Kent State University
Clemson University
Flashes Open Season at No. 5 Clemson Saturday on ESPN
8/30/2017 9:26:00 AM | Football
Game Notes Watch ESPN Golden Flashes Radio Live Stats
Kent State kicks off its 95th season of football Saturday, visting defending national champion Clemson in a first-time meeting between the two programs. The Golden Flashes return 53 letterwinners, including three All-Mid-American Conference selections on defense. No. 5 in preseason polls, the Tigers will play at Memorial Stadium for the first time since winning their national title in January.
Facts In A Flash
• With fifth-year head coach Paul Haynes recently announcing a medical leave of absence, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell has taken over as interim head coach.
• Kent State returns nine players on offense and seven on defense with at least six career starts.
• The Flashes finished eighth in the nation in turnover margin last season.
• Senior center Nathan Puthoff was chosen to wear the No. 54 jersey in honor of late teammate Jason Bitsko. (see page 6).
• Puthoff is on the preseason Rimington Trophy Watch List, honoring the nation's best center, while Derek Adams is one of only seven sophomore punters on the Ray Guy Watch List.
• Last season, Kent State ranked 20th in pass efficiency defense and 22nd in passing yards allowed.
• Kent State returns 12 players who have earned Academic All-MAC honors in their career.
• In his first six games at quarterback last season, Nick Holley rushed for nine touchdowns.
• Sophomore defensive back Jamal Parker made three interceptions in his final two games last season (Bowling Green, Northern Illinois).
• Linebacker Jim Jones finished his sophomore season with a career-high 11 tackles against Northern Illinois along with a sack and forced fumble.
• Prior to an injury-riddled 2016, cornerback Demetrius Monday finished 7th in the FBS in total interceptions (6) in 2015 and scored a pair of defensive TDs, earning All-MAC First Team honors.
All-Time Series & ACC opponents
Saturday will be the first meeting between Kent State and Clemson. The Golden Flashes are 12-25 against current Atlantic Coast Conference programs. Don James' teams earned wins over NC State, Louisville and Syracuse from 1971-74. Kent State fell at Virginia 45-13 in its last game against the ACC in 2014. Jon Cunningham made six tackles and Jontey Byrd intercepted a pass.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game game can be seen on ESPN with Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (analyst) and Rocky Boiman (sideline). The game can be heard live on WHLO 640 and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the eighth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Jacob Pavilack will be on the sideline. iHeartRadio can be heard on a computer, smart phone or tablet.
The Coaches
• Paul Haynes is in his fifth year at his alma mater. In 2013, Haynes became the first Flashes' head coach to win his debut since 1988. He was a two-time All-MAC safety at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. He returned as an assistant in 1999 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2000. After seven seasons on an Ohio State staff that won six Big Ten titles (2005-11), Haynes spent 2012 as defensive coordinator at Arkansas. His current tenure has also brought Kent State's academic achievements to new heights with the highest term and cumulative team grade point averages in program history.
• Dabo Swinney (Alabama '93) begins his ninth full season as head coach at Clemson after taking over as interim head coach midway through the 2008 season. Swinney is 89-28 as head coach and 60-9 over the previous five seasons. He has been at Clemson since 2003 when he became wide receivers coach. As a player, Swinney was a wide receiver on Alabama's 1992 national championship team. He then joined the Crimson Tide's staff as a graduate assistant before five seasons in a full-time role with wide receivers and tight ends.
Website, Twitter & YouTube
For Kent State football stories, statistics, photos, video and more, visit KentStateSports.com. For daily football updates follow @kentstathletics and @kentstfootball on Twitter and Kent State Golden Flashes Football on Facebook. For an extensive video library visit GoldenFlashesTV on YouTube.
Treadwell Taking Reins
Don Treadwell is no stranger to serving as an interim head coach following an abrupt change or serving as a head coach in the MAC. Treadwell took over as interim head coach at Michigan State in 2010, while Mark Dantonio was out with illness. The Spartans' success that season madeTreadwell a candidate for the Broyles Award, honoring the nation's top assistant coach. He also served as head coach at Miami from 2011-2013.
Season Openers
Since 1946, Kent State is 32-36-3 in season openers with a 15-28-2 mark on the road. The Flashes will be looking for a season-opening victory on the road for the first time since 2007, when Kent State topped Iowa State 23-14 with Julian Edelman at quarterback. Saturday marks the third straight start to a season on the road. Last season, the Flashes dropped their opener 33-13 at eventual Big Ten champion Penn State, but only trailed 16-13 in the second half.
Earning Degrees
Kent State ranks tied for ninth among FBS schools and second in the MAC for college degrees earned. Headlined by linebacker Matt Bahr, who graduated in three years, there are 11 players on the KSU roster who have bachelor's degrees: James Alexander, Dan Hillenbrand, Nick Holley, Melran Leach, Devante Lee, Ryan Malone, Jake McVay, Nathan Puthoff, Erik Simpson, Kris White.
Honoring Tyler Heintz
The initials T.H. will be on the back of Golden Flashes' helmets throughout the season, honoring Tyler Heintz, who passed away in June, following the second morning of summer workouts. The incoming freshman had just graduated from Kenton High School, where several future Flashes had attended before him. The helmet decal will be in blue and red, representing the colors of both Kenton and Kent State. Tyler's family will be present at Saturday's game.
Close Calls
In three of its losses (NC A&T, Akron, Miami) last season, Kent State held leads in the latter half of the fourth quarter. The Flashes were also four yards away from taking a late fourth quarter lead against Ohio. In two other tight contests, Kent State was tied with No. 14 Western Michigan early in the fourth quarter and trailed Northern Illinois by just three to start the fourth.
Rankin's Rookie Year
According to Pro Football Focus, running back Justin Rankin was fourth among true freshman last season for highest elusive rating. Rankin totaled 846 yards of offense (rushing/receiving) and scored four touchdowns.
He had six offensive plays on the year of 30 yards or more. In last year's opener at Penn State, Rankin rushed for 82 yards on 13 carries. His 181 yards receiving against Akron were the most by a Kent State player since 2009.
Holley to Start
Fifth-year senior Nick Holley looks to bring stability to the quarterback spot in 2017. Injuries forced the Flashes to use four starting quarterbacks in 2016, including Holley, who played there for the first time since high school in week 5 against Akron. He went on to earn MAC East Offensive Player of the Week honors three times over the next six games as the Flashes discovered a new offensive identity.
White Returns
Fifth-year senior wide receiver Kris White was primed to become Kent State's top pass catcher last season, before suffering a season-ending leg injury in week 1 at Penn State. White made 47 catches in his first two seasons and is now back at full speed.
A Few Degrees of Separation
Although Kent State and Clemson had no common opponents during the 2016 regular season...the Golden Flashes defeated Central Michigan, who defeated Oklahoma State, who defeated Pitt, who defeated the Tigers last November.
Playing Against the Best
Facing a national champion Saturday will be nothing new to Kent State. Last year in week 4, the Flashes visited defending national champion Alabama. In 2014, Kent State took on Ohio State, who went on win the title that season. The Crimson Tide also hosted Kent State in 2011, before claiming a BCS crown. Ohio State also topped KSU in 2002 on the way to a national title.
Strong Offseason
Head Coach Paul Haynes considered the 2017 offseason the most productive he's seen when it comes to getting bigger and stronger. The leaders in the weight room included defensive lineman Dominic Hill and Jon Cunningham. Hill impressed with a 740-pound squat, a 500-lb bench press and a 335-lb power clean. Cunningham led the power clean at 350 and was just behind Hill in the squat (700) and bench (450). Cunningham, an All-MAC Third Team selection last year, made Bruce Feldman's (Fox Sports) list of Top 25 Freaks in college football in 2015 for both his freakish strength and intensity and animation on the sidelines. Despite standing under six foot tall, Cunningham has a wing span of 6-7.25.
Harrell Flashes Potential
As a freshman wide receiver Trey Harrell made a career-high three catches for 50 yards in the Flashes final road game at Bowling Green. That potential continued to show throughout preseason camp.
Preseason Honors
Seven Golden Flashes were named to Athlon's Preseason All-MAC Team:
First Team: Nick Holley, Jon Cunningham
Second Team: Jerrell Foster
Third Team: Zaquon Tyson (returner)
Fourth Team: Derek Adams, Stefano Millin, Demetrius Monday
Foster's BreakThrough Year
Junior cornerback Jerrell Foster made three interceptions last season on his way to being named to the All-MAC Second Team. Foster played in 10 games in a reserve role in 2014, but missed the entire 2015 season. Foster got his first start of the year in week 3 and started in 10 straight games. Last year, he ranked second among MAC cornerbacks in passer rating against.
A New Start
After the initial shock of hearing in February that his school (St. Joseph's) would be closing its doors, sophomore lineman Nate Warnock began looking for another match and found Kent State. The near 300-pounder played six games at the Division II level as a true freshman and could be in the starting lineup Saturday.
Raising the Bahr
Junior Matt Bahr made an adjustment from safety to linebacker in the spring with some extra time in the weight room and at the kitchen table. A two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, Bahr serves as president of Kent State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The former walk-on also serves on the MAC's Student-Athlete Executive Committee and is on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.
Fellow linebackers James Alexander and Danny Johnson joined Bahr and other Kent State athletes on a spring break trip to Belize, working with "Courts For Kids."
More Defensive Transitions
Three other Flashes made notable changes on defense. Junior Quan Robinson, a former high school quarterback, adjusted from cornerback to safety and will likely be in Saturday's starting lineup. Coming off a strong finish to his freshman campaign, Jamal Parker moved from cornerback to apache. Senior Marques Moore has packed on 50 pounds since his arrival at KSU and has moved from linebacker to defensive end.
Top Pass Defense
Kent State led the conference in passing efficiency defense last season. In 5-of-8 conference games, opposing quarterbacks did not complete more than 50 percent of their passes.
Spring Season Awards
The Jack Lambert Award, given to the defensive player who made the biggest improvement went to senior defensive end Marques Moore.
The Don Nottingham Award, given to the offensive player who made the biggest improvement, went to sophomore wide receiver Mike Carrigan.
Sophomore safety John Henry Bronczek earned the Gerald and Victoria Read Award, given to the player who exemplifies hard work and dedication
beyond the call of duty.
The Matt Ramser Award went to sophomore running back Will Matthews, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of courage, dedication attitude and commitment.
The Leo Strang Award, given to the upperclassmen with the highest cumulative GPA, went to junior linebacker Matt Bahr.
Santiago's Return
Nine-year NFL veteran O.J. Santiago returned to Kent State last season to finish his degree and serve as a student assistant coach for the Flashes. This summer, he was named tight ends coach. A third-round draft pick by the Falcons in 1997, Santiago went on to play in Super Bowl XXXIII. The 6-7 tight end earned All-MAC honors in 1996 and was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection.
• With the addition of Santiago, Kent State now has three of its former players on the full-time coaching staff. Head Coach Paul Haynes and Defensive Line Coach Colin Ferrell were both all-conference selections as players.
