American college football season
The 2024 North Alabama Lions football team will represent North Alabama University in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season . The Lions will be led by second-year head coach Brent Dearmon . The team will play its home games at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama .
Offseason [ edit ]
Transfers [ edit ]
Transfers out [ edit ]
The Lions lost three players to the transfer portal.[1] [2] [3]
Transfers in [ edit ]
The Lions added sixteen players via transfer. [4]
Name
Number
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Transfer from
Jayvian Allen
#2
RB/DB
5'6"
182
Freshman
Freeport, New York
Tennessee Tech
Anthony Bauer
#78
OL
6'5"
308
Sophomore
Dunnellon, Florida
Louisiana–Monroe
Jackson Bratton
#2
LB
6'3"
235
Redshirt Junior
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
UAB
Christopher Burnett
#23
DB
5'11"
170
Sophomore
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Copiah–Lincoln CC
Logan Collier
#7
WR
6'0"
195
Junior
Nashville, Tennessee
Lindsey Wilson
Jahbari Hill
#39
LB
6'1"
205
Sophomore
Delray Beach, Florida
Florida Atlantic
Marlon Krakue
#54
DE
6'3"
240
Senior
Marietta, Georgia
Florida Atlantic
Scott Payne
#24
PK
5'10"
177
Redshirt Junior
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Middle Tennessee State
Jermaine Ray Jr.
#17
DB
6'0"
185
Sophomore
Southaven, Mississippi
Northeast Mississippi CC
Tanaka Scott
#3
WR
6'4"
210
Freshman
Mobile, Alabama
Kansas
Ari Patu
#11
QB
6'4"
216
Junior
Folsom, California
Stanford
Travelle Anderson
#21
RB
6'0"
200
Redshirt Freshman
Gosnell, Arkansas
Central Arkansas
Michael Jordan
#12
DB
5'11"
170
Sophomore
Katy, Texas
Lehigh Mountain
Walter Goggins
#95
DL
6'2"
260
Freshman
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Mercer
Jayme Motley-Simmons
#75
OL
6'7"
290
Senior
Alabaster, Alabama
Samford
Rayqwon Smith
#62
DL
6'2"
270
Freshman
Tallahassee, Florida
Tennessee State
Recruiting class [ edit ]
US college sports recruiting information for 2024 recruits
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Josh Anglin LB
Hoschton, Georgia
Mill Creek High School
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports :
Myron Dunklin WR
Saraland, Alabama
Saraland High School
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Jun 26, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports :
Jalen Fletcher RB
Trinity, Alabama
West Morgan High School
5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Kemon Folse DB
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux High School
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
155 lb (70 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Leo Glover ATH
Florence, Alabama
Florence High School
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Clint Houser WR
Montgomery, Alabama
Saint James School
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Jon Nolan Lawrence OL
Greenville, Alabama
Fort Dale Academy
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
275 lb (125 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Kingston Lowe DL/LB
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf Shores High School
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Roderick Taylor RB
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux High School
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Fred Vili DL
Enterprise, Alabama
Enterprise High School
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
250 lb (110 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Jackson Ward EDGE
Pace, Florida
Pace High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
240 lb (110 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Carson Wheeler OL
Killen, Alabama
Brooks High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
295 lb (134 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Anthony "Tre" Young DB
Birmingham, Alabama
Wenonah High School
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Dec 20, 2023
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : N/A Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
Preseason [ edit ]
Spring game [ edit ]
North Alabama Purple vs White
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Purple
0
14
8 0 22
White
17
7
3 6 33
at Bill Jones Athletic Complex • Florence, Alabama
Date : Game time : 6:30 p.m. CDT Game weather : Sunny, 54 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 1,500
Game information
First quarter
WHITE – TJ Smith 10-yard run (Scott Payne kick) – White 7–0
WHITE – Kaleb Heatherly 23-yard pass from TJ Smith (Sam Contorno kick) – White 14–0
Second quarter
PURPLE – Dennis Moody 1-yard run (Nathan Olgetree kick) – White 17–7
PURPLE – JJ Evans 11-yard pass from Noah Walters (Zach Aird kick) – White 17–14
WHITE – Takairee Kenebrew 20-yard pass from TJ Smith (Scott Payne kick) – White 24–14
Third quuarter
PURPLE – Noah Walters 8-yard run (Justin Luke pass from Noah Walters) – White 24–22
WHITE – Sam Contorno field goal – White 27–22
Fourth quarter
WHITE – Ben Harris 8-yard pass from TJ Smith – White 33–22
Over 1,500 fans packed Bill Jones Athletic Complex for the 2024 University of North Alabama Purple vs White Spring Game. Both teams were stocked with its own respective players and coaches. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wewers coached Team White, while defensive coordinator Brock Caraboa coached Team Purple.[5]
Team White led 14–0 after 1 quarter. Quarterback TJ Smith ran for an 8-yard touchdown to start the game, and then tight end Kaleb Heatherly caught a 23-yard touchdown from Smith. Team Purple would cut the deficit to 3 before halftime, after a 1-yard touchdown run from Dennis Moody and an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JJ Evans from quarterback Noah Walters, but receiver Takairee Kenebrew caught a 20-yard pass from TJ Smith to take a 24–14 lead at the half. Team Purple would start the 2nd half strong, after Noah Walters ran for an 8-yard touchdown and receiver Justin Luke caught the two-point pass from Walters. Team White would immediately answer with Sam Contorno hitting a field goal. On the final play of the game, Kevin Wewers of Team White called a trick play, with transfer running back Jayvian "Juice" Allen taking the snap, handing it off to TJ Smith, who threw it to quarterback Ben Harris in the endzone for the 8-yard touchdown, capping the action with their 33–22 win.[5]
Schedule [ edit ]
North Alabama will begin its' 2024 campaign with a slate of 4 non-conference games. The Lions will start with a Week 0 face off against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks on August 24. This was originally slated to be held in Cape Girardeau, Missouri before becoming the FCS Kickoff game in Montgomery, Alabama . This game will also mark their first matchup since 1956. [6] The Lions' first road game will be an against the Division I FBS -level Memphis Tigers on August 31st. This will be their first game against one another since 2022 and the second all-time meeting of the 2 schools.[7] North Alabama will stay on the road to face UT Martin on September 14 in Martin, Tennessee .[8] The Lions' home opener will be on September 21 as North Alabama welcomes Illinois State Redbirds to Braly Stadium. This will start a home and home series between the schools and it will also be the first ever meeting of the 2 teams.[9]
North Alabama and the UAC announced the 2024 football schedule on November 14, 2023.[10] The 2024 Lions' schedule consists of 5 home games and 6 away games for the regular season. North Alabama will host four UAC conference opponents West Georgia , Abilene Christian , Austin Peay and Southern Utah at home and will travel to three UAC opponents Utah Tech , Central Arkansas , and Eastern Kentucky .[11]
West Georgia is the newest member of the United Athletic Conference and will join in July 2024 as a part of their transition to Division I athletics.[12] This will revive a former Gulf South Conference rivalry as West Georgia and North Alabama played each other for 35 consecutive years from 1983 until the Lions made the jump to Division I after 2017.[13] Their meeting on September 28th will open conference play for the Lions and will mark their first meeting since 2017. It will also mark West Georgia's first time at Braly Stadium since 2016.[14]
[15] [16]
Game summaries [ edit ]
vs. Southeast Missouri State [ edit ]
Game One – North Alabama Lions vs. Southeast Missouri State Redhawks – Game summary
Period
1
2
Total
Lions
0
Redhawks
0
at Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, Alabama
Statistics
North Alabama
Southeast Missouri State
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southeast Missouri State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Memphis [ edit ]
Statistics
North Alabama
Memphis
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Memphis
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs Illinois State [ edit ]
Statistics
Illinois State
North Alabama
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Illinois State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at UT Martin [ edit ]
Statistics
North Alabama
UT Martin
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UT Martin
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs West Georgia [ edit ]
Game Five – North Alabama Lions vs West Georgia Wolves – Game summary
Period
1
2
Total
Wolves
0
Lions
0
at Braly Municipal Stadium • Florence, Alabama
Statistics
West Georgia
North Alabama
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
West Georgia
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Utah Tech [ edit ]
Statistics
North Alabama
Utah Tech
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Utah Tech
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs Abilene Christian [ edit ]
Game Seven – North Alabama Lions vs Abilene Christian Wildcats – Game summary
Period
1
2
Total
Wildcats
0
Lions
0
at Braly Municipal Stadium • Florence, Alabama
Statistics
Abilene Christian
North Alabama
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Abilene Christian
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Central Arkansas [ edit ]
Statistics
North Alabama
Central Arkansas
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Central Arkansas
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs Austin Peay [ edit ]
Game Nine – North Alabama Lions vs Austin Peay Governors – Game summary
Period
1
2
Total
Governors
0
Lions
0
at Braly Municipal Stadium • Florence, Alabama
Statistics
Austin Peay
North Alabama
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Austin Peay
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
at Eastern Kentucky [ edit ]
Statistics
North Alabama
Eastern Kentucky
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Kentucky
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
vs Southern Utah [ edit ]
Game Eleven – North Alabama Lions vs Southern Utah Thunderbirds – Game summary
Period
1
2
Total
Thunderbirds
0
Lions
0
at Braly Municipal Stadium • Florence, Alabama
Statistics
Southern Utah
North Alabama
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Southern Utah
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Alabama
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
2024 North Alabama Lions football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Kevin Wewers – Offensive coordinator
Brock Caraboa – Defensive coordinator
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Statistics [ edit ]
North Alabama
Opp
Scoring
Points per Game
Points per Turnovers
First Downs
Rushing
Passing
Penalty
Rushing yards
Avg per play
Avg per game
Rushing touchdowns
Passing yards
Att-Comp-Int
Avg per pass
Avg per catch
Avg per game
Passing touchdowns
Total Offense
Plays
Avg per play
Avg per game
Fumbles-Lost
Penalties-Yards
Avg per game
North Alabama
Opp
Punt-Yards
Avg per play
Avg per punt net
Punt Return-Yards
Avg per punt return
Kickoffs-Yards
Avg per play
Avg per kick net
Kickoff Return-Yards
Avg per kickoff return
Interceptions-Yards
Avg per play
Time of possession / game
3rd Down Conversions (Pct%)
(0%)
(0%)
4th Down Conversions (Pct%)
(0%)
(0%)
Touchdowns Scored
Field Goals-Attempts
PAT-Attempts
2 point conversion-attempts
Sack by Yards
Misc Yards
Safeties
Onside kicks
Red zone scores
(0%)
(0%)
Red zone touchdowns
(0%)
(0%)
Attendance
Date/Avg per date
Neutral Site
Individual leaders [ edit ]
Passing statistics
#
NAME
POS
RAT
CMP-ATT-INT
YDS
AVG/G
CMP%
TD
LONG
QB
0.0
0-0-0
0 yrds
0.0%
0 TDs
0
TOTALS
0.0
0-0-0
0 yrds
0.0
0.0%
0 TDs
0
Rushing statistics
#
NAME
POS
ATT
GAIN
AVG
TD
LONG
AVG/G
RB
0
0 yrds
0.0
0 TDs
0
0.0
TOTALS
0
0 yrds
0.0
0 TDs
0
0.0
Receiving statistics
#
NAME
POS
CTH
YDS
AVG
TD
LONG
AVG/G
WR
0
0 yrds
0.0
0 TDs
0
0.0
TOTALS
0
0 yrds
0.0
0 TDs
0
0.0
Defense [ edit ]
Defense statistics
#
NAME
POS
SOLO
AST
TOT
TFL-YDS
SACK-YDS
INT-YDS-TD
BU
QBH
RCV-YDS
FF
BLK
SAF
0
0
0
0-0 yrds
0-0 yrds
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOTAL
0
0
0
0-0 yrds
0-0 yrds
0-0 yrds- 0 TDs
0
0
-
0
0
-
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown
Special teams [ edit ]
Kicking/off statistics
#
NAME
POS
XPM-XPA (XP%)
FGM-FGA (FG%)
1–19
20–29
30–39
40–49
50+
PTS
LNG
KICKS
YDS
AVG
TB
OB
PK
0-0 (0.0%)
0-0 (0.0%)
-/-
-/-
-/-
-/-
-/-
0 pts
0
0
0 yrds
0.0
0
-
TOTALS
0-0 (0.0% )
0-0 (0.0% )
-/-
-/-
-/-
-/-
-/-
0
0
0
0 yrds
0.0
0
-
Punting statistics
#
NAME
POS
PUNTS
YDS
AVG
LONG
TB
FC
I–20
50+
BLK
P
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Team
--
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
TOTALS
0
0 yrds
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kick return statistics
#
NAME
POS
RTNS
YDS
AVG
TD
LNG
-
-
-
-
-
TOTALS
0
0 yrds
0.0
0 TD's
0
Punt return statistics
#
NAME
POS
RTNS
YDS
AVG
TD
LONG
-
-
-
-
-
TOTALS
0
0 yrds
0.0
0 TD's
0
References [ edit ]
^ "2024 FCS-to-FCS Transfers" . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ "2024 FCS-to-FBS Transfers" . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ Tanner, Emma (April 26, 2024). "Walters enters transfer portal" . The Flor-Ala . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ "2024 FBS-to-FCS Transfers" . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ a b "Team White wins packed out 2024 Spring Game" . North Alabama Lions . Retrieved March 22, 2024 .
^ Kelley, Kevin (October 4, 2019). "Southeast Missouri adds future series with Dayton, Southern Illinois, North Alabama" . FBSchedules. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ Kelley, Kevin (March 4, 2022). "Memphis adds North Alabama to 2024 football schedule" . FBSchedules. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ Kelley, Kevin (August 22, 2023). "UT Martin to host North Alabama in 2024, play at UTEP in 2025" . FBSchedules. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ Kelley, Kevin (September 20, 2021). "Illinois State, North Alabama schedule football series for 2024, 2025" . FBSchedules. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "UAC Football Announces Eight-Game League Schedule for 2024" . United Athletic Conference. November 14, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "UAC Football announces 2024 conference schedule" . UNA Athletics. November 14, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ Chavkin, Daniel (September 8, 2023). "University of West Georgia Announces Move to NCAA Division I" . Sports Illustrated Network. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "West Georgia to join ASUN, UAC in 2024" . UNA Athletics. September 9, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "2023 North Alabama Football Record Book" (PDF) . UNA Athletics. August 16, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "2024 North Alabama Lions Football Schedule" . FB Schedules.com. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "Football releases 2024 schedule, beginning with FCS Kickoff on August 24" . UNA Athletics. Retrieved March 1, 2024 .
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