yet staring down the same question that has shadowed them since their rise began —
can the fire that built them be controlled without extinguishing what made them special?

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Coastal Aims For Quality, Not Quantity With Key Transfer Portal Additions

Conway, SC. - Following the 2032 National Championship, a wave of departures, 13 senior graduates and a half-dozen underclassmen declaring for the NFL Draft, left the Chanticleers with just seven returning starters.

For most programs, that’s the kind of roster turnover that signals a rebuild.

For Kade Vaughn, it’s just another challenge to outthink.

“We’ve recruited well over the years, and that’s why we’re in this position. Not just to have a strong outgoing class, but to have the talent behind them ready to step in,” Vaughn explained when asked about his team’s restrained approach in the transfer portal. “We didn’t need a mass overhaul. We just needed the right pieces to keep the train rolling.”

That “measured” strategy resulted in just six transfers, joining a fourth-ranked prep recruiting class to round out a 24-man haul.

The most urgent need was obvious: the offensive line.

Coastal lost all five starters from a unit that protected Fredrick Meredith to the tune of just 18 sacks all season.

Enter Trevor Dobbins (Washington) and Frank Marvin (Clemson); two veteran linemen expected to anchor a rebuilt front.

“They’re plug-and-play guys,” said a team source. “Both are nasty finishers and fit Vaughn’s zone-run look. That group won’t skip a beat.”

Of all the positions hit hardest, none loomed larger than running back.

With Justice Spear off to the NFL, David Agudosi graduating, and Jalen Rawls transferring out for more playing time, something Vaughn called “ironic, given his chance was right in front of him” Coastal needed an experienced backfield presence.

They found not one, but two.

Cornell Jennings, a bruising back from USC who tallied 757 yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games last season, was among the first portal additions.

“Win a championship; period,” said Jennings, the Gilbert, Arizona native. “And there’s no better place to do that than Conway.”

Shortly after, the Chanticleers landed a surprise addition in Fredrick McCallum, the former five-star recruit from Ohio State. Frustrated with his role in Columbus, the Indianapolis product wanted a reset and Vaughn’s staff didn’t hesitate.

“They’ve got Duke Kryspin and some talented freshmen,” said one ACC coach, “but adding two backs like that gives them flexibility and instant production.”

If there’s one trend Coastal fans have learned to trust, it’s Vaughn’s eye for transfer linebackers.

First came Ty Oden, then Manu Filimoeatu. Both turned into award-winning enforcers. The next in line? Tyrone Flinn, another former Buckeye, who arrives with high expectations.

“He’s a gamer, period,” said defensive coordinator Tony White. “He can cover, rush, or chase down anyone on the field. Pairing him with Double A [Anthony Atogwe] behind our front is going to be menacing.”

Coastal didn’t need another receiver; not with Tavares Tinker, Jamal Stephen, and Tyler Hagg returning alongside QB Fredrick Meredith. But when Dorian Allen, the No. 1 receiver in the transfer portal, reached out to Coastal himself, Vaughn wasn’t about to say no.

“When the top wideout in the portal calls you? You at least kick the tires,” Vaughn joked. “And after we met him, it was a no-brainer. He’s unselfish, electric, and a perfect complement to our core. Defenses won’t know who to double.”

Allen, a redshirt junior from Buffalo, exploded for 83 catches, 1,071 yards, and 13 touchdowns last season, production that immediately vaults him into Coastal’s starting lineup.

In total, Coastal’s class features 18 prep recruits, headlined by No. 1 overall prospect T Chip Sabri, and six portal additions poised to contribute right away.

“They weren’t desperate for talent going in,” one rival executive noted. “But Vaughn checked every major box again. You could argue they needed a veteran corner, sure, but outside of that? No misses this cycle.”

-2032-Recruiting-Signees

Ranking	Position	Name	Height	Weight	Hometown	Tendency	NAT/STA/POS	Dev Trait
	T	Chip Sabri	6'7	308	Salt Lake City, UT	Agile	1/1/1	Elite
	WR	Darin Best	6'4	205	Sumter, SC	Physical Route Runner	11/1/2	Star
	DE	Cole Fasano	6'3	221	Fort Wayne, IN	Speed Rusher	15/1/4	Impact
	CB	Desmond Schrader	6'0	199	Greenville, SC	Bump and Run	16/2/4	Elite
	QB	Anthony Prude	6'3	192	Hialeah, FL	Dual Threat	23/2/1	Elite
	MLB	Donald Ezeala	5'11	223	Chicago, IL	Thumper	42/3/3	Elite
	WR	David Heeney	5'7	177	Conway, SC	Route Artist	64/6/10	Impact
	TE	DaWann Rochell	6'4	207	Coeur D'Alene, ID	Physical Route Runner	79/1/1	Impact
	DT	Taylor Doucet	6'6	325	San Mateo, CA	Gap Specialist	92/5/8	Impact
	LB	David Bean	6'4	216	Kennesaw, GA	Signal Caller	95/4/7	Normal
	DE	Greg Shaw	6'6	236	Pittston, PA	Power Rusher	202/7/24	Star
	HB	Skylar Lichtensteiger	5'10	186	Philadelphia, PA	East/West Playmaker	231/9/36	Elite
	HB	Terrence Flemiing	6'0	166	Cornelius, NC	Backfield Threat	302/10/45	Impact
	FS	Terrence Bulaga	6'0	192	Greenwood, SC	Hybrid	339/9/11	Impact
	LB	Russell Bouchard	6'1	242	Covington, GA	Thumper	396/32/31	Normal
	WR	Marco Sawyer	6'3	199	Marietta, GA	Gadget	451/37/80	Elite
	P	Dalton Randall	6'1	197	Detroit, MI	Power	551/17/2	Impact
	TE	James Kindred	6'3	214	Thousand Oaks, CA	Contested Specialist	762/69/140	Impact

2032_Tranfer_Portal_Additions

Class	Name	Position	Previous School	2032 Stats
JR	Cornell Jennings	HB	USC	131 Att, 757 Yds, 10 TD
FR	Fredrick McCallum	HB	Ohio State	12 Att, 43 Yds
JR(RS)	Dorian Allen	WR	Colorado	83 Rec, 1,071 Yds, 13 TD
JR	Trevor Dobbins	T	Washington	2 Sacks
JR	Frank Marvin	G	Clemson	0 Sacks
JR	Tyrone Flinn	LB	Ohio State	19 Tkl, 6 TFL, 5.5 Sacks

-2032-Top_15_Recruiting-Signees-

Position	Name	Hometown	Tendency	School
T	Chip Sabri	Salt Lake City, UT	Agile	Costal Carolina
FS	Jeffrey Stitser	Starkville, MS	Box Specialist	Ole Miss
CB	Toby McCaskill	Danville, GA	Field	USC
HB	Deion Baggs	Phenix City, AL	Elusive Bruiser	Clemson
WR	Ricardo Avery	Gibsonia, PA	Speedster	Tulane
T	Victor Burden	Joliet, IL	Well Rounded	Alabana
DE	Greg Shelley	Highstown, NJ	Edge Setter	Nebraska
DE	Steven Martino	Lannett, AL	Power Rusher	Georgia
DE	Shawn Lanning	Charlotte, NC	Edge Setter	Georgia
CB	KeShawn Ebiketie	Maryville, TN	Bump and Run	Clemson
WR	Darin Best	Sumter, SC	Physical Route Runner	Coastal
ATH	Juwan Girault	Nashville, TN	Agile	Clemson
DT	Leonard Fogg	Hoover, AL	Power Rusher	Alabama
CB	John Chunn	Hooks, TX	Zone	Alabama
DE	Cole Fasano	Fort Wayne, IN	Speed Rusher	Coastal

Top_2032_Portal_Signees

Name	Position	Previous School	New School
Jamie Guillermo	QB	Oklahoma	LSU
Marco Carver	QB	Ohio State	Michigan State
Ben Sensenbaugh	QB	Texas	Tulane
Femi Savage	QB	Notre Dame	BYU
Emeka Togiai	HB	Nebraska	Wisconsin
Tyler Redman	HB	Houston	Alabama
Max Pullard	HB	Washington	Oregon
Jalen Rawls	HB	Coastal Carolina	Arizona State
Bryce Hay	WR	Pittsburgh	Clemson
Henry Cobb	WR	Wisconsin	Nebraska
Marquee Horne	WR	LSU	TCU
Trevor Dobbins	T	Washington	Coastal Carolina
Cameron Minor	T	USC	Miami
Gerald Loper	G	Penn State	Ohio State
Frank Marvin	G	Clemson	Coastal Carolina
Larry Duarte	DE	Western Kentucky	Miami
Forrest Peters	DE	Illinois	Ohio State
Gordon Boyce	DT	Ohio State	Oklahoma
Adrian Tippmann	LB	Missouri	Ohio State
Tyrone Flinn	LB	Ohio State	Coastal Carolina
Damion Davis	MLB	Missouri	Nebraska
David Huff	MLB	Clemson	Auburn
Taylor Hart	CB	Minnesota	Michigan
Devin Boozer	CB	Oklahoma	Alabama

Top_Recruiting_Classes

School						Total
Georgia	5	28	1	0	0	34
Alabama	5	24	1	0	0	30
Clemson	4	22	7	0	0	33
Coastal Carolina	5	16	3	0	0	24
Ohio State	2	32	0	0	0	34
Ole Miss	2	15	14	0	0	31
LSU	0	26	3	0	0	31
Miami	1	17	8	0	0	26
Nebraska	2	13	7	0	0	22
USC	1	19	8	1	0	29
Michigan	0	20	6	0	0	26
Tennessee	0	23	7	0	0	30
Louisville	0	16	5	1	0	22
Oregon	1	13	12	0	0	26
Notre Dame	0	14	9	0	0	23

[James]

Top programs don't rebuild, they reload.

Also they are really going through it in Norman. Tough time to be an Oklahoma fan.

[Soapy]

“You didn’t think we were gonna take the crown and not defend it, did you?” he laughed, leaning forward.

lame ahh

[djp73]

lots of talent out the door but lots more coming in right behind it

[The JZA]

Class is lookin' elite

[Deuce2223]

Having Meredith and the Trio staying plus the additions on Defense and at RB I think the Kingdom is in good hands..

[redsox907]

Top programs don't rebuild, they reload.

Also they are really going through it in Norman. Tough time to be an Oklahoma fan.

Lincoln won a championship in Oxford, he's bringing championship culture....

“You didn’t think we were gonna take the crown and not defend it, did you?” he laughed, leaning forward.

lame ahh

this your QB?

lots of talent out the door but lots more coming in right behind it

Class is lookin' elite

Having Meredith and the Trio staying plus the additions on Defense and at RB I think the Kingdom is in good hands..

the WRs are a key grab. I really wanted Meredith back and glad he didn't even test, but the 5* QB we got is looking pretty good too. I think we would have been alright

I see everyone sleeping on Mr. Buddie

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