The 2021 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team represented Coastal Carolina University as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, the Chanticleers compiled an overall record of 11–2 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the Sun Belt's East Division. Coastal Carolina was invited to the Cure Bowl, where the Chanticleers defeated Northern Illinois. Coastal Carolina played home games at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.
Preseason Recruiting class
Source:
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason Dodd Trophy Jamey Chadwell Head coach Maxwell Award Grayson McCall QB RS-SO Chuck Bednarik Award Jeffrey Gunter LB RS-SR Davey O'Brien Award Grayson McCall QB RS-SO Allstate AFCA Good Works Team C. J. Brewer DT SR Biletnikoff Award Jaivon Heiligh WR SR Biletnikoff Award Isaiah Likely TE SR Mackey Award Isaiah Likely TE SR Jim Thorpe Award D'Jordan Strong CB SR Outland Trophy C. J. Brewer DT SR Outland Trophy Trey Carter OL SR Bronko Nagurski Trophy C. J. Brewer DT SR Lou Groza Award Massimo Biscardi K SR Ray Guy Award Charles Ouverson P SR Wuerffel Trophy Kennedy Roberts DT JR Walter Camp Award Grayson McCall QB RS-SO CFPA Performer of the Year Grayson McCall QB RS-SO Lombardi Award Isaiah Likely TE SR Manning Award Grayson McCall QB RS-SO Sources:
Sun Belt coaches poll The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Chanticleers were picked to finish tied for first in the East Division and second overall in the conference.
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
1st team Grayson McCall – Quarterback, RS-SO Isaiah Likely – Tight End, SR Jaivon Heiligh – Wide Receiver, SR
2nd team Trey Carter – Offensive Lineman, SR Willie Lampkin – Offensive Lineman, SO
Defense
1st team Jeffrey Gunter – Defensive Lineman, RS-SR C. J. Brewer – Defensive Lineman, SR Silas Kelly – Linebacker, SR D'Jordan Strong – Defensive Back, SR
2nd team Teddy Gallagher – Linebacker, SR
Special teams
2nd teams Massimo biscardi – Kicker, SR
Schedule The 2021 regular-season schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games. The Chanticleers traveled to Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, and South Alabama. Coastal hosted Sun Belt foes Louisiana–Monroe, Troy, Georgia State, and Texas State.
The Chants hosted three of their four non-conference opponents at Brooks Stadium: The Citadel, from the NCAA Division I FCS Southern Conference; Kansas of the Big 12 Conference; and UMass, an FBS Independent. They traveled to Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference.
Rankings
Game summaries
The Citadel
Statistics The CitadelCoastal Carolina First downs 16 28 Total yards 237 610 Rushing yards 223 262 Passing yards 14 348 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:39 25:21
Team Category Player StatisticsThe Citadel Passing Darique Hampton 2/3, 16 yards Rushing Jaylan Adams 16 carries, 100 yards Receiving Raleigh Webb 2 receptions, 16 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 16/19, 262 yards, 1 TD Rushing Shermari Jones 9 carries, 100 yards Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 6 receptions, 133 yards, 1 TD
Kansas
Statistics KansasCoastal Carolina First downs 16 27 Total yards 412 460 Rushing yards 174 215 Passing yards 238 245 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:49 29:11
Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Jason Bean 12/24, 189 yards Rushing Jason Bean 13 carries, 102 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Kwamie Lassiter II 7 receptions, 85 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 17/21, 245 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Reese White 14 carries, 102 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Javion Heiligh 6 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD
At Buffalo
Statistics Coastal CarolinaBuffalo First downs 21 20 Total yards 444 408 Rushing yards 212 262 Passing yards 232 146 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:26 31:34
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 13/19, 232 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Shermari Jones 16 carries, 149 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 4 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TDBuffalo Passing Kyle Vantrease 13/20, 146 yards Rushing Dylan McDuffie 15 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dominic Johnson 6 receptions, 66 yards
UMass
Statistics UMassCoastal Carolina First downs 13 30 Total yards 158 558 Rushing yards 28 312 Passing yards 130 246 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 26:06 33:54
Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Brady Olson 14/23, 86 yards Rushing Ellis Merriweather 6 carries, 30 yards Receiving Rico Arnold 4 receptions, 38 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 10/14, 162 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Braydon Bennett 8 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 5 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeCoastal Carolina First downs 10 26 Total yards 203 557 Rushing yards 72 275 Passing yards 131 282 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:14 35:46
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Chandler Rogers 9/17, 100 yards Rushing Chandler Rogers 11 carries, 40 yards Receiving Zach Jackson 3 receptions, 48 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 13/13, 212 yards Rushing Reese White 15 carries, 95 yards Receiving Isaiah Likely 5 receptions, 95 yards
At Arkansas State
Statistics Coastal CarolinaArkansas State First downs 23 16 Total yards 685 273 Rushing yards 294 18 Passing yards 391 255 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 36:27 23:33
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 18/23 365 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Shermari Jones 10 carries 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving Isaiah Likely 8 receptions 232 yards, 4 TDsArkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 13/29 185 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Lincoln Pare 6 carries 29 yards, 1 TD Receiving Te'Vailance Hunt 6 receptions 138 yards, 1 TD
At Appalachian State
Statistics Coastal CarolinaAppalachian State First downs 17 22 Total yards 346 575 Rushing yards 55 228 Passing yards 291 347 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:32 30:28
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 15/23, 291 yards, TD Rushing Reese White 9 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 6 receptions, 103 yardsAppalachian State Passing Chase Brice 18/28, 347 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nate Noel 16 rushes, 82 yards Receiving Malik Williams 10 receptions, 206 yards, TD
Troy
Statistics TroyCoastal Carolina First downs 29 29 Total yards 514 443 Rushing yards 176 89 Passing yards 338 354 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 36:28 23:32
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 24/29, 338 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing CJ Marable 20 carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 11 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDsTroy Passing Gunnar Watson 25/37, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jamontez Woods 9 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kaylon Geiger 9 receptions, 103 yards
At Georgia Southern
Statistics Coastal CarolinaGeorgia Southern First downs 17 15 Total yards 305 233 Rushing yards 220 86 Passing yards 85 147 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 31:37 28:23
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Bryce Carpenter 13/20, 85 yards, 1 TD Rushing Shermari Jones 20 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kameron Brown 3 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TDGeorgia Southern Passing Justin Tomlin 6/13, 83 yards, 1 INT Rushing Justin Tomlin 10 carries, 39 yards Receiving Khaleb Hood 5 receptions, 66 yards
Georgia State
Statistics Georgia StateCoastal Carolina First downs 18 26 Total yards 373 442 Rushing yards 175 209 Passing yards 198 233 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 25:11 34:49
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 18/24, 198 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Jamyest Williams 11 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 3 receptions, 70 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Bryce Carpenter 17/29, 233 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Braydon Bennett 10 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD Receiving Isaiah Likely 7 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD
Texas State
Statistics Texas StateCoastal Carolina First downs 17 30 Total yards 301 498 Rushing yards 188 179 Passing yards 113 319 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:54 35:06
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Tyler Vitt 14/27, 113 yards, 1 TD Rushing Calvin Hill 12 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ashtyn Hawkins 3 receptions, 48 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 22/28, 319 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Shermari Jones 23 carries, 92 yards Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 10 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD
At South Alabama
Statistics Coastal CarolinaSouth Alabama First downs 25 20 Total yards 491 349 Rushing yards 315 -5 Passing yards 176 354 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 32:52 27:08
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 16/25, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Shermari Jones 23 carries, 211 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 6 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TDSouth Alabama Passing Jake Bentley 28/41, 354 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Terrion Avery 6 carries, 11 yards Receiving Jalen Tolbert 10 receptions, 191 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Northern Illinois (Cure Bowl)
Statistics Northern IllinoisCoastal Carolina First downs 29 22 Total yards 516 514 Rushing yards 335 199 Passing yards 181 315 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 39:20 20:40
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 20/33, 181 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Jay Ducker 24 carries, 154 yards Receiving Cole Tucker 6 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TDCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 22/30, 315 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Braydon Bennett 6 carries, 113 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Isaiah Likely 7 receptions, 96 yards, 2 TDs
Personnel
References