Monmouth (0-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. Eastern Washington (0-0, 0-0 BIG SKY)
Thursday, August 29; 9:00 p.m. ET
Roos Field (8,500), Cheney, WA
 
WATCH
ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Austin Getz
Analyst: Bill Ames
 
LISTEN
MonmouthHawks.com
Play-by-Play: Gary Kowal
 
Ticket Information
For tickets click HERE for more information
 
Roos Field Information
For information and directions click HERE
                           
Opening Night
Thursday's game is the season opener for both the Hawks and Eagles. It is the first meeting between the two teams and Monmouth's third against a Big Sky Conference opponent. Monmouth opens its season on the road for the fourth consecutive season.

Preseason Predictions
Monmouth is coming off a 4-7 season in 2023 and was picked to finish 10th in the CAA Preseason Poll. Eastern Washington was picked seventh in both the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches and Media Polls.  

A Win Would … 
A win would give the Hawks their first ever victory against a Big Sky Conference opponent. A win would mark the first time since 2016 (Lehigh) that Monmouth won its first game of the season on the road. A win would be Monmouth's first in a season opener since the Spring 2021 campaign.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
32nd Season / 182-142
 
Aaron Best
Eighth Season / 48-32
 
All-Time Series
First Meeting

Monmouth Visits the West Coast
Monmouth is making its furthest trip west in program history. It is Monmouth's second game against a West Coast team after it hosted San Diego in 2006 (L, 27-7). Previously, Monmouth played at Montana in 2019 (L, 47-27) in Missoula, MT. The Hawks are looking for their first win against a Big Sky Conference team and also played at Montana State in 2013 (L, 42-24).

Strong Start
Monmouth will open the season with two opponents in the national FCS polls. Eastern Washington in receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches Poll presented by Hudl and Craig Haley's The Analyst FCS Poll, while Lafayette is ranked No. 18 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 17 in Haley's Poll.Lafayette is opening its season with an FBS game at Buffalo prior to the matchup with the Hawks on Sept. 7 in West Long Branch, NJ. In week three, Monmouth opens CAA play on the road at Maine and then travels to Miami for an FBS game at FIU.

Phil Steele Honors Three Hawks
TJ Speight, Sone Ntoh and Derek Robertson, were honored by Phil Steele on the 2024 FCS Preseason All-America and All-CAA teams. Speight headlined the list with an All-America nod at kick returner and he was joined on the All-CAA First Team alongside Ntoh. In addition, Robertson garnered All-CAA Fourth Team honors.

Shrine Bowl 1000
Running back Sone Ntoh has been selected to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List. The list is compiled from all four levels of football in consultation with NFL and college personnel to put together the best 1000 players for the NFL level. Ntoh is one of 14 players from the Coastal Athletic Association recognized and his inclusion comes following Jaden Shirden's invitation to the 2024 Shrine Bowl as Monmouth's first-ever participant. Ntoh is entering his final season of eligibility after playing three seasons and graduating from Harvard in 2023. The running back made a big impact in Monmouth's backfield last year alongside Shirden. In his first season as a Hawk, Ntoh finished the regular season tied for the CAA lead with 14 rushing touchdowns. The Macungie, Pa. native earned Second Team All-CAA and Phil Steele Fourth Team FCS All-America honors after tallying 411 yards on 56 carries in 2023. Ntoh shined in a role that saw him as the primary back in short-yardage situations, though was able to flash his speed on a career-long 92-yard touchdown run versus Lehigh on Sept. 30 – the second-longest run in the CAA in 2023.

Senior Bowl Watch List
Monmouth junior defensive lineman Miles Mitchell was named to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. This year's Senior Bowl Watch List includes an all-time record 859 prospects. The total number is up significantly from past years due to the new addition of specialists and underclassmen. Mitchell has been a familiar face on the Monmouth defensive line over the past two seasons and has played in 21 games, including 11 starts, across his freshman and sophomore campaigns. Mitchell has totaled 52 tackles, including 32 solo stops, nine tackles for loss and two sacks for the Hawks. He enters the 2024 season with two years of eligibility remaining, is one of 10 CAA student-athletes on the list and one of 81 underclassmen included.

Preseason Punter of the Year Watch List
Junior Luke Schabel was named to the Augusta Sports Council's preseason watch list for the 2024 FCS Punter of the Year award. Schabel was one of 12 student-athletes recognized and four of the honorees were CAA punters. The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award, created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. The 2023 season was Schabel's first in West Long Branch after transferring in from Incarnate Word. Schabel, a native of Landing, N.J., punted 40 times for an average of 40.4 yards per punt last season. Six punts landed inside the opposition 20-yard line, while six went for 50-plus yards, including a season-best 69-yard boot against Lafayette.

Robertson Named Starting Quarterback
Maine transfer quarterback Derek Robertson was named the program's starting quarterback at the end of spring practice. Robertson, a familiar name in the CAA, went 258-for-404 through the air in 2023 and totaled 2,933 yards passing with 25 touchdowns in 11 games at Maine. The signal caller transferred to Monmouth ahead of the spring semester and his 266.6 passing yards per game ranked third in the conference a year ago. Robertson was voted an All-CAA Honorable Mention choice following the season and comes to Monmouth with two years of eligibility after competing in 21 career games for the Black Bears. Robertson is the younger brother of Monmouth Quarterbacks Coach Jimmy Robertson and will be backed up this season by Frankie Savino.

Robertson's Wideout Weapons
A new-look wide receiver room will feature a combination of Josh Derry, Max James, Gavin Nelson, TJ Speight, Will Silverman and Tra Neal. Only Nelson has starting experience after he made two during the 2023 season and contributed six receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Derry had three grabs for 36 yards and a score as a true freshman, while Speight has the most experience with 21 career receptions for 202 yards. Max James had 24 catches for 398 yards and five touchdowns at Lackawanna College in 2023 after playing seven games at JMU in 2022.

Impact Transfers
Monmouth is set to welcome the addition of several impact players from the transfer portal for the 2024 season. The defensive line features three new graduate students in Tyler Alson (Bucknell), Joel Parker (Kennesaw State) and Joe Loiseau (Gannon). In the defensive backfield Alex Odom (Temple) figures to play a key role at safety and the Hawks also added two more grad students in K-Shawn Schulters (Villanova) and Coleon Williams (Delaware State). Offensively, quarterback Derek Robertson (Maine) and junior wide receiver Max James (Lackawanna / JMU) have a strong outside connection, while graduate offensive lineman Logan Bednar comes to Monmouth from Harvard where he was an All-Ivy League selection. 

Leadership Roles
Seven student-athletes have been named team captains for the 2024 season. Justin Bennin, Ed Gatling, Remi Johnson, Ryan Moran, Sone Ntoh, Derek Robertson and Frankie Savino will hold leadership roles this year. The group will rotate each week as four players will serve as game captains for each matchup. Moran's appointment as captain marks his second consecutive season as a team leader and is one three defensive players named, along with fellow linebacker Johnson, and Bennin from the defensive backfield. On offense, Gatling represents the offensive line, with Ntoh leading the running backs and a pair of quarterbacks in Robertson and Savino directing from the quarterback room. 

Preseason CAA Predictions
Derek Robertson and TJ Speight were recognized with Preseason All-CAA accolades earning Preseason Honorable Mention nods. In addition to Robertson and Speight being named All-Conference Honorable Mention, Monmouth was picked 10th in the league's annual preseason coaches poll.

CAA in the Polls
Six CAA teams are recognized in the preseason AFCA Coaches Poll presented by Hudl and The Analyst FCS Polls. The Coaches Poll had four ranked teams with Villanova at #6, followed by Richmond at #12, UAlbany at #14, and William & Mary at #16. Elon and North Carolina A&T were among other teams receiving votes. Craig Haley, FCS Senior Editor for Stats Perform and the Analyst, has five CAA teams in his Top 25. Villanova tops the list at #6, followed by #9 William & Mary, #18 Elon, #20 Richmond and #21 UAlbany. 

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