The 2021 Charlotte 49ers football team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 49ers played their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third-year head coach Will Healy.
Coaching staff
On December 29, 2020 offensive line coach Lee Grimes left to take the same position at Kansas. On February 2, Texas co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Herb Hand was named to the same position at Charlotte. By February 18, he accepted a position on Gus Malzahn's new staff at UCF. On February 3, wide receivers coach Montario Hardesty joined the South Carolina staff as running backs coach. On February 9, tight ends coach Cody Woodiel returned to the Oregon Ducks as recruiting director. On February 15, South Carolina receivers coach and Charlotte native Joe Cox was named the 49ers' tight ends coach. On February 18 Ridge View High School head coach Perry Parks was brought on to coach wide receivers. On March 3, former NCAA Division II coach of the Year Pete Rossomando came on board to coach offensive line. On June 30, Tyler Hancock joined the staff as special teams coordinator after working as a senior analyst for West Virginia.
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 2021 recruiting year.
Key transfers
Players
Roster
Depth chart
Awards and honors
Preseason
In season
Postseason
All Conference Honorable Mentions:
Offense: QB – Chris Reynolds, R-Sr. • TE – Ryan Carriere, Gr. • WR – Grant DuBose, So. • OL – Ashton Gist, Sr. • OL – Hunter Kelly, Gr.
Defense: DE – Markees Watts, R-Sr. • LB – Tyler Murray, R-Sr.
Special Teams: KR – Shadrick Byrd, R-Fr. • LS – Cameron Lyons, Gr.
Schedule
Television
Charlotte 49ers home games and conference road games will be broadcast through Conference USA's television partners ESPN, CBS Sports, and Stadium.
Radio
Radio coverage for all games is 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 with sideline reports.
Preseason media poll
Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 19, 2021, with the 49ers predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.
Game summaries
Duke
Sources:
Following the previous year's drubbing in Durham, the 49ers were looking to regain their pride against the Blue Devils in the first full stadium home game since the 2019 season. The 49ers would score first in the first quarter on a Grant DuBose reception from Chris Reynolds and pad their lead early in the second quarter on a Jonathan Cruz 32 yard field goal. But the Blue Devils would find the endzone midway through the quarter and then take their first lead near the end of the half behind Mataeo Durant's first of three rushing touchdowns to take a 14 to 10 lead into the locker rooms.
Charlotte would regain the lead in the third quarter only to lose it again early in the fourth quarter. With three minutes left Charlotte would again take the lead only to see the Blue Devils again on top of the scoreboard with less than two minutes in regulation. Reynolds would then orchestrate a seven-play drive downfield that resulted in an eleven-yard touchdown pass to Shadrick Byrd with only thirty-three seconds left on the clock. With time expired Duke attempted a hook-and-ladder play, but the 49ers would stop it cold and gain their first victory over a Power 5 and ACC opponent in program history.
Top performances for the game included Charlotte's Chris Reynolds, who threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Duke's Mataeo Durant had 29 carries for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 49er's Victor Tucker had 8 receptions for 133 yards. Charlotte's Grant DuBose also had 118 yards receiving with two touchdowns in his 49ers debut.
Game notes: