As Charlotte football’s opening game creeps closer, 49ers establishing identity

The first week of training camp has come and gone for the Charlotte 49ers, and while each day provides an opportunity to band together as a team, the season-opening matchup against Appalachian State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic is inching closer.

Each practice has featured myriad personnel groupings, with the offensive and defensive scheme installs tapering off as game preparation takes shape. Sunday marked the first day in full pads, and as the ramp-up portion of training camp concludes, head coach Tim Albin is looking for a blend of physicality while keeping his roster upright.

And that balance is keeping Albin up at night.

“The data says guys on the ground are when injuries happen. We are trying to stay off the ground and still have a physical team,” Albin told The Observer. “It’s a fine line.”

Offensive identity

Just over eight months after taking the job as Charlotte’s fourth head coach, Albin has assembled a roster featuring 57 new faces, including 17 players who joined the program ahead of training camp. With just a handful of returning starters on both sides of the ball, Charlotte is looking to forge its identity over the next three weeks.

Albin thinks the offensive line is the place to start.

“As a whole, I think the offensive line will be the strength of the offense,” said Albin. “I say strength because I like our depth, and I like who is coaching them. We’ve got to stay healthy, but I like the group.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch’s offense is designed to create explosive plays and open up favorable looks in the box for the rushing attack. And it all starts up front. Albin says standouts include returnees Jonny King, Andrew Adair, and Mo Clipper Jr. and newcomers Mason Bowers (Kennesaw State) and Jesse Ramil (JMU). Guard Mitchell Mayes, who started his career at Clemson, is awaiting an NCAA waiver, although he is still practicing.

Setting the edge

While Charlotte isn’t tackling to the ground to this point, nearly every rep is live in the trenches. The most violent positions on the field generally get the least amount of credit, but NW Mississippi JUCO transfer edge DJ Burgess isn’t worried about that.

While sack totals drive edge rushers up NFL Draft boards, the ability to stop the run creates long careers playing on Sundays.

“My main thing is just get ready to knock someone back and move the line of scrimmage, and just be violent at the point of attack,” Burgess told The Observer. “I think you’ve got to earn the right to rush the passer at the end of the day. I’m ready to stop the run at all times.”

The 49ers posted the 122nd-worst run defense in the country last season, surrendering over 210 yards per game on the ground. And it wasn’t much better getting after the quarterback, ranking 13th of 14 teams in the American with just 17 total sacks. For reference, in Alex Highsmith’s final season at Charlotte, he totaled 14 sacks on his own.

Burgess started his career in Conference USA with Southern Miss, before transferring to NW Mississippi, where he played in every game (24) through his two seasons and totaled 81 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Despite his measurables at 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, Burgess’ versatility excites co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Kurt Mattix, who followed Albin to Charlotte from Ohio.

“Number one, he’s an extremely smart player. He understands the game as well as anybody that I’ve had a chance to coach,” Mattix said of Burgess. “He’s versatile. Not only does he know defensive end, we can move him inside to find mismatches – find that fish.”

Freshmen standouts

On a roster featuring 29 seniors/graduate players, Charlotte has seen a handful of freshmen making their mark early in training camp. And Albin expects that number to grow when the live tackling periods pick up and scrimmages begin.

“Curtis Simpson. He’s a freshman. Jariel Cobb from UNC. He enrolled at UNC mid-year, so he’s supposed to be a true freshman — they’ll both be good players here, and I count them as freshman,” Albin told The Observer. “Jeremiah Hoffman — he’s a true freshman. He’s been here for three weeks. When we get some strength on him, he’s going to be a good player. There are a couple others, we’ll know more soon.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM.