2024 Rhode Island Rams football team

2024 Rhode Island Rams football
2024 Rhode Island Rams football
Conference	CAA Football
Record	2–1 (1–0 CAA)
Head coach	Jim Fleming (11th season);
Offensive coordinator	Patrick Murphy (5th season)
Defensive coordinator	Chris Lorenti (2nd season)
Home stadium	Meade Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 5 Villanova	1	–	0	3	–	0
Delaware*	1	–	0	2	–	0
Rhode Island	1	–	0	2	–	1
Monmouth	1	–	0	1	–	2
Hampton	0	–	0	2	–	1
New Hampshire	0	–	0	2	–	1
Stony Brook	0	–	0	2	–	1
No. 12 William & Mary	0	–	0	2	–	1
No. 20 Albany	0	–	0	1	–	2
Bryant	0	–	0	1	–	2
Elon	0	–	0	1	–	2
Richmond	0	–	0	1	–	2
Campbell	0	–	1	1	–	2
Maine	0	–	1	1	–	2
North Carolina A&T	0	–	1	1	–	2
Towson	0	–	1	1	–	2
* Delaware ineligible for 2024 FCS playoffs due to transition to the FBS

$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant As of September 20, 2024 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Rhode Island Rams football team will represent the University of Rhode Island as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA Football) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Rams will be led by 11th-year head coach Jim Fleming and play their home games at Meade Stadium.

Offseason

Coaching changes

The following coaches left the program:

Wide receivers coach Chris Bergeski left for the running backs coach position at Yale.
Offensive line coach Eddy Morrissey left for the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach positions at Merrimack.^[1]
Defensive backs coach Brandon Napoleon left for the safeties coach position at Jacksonville State.^[2]

The following coaches were hired:

Walter Kusmirek was hired from New Haven to be the offensive line coach.^[3]
Tyler Loftus was hired from UConn to be the wide receivers coach.^[4]

The following coach was promoted:

Defensive quality control coach Henry Yianakopolos was promoted to defensive backs coach.^[4]

Transfers

Incoming

Name	Pos.	Previous school	Year
Kevin Pinherio	WR	Nichols	Sophomore
Shawn Harris	WR	UMass	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Junior
Greg Gaines	WR	Iowa State	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Freshman
Hunter Helms	QB	Clemson	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Junior
Tyler Baker	QB	Navy	Freshman
Tremel States-Jones	S	South Alabama	Sophomore

Outgoing

Name	Pos.	New school	Year
Hunter Hopperton	TE	Kent State^[5]	Sophomore
Declan Williams	LB	Incarnate Word^[6]	Sophomore
Mekhi Bethel	LB	N/A	Junior
Rocco Cillino	RB	Retired	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Sophomore
Randy Jordan	DB	Hampton	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Junior
John Erby	WR	Duquesne	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Senior
Syeed Gibbs	DB	Georgia Tech^[7]	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Freshman
Trevor Nored	QB	Barton^[8]	‹ The template below (Redshirt) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. › Redshirt Freshman

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Holy Cross*	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI	FloSports	W 20–17	5,770
September 7	12:00 p.m.	at Minnesota*	Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	Peacock	L 0–48	41,006
September 14	6:00 p.m.	Campbell	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI	FloSports	W 21–9	4,840
September 21	12:00 p.m.	at LIU*	Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium Brookville, NY	NEC Front Row
October 5	2:00 p.m.	at Hampton	Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	FloSports
October 12	1:00 p.m.	Brown*	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI (rivalry)	FloSports
October 19	1:00 p.m.	at New Hampshire	Wildcat Stadium Durham, NH	FloSports
October 26	1:00 p.m.	Maine	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI	FloSports
November 2	1:00 p.m.	Monmouth	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI	FloSports
November 9	1:00 p.m.	at Delaware	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	FloSports
November 16	1:00 p.m.	Albany	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI	FloSports
November 23	1:00 p.m.	at Bryant	Beirne Stadium Smithfield, RI	FloSports
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Eastern time

^[9]^[10]

Game summaries

Holy Cross

Game One – Holy Cross Crusaders (0–0) at Rhode Island Rams (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Holy Cross	0	0	0	0	0
Rhode Island	0	0	0	0	0

at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island

Date: August 31, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	HC	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Holy Cross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Minnesota (FBS)

Pregame line	Over/under
Minnesota –27.5	47.5

Game Two – Rhode Island Rams (1–0) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (FBS) (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rhode Island	0	0	0	0	0
Minnesota (FBS)	3	14	14	17	48

at Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN

Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
Game time: 11:00 AM
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind S 4 mph
Game attendance: 41,006
Referee: Mark Kluczynski
TV announcers (Peacock): Brendan Burke (play-by-play), Kyle Rudolph (analyst), and Caroline Pineda (sideline)

Game information

First quarter

(9:27) MINN – Dragan Kesich 53-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards, 3:26; Minnesota 3–0)

Second quarter

(11:05) MINN – Darius Taylor 1-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 83 yards, 6:33; Minnesota 10–0)
(1:16) MINN – Marcus Major 2-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick) (Drive: 14 plays, 85 yards, 7:57; Minnesota 17–0)

Third quarter

(7:57) MINN – Cristian Driver 6-yard pass from Max Brosmer (Dragan Kesich kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 73 yards, 6:58; Minnesota 24–0)
(1:11) MINN – Le'Meke Brockington 29-yard pass from Max Brosmer (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:40; Minnesota 31–0)

Fourth quarter

(11:04) MINN – Dragan Kesich 47-yard field goal (Dragan Kesich kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 3:46; Minnesota 34–0)
(10:32) MINN – Jack Henderson 25-yard interception return (Dragan Kesich kick (Drive: 3 plays, -8 yards, 0:32; Minnesota 41–0)
(1:56) MINN – Tyler Williams 8-yard pass from Drake Lindsey (Dragan Kesich kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 4:12; Minnesota 48–0)

Statistics	URI	MINN
First downs	6	27
Total yards	135	422
Rushing yards	18	116
Passing yards	117	306
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–30–3	27–34–0
Time of possession	19:28	40:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing	Devin Farrell	6/18, 76 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Devin Farrell	4 carries, 9 yards
	Receiving	Marquis Buchanan	5 receptions, 64 yards
Minnesota	Passing	Max Brosmer	24/30, 271 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Darius Taylor	14 carries, 64 yards, TD
	Receiving	Elijah Spencer	4 receptions, 55 yards

Campbell

Game Three – Campbell Fighting Camels (1–1) at Rhode Island Rams (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Campbell	0	0	0	0	0
Rhode Island	0	0	0	0	0

at Meade Stadium • Kingston, Rhode Island

Date: September 14, 2024
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CAMP	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Campbell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at LIU

Game Four – Rhode Island Rams (2–1) at LIU Sharks (0–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rhode Island	0	0	0	0	0
LIU	0	0	0	0	0

at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium • Brookville, New York

Date: September 21, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
TV announcers (NEC Front Row): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	URI	LIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
LIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "Football Names Morrissey Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach". Merrimack College Athletics. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "Jacksonville State football, Rich Rodriguez hire new safeties coach". Gadsden Times. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "URI names Kusmirek offensive line coach". New England Football Journal®. January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Yianakopolos Promoted, Loftus Returns to Rhode Island Football Staff". University of Rhode Island. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
^ "Streetsboro's Hunter, Preston Hopperton commit to play football at Kent State". Record-Courier. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ McKinnell, Zach (December 19, 2023). "2024 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker". Sports Illustrated FCS Football News, Analysis and More. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ Caudell, Jackson (December 17, 2023). "Transfer Defensive Back Syeed Gibbs Commits to Georgia Tech". Sports Illustrated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets News, Analysis and More. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ Buchinger, Erik. "2024 Transfer Portal QBs - FBS & FCS Quarterback Rankings, Entries, Commits". www.gunslingerbuzz.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "2024 Rhode Island Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
^ "2024 Football Schedule". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[1] "Football Names Morrissey Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach". Merrimack College Athletics. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[2] "Jacksonville State football, Rich Rodriguez hire new safeties coach". Gadsden Times. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[3] "URI names Kusmirek offensive line coach". New England Football Journal®. January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[:0-4] "Yianakopolos Promoted, Loftus Returns to Rhode Island Football Staff". University of Rhode Island. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

[5] "Streetsboro's Hunter, Preston Hopperton commit to play football at Kent State". Record-Courier. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[6] McKinnell, Zach (December 19, 2023). "2024 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker". Sports Illustrated FCS Football News, Analysis and More. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[7] Caudell, Jackson (December 17, 2023). "Transfer Defensive Back Syeed Gibbs Commits to Georgia Tech". Sports Illustrated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets News, Analysis and More. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[8] Buchinger, Erik. "2024 Transfer Portal QBs - FBS & FCS Quarterback Rankings, Entries, Commits". www.gunslingerbuzz.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[9] "2024 Rhode Island Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.

[10] "2024 Football Schedule". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

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