Kennesaw State Football Is A Conference USA Contender

In August, I predicted Kennesaw State wouldn’t compete for a Conference USA championship and wouldn’t eclipse three wins. 

I’ll gladly admit I was wrong.

Not only have the Owls already reached four victories, but they’re very much in contention for the CUSA title. They’re 2-0 in league play and are coming off a big 35-7 victory over Louisiana Tech. Even after giving up those 35 points, the Bulldogs still lead the league in scoring defense. They’re allowing 17 points per game and have looked like the best defense in the conference this year.

The Owls didn’t just put up 400 yards and five touchdowns against a stout LA Tech defense, but they did so with their backup quarterback. Dexter Williams II started Week 1 but moved to the backup role after he had a so-so performance. Amari Odom started the next four games but was forced to miss the contest against LA Tech with an injury.

In Odom’s absence, Williams was 27-for-36 passing for 290 yards and set a school record with four passing TDs. It seems as if Williams thrives when in these types of situations. 

As the backup at Georgia Southern last year, Williams entered a contest against Marshall after JC French IV was injured in the fourth quarter. At the time, GASO was trailing 23-3. Williams guided the Eagles to a 24-23 comeback win with three touchdowns in the final seven minutes of regulation.

I don’t expect there to be a QB competition going forward because Odom has been solid this season, but it goes to show the quality of players and depth KSU head coach Jerry Mack was able to bring in through the transfer portal in his first year at the helm. 

Mack took over after Brian Bohannon was fired following a 1-8 start last season. Bohannon had been the only coach in the program’s then-10-year history. 

One of the reasons the expectations were low for Mack entering his first year was the amount of turnover on the roster. He brought in 62 new players, many of whom didn’t have a lot of experience. 

Of the 22 starters from last week’s win over Louisiana Tech, 12 of them were transfers. Eight were on the offensive side of the ball, and that doesn’t include Odom, who’s also a transfer from Wofford. 

Mack’s ability to recruit and bring in players who are immediate difference makers can’t be understated. But what may have been just as or maybe even more important was retaining the players that he did. And not just players but leaders from last year’s group.

Most of them are guys who are on the defensive side of the ball. Redshirt senior linebacker Garland Benyard and senior defensive back Milon Jones have been with the Owls their entire careers, which helps establish some continuity within a program when there’s the type of turnover KSU endured. 

JeRico Washington Jr., Tylon Dunlap, and Baron Hopson — before he was injured — all started on defense for last year’s squad and had great seasons. It’s likely they could have transferred if they wanted to, but they decided to stay and play for Mack and are making some noise, not just in CUSA, but in the FBS. The defense has been solid and, not including the loss to Indiana, is only allowing 13.4 points per game.

Things won’t get easier for KSU going forward, though. The Owls are on a four-game win streak and each of those wins have come at home. Their losses came by one point to Wake Forest and to third-ranked Indiana. 

Four of KSU’s final six games are on the road, and that includes a trip to Jacksonville State and Liberty. The first of those road trips is against FIU on Tuesday, and the Panthers are coming off a victory over Western Kentucky. 

Conference USA looks like it’s anyone’s league to win right now, and the Owls are squarely in the mix. But regardless of if they make their first CUSA title game or not, I don’t think KSU will be an afterthought anymore.

In an interview with HERO Sports in March, Mack said, “We want people to understand what this program is all about and where we’re headed.”

And so far it looks like that’s in the right direction.