BLACK OUT – Football Kicks off Season Against Fordham

ALBANY, N.Y. –   Football is BACK! The University at Albany football team is set to kick off the 2023 season against Fordham on Saturday night. The ‘Week 0’ contest is one of only three FCS games the entire weekend. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. from Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium with coverage on FloFootball and ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team.

Game Info

Saturday, August 26 vs. Fordham 

Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y. 

7:00 p.m. EST 

FloFootball | 104.5 The Team | Live Stats | Media Center | Tickets | Fan Program

Black Out

The home opener is set to be a blackout for UAlbany fans. Great Dane supporters are encouraged to wear black, matching the UAlbany uniforms worn by student-athletes on the field. In addition, the first 1,000 students in attendance will receive a free Black Out t-shirt. The game will also feature a fireworks display at halftime. 

Leading the Pack

• The “Week 0” matchup against Fordham will be the first season-opener at home for UAlbany since 2014. That season, UAlbany defeated Holy Cross by a score of 14-13 to kick off a 7-5 year. 
• After a home game to start the year, the Great Danes don’t return to Casey Stadium for over a month – Sept. 30 against Fordham. In that span, UAlbany will travel to Hawaii, Marshall, and Morgan State. The Great Danes’ bye week is set for Sept. 16. 
• Dylan Kelly, named CAA Preseason Honorable Mention, led the team last season with 97 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss. Defensive lineman AJ Simon led the team with 5.0 sacks. Anton Juncaj, also a CAA Preseason Honorable Mention selection, followed closely behind with 4.5.
• Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger threw for 2,999 yards a year ago. His favorite target, tight end Thomas Greaney, currently holds a roster spot with the Cleveland Browns. Greaney hauled in 50 passes for 693 yards and nine TD’s last season. Poffenbarger will see tight end Ian Renninger and wideouts Roy Alexander, Julian Hicks, and Jackson Parker down the field this year. 

Scouting Fordham

The Great Danes and the Rams faced off last season in the Bronx, scoring a combined 93 points for one of the highest-scoring games in all of college football. Fordham got the better of UAlbany, winning by a score of 48-45. The game featured over 1,000 yards of offense and a UAlbany single-game record of 412 passing yards from quarterback Reese Poffenbarger. Running back Todd Sibley scored four times, running for 123 yards and adding another 46 yards through the air. 

With the loss of a number of student-athletes from last year's squad, the 2023 Fordham football team has some questions to answer. The team features over 25 freshman/first year players and 14 individuals taking advantage of a fifth year. The biggest losses for the Rams comes on the offensive side of the ball, with the loss of star quarterback Tim DeMorat (Washington Commanders) and running back Trey Sneed. DeMorat threw for nearly 5,000 yards in 2022, tossing 56 TD’s in the process. He threw just 10 interceptions on 499 attempts. Sneed rushed for 1141 yards in 2022, scoring five TD’s over 12 games and a team-high 197 attempts. 

Seven Rams were selected to the Preseason All-League team, including linebacker James Conway, wide receiver Mekai Felton defensive lineman Matt Jaworski, running back Julius Loughridge, offensive lineman Lucas Portes, defensive back Stephen Williams II, and wide receiver MJ Wright.

Year Two for Poffenbarger

Sophomore quarterback Reese Poffenbarger enters year number two with the Great Danes in 2023. Poffenbarger joined UAlbany in the spring of 2022 as a transfer from Old Dominion, heading into a four-way quarterback battle during training camp. The rookie QB earned his starting role and never looked back. It only took him three games to surpass the UAlbany single-game passing record, throwing for 412 yards and three touchdowns. Poffenbarger went on to toss 2,999 yards on the season with a 62% completion rate. He collected 24 touchdowns, throwing just four interceptions. He was named the CAA Rookie of the Week an unprecedented six times before claiming the conference’s Rookie of the Year title and being named to the CAA Third Team All-Conference. In addition, he was named the ECAC Division I FCS Rookie of the Year, the 2022 Jerry Rice Award Runner-Up, and a HERO Sports Freshman All-American.

This season, Poffenbarger looks to build off of his historic 2022 campaign. He has already been named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in football's Division I subdivision, and was also named CAA Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention. He enters year two with offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Jared Ambrose guiding him from the sidelines. 

Defensive Upgrades

It’s no secret the Great Dane defense struggled in 2022. The unit ranked second to last in the conference, allowing 34.1 points per game and a total of 51 touchdowns. That script is looking to get flipped. Enter first-year Defensive Coordinator Bill Nesselt. Nesselt enters year seven at UAlbany, taking over the defense after serving as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator last season and as the team’s defensive line coach from 2018 to 2021. But it’s not just Coach Nesselt that makes the 2023 defense stand out from a season ago. 

Aamir Hall and DaeSean Winston look to be immediate playmakers for the purple and gold. Hall transfers in from CAA foe Richmond, where he has totaled 24 games played with two interceptions, 19 passes defended, and 5.5 tackles for loss. He was named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American in the spring of 2021. Hall comes to Upstate New York with Temple Transfer DaeSean Winston. Winston brings a plethora of experience from a top-level program and immediately slots in as the team’s starting full safety. Those two will match up with a slew of returners coming into 2023 with another year under their belts, including CAA Preseason Honorable Mention winners Anton Juncaj (defensive end) and Dylan Kelly (Linebacker), defensive leader Larry Walker Jr. (strong safety), defensive lineman Joseph Greaney, AJ Simon, and Elijah Hills, linebackers Jahlil Johnson and Ori Jean-Charles, and corner Bill Hackett. 

Running Back Room

In 2021, the Great Danes relied heavily on running back Karl Mofor. The same can be said with Todd Sibley in 2022. In 2023 however, UAlbany is still looking to find a potential bell cow in the backfield. Training camp has been a battle ground for all the backs looking for the coveted RB1 slot. The top names in that conversation include Utah Transfer Faysal Aden, Bentley transfer Nate Larkins, and returners Jose Lopez, Griffin Woodell, and Landon Alexander. According to the depth chart, Aden will get the nod as the top back in week one against Fordham. The number two spot comes down to Larkins and Woodell. It will be a key position battle to keep an eye on as UAlbany plays four-consecutive non-conference games before facing off against Villanova on Sept. 30. 

Meet the Leadership Council

Every year, the UAlbany players and coaching staff elect a “Leadership Council” comprised of players who show an extortionary level of leadership both on and off the field. This year’s council is comprised of nine total student-athletes, five coming from the offensive side of the ball and four coming from the defensive side. On offense, Leadership Council selections include quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, Tight End Ian Renninger, wide receiver Roy Alexander, and linemen Scott Houseman and Ozzie Hutchinson. On defense, safety Larry Walker Jr., lineman AJ Simon, and linebackers Dylan Kelly and Ori Jean-Charles get the nod. 

A Decade at UAlbany

It’s been a decade since Head Football Coach Greg Gattuso took over the reigns of the UAlbany program, replacing legendary long-time coach Bob Ford. In ten years, Gattuso has amassed a 39-57 overall record, leading the Great Danes on some of their most historic seasons. The 2019 season saw the Great Danes win nine games, including their first-ever FCS playoff game, at home against Central Connecticut State.  The Danes went 9-5 overall, including 6-2 in the CAA to finish second after being picked 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll.  The 2019 team featured six All-CAA selections and two major awards, including Offensive Rookie of the Year Jeff Undercuffler, with Gattuso landing CAA Coach of the Year honors.  Gattuso was also a finalist for the STATS Eddie Robinson Award, presented annually to the top head coach in FCS football.

Gattuso was a defensive lineman at Penn State, where he helped lead the Nittany Lions to a national title in 1982. In his first collegiate head-coaching role, Gattuso piloted Duquesne to a 97-32 record during his 12-season tenure, and while making three bowl appearances at Pittsburgh, he turned the defensive line into one of the best in the nation as an assistant head coach.

UAlbany Football Weekly

Turn the channel to MY4* Albany every Saturday morning at 11:30 for UAlbany Football Weekly, presented by USX Pest Control. See Coach Gattuso and players in studio, hear special mic’d up segments, and learn about the team with weekly feature stories. It’s all UAlbany football, every Saturday, all season long. 

*UAlbany Football Weekly will also be posted to UAlbanySports.com every Saturday at 12:00 p.m. for fans to watch online. 

Around the CAA

CAA Football had five teams ranked and four more teams receive votes in the 2023 AFCA Coaches FCS preseason Top 25 poll that was released on Monday.

William & Mary topped the group of ranked CAA teams at #4, followed by New Hampshire at #12, Richmond at #16, Delaware at #21 and Rhode Island at #23. Elon, North Carolina A&T, Campbell, and Villanova were among other teams receiving votes.

CAA Football’s five ranked teams trailed only the Big Sky (6) and the nine teams ranked or receiving votes was the most of any conference.

William & Mary went 11-2 overall and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2022. The Tribe returns nine starters from an offense that ranked third nationally in rushing and averaged 33.5 points per game. Back is dual-threat quarterback Darius Wilson, leading rushers Bronson Yoder and Malachi Imoh and an experienced offensive line. Five of the Tribe’s eight returning starters on defense were All-CAA honorees, including linebacker John Pius and defensive end Nate Lynn, who both garnered All-America accolades, as well as linebacker Isaiah Jones and cornerbacks Ryan Poole and Jalen Jones.

New Hampshire has nine starters back on offense and defense from a 9-4 squad that advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats’ offense features All-America running back/returner Dylan Laube along with quarterback Max Brosmer, receiver Joey Corcoran and tight end Kyle Lepkowski. All-America defensive ends Josiah Silver and Dylan Ruiz are joined by leading tackler Ryan Toscano and veteran safety Max Oxendine on defense.

Richmond is coming off its best season since 2016, going 9-4 overall and reaching the second round of the FCS playoffs. Six starters are back on offense, including four linemen and receiver Nick DeGennaro. The Spiders’ defense is anchored by All-America linebacker Tristan Wheeler. He is joined by All-CAA standouts Marlem Louis, Jeremiah Grant and Aaron Banks among seven returning starters.

Delaware went 8-5 a year ago and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Leading rusher Kyron Cumby and top receiver Jourdan Townsend highlight a group of seven starters back offensively. The Blue Hens face the task of replacing nine starters on defense, but All-CAA defensive end Chase McGowan returns.

Rhode Island is coming off a 7-4 campaign last season. Seven starters are back for the Rams offensively including veteran quarterback Kasim Hill, wide receiver Kahtero Summers and All-America offensive lineman Nick Correia. All-CAA linebacker Evan Stewart and defensive lineman Westley Neal, Jr. are among four starters returning on defense.

Going Cashless

UAlbany Athletics will shift to an entirely cashless payment model for all events starting with the 2023-24 season. Additionally, gates for UAlbany football games will now open 60 minutes prior to kickoff.

In shifting to cashless operations, the UAlbany Department of Athletics modernizes the pregame and gameday experience for Great Danes fans, who will now enjoy shorter wait times in line for tickets, concessions, and merchandise, as well as enhanced security and convenience in their transactions.

On gameday, the UAlbany Athletics ticketing box office, merchandising, concessions, and parking will accept all major credit cards. Additionally, concessions will further accept Apple Pay, and parking will further accept both Apple Pay and Google Pay.

All events hosted by the UAlbany Department of Athletics will be subject to the new cashless policy.  For more information, please contact the UAlbany Ticket Office by phone at (518) 442-DANE or by email at GreatDaneTickets@albany.edu.

Let’s Get Social

Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany football by following the team on X , Instagram, and Threads, and by using the hashtags #UAUKNOW and #WinTheDay.