Record vs. Kentucky Christian: 5-0
• MSU won head coach Jason Woodman's Division I and Eagle debut last Thursday, 17-10, over Central State. Woodman is the first MSU head coach to win his debut game since Bill Baldridge in 1984.
• Redshirt junior defensive back
Jihad McCall and senior wide receiver
Ryan Upp are on the official preseason All-Pioneer League team. McCall tied for the MSU and FCS national lead with six interceptions, including two against Davidson. He had 36 total tackles. Upp racked up 833 receiving yards and hauled in nine touchdowns, which ranked in the top five in MSU single-season history.
• Nine Eagles were listed on Phil Steele's preseason All-PFL teams. First-Team accolades went to
Ryan Upp and
Jihad McCall. Second-Team honorees are
Jaxsen Spears,
Noah Benza and
Brady McKnight. Third-Team awardees are
Carter Cravens,
James Louis,
Luke Bauer and
Kip Warren.
• MSU deployed a two-QB system in its opener, with starter
Carter Cravens and graduate student
Connor Genal. Genal ended up leading the way with a career-high 128 passing yards.
• Morehead State already ranks among the FCS leaders in several stats categories after week one. MSU ranks best in pass efficiency defense, where CSU only managed 61.2%. The Eagles are sixth in 3rd down conversion % defense (0.16). MSU ranks eighth nationally in fewest penalties (3) and kickoff returns (30.6)
•
Garnett Davis III and
Chance Harris carried the bulk of the rushing load in week one, with Davis having a great Eagle debut with 77 yards. Harris piled up 74 yards and a TD. The duo rank No. 3-4, respectively, in the PFL in rushing yards.
• Morehead State's defense finished 2023 ranked 4th nationally among all FCS teams with 17 interceptions. Newcomer defensive back
Jalen Henderson got that trend going again with a third-quarter pickoff last week.
•
Ryan Upp's nine TDs receiving last fall ranked as the fourth best single-season total in program history. Upp ranked 9th in the nation in touchdowns caught.
• Safety
Matthew McClelland led the defense with 11 total tackles against Central State, the first time in his career he's led the team in stops.
• Defensive linemen
Noah Benza and
Luke Bauer combined for 3.5 tackles for loss with Bauer leading the way with 2.0.
• Of the 40+ newcomers on the 2024 roster, 18 saw action in the opening game with OL
Jacob Ziegler, TE Christian Pederson, DB
Richard Sweeney III, and DB
Drew Nyangweso earning starts.
• With Jason Woodman coming on board to lead the Eagles, that meant a whole new coaching staff as well. Here are the new faces mentoring the Eagle program: Travis Everhart, associate head coach/offensive line/run game coordinator; Wil Truelove, defensive coordinator; Roland Brady, defensive line; Laurence Treadaway, defensive backs/special teams; Kyle Weiss, wide receivers/recruiting coordinator; Austin Schmidt, running backs; Joey Kiernan, outside linebackers; Tom Keane, tight ends; and Donald Dice, field coordinator/equipment
• Long snapper
Brady McKnight has appeared in all 40 games in his Eagle career. He is in his fourth full season as the team's snapper.
