2025 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Eight
 
No. 9/10 Monmouth (6-1, 3-0 CAA) at Hampton (2-6, 0-4 CAA)
Saturday, October 25, 2025 – 2:00 p.m.
Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, Va.
 
Please find PDF of full notes attached.
 
Watch
FloCollege

Listen
MonmouthHawks.com / MDN
Play-by-Play: Joe Vasile
Analyst: Jack Barteck
 
Tickets and Parking Information
Click HERE to buy tickets and HERE to buy parking

Armstrong Stadium Information
For venue information HERE
 
Game Promotions
Hampton will be celebrating its Homecoming versus the Hawks

Four-Game Heater
The Hawks enter a Saturday, Oct. 25 contest at Hampton riding a four-game winning streak. The time Monmouth won four consecutive games was 2022. No Hawks team has won five contests in a row since 2019 - a season where MU won its respective conference and clinched an FCS Playoff berth.
 
Frankie Weaver Makes Collegiate Debut
Coming in relief for starting quarterback Derek Robertson midway through the third quarter of the game versus Stony Brook, finishing 4-of-6 for 61 yards and a touchdown. Weaver's first career touchdown pass went to Tra Neal from 13 yards out with 13:03 remaining in the fourth quarter - extending Monmouth's lead to 35-21.
 
A Win Would ...
- Push Monmouth to 5-0 all-time versus the Pirates.
- Make MU a perfect 7-0 versus FCS opponents this season.
- Be Head Coach Kevin Callahan's 195th career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
33^rd Season / 194-149 / 109-74 in-conference
 
Trenton Boykin
2^nd Season / 5-7 / 2-6
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Monmouth leads, 4-0
at Monmouth: Monmouth leads, 3-0
at Hampton: Monmouth leads, 1-0
Most Monmouth points: 61, 10/14/23
Most Hampton points: 28, 9/18/18
Most combined points: 84, 9/18/18
Biggest Monmouth win: 51, 10/14/23
Current streak: Monmouth, W4
 
Russo's Pick Six
Leading by seven in the third quarter versus Stony Brook, defensive back Emmanuel Lane deflected a pass and linebacker Ryan Russo snatched it out of the air, followed a convoy of blockers, and sprinted into the endzone 50 yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick six by a Hawk since Deuce Lee versus Lehigh on Sept. 30, 2023.
 
Four Turnovers Forced
In addition to Monmouth's defense allowing just 14 points, the Hawks forced four turnovers - a pair of interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble at the goal line that ultimately rolled out of the endzone for a touchback. Jaeden Jones returned his first career INT for 38 yards down to the 2-yard-line, setting up a Rodney Nelson rushing score. The Hawks have forced six fumbles in the last six weeks - the most in a two-game stretch in the last seven seasons. Monmouth has forced 14 turnovers though seven games in 2025, which is already more than last season's end total (11).
 
Explosive Offensive Output
The Hawks put up 49 points versus Stony Brook, moving into third in FCS in scoring offense with 45.3 points per game. The Hawks rank first in the CAA in scoring and have scored 50+ seven times since joining the CAA in 2022.  Monmouth's high-powered attack has fueled each of the Hawks' last 16 victories, with the team scoring 40 or more points in every win dating back to the start of the 2023 season. During that span, the Hawks have piled up 799 total points in such wins, averaging 49.9 points per win. The production has come under the direction of Offensive Coordinator Jeff Gallo, who was recognized as a finalist for the 2024 FootballScoop.com FCS Coordinator of the Year Award.
 
Ragin' RBs
Running backs Rodney Nelson and Elijah Jennings, both enjoyed big days in the 42-31 victory at Towson, combining for 199 yards and four scores on the ground. Nelson, who finished with 152 yards, became the first Hawk since Jaden Shirden to eclipse the 100-yard mark for a third consecutive contest. He has five 100-yard games this season. Jennings had a breakout performance with three rushing scores - marking the first time the feat has been accomplished by a Hawk since Sone Ntoh had four TDs versus Bryant in 2024.
 
Creating Extra Possessions
The Monmouth defense has already recovered more fumbles (9) through seven games this season than they had all of 2024 (6). The Hawks pounced on three loose balls coughed up by the Towson offense, and those forcing the turnovers were JJ Lewis, Brendan Bigos and JJ Lewis.
 
Derek "Mr. Efficient" Robertson
Derek Robertson finished the afternoon at Towson going 27-of-32 with 250 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Completing 84.4% of his passes, Robertson notched his second career game surpassing the 80% mark, joining his 22-of-23 (95.7%) effort versus Villanova last season. Following the Stony Brook win, the graduate quarterback has now gone 219 straight attempts without throwing an interception.
 
Run, Rod, Run
Running back Rodney Nelson enjoyed a career day in the victory over Delaware State - compiling 203 yards and two scores on the ground on 32 attempts. It marked the first time Nelson eclipsed the 200-yard mark in his career, and the fourth time this season he went over 100. Nelson ranks first in FCS with 143.6 rushing yards per contest entering the game versus Stony Brook.
 
Robertson Runs the FCS
Quarterback Derek Robertson is FCS's active passing leader with 10,885 passing yards. He is the current subdivision leader with 2,482 yards, 27 touchdowns and 192 completions through the air. The New York native continues to cement his strong case for being the Walter Payton Award frontrunner, as he has now gone 219 consecutive passing attempts without an interception.
 
Sellout Crowd Fuels Statement Win
Monmouth played in front of a sellout crowd of 4,200 fans at Kessler Stadium in its 51-33 victory over #12/11 Villanova. The Family Weekend and Youth Day atmosphere marked the Hawks' largest home crowd since the September 2021 opener against Holy Cross. Feeding off the energy, Monmouth built a lead as large as 24 points in the first half on the way to its first CAA win of the season.
 
Success Against Villanova
Monmouth improved to 4-0 all-time against Villanova with its 51-33 victory at Kessler Stadium. The Hawks have defeated the Wildcats in back-to-back seasons on the Jersey Shore, including last year's 40-33 win over a top-10 Villanova team. Since joining the CAA, Monmouth is 3-0 against the Wildcats, highlighted by a 49-42 road triumph in 2022 that marked the program's first-ever league victory. The series began in 2011 with a 20-9 Monmouth win in Philadelphia.
 
Scary Derry
Wide receiver Josh Derry has emerged as one of the top playmakers in the nation, leading the FCS with nine receiving touchdowns and 759 receiving yards. He ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (108.4) while eclipsing 100 yards in five games this season. Derry's explosiveness was on display when he hauled in a 75-yard touchdown on the second play of the win over the Wildcats. A go-to option for quarterback Derek Robertson, Derry's 51 receptions are 13 more than any other Hawk this season.
 
Palmer's Breakout Against the 'Cats
The Hawks may have found an X-factor in the secondary with true freshman Chris Plamer Jr. The Philadelphia native subbed in early in the first half at the corner position, limiting the Villanova passing attack and collecting four tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. It was Palmer's first significant playing time of his career, and his performance earned him the CAA's Rookie of the Week honor. He made his first career start versus Delaware State.
 
Star Safeties
Safeties Jaeden Jones and Deuce Lee have been flying around on defense for Lewis Walker's defensive unit early in 2025. Jones (67) and Lee (47) currently lead Monmouth in total tackles and have accounted for 25% of the unit's solo tackles. Lee set a new career high with 14 total tackles in the win over Delaware State, while Jones had 11 versus Stony Brook - the second game this season he has finished in double figures.
 
Keeping Robertson Upright
Monmouth's offensive line has provided steady protection for Derek Robertson, allowing zero sacks in seven of his 19 career starts. The Hawks are a perfect 7-0 in those games, including this season where the unit has given up just 1.3 sacks per contest through six games — the best mark in the CAA and 20th best mark in FCS.
 
First Half Fury from the Defense
The Hawks forced three turnovers in the first half at Charlotte, helping the squad take a 14-7 lead into the half in front of a stunned sold-out crowd. Jaeden Jones recovered a fumble on an errant pitch and returned it 38 yards for the first takeaway, and then Brendan Bigos hopped on a loose ball where Charlie Sasso forced a fumble when the 49ers were attempting to convert on a fourth-and-short. Ayden Martin snatched his first career interception in the endzone for a touchdown late in the half.
 
Four-Piece for Josh Derry
Junior wide receiver Josh Derry, who led the CAA in yards per game (91.7) last season, posted one of the top games of his career with a 10-catch, 144-yard outing at Fordham. It was his eighth career game crossing the century mark, and his four receiving TDs tied a single-game program record while also being the most receiving scores by an FCS player this season.
 
Josiah Graham & Ryan Russo's Breakout
Defensive end Josiah Graham had 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble at Fordham, as he now sits atop the FCS for the best single-game sack output in 2025. The transfer had five total sacks in his two years playing at Emory & Henry University. Transfer linebacker Ryan Russo (Iowa Central CC / Rutgers) also tallied a monster game versus the Rams - picking up nine tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack, a fumble recovery and interception.
 
Largest Comeback in Program History
Monmouth's 24-point comeback victory at Colgate stands as the largest in program history. The Hawks trailed 31-7 midway through the third quarter before storming back with 35 unanswered points to secure the 42-31 win. The previous record was a 19-point comeback against Wagner on Sept. 29, 2018, when Monmouth rallied from a 21-2 deficit to win 54-47 in West Long Branch. Quarterback Derek Robertson praised the resilience of the group after the historic win, saying, "There's no quit in this team, and that's why I love every single one of these guys."
 
Nelson Brothers Lead the Way in Week One
Monmouth's offense was powered in Week One by brothers Gavin and Rodney Nelson, who combined for 370 total yards and five touchdowns. Gavin set career highs with 176 receiving yards and three touchdowns, leading all of FCS in receiving scores and pacing the CAA in both receiving yards and touchdowns. Rodney rushed for 169 yards with one touchdown, marking his fourth career 100-yard performance, and added 25 receiving yards. The Maryland natives sat atop the league in all-purpose yards, with Rodney leading the CAA in yards from scrimmage and Gavin being named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week. It was just the second time in their careers they both scored a touchdown in the same contest.
 
Three 100-Yard Receivers
Monmouth featured three 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time in program history during the win at Colgate. Gavin Nelson set career highs with 176 yards, while Josh Derry added 103 and TJ Speight totaled 100.
 
Lamont Lester Jr. Named to Jerry Rice Award Watch List
The redshirt freshman is one of 22 players on the FCS freshman player of the year watch list. Lester has recorded 25 tackles, 6.5 sacks, five QB hurries, and two forced fumbles in seven games this season. He ranks 3rd in the CAA and 11th in FCS in sacks, while being involved in at least one sack in six of seven contests.
 
Monmouth in the Polls
The Hawks enter Week 9 as the nation's #9 team in the AFCA Coaches Poll, while Stats Perform FCS ranked them #10. The Hawks are now 15-8 all-time in games played as a ranked team following the win over the Seawolves.
 
CAA in the Polls
Monmouth is now the conference's top-ranked team at #9/10. Villanova and Rhode Island land right next to each other at #12/11 and #13/13, respectively.
 
A 33rd Season Under Callahan
Kevin Callahan is currently the longest-tenured head coach in the FCS and has amassed the most wins by an active FCS head coach with 194. The veteran has been with the program since its inception in 1993 and is a five-time conference Coach of the Year (3x NEC, 2x Big South). The 2025 campaign is Callahan's 33rd with the program.