2025 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Eleven
 
No. 12/12 Monmouth (8-2, 5-1 CAA) vs. North Carolina A&T (2-8, 2-4 CAA)
Saturday, November 15, 2025 – 12:00 p.m.
Truist Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.
 
Please find PDF of full notes attached.
 
Watch
FloCollege

Listen
MonmouthHawks.com / Monmouth Digital Network
Play-by-Play: Matt Harmon
Analyst: Jack Barteck
 
Tickets and Parking Information
Click HERE for Tickets, Parking, and more Information

Time to Bounce Back
Following their first CAA setback of the season, the Hawks make a trip down to Greensboro to take on the Aggies of North Carolina A&T on their Senior Day. This season, the Hawks are 1-0 following a loss and 0-1 when playing in the state of North Carolina (Sept. 13 at Charlotte - L, 35-42).
 
1-0 All-Time Versus the Aggies
Monmouth and North Carolina A&T have only met once before, and it was a 35-16 win for the Hawks during the 2021 season. It was the first Homecoming loss for the Aggies since the 2010 season. This is the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools as CAA rivals.
 
A Win Would ...
- Make Monmouth 2-0 this season following a loss.
- Make MU 9-1 versus FCS opponents this season.
- Be Head Coach Kevin Callahan's 197th career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
33^rd Season / 196-150 / 111-75 in-conference
 
Shawn Gibbs
First Season / 2-8 / 2-4
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Monmouth leads, 1-0
at Monmouth: N/A
at N.C. A&T: Monmouth leads, 1-0
Most Monmouth points: 35, 10/30/21
Most N.C. A&T points: 16, 10/30/21
Most combined points: 51, 10/30/21
Biggest Monmouth win: 19, 10/30/21
Current streak: Monmouth, W1
 
Climbing the Record Book
Monmouth has a handful of playmakers that have entered the top 10 in program history for their respective statistical categories. Rodney Nelson's 255 attempts and 1,570 yards both rank fourth in a single season by a Monmouth running back. Quarterback Derek Robertson's 27 passing touchdowns rank third, while his 2,482 yards through the air rank sixth. Josh Derry became just the fourth Hawk ever to reach 10+ touchdowns in a single season during the UNH game, and his 948 receiving yards are sixth best by a Hawk.
 
Defensively, Josiah Graham (9.5, fifth) and Lamont Lester Jr. (7.5, ninth) appear in the top 10 for single season sacks. Izzy Clark-White has nine pass breakups this season, the ninth-most by a Hawk. Jaeden Jones has recorded 99 total tackles and will look to join an elite group. Only nine other seasons have featured a Hawk with 100+ stops.
 
Lewis Walker's Best Game
The Monmouth allowed just seven points in the win at Bryant - the lowest total in DC Lewis Walker's tenure. It was the lowest output by an opponent since the Hawks held Lehigh to seven points on Sept. 30, 2023. It marked the first time holding a CAA opponent to single digits since joining the league in 2022.
 
Rondey on Repeat
Running back Rodney Nelson is just dominating on the ground this season, racking up an FCS lead 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns. Nelson broke Jaden Shirden's record with his sixth straight game finishing over 100 rushing yards last week, as he went for 244 and two scores in the win at Bryant. It was a career high - helping him earn CAA and National Offensive Player of the Week honors. He ranks fourth all-time at MU in rushing yards in a single season and is on pace for the first ever 2,000-yard campaign.
 
The Hawks BeWeave in Frankie
With Walter Payton Award frontrunner Derek Robertson on the shelf with an injury, redshirt freshman Frankie Weaver made his first collegiate start at Hampton, finishing 14-of-25 with 122 yards for his first win. He followed with a 15-of-20 effort for 233 yards, a pair of touchdowns while overcoming two interceptions in the first quarter. The 6'5", 215-pounder from Maryland displayed poise and managed the offense effectively. Monmouth plans for him to be the starter again this Saturday at Bryant will Robertson remains week-to-week.
 
Busy Izzy
Monmouth's top outside cornerback, Izzy Clark-White, snagged the first interception of his season against the Pirates, helping seal the 28-10 win. He followed with a career best three PBUs at Bryant. He leads the Hawks with three interceptions dating back to the start of the 2024 season, while also leading MU with nine PBUs in 2025.
 
Josiah Graham 4 President
The transfer defensive end has been elite in sacking the quarterback this season, leading the CAA with 9.5 sacks through eight games. It is the most by any Hawk since 2000 - before he was even born. He is on pace to tie the single-season Monmouth record which is currently 15.5 by Joe Sentipal in 2000.
 
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 eight fumbles in the last three weeks - the most in a three-game stretch in the last seven seasons. Monmouth has forced 17 turnovers though 10 games in 2025, which is more than last season's end total (11).
 
Explosive Offensive Output
The Hawks put up 42 points versus Bryant and now rank ninth in FCS with 39.3 points per game. The Hawks rank first in the CAA in scoring and have scored 50+ seven times since joining the CAA in 2022.  The Hawks have scored 40 or more points in 17 of the last 18 wins dating back to the start of the 2023 season. During that span, the Hawks have piled up 869 total points in such wins, averaging 48.2 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 (11) through 10 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 Josiah Graham.
 
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.
 
Robertson Runs the FCS
Quarterback Derek Robertson is FCS's active passing leader with 10,885 passing yards. He ranks inside the top 10 of FCS quarterbacks with 2,482 yards (eighth) and leads with 27 touchdowns (third). The New York native 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.
 
Scary Derry
Wide receiver Josh Derry has emerged as one of the top playmakers in the nation, ranking among the best in FCS with 10 receiving touchdowns and 948 receiving yards. He ranks fourth nationally in receiving yards per game (94.8) 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 the Hawks quarterbacks, Derry's 59 receptions are 11 more than any other Hawk this season.
 
Star Safeties
Safeties Jaeden Jones and Deuce Lee have been flying around on defense for Lewis Walker's defensive unit early in 2025. Jones (99) and Lee (70) currently lead Monmouth in total tackles and have accounted for 26% of the unit's solo tackles. Lee set a new career high with 14 total tackles in the win over Delaware State, while Jones has finished in double figures six times this season.
 
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, FCS's second 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."
 
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 28 tackles, 7.5 sacks, six QB hurries, and two forced fumbles in nine games this season. He ranks second in the CAA and ninth in FCS in sacks, while being involved in at least one sack in seven of nine contests.
 
Monmouth in the Polls
The Hawks enter Week 12 as the nation's #12 team in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and Stats Perform FCS Poll. The Hawks are now 17-9 all-time in games played as a ranked team following the loss vs. UNH.
 
CAA in the Polls
Villanova, Rhode Island, and Monmouth are all ranked inside the top 12 in both polls.