Position battles rage on during second day of Charlotte 49ers football practice
With Day 1 jitters in the rearview, Tim Albin’s Charlotte 49ers took the practice fields outside Richardson Stadium for Day 2 of training camp Wednesday morning.
And for the second time in as many practices, the defense won the day, said wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Paul Turner.
“For right now, I’m going to say defense (won practice). Offensively, I feel like we’ve been doing a solid job. There’s a lot we can clean up, but I feel like it’s been a constant battle,” Turner told The Observer. “Hopefully, over the next couple of days, you’ll see us going back and forth. That’s what makes those teams great, but definitely defense right now.”
Traditionally, offensive schemes take longer to install, meaning the defense grabs the upper hand early in the action, especially under a new regime. The 49ers’ offense, which returns just two starters from 2024, is finding its footing as it implements offensive coordinator Todd Fitch’s offense, which marries Albin’s offensive background with Fitch’s.
And following a scoreless (and turnover-free) spring showcase, the 49ers’ offense showed signs of explosiveness early in the action, said returning tailback Henry Rutledge.
“There have been some explosive plays and some touchdowns. We’re excited,” Rutledge said. “The receivers have a lot more options, quarterbacks as well, and for the running backs, they are putting us in good positions.”
As the battle rages on at quarterback, with Fitch hoping one’s talent stands above the rest, reps at running back are still for the taking.
Running back by committee
With Charlotte’s top three leading rushers from 2024 moving on from the program, and projected starter Don Chaney Jr. being removed from the roster, Albin stated that Charlotte will operate by committee in the backfield.
“The room is capable. Henry (Rutledge) returns — electric. He wants to be the guy to carry the ball 25 times a game. Todd Fitch has the tough job of finding ways to get him touches,” Albin said at Media Day. “My guess is that it will be by committee. I’m looking forward to watching those guys compete.”
Despite seeing just 26 carries over the last two seasons, Rutledge led the team with over 9 yards per carry and made his mark in the return game, ranking 11th in the FBS in combined returned yardage in 2023. With hopes for an expanded role in 2025, Rutledge has a specific goal in mind.
“I’m trying to lead the American in all-purpose yards,” Rutledge told The Observer.
And Fitch’s offense is designed to aid Rutledge’s high hopes. “(The offense) is designed to create explosive plays. But it’s also designed to create positive looks in the box for the run game,” said Fitch.
Along with Rutledge, Charlotte returns two other tailbacks who saw snaps last season: CJ Stokes and Rod Gainey Jr.
Stokes played in three non-conference games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Indiana in 2024. On that play, he broke multiple tackles and scored his second collegiate touchdown. Stokes started his career at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh and followed Biff Poggi to Charlotte.
Gainey Jr. played in just four games last season, preserving his redshirt status, but did start in Charlotte’s first game after Poggi’s firing against Florida Atlantic. A former three-star tailback, Gainey combined for over 2,600 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns in his junior and senior high school seasons, and is poised for a breakout season, according to Rutledge.
“I’ve seen Rod (Gainey Jr.) take a huge step up,” said Rutledge. “CJ (Stokes) is getting healthy, and he’ll get a lot of burn. Cameren (Smith) as well. Our room is really good.”
Quarterback update
With 30 days until the season opens against Appalachian State, Charlotte has yet to settle on a quarterback. And from the sound of it, they likely won’t.
Fitch considered spring practice an individual development period, identifying the top 22 to 27 players on the roster to plug in when fall camp rolled around. And two days into training camp, Charlotte’s evaluation for a starting quarterback is in full swing.
“Now the key will be who can take the meeting to the field and be the most consistent. Like coach (Albin) said, it will be a close competition,” Fitch said Wednesday. “Like any position, if we start so-and-so Week 1 against Appalachian State, that doesn’t mean he’s starting the rest of the season. He’ll have to perform the rest of the season, so it will be a season-long thing.”
So that begs the question, could we see another season of split starters for the 49ers?
“Ideally, you’d like to have one guy. But if (split starters) is the best way for us to win, at the end of the day, it’s our job to put the best offense on the field to help us win, and we’ll do whatever it takes,” said Fitch.
Albin stated that the quarterbacks’ skill sets are similar enough that Charlotte shouldn’t have to utilize different packages for different signal callers. In the spring session, Fitch broke down the strengths of each contender.
“Conner (Harrel) is a little bit more of a dual threat — where he can do different things with his feet. Grayson (Loftis) is not that way. You have to do some different things to help him and aid the run game,” said Fitch. “Zack (Wilcke) is probably a blend of the two. He has really good feet and the ability to throw from the pocket.
“You’ve got kind of a three-headed monster that way. The good thing is, mentally, we can challenge them all. It’s the install of a completely new system. It’s a blend of a couple of different things I’ve done, and Coach Albin’s offense, obviously.”
Notables
Although awaiting an eligibility ruling from the NCAA, looking for his sixth and final college season, guard Mitchell Mayes continues to practice with the team. Mayes played over 900 snaps spanning four years in the ACC with Clemson and was an integral piece at guard on Charlotte’s offensive line last season.
Both Fitch and wide receivers coach Paul Turner joined the program following time in the SEC at LSU. Fitch said Turner is among the “best young coaches in America.”
In Charlotte’s first-ever game at Bank of America Stadium, the 49ers have nearly sold out their allotment of tickets, with just a few hundred remaining, according to Athletic Director Mike Hill.