Monmouth University (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Florida Atlantic University (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
Saturday, September 2, 2023; 6:00 p.m.
FAU Stadium (30,000), Boca Raton, FL
 
Television/Streaming Video
ESPN+
Ted Emrich (Play by Play); Leger Douzable (Color Analyst)
 
Monmouth Radio Coverage
Monmouth Digital Network (MonmouthHawks.com)
Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Gary Kowal (Color Analyst)
 
Ticket Information
For tickets click HERE for more information
 
FAU Stadium Information
For information and directions click HERE
                           
OPENING NIGHT
Saturday's game is the season opener for both the Hawks and Owls. It is the first meeting between the two teams and Monmouth's sixth against a FBS opponent. Monmouth opens its season against a FBS team for the fourth time since 2018.
 
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Monmouth is coming off a 5-6 season in 2022 and was picked to finish eighth in the CAA Preseason Poll. FAU was picked fifth in the American Athletic Conference, its first year in the 14-team league. 
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would give the Hawks their first ever victory against a FBS opponent. A win would give Monmouth it's fourth win in an opening game since the 2016 season. A win would also mark the first time since 2016 (Lehigh) that Monmouth won its first game of the season on the road.  

THE COACHING MATCHUP
Kevin Callahan
31st Season / 178-135
 
Tom Herman
Seventh Season / 54-22
First at FAU
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
First Meeting
Overall Record: 0-0
West Long Branch: 0-0
Boca Raton, FL: 0-0
First Meeting: Sept. 2, 2023
Last Meeting: ---
Longest MU Win Streak: ---
Longest FAU Win Streak: ---
Largest MU W Margin: ---
Largest FAU W Margin: ---
Smallest MU W Margin: ---
Smallest FAU W Margin: ---
Shutouts: ---
Overtime Games: ---
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Jaden Shirden claimed five national preseason All-America honors from Phil Steele, Stats Perform, Hero Sports, Athlon Sports and The Bluebloods. Shirden completed his sophomore season as the nation's leading rusher and earned consensus All-America honors from six different major publications. Shirden led the entire country in rushing at the end of the regular season, including FBS running backs, with 1,722 yards. His 8.4 yards per carry and 156.5 rushing yards per game were both tops in the FCS, earning him CAA Offensive Player of the Year honors. Shirden averaged an impressive 52.8 yards on 13 touchdown runs, including eight 50+ yard touchdown runs.
 
SWEETNESS
Coming off a third-place finish in last year's voting, junior running back Jaden Shirden was named to the 2023 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List presented by FedEx Ground. The award is given annually to the top offensive player in the FCS following the regular season. Shirden's inclusion on the Payton Award Watch List is the second of his career and he is the sixth Hawk in program history to be named to the watch list, joining Monmouth greats David Sinisi (2008), Reggie White Jr. (2018), Pete Guerriero (2019), Kenji Bahar (2019) and Juwon Farri (2021 and 2022).
 
SHIRDEN AND THE CENTURY MARK
Jaden Shirden has rushed for over 100 yards 10 times in his career, and has accomplished the feat in nine of his last 10 games. He is the fifth player in program history to have 10 career 100-yard performances. Ahead of Shirden on the list is Julian Hayes (11), Juwon Farri (12), Pete Guerriero (20) and the all-time leader David Sinisi (25).
 
DOUBLE THE FUN
Jaden Shirden has run for more than 200 yards four times, including a program-record 299-yard performance on 12 carries against Forham in 2022. Shirden trails only Pete Guerriero (2017-19), who owns the Monmouth record with five-career 200-yard rushing games. Monmouth's all-time leading rusher David Sinisi (2006-09) also had four 200-yard games during his career, a mark Shirden reached during his electric sophomore season.
 
MCCRAY NAMED STARTING QUARTERBACK
Sacred Heart graduate transfer Marquez McCray will lead Monmouth's offense in 2023. McCray played in 32 games across four seasons at Sacred Heart and helped the Pioneers win three Northeast Conference championships before joining the Hawks ahead of the Spring 2023 semester. McCray threw for 5,002 yards on 422-of-673 passing with 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions and led the NEC in passing yards with 1,973 last season.
 
MCCRAY'S WIDEOUT WEAPONS
Monmouth's top two wideouts from 2022 are back for 2023. Senior Dymere Miller led Monmouth in all three receiving categories with 55 catches for 820 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games, while fifth-year senior Assanti Kearney had 37 grabs for 638 yards and four TD catches in 2022. Dre Tucker added 12 catches for 184 yards and three scores behind Miller and Kearney.
 
IMPACT TRANSFERS
Monmouth is set to welcome the addition of several impact players from the transfer portal ahead of the 2023 season. Graduate linebacker Jake Brown comes to Monmouth from Harvard where he was a 2022 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention choice. The defensive line features two-time All-PSAC First Team selection Nick White (Gannon University - DII), Isaiah Oduro (Lackawanna College), Isaiah Rogers (Central Michigan) and Antonio Colclough (JMU). Offensively Harvard running back Sone Ntoh and reserve offensive lineman Matt Fries (Illinois) are the new faces to know. On special teams, Rónán Patterson (P), Luke Schabel (P), Frankie Passantino III (K) could contribute for the Hawks.
 
PRESEASON CAA PREDICTIONS
Four Monmouth University football student-athletes were recognized with CAA Football Preseason accolades. Jaden Shirden earned Preseason Offensive Player of the Year as well as All-Conference Team honors at running back, while Dymere Miller claimed the All-CAA nod at wide receiver. In addition, offensive lineman Greg Anderson and defensive back Mike Reid were Honorable Mention choices. The league also announced its preseason poll where the Hawks were voted eighth out of 15 teams.
 
LEADERSHIP ROLES
Five Hawks, three on offense and two on defense, will lead the Monmouth program this year as team captains. OL Greg Anderson, OL Tyler Williams, WR Dymere Miller, DB/PR Eddie Morales III and LB Ryan Moran will serve in leadership roles. Anderson, an All-CAA selection a season ago, has appeared 34 career games for the Blue & White, starting the last 16 contests. Williams started every game at center a season ago, leading the way for the CAA's top scoring offense and the nation's leading rusher. Miller is one of the most explosive wide receivers in Division I football, finishing with 820 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games last season.  Morales III, a captain a season ago, is entering his sixth season with the Hawks after suffering a season-ending injury in 2022.The versatile defensive back has 139 tackles and six interceptions in 41 games played for the Blue & White. Moran started all 11 games at linebacker last season with 50 tackles.
 
TICKETS FOR MONMOUTH HOME GAMES ON SALE NOW!
Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets are on sale now for Monmouth's home contests in 2023 Visit MonmouthHawks.com/Tickets for more information
 
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