UAlbany ranks No. 15 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Great Danes finished 11-4 last year, losing 59-0 in the FCS semifinals at South Dakota State.
Here’s a look at the 2024 UAlbany football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (3)
Second Team
OL Ozzie Hutchinson
Third Team
OL Will Marotta
K John Opalko
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (11)
Kenechukwu Eziomume (DB), Alabama A&M
Timon Akins (LB), Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Dontae Lunan (LB), Bryant
Jamal Cooney (WR), Dartmouth
Ronald Holmes (LB), Delaware State
Seven McGee (WR), Jackson State
Chiebuka Aduaka (DL), Merrimack
Thomas Joe-Kamara (DB), Monmouth
Sean Morris (DL), Morgan State
Jack Iuliano (DL), Penn
Scott Lynch (QB), Sacred Heart
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (7)
Jacari Carter (WR), Georgia State
Aaron Steinfeldt (TE), Indiana
Marcus Winfield (DL), Kent State
Myles Bell (DB), Marshall
Daiyaan Hawkins (DB), Temple
Chris Gales (DB), Toledo
Myles Burkett (QB), Wisconsin
Transfers Lost To The FCS (4)
Michael Sbuttoni (K) to Sacred Heart
Roy Alexander (WR) to UIW
Tyson Foster (OL) to Wagner
Kevin Singer (OL) to Wagner
Transfers Lost To The FBS (5)
Anton Juncaj (DL) to Arkansas
Reese Poffenbarger (QB) to Miami
Aamir Hall (DB) to Michigan
Tyler Pastula (P) to San Diego State
Elijah Hills (DL) to Wisconsin
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Offensive Outlook
UAlbany will have an experienced offensive line and its top running back returning. But the Great Danes lose their standout quarterback to the FBS and need to replace their top two wide receivers.
Five linemen return with starting experience — Ozzie Hutchinson (6’4″ 305 lbs), Scott Houseman (6’3″ 321 lbs), Sean Dugery (6’1″ 305 lbs), Will Marotta (6’5″ 325 lbs), and Nolan Latulippe (6’7″ 281 lbs).
Hutchinson and Marotta earned All-CAA accolades last fall.
Running back Griffin Woodell is back after a strong freshman season. The CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year recorded 892 rushing yards and 255 receiving yards with 12 total touchdowns (8 rushing, 4 receiving).
Despite losing its top two receivers, UAlbany has proven talent on its roster.
Marqeese Dietz had 45 catches for 515 yards and three TDs last year as a freshman. Jackson Parker is also back. He appeared in only three games last fall before an injury. But in 2022, he started six games and finished with 27 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
UAlbany landed transfer Jacari Carter from FBS Georgia State, a former FCS Freshman All-American. Carter caught 125 passes for 1,227 yards and 13 touchdowns in 25 games at Merrimack from 2021-22. In 2021, he was a Freshman All-American, First Team All-NEC, and a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award. His 89 receptions were four shy of Cooper Kupp’s FCS freshman season record. Last fall at Georgia State, Carter was the team’s third-leading receiver with 38 catches for 273 yards.
Other D1 transfer pass-catchers heading to UAlbany are Dartmouth WR Jamal Cooney, Jackson State WR Seven McGee, and Indiana TE Aaron Steinfeldt.
The Great Danes also brought in two transfers to strengthen the quarterback competition — Sacred Heart’s Scott Lynch and Wisconsin’s Myles Burkett. Last year’s backup Trey Lindsey is a part of the mix as well. He transferred to UAlbany last offseason after four years at Auburn.
Defensive Outlook
UAlbany owned one of the best FCS defenses last season, but the Great Danes do not return any starters.
Several transfers look to step in. UAlbany has done a good job in the portal finding impact players from the FBS, FCS, and lower divisions. Just look at last year’s team, featuring several former transfer players — Aamir Hall arrived from Richmond. Marqeese Dietz and Reese Poffenbarger came from ODU. Anton Juncaj from Nassau Community College. AJ Simon, who tragically passed away before the NFL Draft, arrived at UAlbany from Bloomsburg University. Brevin Easton from Assumption University. Ori Jean-Charles from Maine. Scott Houseman from Lackawanna College.
This offseason, UAlbany has brought in 12 D1 defensive transfers:
Kenechukwu Eziomume (DB), Alabama A&M
Timon Akins (LB), Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Dontae Lunan (LB), Bryant
Ronald Holmes (LB), Delaware State
Chiebuka Aduaka (DL), Merrimack
Thomas Joe-Kamara (DB), Monmouth
Sean Morris (DL), Morgan State
Jack Iuliano (DL), Penn
Marcus Winfield (DL), Kent State
Myles Bell (DB), Marshall
Daiyaan Hawkins (DB), Temple
Chris Gales (DB), Toledo
Some notable names include:
Monmouth’s Thomas Joe-Kamara totaled 58 tackles in 2022 and 61 tackles in 2023.
Penn’s Jack Iuliano had 40 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, four sacks, and eight quarterback hurries last year.
Merrimack’s Chiebuka Aduaka recorded 10 TFLs and five sacks last fall.
Alabama A&M’s Kenechukwu Eziomume tallied 20 tackles and eight pass breakups in 2023.
Delaware State’s Ronald Holmes had 90 tackles and 16.5 TFLs in 31 games.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Timon Akins played in 34 career games, totaling 113 tackles and 18 TFLs.
Bryant’s Dontae Lunan started all 11 games in 2023 and recorded 61 tackles and four TFLs.
Kent State’s Marcus Winfield is a former All-Conference selection at Delaware State.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
UAlbany Football Schedule
8/31 vs LIU
9/7 at West Virginia
9/14 at No. 7 Idaho
9/28 vs Maine
10/5 at Cornell
10/12 at Bryant
10/19 vs RV Elon
10/26 at No. 19 Delaware
11/2 vs New Hampshire
11/9 at Stony Brook
11/16 at Rhode Island
11/23 vs Hampton
Bold indicates CAA games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received votes
