By Ryan Barry
NEFJ Correspondent
The Merrimack Warriors kick-off their 2024 campaign on Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs, Colorado when they take on the Air Force Falcons of the Mountain West Conference.
With Dan Curran leaving to take the Holy Cross job, new head coach Mike Gennetti leads the program after 19 seasons as an assistant in North Andover.
Gennetti takes over a program that begins play as an FCS independent, with the Warriors having left the Northeast Conference after joining in 2019 when they jumped from Division II.
Amidst a host of transitions, you’d think the Warriors would face mountains of uncertainty, but the stable presence of Gennetti and commitment from the school in football makes this upcoming season at Duane Stadium massively intriguing.
2023 Recap
The Warriors had a slow start out the gate going just 1-3, with their lone win coming against Virginia University of Lynchburg, a Division II program. A 3-1 record through the end of October got themselves back to .500 to inject confidence back into a squad that was picked second in the Northeast Conference preseason poll.
With an impressive ten point loss to UMass under their belts, the Warriors went 1-1 down the stretch in conference play to set themselves up for a chance to win the conference title and earn a berth into the FCS playoffs.
Despite hosting Duquesne at home in a must win game, the Warriors fell 26-14 to the Dukes and finished the season 5-6 on the outside looking in.
Offensive Preview
Quarterbacks
Gennetti is fortunate to enter the season with a stable of quarterbacks who offer his team different looks.
Junior Gavin McCusker (38 for 88, 474 yards, one touchdown, one interception) led the team in reps back in the spring and was the starter in 2023 before going down with an injury that ultimately derailed much of his season.
Senior Malakai Anthony (49 for 101, 765 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions) stepped in and provided a spark, especially with his feet, giving the Warriors a mobile option to complement their running game.
It remains to be seen who Gennetti goes with to start the season, with Maine transfer Ayden Pereira also possibly in the mix.
Anthony with another year under his belt offers athleticism that no other quarterback has, so given his run of starts at the end of 2023, he could be the leading man.
Running Backs
The transfer of lead rusher Tyvon Edmonds Jr. to Robert Morris would’ve definitely been a blow if not for the arrival of senior transfer Jermaine Corbett from Stonehill.
In two seasons for the Skyhawks he compiled a whopping 1,659 yards and 18 touchdowns, adding another 281 yards and a touchdown receiving.
His addition should help keep the Warriors in step with the dynamic rushing attack they had in 2023.
Sophomore Brendon Wyatt (56 carries, 295 yards, two touchdowns) will complement Corbett and hope to improve on his solid rookie debut.
Sophomore Matthias Latham, a local product out of Central Catholic, didn’t see much action last season, but figures to compete alongside a group that features several other underclassmen.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Junior wide receiver Donovan Wadley (26 receptions, 471 yards, five touchdowns) returns as the Warriors leading receiver and one of their most dynamic playmakers.
His speed and athleticism are a constant threat for big plays in both deep and short yardage situations.
Senior Jelani Mason (17 receptions, 249 yards) and sophomore Seth Sweitzer (15 receptions, 222 yards, three touchdowns) both return as the second and third leading receivers from 2023 hoping to make a more consistent impact.
Senior LJ Robinson (nine receptions, 158 yards, one touchdown) and sophomore Jalen McDonald (three receptions, 57 yards, one touchdown), whose season was cut short to injury, round out the return of last year’s top five leading pass catchers, making this one of the more experienced groups on the team.
The Warriors tight end room doesn’t have a single player returning that made more than one catch in 2023.
Senior Luke Kelleher and sophomore George Percy, who play in a tight end/h-back role, will compete with sophomore Kyle Doney and freshman Cade Callahan to try and make a bigger impact than the position had last season.
Offensive Line
The Warriors return a few talented players from last season’s offensive line.
The most important of the bunch is graduate Cole Birdow who initially put his name in the transfer portal, and despite offers from several FCS schools, decided to stay in North Andover.
Juniors AJ Urbaniak and Joey Trainor played most of last season and will feature heavily in this year’s starting core. A huge get out of the transfer portal, both figuratively and literally, is senior Keith Szczepanski out of Valparaiso. At 6’7″ and 325 lbs, he figures to come in and start right away.
The Warriors will need juniors Beau Lanzidelle and Nolan Gunning to step in to play more minutes this season, along with sophomores Brandon Smith and Amir Johnson.
With eight freshmen coming to campus, Ginnetti will want to develop a core he can rely on in the future.
Defensive Preview
Defensive Line
The Warriors were up and down last season defensively with some truly outstanding performances, along with ones they’d rather forget.
Losing Chiebuka Aduaka to UAlbany, last year’s leader in sacks, will be difficult to replace. Senior defensive linemen Brandon Roberts (3.0 sacks) and Jay Thompson (3.0 sacks) were tied for second behind Aduaka, so getting them to take that final step in their last year will be crucial.
Fellow seniors Nicholas Lenon, Tyler Leavy, and Malek Sabri, along with junior Jason Compoh round out this experienced bunch to provide depth along the line as well.
Linebackers
Redshirt sophomore DJ Frazier was the Warriors leading tackler with 53 total tackles in 2023, and returns to anchor a fairly young core of players in Gennetti’s first year.
Senior transfer Marc Christian-Georges arrives from Stonehill to provide much needed support and veteran experience alongside Frazier. Juniors Kendal Sims and Mike Johnson should also see expanded roles, along with redshirt sophomore Rajahn Cooper
There will be plenty of opportunities for underclassmen to step in and try and expand their roles.
Defensive Backs
Senior Donte Williams returns to anchor the safety group after finishing second on the team with 36 total tackles last season. Redshirt sophomore Danny Simms lines up next to Williams hoping to expand on his role.
One of the biggest impact returnees is senior Tre Jordan III who had three interceptions last season. Junior transfer Jabari Echols arrives from Maine looking to provide cover to fellow junior Garry Rosemond Jr.
Seniors Deon Houston, Grant Jackson, and Josh Addo combined for seven pass break-ups last season and will look to end their careers in North Andover on a high note.
Special Teams Preview
Senior Lliam Davis returns at kicker after going 10 for 14 in field goals last season, including an impressive four of five between 40 and 49 yards.
Fellow senior Cole Peterson should assume punting duties after 67 punts last year with 23 landing inside the 20 yard line.
A huge weapon for the Warriors will be Wadley at kick returner, who brought back three for touchdowns last season and averaged 37.94 per return.
Game-by-Game Prediction
Away @ Air Force
Date: Saturday, August 31st
SP+ FBS Ranking: 88
2023 Record: 9-4
Prediction: Loss
Credit to the Warriors for playing in arguably their biggest away game in program history, but the Falcons should win this one fairly easily being a Mountain West favorite. Between both teams running the ball so much though, this game could be over before you can say “Wild Blue Yonder.”
Away @ UConn
Date: Saturday, September 7th
SP+ FBS Ranking: 125
2023 Record: 3-9
Prediction: Loss
A week after playing their biggest away game in program history, the Warriors will play their biggest away game in program history within New England. Again, another loss will be on deck, but it’ll be great to see them at Pratt & Whitney Stadium.
Away @ Bucknell
Date: Saturday, September 14th
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 4-7
Prediction: Win
The Bison were picked to finish last in the Patriot League after a rough 2023. The Warriors finally get an opponent more their speed and get the job done in Pennsylvania.
Home vs. Maine
Date: Saturday, September 21st
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 2-9
Prediction: Loss
The Black Bears will be the first CAA team to ever visit North Andover, making this one of the more interesting match-ups on the calendar. Maine has just enough overall talent to take out the Warriors, but this game should be close.
Home vs. Dartmouth
Date: Saturday, September 28th
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 6-4
Prediction: Loss
Just a week after their first CAA visitor to Duane Stadium, the Warriors take on the Dartmouth Big Green of the Ivy League at home. This could be argued as being a bigger feat of scheduling, simply because of the Ivy status. While the game will be cool, the Warriors won’t have enough to trim these hedges.
Away @ Morgan State
Date: Saturday, October 12th
FCS Preseason Ranking:
2023 Record: 4-6
Prediction: Loss
This is a tough one to predict. The Warriors should have enough talent to take down the Bears, but it’s difficult to tell, especially being an away game. I lean Morgan State, but it’s a toss up.
Home vs. Stonehill
Date: Saturday, October 19th
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 5-5
Prediction: Win
This was a thrilling NEC game last season that saw the Warriors walk away winners. I think Corbett has a big game and takes down his former team.
Home vs. Colgate
Date: Saturday, October 26th
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 6-5
Prediction: Loss
The Red Raiders got better as last season went on, and as much as I like this game being at Duane Stadium, I think Colgate has a well-rounded team that is set to be competitive in the Patriot League.
Away @ Robert Morris
Date: Saturday, November 2nd
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 4-7
Prediction: Win
The Warriors will be looking for revenge on former running back Edmonds Jr. and pick up a win. RMU have made a few solid additions in their move to the NEC to replace Merrimack, but they should have enough to get the road win.
Home vs. Sacred Heart
Date: Saturday, November 16th
FCS Preseason Ranking: Not ranked
2023 Record: 2-9
Prediction: Win
The game, which will play for the resurrected “Yankee Conference Championship,” should be a win for the Warriors. Both teams may not have a conference anymore, but the Warriors have much more to offer overall.
Away @ Fordham
Date: Saturday, November 23rd
FCS Preseason Ranking: Others Receiving Votes
2023 Record: 6-5
Prediction: Loss
The Rams might be needing this win to help solidify their case to make the FCS playoffs, so they can’t afford to lose what they may view as a “softer” opponent this late in the season. The Warriors can play spoiler, but might not have enough to do it.
Final Season Record Prediction: 4-7
The Warriors are one of the trickier teams to predict coming into this season. Perhaps if they still were in the NEC I’d feel more confident about their odds, especially with games against opponents who were more consistent with their profile. Two buy games against FBS schools, along with two home games against distinguished FCS-level conferences, certainly make it hard to instill confidence in a winning season. Ultimately, what makes this hardest to predict is who the starting quarterback will be. Even if Ginnetti names Anthony or McCusker, there are strengths and drawbacks to each of their games. Neither have fully shown to be the number one option, leaving so much to doubt over who grew the most this offseason to lead the team. With talent returning to the skill positions and some consistency at key spots on defense, they could absolutely find themselves at five or six wins. With so much to be seen, we’ll start at four until we know more.