The 2023 Charlotte 49ers football team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 49ers played their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and compete in their first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They were led by first-year head coach Biff Poggi.

Coaching staff

On November 15, Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi was named the 49ers' third head coach of the modern era. Maryland co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Miller was reported to be taking the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coaching position on November 29. On December 2 Saint Frances Academy defensive line coach Wayne Dorsey took the same position for the 49ers. On November 30 it was reported that Auburn's quarterbacks coach Mike Hartline would become the 49ers wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator. On December 3 it was revealed that Buffalo defensive backs coach Rod Ojong would be accepting the same position at Charlotte. On December 21 Colorado offensive line coach Kyle DeVan accepted the same position on the 49ers staff in addition to being named associate head coach and run game coordinator. On the same date LSU graduate assistant and former Notre Dame team captain Greer Martini was named linebackers coach. On January 5 Michigan Offensive Analyst John Morookian was named tight ends and offensive tackles coach. On the same day Illinois special teams analyst Greg Froelich was named running backs coach and special teams coordinator. On January 11 Texas Southern defensive backs coach Justin Sanders was named safeties coach. On January 16 longtime Poggi friend and business associate Jonathon Jacobson was named assistant head coach and senior advisor. On January 24 Baltimore Ravens defensive assistant Ryan Osborn was named the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach, completing the 2023 football staff.

Recruiting

Position key

Recruiting class

The following recruits and transfers have signed letters of intent or verbally committed to the Charlotte 49ers football program for the 2023 recruiting year.

Key transfers

Departing players

2023 NFL Draft

The following players were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Outgoing transfers

Notes

Graduation

Roster

Depth chart

Awards and honors

Preseason

In Season

Postseason

All Conference Honorable Mentions:

Offense: OL – Kevin Williams, R-Sr.

Special Teams: P – Grant Gonya, Sr.

Schedule

Television

Charlotte 49ers home games and conference road games are broadcast through the American Athletics Conference's television partners ESPN, and ABC Sports.

Radio

Radio coverage for all games are broadcast by IMG College through the Charlotte 49ers Radio Network flagship station WZGV ESPN Radio 730 AM The Game, and the TuneIn Charlotte 49ers IMG Sports Network app. The radio announcers are "Voice of the 49ers" Matt Swierad with play-by-play alongside NFL veteran Al Wallace providing color commentary and Bobby Rosinski and Walker Mehl providing sideline reports.

Preseason poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 25, 2023.

• First place votes in ()

Game summaries

South Carolina State

Game notes:

• The program's tenth anniversary game.
• 1st meeting between these two programs.
• Biff Poggi's debut as an NCAA FBS head coach.
• First Career NCAA win for Coach Poggi.
• Fewest points allowed since the 2014 season.

Maryland

Game notes:

• 2nd meeting in the series since 2022, (UMD 2–0).
• Charlotte's first appearance on OTA national television.
• Charlotte's first game broadcast by NBC.

Georgia State

Game notes:

• 5th game in the series since 2015, (Georgia St 3–2).
• Henry Rutledge became the first 49er to return a punt for a touchdown.
• Rutledge also set the school record for longest punt return at 46 yards.

No. 25 Florida

Game notes:

• 1st meeting between these two programs.
• Charlotte AD Mike Hill was a long term member of the Gators athletics department joining in 1993 as a marketing coordinator and rising through various offices up to executive associate AD for external affairs before accepting the top job at Charlotte in 2018.
• Punter Grant Gonya earned AAC Special Teams Player of the week honors with 6 punts in the game, including both a 60 yard and a 58 yard punt.
• Gonya becomes the first 49er to earn an AAC Player of the Week honor since the 49ers joined the AAC.

SMU

Game notes:

• Charlotte's first conference game as a member of the AAC.
• 1st meeting between these two programs.

Navy

Game notes:

• 1st meeting between these two programs.

East Carolina

Game notes:

• 1st meeting between these two programs.
• Mike Houston had been offered and accepted in principle to become the 49ers' head coach in late November 2018. The offer was withdrawn on November 30 after it became public that Houston was still considering other options. He subsequently became the Pirates' head coach on December 3. The 49ers went on to hire Will Healy on December 5.
• Poggi's first win over an FBS team, and his and the program's first win over an AAC opponent.
• Senior Linebacker Demetrius Knight II earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors with nine tackles, five solo tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass play breakups.
• Knight led an overall defensive team effort to set a new program record for fewest yards allowed with the Pirates only gaining 127 yards in the game.

Florida Atlantic

Game notes:

• 9th game in the series since 2015, (FAU 7–2).
• Senior outside lineman Jasper Parks was named PFF's offensive left tackle of the week on their team of the week for week 9.
• Following the game, Coach Poggi suspended an undisclosed number of players for the next game due to their behavior on the field and on the side-lines in this game.

Tulsa

Game notes:

• 1st meeting between these two programs.
• Redshirt Senior Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week. Hill-Green matched his season high 11 tackles with 2 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.

Memphis

Game notes:

• 1st meeting between these two programs.
• Charlotte's second overtime game in a row.
• 7th loss of the season removed Charlotte from post-season bowl eligibility.
• Hahsaun Wilson's 3 touchdowns and 198 yards garnered him PFF's running back position on their team of the week for week 11.

Rice

Game notes:

• 5th game in the series since 2015, (Rice 3–2).

South Florida

Game notes:

• 1st meeting between these two programs.

Attendance

References