Richmond ranks tied at No. 23 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Spiders finished 9-4 overall last year, 9-3 vs. the FCS, and 6-2 in the CAA. They beat Davidson 41-0 in the first round of the playoffs before losing 38-31 at Sac State.
Here’s a look at this year’s Richmond football squad.
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Returning 2022 FCS All-Conference Players (6)
1st Team
OL Ryan Coll
DE Marlem Louis
LB Tristan Wheeler
2nd Team
DB Aaron Banks
S Mikey Jarmolowich (2022 All-Patriot at Colgate)
3rd Team
DE Jeremiah Grant
Players In 2023 FCS Positional Rankings (4)
Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Lost To The FBS (5)
Tyrek Funderburk (DB) to App State
Jake Larson (K) to Charlotte
Joe More (OL) to Syracuse
Derek Ferraro (OL) to Texas A&M
Ray Eldridge (DL) to UConn
Transfers Lost To The FCS (1)
Aamir Hall (DB) to UAlbany
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (2)
Will McManus (K), Illinois
Scott Hummel (OL), James Madison
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (4)
Isaiah Wilson (WR), ETSU
Stefan Black II (DB), Northern Iowa
Quantraill Morris-Walker (DB), Idaho State
Mikey Jarmolowich (DB), Colgate
Offensive Outlook
The Spiders return 13 offensive and defensive starters.
Richmond’s offense will be tasked with replacing its starting quarterback, top running back, and top two pass-catchers.
The offense went from 24.0 points per game in 2021 to 31.3 last season, thanks in large part to the transfer additions of former VMI All-Americans QB Reece Udinski and WR Jakob Herres. Replacing those two standouts will be key in 2023.
A veteran presence up front will help get the offense going. Ryan Coll (6’5″ 324 lbs), Tom Elia (6’3″ 296 lbs), Keith Gouveia (6’3″ 290 lbs), and Cade Salyers (6’4″ 325 lbs) return as starters. Coll is coming off of a First Team All-CAA and All-American season.
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No. 2 RB Savon Smith is back after rushing for 562 yards and two touchdowns on 109 carries.
The No. 3 and 4 leaders in receiving yards are also back with plenty of production. Jasiah Williams recorded 609 yards and four scores off a team-high 82 catches. Nick DeGennaro totaled 51 catches for 522 yards and one score. Connor Deveney is another threat at tight end, catching 10 passes for 73 yards and three touchdowns while starting in five of seven games played.
Richmond has four quarterbacks currently on its roster seeking the starting job.
Jackson Hardy is a redshirt junior with three career game appearances for the Spiders. Kyle Wickersham is a redshirt sophomore who saw action in four games last season. He was a highly-touted three-star recruit. Ashten Snelsire is a redshirt freshman. And Camden Coleman is a freshman.
Last year, Richmond threw for 282.54 yards per game (No. 13 in the FCS) and rushed for 141.5 yards per game (No. 74).
Defensive Outlook
Richmond looks to have a tough defense again with seven returning starters from last fall, plus defensive tackle Aidan Murray back from injury and some strong additions via the transfer portal.
The Spiders allowed 20.1 points per game in 2022, ranking No. 7 in the FCS. The rushing defense allowed 116.7 yards per game (No. 17), and the passing defense allowed 216.7 yards per game (No. 53).
Tristan Wheeler is a top linebacker in the FCS, a multi-time All-American, and a four-time All-CAA selection. He has back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons, and a career total of 366 stops, 23 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions, and nine passes defended.
An experienced defensive line is in front of Wheeler. All-CAA defensive ends Marlem Louis (First Team) and Jeremiah Grant (Third Team) return. Louis tallied 35 tackles, 14 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, and six quarterback hurries in 2022. Grant added 52 tackles, 12 TFLs, three sacks, and five QB hurries.
Defensive tackle Carsen Stocklinski (6’4″ 290 lbs) started nine games last fall and totaled 17 tackles. Aidan Murray (6’4″ 297 lbs) also returns after missing 2022 due to injury. In 2021, he had 44 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and five sacks.
The secondary returns three starters. Aaron Banks was named to the All-CAA Second Team after totaling 53 tackles and four interceptions. Bryson Parker finished third on the team with 63 tackles, adding two interceptions and six pass breakups. Angelo Rankin Jr. tallied 47 tackles and nine pass breakups.
Richmond landed four transfer FCS defensive backs: Mikey Jarmolowich (Colgate), Stefan Black II (Northern Iowa), and Quantraill Morris-Walker (Idaho State). Jarmolowich was a 2022 Second Team All-Patriot League selection, racking up 86 tackles, two interceptions, and nine pass breakups.
Improving the pass defense is essential to complement what will be a strong front seven. In the 38-31 second-round playoff loss at No. 2 seed Sac State, Richmond allowed 400 passing yards on 24 completions.
Schedule
9/2 vs Morgan State
9/9 at Michigan State
9/16 vs Delaware State
9/23 at Stony Brook
9/30 vs Hampton
10/7 vs Maine
10/14 at No. 25 Rhode Island
10/21 at North Carolina A&T
10/28 vs Campbell
11/11 vs RV Elon
11/18 at No. 7 William & Mary
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
Bold indicates CAA games
