The 2026 Charlotte 49ers football team represents the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as a member of the American Conference during 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by second-year head coach Tim Albin and play their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Schedule
Game summaries The Citadel (FCS)
Statistics CITCLT First downs 16 21 Plays–yards 63–400 74–538 Rushes–yards 50–268 33–216 Passing yards 132 322 Passing: –– 9–13–0 28–41–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:45 30:15 Team Category Player Statistics The Citadel Passing Nick Billoups 7/10, 91 yards Rushing Gavin Garcia 21 carries, 137 yards, 3 TD Receiving Ismael Zamor 3 receptions, 56 yards Charlotte Passing Cole Gonzales 28/41, 322 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Khamani Alexander 14 carries, 138 yards, TD Receiving Jaylen Hampton 8 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD
at No. 9 Ole Miss
Statistics CLTMISS First downs 17 25 Plays–yards 61–322 58–420 Rushes–yards 33–143 24–127 Passing yards 179 293 Passing: –– 20–28–1 27–34–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 37:14 22:46 Team Category Player Statistics Charlotte Passing Cole Gonzales 14/21, 128 yards, INT Rushing Chance Williams 9 carries, 74 yards Receiving Derrick Eley 2 receptions, 56 yards Ole Miss Passing Trinidad Chambliss 23/26, 225 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kewan Lacy 13 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving Deuce Alexander 8 receptions, 76 yards
at Appalachian State
Statistics CLTAPP First downs 15 22 Plays–yards 60-247 76-435 Rushes–yards 25-36 33-90 Passing yards 211 345 Passing: –– 22-35-2 29-43-1 Time of possession 26:32 33:28 Team Category Player Statistics Charlotte Passing Cole Gonzales 22/35, 211 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Henry Rutledge 7 carries, 29 yards Receiving Jaden Barnes 10 receptions, 97 yards Appalachian State Passing Malachi Singleton 28/42, 331 yards, 2 TDs, INT Rushing Jaquari Lewis 11 carries, 46 yards, TD Receiving Chris Lofton 6 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Louisiana
Statistics LACLT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Louisiana Passing Rushing Receiving Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving
Memphis
Statistics MEMCLT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Memphis Passing Rushing Receiving Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving
at North Texas
Statistics CLTUNT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving North Texas Passing Rushing Receiving
at Temple
Statistics CLTTEM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving Temple Passing Rushing Receiving
Tulane
Statistics TULNCLT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tulane Passing Rushing Receiving Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving
at UAB
Statistics CLTUAB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving UAB Passing Rushing Receiving
East Carolina
Statistics ECUCLT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving
at Tulsa
Statistics CLTTLSA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving Tulsa Passing Rushing Receiving
Navy
Statistics NAVYCLT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Navy Passing Rushing Receiving Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Coaching staff On January 26, 2026, the 49ers announced the hiring of defensive ends coach Victor Cabral and would promote defensive analyst Tariq Drake as the cornerbacks coach.
Name Position Seasons atCharlotte Alma mater Previous Tim Albin Head coach 2 NW OK St. (1988) Head coach (Ohio) Todd Fitch Associate Head coach/Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks 2 Ohio Wesleyan (1985) Offensive analyst (LSU) Brian Haines Assistant head coach, Running backs, Special teams 2 Marietta College (2004) Runningbacks/Special teams coordinator (App. St.)Nate Faanes Defensive coordinator/Linebackers 2 Winona St. (2015) Co-defensive coordinator (Ohio)Tre' Bell Defensive backs/Defensive passing coordinator 2 UConn (2018) Defensive analyst (WVU) Victor Cabral Defensive ends 1 Georgia Southern (2006) Outside linebackers coach (WVU) Tariq Drake Cornerbacks 2 Ohio (2021) Defensive analyst (Charlotte) Brian Metz Tight ends/Recruiting coordinator 2 Notre Dame (2013) Tight ends/Recruiting coordinator (Ohio) Vince Reynolds Defensive tackles 2 Northern Illinois (2004) Defensive line coach/Defensive run game coordinator (Arkansas St.) Allen Rudolph Offensive line/Run game coordinator 2 Southern Miss. (1995) Offensive line (Ohio) Paul Turner Wide receivers/Passing game coordinator 2 LA Tech (2016) Lead offensive analyst (LSU)Reference:
Roster
Recruiting class The following recruits and transfers have signed letters of intent or verbally committed to the Charlotte 49ers football program for the 2026 recruiting year.
Key transfers Khamani AlexanderRunning backAppalachian StateHomestead, FLBelen Jesuit PrepRS-FR6'-2"195 lbsDevin AncrumDefensive linemanNorth CarolinaBuford, GAMill CreekFR6'-3"280 lbsJaden BarnesWide receiverAppalachian StateFairburn, GALangston HughesJR5'-8"162 lbsTank BostonCornerbackNC StateAnderson, SCWestsideSO6'-0"175 lbsZyheem CollickWide receiverBryantSnow Hill, MDSnow HillSO5'-11"170 lbsJameel CroftCornerbackKansasDetroit, MIMartin Luther King Jr.RS-SO6'-1"165 lbsNicolas CrujiInside offensive linemanMaineMississauga, ONWyoming Seminary PrepRS-JR6'-4"305 lbsCole GonzalesQuarterbackPittsburghOcala, FLTrinity CatholicSR6'-0"195 lbsLogan MauldinTight endMcNeeseCharlotte, NCMyers ParkRS-SR6'-3"220 lbsShamar McIntoshSafetyMarylandWashington, D.C.St. John's CollegeSO6'-2"185 lbsMathias NielsenOffensive tackleVirginia UnionBagsværd, DenmarkGentofte HFJR6'-2"295 lbsCam PedroWide receiverSoutheast Missouri StateSuwanee, GACollins HillRS-JR5'-11"165 lbsD'Mariun PerteetRunning backCoastal CarolinaBatesville, MSSouth PanolaJR5'-10"200 lbsLewis PriceDefensive linemanWingateFort Mill, SCCatawba RidgeFR6'-4"295 lbsLuke SandyInside offensive linemanWyomingParker, COLegendRS-JR6'-2"285 lbsShaku SangarieDefensive linemanDrakeJacksonville, FLAtlantic CoastRS-SO6'-2"250 lbsHenry SearcyLong snapperPittsburghTallahassee, FLLawton ChilesFR6'-3"180 lbsLane WadleTight endGeorgia StateGreenfield, INGreenfield-CentralSO6'-5"245 lbsD'Nas WhiteDefensive linemanCatawbaConcord, NCJay M. RobinsonRS-FR6'-5"310 lbsChance WilliamsRunning backCincinnatiBaton Rouge, LAScotlandville MagnetSR5'-10"172 lbsJ'ven WilliamsInside offensive linemanPenn StateReading, PAWyomissing AreaRS-SO6'-5"319 lbs
Departing players Outgoing transfers Connor Adair TE Campbell Evan Austin WR Campbell Andrew Bennett P James Madison Dwight Bootle II CB Arizona Mason Bowers OT Unknown Liam Boyd K Michigan State Ta'ir Brooks WR Unknown Miles Burris WR Akron Aydan Cannon DB Davidson Don Chaney Jr. RB Louisiana–Monroe Maurice Clipper Jr. IOL Georgia Southern Antonio Cotman Jr. DB Virginia Union Drew Cunningham IOL North Texas Jake Davids RB Unknown Devin Davis IOL South Florida Rod Gainey Jr. RB LSU Tyler Gibson OT UCF Cary Grant S Appalachian State Duke Guenther RB Unknown Justin Hayes LB Unknown Cheick Kaba DL Unknown Aiden Martinez IOL Unknown Jayden McGowan WR Baylor Xavier Miles DL Memphis Javen Nicholas WR Duke JJ Okate LB Unknown Umar Rockhead OT Norfolk State Eli Samples IOL Withdrawn Curtis Simpson EDGE Withdrawn CJ Stokes RB Unknown Yamil Talib EDGE Colorado Zach Wilcke QB Northwestern State Gavin Willis LB Withdrawn Jake Young TE Western Carolina
References