Charlotte still hasnāt released an updated roster, and Spring camp is underway. Sad. Hopefully they will have one before Spring Camp is over, or at least before Fall Camp. One clue is that Tim said there are 52 returning players and 45 new ones. I show 55 returning players (when I include McGowan), so three of those apparently are gone. I also show 49 new players, but that includes Freshmen/JUCOs, some of which will join in the Fall. Per the Charlotte Observer, there were 15 early enrollees, and that would be out of 19 Freshmen and 9 JUCO players, so there will be 13 more players coming in the Fall.
Now, the Observer says 46 new players, while Albin said 45, but seemed unsure, so Iāll go with 46. Iām assuming that this means there are 46 new players now. That would put the ultimate roster size at 52+46+13=111. I was expecting a total of 49 new player, and it apparently will be 59 new players, so there may be some more surprises when the actual roster comes out, perhaps some PWOs or unannounced portal players. Or, if itās 46 total new players, and only 33 are here now, then three of the signees are no shows, and the roster for fall will only be 52+46? I hope itās not thatā¦
One concern, Albin is quoted as saying āWe donāt have any returners in the secondaryā¦ā. Does that mean that Clinkscaples and Gill wonāt be back?
The bottom line is that itās embarrassing to start Spring Camp, and still not have posted the roster, not even an incomplete one.
I get what you mean but in todays college landscape kids still leave after the spring and new ones come in so I donāt know if it means that muchā¦ IMHO
There is no Spring portal this year, so Iām not sure how much moving around will happen between now and Fall. I donāt claim to understand the new system, however, and whatever happen will happen.
Of interest, what happens to all of the players that went into the portal and were not picked up by another school. Do they go juco, try to walk on somewhere or just simply float off into lala land
Thereās also FCS, D2, etc. Can also ask to return if the player was the one initiating going into the portal, though thatās at the discretion of the coach. If a runoff, then sh*t outta luck on trying that.
They can also hope to get picked up next year, if they still have eligibility. In the end, about 1/3 of the players who enter the portal typically end up without a Division 1 position. They portal can have great benefits, but is not risk free.
āThe Charlotte 49ers return their top three quarterbacks from 2025, including Conner Harrell, who missed most of the season after leg surgery. ā Umm..??? Harrell, Loftis, and McNulty?
I like the sound of 20-25 heavier on the lines, and faster.
99 to 100 players, including 15 Freshmen clarifies things a bit. If only four more players will arrive in the fall, that means ~104 total players, about the amount I expected.
It was mentioned that there are no returning starters at DB, and no returning starters on the O-Line. I guess that means that Dallas Shirley and CJ Clinkscales are gone. I showed them as both Redshirt Juniors last year, so I expected them back. Neither were in the portal, and neither worked out for Pro Day, so I have no idea why they wouldnāt be back.
Addition to the above:
Going from what little info that leaks out, there are 52 returning players, while I expected 55. From the comments re: no returning starters, Shirley and Clinkscales may be two of the three that didnāt return.
The press release from 3/21 says that 15 of 18 Freshmen arrived in January. I was expecting 19 Freshmen, so apparently one of the recruits will not be arriving. When that happens, it is often an eligibility issue, and the player ends up in JUCO.
There are reportedly 46 new players, of which 15 are Freshmen, leaving 31 others. Charlotte announced 9 JUCO players and 21 from the portal, a total of 30, so there is one other player who has not yet been reported, probably from the portal. If I was to take a guess, Iād guess Charlie Birtwistle, who reported a commitment from the portal, but who was not ever listed as signing. Perhaps he signed later?
Combining these numbers, there are currently 98 players at Spring Camp, with another 3 players expected in the Fall, which will bring the total to 101. There is still room to add four more players to the roster, based on the 105 limit. Preferred walkons, perhaps? Or people who are stuck in the portal with no one making any offers?
Hunter gave some context to the starter comment on Highway 49. Albin was referring to starters from game one last year. Donāt recall if Shirley or Clinkscale started against App. No clue if they are back but I hope so.
You can find the game by game starters for last year here, at page 21-21:
Both Shirley and Clinkscales started all 12 games. I hope they just slipped Albinās mind, and they are really still on the team.
The thing is that you know the equipment managers know who is present and accounted for, and that the coaches know who is present and accounted for. Maybe the ADās office is waiting for updated data for the Spring Camp start weigh-in, so that they have correct height and weight info, in which case, they will hopefully post the roster before the end of Spring Camp.
Iām also puzzled by the comments about an OL last year that weighed only 280 or so. Here were the starters against App State: Ramil 300, Clipper 315, King 295, Shirley 290, and Bowers 310, which averages to 302. The only OL on last yearās roster that was under 290 was Rockhead, at 255, and he was a converted TE trying to bulk up, and never played. Maybe the weights on last yearās roster were total fabrications, and the line was a lot lighter in real life than the roster indicated?
