Furman ranks No. 14 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Paladins finished 10-3 last year, losing 35-28 in the FCS quarterfinals at Montana.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Furman football squad.
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Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (2)
First Team
DE Luke Clark
Second Team
K Ian Williams
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (0)
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (3)
Joshua Burrell (TE), Florida State
Jalen Tate (DB), Georgia State
Isaac Ward (QB), USC
Transfers Lost To The FCS (0)
Transfers Lost To The FBS (5)
Ivan Yates (DB) to Colorado
Jack Barton (DL) to Georgia Tech
Tyler Huff (QB) to Jacksonville State
Micah Robinson (DB) to Tulane
Julian Ashby (LS) to Vanderbilt
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Offensive Outlook
The Paladins lose their starting quarterback, top running back, and the top four offensive linemen in snaps from last year’s offense. They do return their top three pass-catchers and three linemen who started at least four games in 2023.
Carson Jones looks like the favorite to be Furman’s 2024 starter at quarterback. The 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore played in six games last year with key minutes in the final stretch of the regular season. In a ranked matchup vs. Chattanooga, Jones stepped in for an injured Huff during the second quarter, finishing the game with 139 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning eight-yard TD pass with 1:44 remaining to clinch the SoCon title.
Jones started the next two games, which were the final two before the playoffs. He went 18/23 for 226 yards and four scores in a 37-3 win over VMI. Furman saw offensive struggles the following week, a 19-13 loss to Wofford that dropped the Paladins in the playoff seeds. Jones went 18/38 for 99 yards and an interception in the loss. Huff then returned from his injury in Furman’s playoff run.
Jones’s overall body of work earned him the SoCon’s Co-Freshman of the Year Award, voted on by the coaches.
Furman also brought in Isaac Ward, a graduate transfer quarterback from USC.
An experienced group of wide receivers will ease the transition to a new starting QB. Furman’s top three leaders in receiving yards all return — Colton Hinton (34 catches, 404 yards, 2 TDs), Joshua Harris (42 catches, 380 yards, 2 TDs), and Ben Ferguson (27 catches, 335 yards, 1 TD).
The Paladins also added Florida State transfer tight end Joshua Burrell.
While the main receiving production is all back, the opposite can be said about rushing production. The top three rushers from 2023 have departed. Myion Hicks is the most experienced back after rushing 36 times for 243 yards and three TDs last year. Jayquan Smith added 28 carries in five games for 123 yards and two scores.
Up front, Furman has to replace its top four offensive linemen in snaps. However, three players return with 2023 starting experience. Luke Petit (6’3″ 285 lbs) started the first six games before a season-ending injury. Blake Hundley (6’3″ 287 lbs) and E.J. Wilson (6’4″ 288 lbs) both started four games.
Defensive Outlook
After allowing 18.2 points per game (No. 11 in the FCS), Furman returns four of its top 15 tacklers and four of its 15 leaders in snaps.
Evan DiMaggio is back after finishing third on the team in tackles, totaling 79 stops, including 11.5 TFLs and five sacks.
Luke Clark will be a leader on the d-line after an All-Conference season. The 6-foot-3 and 253-pounder totaled 53 tackles, seven TFLs, six sacks, and four quarterback hurries. Alex Maier is another edge player in Furman’s bandit position that Clark also plays. Maier (6’4″ 238 lbs) will have an increased role after tallying 24 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks, and three quarterback hurries.
Xavier Stephens (6’3″ 292 lbs) is a returning starter on the interior of the defensive line. Last year, he totaled 35 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and three sacks. Jeremiah Jackson (6’0″ 265 lbs) adds experience up front, recording more than 300 snaps last fall and notching 12 tackles, three sacks, and seven QB hurries.
Secondary is a question mark after Furman loses its top three safeties and top three cornerbacks.
Strong safety Caleb Williams brings some experience, playing in all 13 games with 250 snaps and totaling 17 tackles. Free safety Jalen Tate is a transfer addition from Georgia State looking to make an impact.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Furman Football Schedule
8/31 at Ole Miss
9/7 vs Charleston Southern
9/14 vs Stetson
9/21 at No. 17 William & Mary
9/28 vs Samford
10/5 at The Citadel
10/12 vs No. 10 Chattanooga
10/19 vs No. 16 Western Carolina
11/2 at VMI
11/9 vs Wofford
11/16 at East Tennessee State
11/23 at Mercer
Bold indicates SoCon games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received votes
