Year two of the Kenni Burns era features a slightly revamped staff, several veteran transfers, and significantly improved recruiting.
What was new for the 2023 Kent State Golden Flashes? Essentially everything.
The Golden Flashes experienced more turnover than just about any college football program last season, enduring an offseason which saw all 11 offensive starters and eight defensive starters depart from the program. Head coach Kenni Burns arrived and assembled a new staff, hoping to sustain the success from the Sean Lewis era.
But Burns started at ground zero with minimal starting experience across the roster. The result was the only 1-11 record in the FBS, dwelling as the only program deprived of a single win over an FBS team in 2023. There’s nowhere to go but forward.
Burns instilled a culture last season, his team demonstrated improvement toward the season’s conclusion, and watched young talent progress throughout the season — such as breakout stars Chrishon McCray and Oliver Billotte. But the Golden Flashes also found players and coaches to join Burns’ rebuilding project. Here’s what’s new for Kent State in 2024:
Burns’ staff in year two
The most continuity within a given coaching staff transpires from year one to year two, especially for a rebuilding program. Burns brought the majority of his staff in for the 2023 season, and now numerous assistants are also entering year two along with the head coach. One of those year two assistants is Kody Morgan, who received a promotion from safeties coach to defensive coordinator in May following the conclusion of spring football. This move occurred one month after Kent State former defensive coordinator Dave Duggan stepped down to accept a high school head coaching position.
Outside of Morgan’s internal promotion, there are also several new hires hoping to bring Kent State back to the win column on gamedays.
One new arrival on staff is co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Clay Patterson. Patterson has served as a tight ends coach at several FBS stops, including Minnesota (2018-21), Colorado (2022), and South Florida (2023). He shared an offensive staff at Minnesota with Burns for four seasons while Burns operated as the Golden Gophers’ running backs coach, so there is strong familiarity between the two coaches.
Focusing on the tight ends is one of the youngest position coaches in the MAC. C.J. Conrad thrived as a tight end for Kentucky in the late 2010s and was a member of the New York Giants practice squad just four years ago. Conrad is already climbing up the coaching ranks expeditiously, escalating from Kentucky graduate assistant to Eastern Kentucky tight ends coach to Kent State tight ends coach in a matter of three seasons.
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Former Minnesota defensive lineman Malcolm Robinson reunites with Coach Burns on the staff as a rush ends coach, after a brief tenure working as a defensive line graduate assistant at Pitt. Robinson’s hire moves former rush ends coach CJ Robbins to a linebackers coach. Robbins also takes on the task of special teams coordinator, a role formerly held by Morgan before his move to defensive coordinator.
Bill Teerlinck and Spencer Rymiszewski are the other newcomers to the defensive staff. Teerlinck is one of the more veteran members of the staff with nearly 20 years of experience. He held several NFL jobs, working the defensive lines of the Indianapolis Colts (2007-11) and Buffalo Bills (2017-19), as well as gigs at the high school and collegiate levels. Rymiszewski is on the other side of the coin when it comes to experience, but he’s a quick riser in the industry. In 2020, he was a graduate assistant for a New Year’s Six bound Cincinnati team led by cornerback Sauce Gardner. Then he spent two seasons working with the New York Giants secondary and one as a defensive and special teams analyst at Wisconsin.
Rebuilding through the portal
Offensive transfers
Kent State launched the 2023 season with a starting quarterback from the transfer portal, but that possibility isn’t as likely in 2024 with Tommy Ulatowski and Devin Kargman remaining on campus. However, the Golden Flashes acquired an FBS transfer at the position in JD Sherrod, who served as a backup last season for Sun Belt champion Troy. The Memphis native was labeled a top 90 quarterback in the 2023 class but didn’t field any in-game reps as a true freshman.
Wide receiver is arguably Kent State’s strongest position with the top two options from 2023 back in the mix — First Team All-MAC selection Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea. With the additions the Golden Flashes made in the portal, the group could be stronger. Kent State targeted receivers that lacked playing time at their previous schools, thrilled with their unearthed potential. Those receivers include Sebastian Brown and Ardell Banks. Brown played a total of seven snaps at Michigan State while Banks never saw in the field in one season at Kentucky.
A more experienced target the Golden Flashes landed was Northwestern State transfer Stanley King. The 6’6” New Jersey native and former Under Armour All-American accumulated 437 receiving yards on 32 receptions in three years at the FCS level, and he adds size versatility to a group which starts a pair of 5’10” receivers.
But the most experienced talent Tony Georges arrives from an unexpected destination — the other side of the Wagon Wheel rivalry. Georges is already Kent State’s most experienced offensive lineman, first becoming a full-fledged starter at Akron in 2021. The Golden Flashes return their entire starting line from last year, but the team might look to Georges’ veteran background and seniority to assist the young unit this fall.
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Finally at tight end, Kent State landed transfers from every destination imaginable. Charlie Skehan comes from Alabama, where he participated in one game in 2023. The Golden Flashes also added a pair of Division II transfers in Conner Muldowney (Tiffin College) and Aaron Hopkins (Edinboro). The Golden Flashes landed one other small school tight end in Hunter Hopperton, who carved out a special teams role in two seasons with FCS Rhode Island.
Defensive transfers
Kent State didn’t have to look past its peers to find a valuable addition to its defensive end rotation. Former Buffalo edge rusher Kameron Olds moved from one MAC school to another this offseason, joining Burns and the Golden Flashes. Olds was an instant contributor as a true freshman at Buffalo, and now he enters his third season with 21 career appearances and nine total tackles. Other new supporting depth at defensive end includes Lavell Gibson, who ranked first at Division II Notre Dame College in sacks last fall.
The Golden Flashes fished in the Swamp for a defensive tackle transfer and wound up catching Keenan Landry. The former Florida Gator played three games in his former SEC home, but before arriving at Florida, Landry was a successful community college player. The 6’1”, 305 pound Louisiana native should see his role should increase in MAC country, especially as the team’s largest defensive lineman.
Kent State filled out its linebacker depth with high-end FCS talent in Mason Woods. The middle linebacker excelled as a two-year starter at Towson, leading the team in tackles in 2022 and serving an integral role on defense in 2023. Outside linebacker Canaan Williams also adds depth to the group as an internal MAC transfer, spending the last two seasons buried in a deep Bowling Green linebacking corps. Zadan Abuhamdeh rounds out the linebacker transfers after a stint at Division II Walsh University.
The secondary was another significant area of emphasis in the portal. Dallas Branch is the headliner addition in this group, looking to fulfill a cornerback vacancy created by the departure of Capone Blue. Branch possesses vast experience, earning All-Mountain West honorable mention in 2022 at San Diego State and capturing Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week honors that season — given to the best defensive back performance of the week. Branch comes equipped with 68 tackles, five interceptions, eight pass breakups, and the ability to be a massive difference maker from day one.
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Also new to the cornerback room is Jaylen Dotson, who similar to Branch, is well-versed as a collegiate starter. Dotson cracked the lineup for 10 games in 2022 at Monmouth of the FCS, recording 42 tackles and six pass breakups. Syracuse transfer Malcolm Folk joins this secondary at safety, possessing 11 games of experience primarily as a special teamer. As Folk makes the transition from the ACC to the MAC, he eyes an increase in snaps on the defensive side of the ball.
Lastly, the secondary gains Armahn Hale, a steady contributor at Butler Community College with 50 tackles, one interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in his last go-around.
Fresh Flashes
Kent State’s transfer class showed considerable improvement from year one of the Burns era to year two. Per 247Sports, the Golden Flashes fielded the 98th ranked class of the 134 FBS teams, checking in at sixth in the MAC — just one season after finishing last in the conference.
The Golden Flashes hauled in a heap of 3-star recruits, headlined by JayJay Etheridge, Clinton Robinson, and Darrion Gilliam. Etheridge, labeled an “athlete” during the recruiting process, joins the wide receiver room after signing with Kent State in December. Robinson, a Pittsburgh native, enters the safety room as the team’s top defensive recruit. Gilliam was one of the highly-touted prospects in the MAC, receiving offers from eight schools in the conference. The 6’5” 3-star recruit ultimately joined Kent State, hoping to become an immediate contributor in the offense.
Running back Ayden Harris, wide receiver Da’Shawn Martin, wide receiver Wayne Harris, tight end Dakota Taylor, offensive lineman Elijah “Tank” Williams, defensive lineman Jaihien Roy, linebacker Nylan Brown, linebacker Jayden Studio, and safety Troy Martin round out Kent State’s 3-star prospects per 247Sports.
Other signees include quarterback Jett Hilding, running back Cade Wolford, wide receiver Preston Hopperton (younger brother of aforementioned transfer tight end Hunter Hopperson), wide receiver Garrett Dial, offensive lineman Jaxon Dunn, defensive lineman Josue Cordoba, defensive lineman Antonio Bottiggi, cornerback Jaire Rawlison, safety Brodyn Bishop, safety Martell Buchanan, and kicker Tommy Newcomb.