2025 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Three
 
No. 18/20 Monmouth (2-0, 0-0 CAA) at Charlotte (0-2, 0-0 American)
Saturday, September 13, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, NC
 
Please find PDF of full notes attached.
 
Watch
ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Justin Kutcher
Analyst: Reggie Walker

Listen
MonmouthHawks.com
Play-by-Play: Joe Vasile
Analyst: Zach Fabel
 
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Jerry Richardson Stadium & Parking Information
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Can They Do It Again?
#18/20 Monmouth is 2-0 for the first time since 2021 and looks for its second straight win over an FBS program after defeating FIU, 45-42, in Miami last season.
 
Largest Comeback in Program History
Graduate quarterback Derek Robertson, the CAA's reigning Offensive Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Week, leads all of FCS through two weeks with 855 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 32.0 completions per game, and 423.5 total offensive yards per game. He is also top 10 in the FCS in completion percentage (71.9%) and passing efficiency (178.45). He is 1-2 in his career vs. FBS teams completing 58% of his passes for 739 passing yards, two TDs and an INT.
 
A Win Would ...
- Be Monmouth's second ever win over an FBS opponent. Last year, the Hawks beat FIU 45-42 on Sept. 21, 2024.
- Be MU's fifth win in its last five games dating back to last season - the program's longest-streak since 2019.
- Be Head Coach Kevin Callahan's 191st career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
33rd Season / 190-148
 
Tim Albin
8th Season (First at Charlotte) / 58-29 (0-2 at Charlotte)
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: First Meeting
at Monmouth: n/a
at Charlotte: n/a
Most Monmouth points: n/a
Most Charlotte points: n/a
Most combined points: n/a
Biggest Monmouth win: n/a
Current streak: n/a
 
Robertson is Rolling
Quarterback Derek Robertson posted one of the top performances in program and CAA history in Monmouth's Week One victory at Colgate. His 491 passing yards are the most in an FCS game this season, and rank as the second-highest single-game total in Monmouth history. Despite throwing a career-high four INTs in the first half, Robertson responded with a near-flawless finish, completing 8-of-9 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter and going 4-of-5 for 105 yards and two scores in the fourth. He finished with a 178.8 pass efficiency rating and produced 191 more yards of total offense than any other CAA player in Week One. He followed up breaking single-game program records for passing touchdowns (6) and total touchdowns (7) in the 21-point win at Fordham.
 
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.
 
National Leaders
Derek Robertson leads the FCS in nearly every passing statistic through two games, while Rodney Nelson is third in the nation in rushing yards per game (140.5). Josh Derry (4, at Fordham) and Gavin Nelson (3, at Colgate) are the only players in FCS with 3+ receiving touchdowns in a single game this season. Josiah Graham's 3.5-sack effort at Fordham is the top performance by an FCS player this season, as well. As a team, Monmouth ranks first in FCS in fourth down conversions with seven, to go along with their FCS-leading 573.5 yards per game.
 
Explosive Offensive Output
Monmouth's high-powered attack has fueled each of the Hawks' last 12 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 608 total points, averaging 50.7 points per game. 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.
 
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 currently 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. After two weeks, the group ranks first (Derry), second (Nelson), and fourth (Speight) in the CAA in receiving yards. Derry ranks second and Nelson ranks third in the FCS, respectively.
 
The Biggest Win in Program History
Kevin Callahan and the Hawks picked up the program's first ever victory over an FBS opponent in 2024, defeating FIU on September 21 by a final score of 45-42. In the final seconds, safety Deuce Lee forced and recovered a fumble inside the MU five-yard line after kicker Michael Calton Jr. gave the Hawks the lead on a 43-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining.
 
Derek's Dominance in 2024
Derek Robertson had an exceptional 2024 for Monmouth, emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS. He finished as the nation's leader in passing yards per game (328.1) while leading the CAA and ranking third in the nation with 31 passing touchdowns. His 161.8 passing efficiency ranked seventh nationally, as well. Robertson broke single-season program records for passing yardage and touchdowns and became the second Hawk to ever record a 3,000-yard passing season (Kenji Bahar, 2019). He leads the one of the nation's top offenses for his final year of eligibility in 2025.
 
Monmouth in the Polls
The Hawks enter Week 3 as the nation's #18 team in the AFCA Coaches Preseason Poll, while Stats Perform FCS ranked them #20, a one-spot bump up. The Hawks are now 10-7 all-time in games played as a ranked team.
 
CAA in the Polls
CAA Football has four teams ranked in the second editions of the FCS Top 25 polls. Rhode Island enters as the league's top team ranked #5 in the AFCA poll and #6 in the Stats poll, while Villanova appears at #11 in both polls. Monmouth sits at #18 and #20 in the AFCA and Stats rankings, respectively. New Hampshire is new to the rankings, checking in at #24 in the Coaches poll and #23 in the Stats poll. Four teams, Bryant, Stony Brook, Towson and William & Mary, have each received votes and sit just outside the top 25 rankings.
 
The Hawks in Season Openers
Monmouth improved to 9-24 all-time in season openers with the victory at Colgate being Callahan & Co.'s first road win in an opener since September 6, 2016, when the Hawks defeated Lehigh in Bethlehem, 23-21.
 
Early Three-Game Road Trip
The Hawks open with three games away from home to start the 2025 season. Monmouth went 2-0 in the state of New York with wins at Colgate and Fordham and will go to FBS Charlotte in Week 3. All three games are evening kickoffs airing on ESPN+. The last time Monmouth started 3-0 on the road was the 2011 season.
 
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 190. 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.