The 2017 Charlotte 49ers football team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (also called Charlotte or UNC Charlotte) in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the school's fifth season of NCAA football, their third season of NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) play, and their third season as a member of Conference USA's East Division. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Brad Lambert and played its home games on campus at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 49ers finished the season 1–11, 1–7 in C-USA play to finish in last place in the East Division.
Coaching staff
Tight Ends and Assistant head coach Dean Hood left the program in February to take over coaching Special Teams and Outside Linebackers for the Kentucky Wildcats. Recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Tereshinski also resigned in February to pursue a non-football related career. Recruiting Coordinator responsibilities were transferred to Outside Linebackers Coach Ulrich Edmonds. Former Oklahoma State Offensive Line Coach Greg Adkins joined the staff in the same position in February. Previous Offensive Line Coach Johnson Richardson moved back to his former position as Tight Ends Coach. Catawba College Defensive coordinator and Assistant head coach Keith Henry joined the staff as Running Backs Coach. Previous Running Backs Coach Damien Gray moved to take over Wide Receivers. Defensive line coach Aaron Curry left the program in June to pursue a non-football related career. Charlie Skalaski, former Assistant head coach at Eastern Kentucky, was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator after having served on the Analytics Staff the previous season. Head Coach Brad Lambert will now directly coach the Defensive linemen.
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 2017 recruiting year.
Players
Player gameday honors
Roster
Awards and honors
Preseason
Post-season
Depth chart
Schedule
Schedule Source:
Television
Charlotte 49ers home games and conference road games will be broadcast through Conference USA's television partners ESPN, CBS Sports, Stadium, beIN, and Facebook Watch. Additional games will be available locally in the Charlotte TV market on WCCB.
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, former Carolina Panther Kevin Donnalley with color commentary, and Bobby Rosinski with sideline reports. Swierad and Donnalley also host the "Gold Mine Live" Coaches Show each Monday during the season at noon from Norm's in the UNC Charlotte Student Union. "Gold Mine Live" can be heard on Mondays.
Preseason media poll
Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 19, 2017, with the 49ers predicted to finish in last place in the East Division.
Game summaries
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Sources:
The 49ers were looking to avenge a home loss from the previous season as they visited the State of Michigan for the first time, but eleven costly penalties and three turnovers doomed the 49ers' efforts.
Top performers for the game were Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback, who passed for 267 yards and an interception. Charlotte quarterback Hasaan Klugh also was the top rusher of the game, with 14 carries for 101 yards in addition to passing for 114 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Charlotte's Trent Bostick had 3 receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Game notes:
First game in the State of Michigan in program history.
Kansas State Wildcats
Sources:
Brad Lambert brought his 49ers into the State of Kansas for the first time to take on his Alma Mater. It would prove to be a long afternoon for the 49ers as the #19 team in the country put on a scoring clinic in front of the home crowd.
Top performers for the game were Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz, who passed for 178 yards. Kansas State rusher Alex Barnes had 16 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. Kansas State's Isaiah Zuber had 7 receptions for 73 yards.
Game notes:
First game in the State of Kansas in program history. First Big 12 opponent in program history. Lambert played four seasons as a defensive back for the Kansas State Wildcats, earning all Big 8 honors his senior season.