Jacksonville State Gamecocks: 2026 offense preview — position by position

Charles Kelly's Gamecocks must replace the FBS rushing leader, three starting offensive linemen and their every-down tight end — with a first-year offensive coordinator calling the plays and a dual-threat quarterback who is the most important player on the roster.

Analysis reflects preseason roster evaluation and early fall camp reporting. Position battles are ongoing. Check back for updates as camp continues.

Conference: Conference USA

Head coach: Charles Kelly (Year 2)

Offensive coordinator: Taylor Housewright (Year 1 as OC at JSU; promoted from tight ends coach)

2025 record: 9-5 (7-1 CUSA); CUSA Championship Game; Veterans Bowl W vs. Troy

Key 2025 offensive numbers: 28.1 ppg, 246.8 rush ypg, 162.0 pass ypg; five offensive starters return

THE PICTURE

Jacksonville State went 9-5 in Charles Kelly's first season — 7-1 in Conference USA, a championship game appearance against Kennesaw State and a bowl victory over Troy that reclaimed the Ol' School Bell for the first time since 1990. Nine wins with a roster of 46 inherited players when Rich Rodriguez left. The floor was supposed to be lower.

The floor held because of Cam Cook and Caden Creel. Cook led every FBS rusher with 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning Conference USA MVP. Creel accounted for 2,590 total yards and 16 touchdowns after taking over the starting job in October. Together, they powered an offense that averaged 408.8 yards and 28.1 points per game.

Cook is now at West Virginia. That is the headline. Three starting offensive linemen followed him out to Power 4 programs — the entire right side of the line is gone. Brock Rechsteiner, the reliable possession receiver who caught 36 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns, graduated. Caleb Coombs, who quietly led the team in receptions alongside Cook with 37 catches, graduated. Pearson Baldwin, the every-down tight end whose blocking anchored Cook's record-breaking rushing season, graduated. In all, the Gamecocks lost nearly 74 percent of their receiving production. Five offensive starters return. Nine are gone.

Kelly promoted Taylor Housewright from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator. Housewright ran the offense at Montana State, where his 2023 offense ranked second nationally in scoring and rushing. The philosophy stays: run to win, throw to score. The question is who runs, and behind what line.

At media day, Kelly framed the challenge in terms of what comes back — not what left.

"The one thing I am excited about is we've got Luke back, our center. The two guys that touch the ball every play, you got both those guys back on offense — your center and your quarterback." — Charles Kelly

Five practices into fall camp, Kelly assessed the early returns with bluntness.

"We've got some talent. But unless we learn to do it consistent and learn how to sustain it, it won't matter. Talent doesn't win games. There's a bunch of teams in this country that has talent and but what we got to do is keep doing the learning how to do the little things, the boring detail things." — Charles Kelly

The Gamecocks open at North Dakota State's Fargodome — a rematch from the FCS era, back when Eli Jenkins and Carson Wentz staged their own version of this rivalry. The questions up front and in the backfield will get answered there.

QUARTERBACK

Caden Creel | R-Jr. | 6-0, 200 | 130-211 (61.6%), 1,514 pass yds, 9 TD, 4 INT; 183 att, 1,076 rush yds (5.9 avg), 7 rush TD

Jack Moran | R-Fr. | 6-5, 225 | Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey; ~4,500 yds, 47 TD as HS senior

What we know:

Creel is the unquestioned starter. He started the final nine games of 2025 after supplanting Gavin Wimsatt and accounted for 2,590 total yards and 16 touchdowns. His 1,076 rushing yards put him in rare company — few quarterbacks at any level crack 1,000 on the ground while throwing for 1,500-plus. At the spring game, he went 7 of 12 for 169 yards and two touchdowns — a 74-yard strike to Darius Cannon and a 55-yard score to Bryson Rouillier — the kind of downfield accuracy this offense needs more of.

The next step is refining the passing game. His 61.6 percent completion rate and 9-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio are adequate, not dominant. In the CUSA Championship loss to Kennesaw State, Creel rushed for 112 yards but went 12 of 21 for 96 yards with an interception. His legs put the Gamecocks ahead late. His arm could not keep them there.

Five practices into fall camp, Kelly had a pointed assessment of the early throwing.

"I felt like we had too many balls on the ground throwing the football. It's not a question about ability, too casual and what we're trying to get accomplished. And you can't be casual in this game." — Charles Kelly

Moran is the interesting name behind him. He won the Gatorade Player of the Year award in New Jersey, threw for approximately 4,500 yards and 47 touchdowns as a high school senior and has the frame (6-5, 225) and arm talent to develop into a future starter. He is a different style — more pocket passer than runner.

What they said at media days:

"This offseason, I've challenged him to learn to be a quarterback. We know he's an athlete and can do all those things, and that's part of his game. But there's a time and place when you need to scramble, when you need to make a throw, take one under the chin, when you need to throw it away, and in some instances when you need to take a sack." — Taylor Housewright

"The confidence just comes from the reps at practice and my confidence in my teammates to just go out there and do their job and me to put the ball in the right place so that we can succeed." — Caden Creel

The question: Can Creel develop enough as a passer to keep defenses honest when they load the box to stop him on the ground?

RUNNING BACK

Khristian Lando | R-So. | 6-1, 205 | 51 att, 201 yds (3.9 avg), 1 TD; led the room in the bowl game

Justus Savage | R-So. | 5-10, 205 | Originally signed with Indiana before flipping to JSU

Andrew Paul | R-Sr. | 6-0, 220 | Georgia transfer; short-yardage role

Jalen Likely | R-So. | 5-8, 190 | Carried the ball in the bowl game

Maurice Winston | Fr. | 5-10, 180 | Randolph County HS (Wedowee, Ala.); has flashed in camp

What we know:

Cook led every FBS rusher with 1,659 yards on 295 carries, caught 37 passes for 286 yards and handled 74 percent of the running back attempts. He produced 1,945 yards from scrimmage — an every-down workload that no single back in this room replaces. This will be a committee.

Lando is the projected lead back. He took the lead-back reps in spring and led the room in the bowl game when Cook was unavailable, but 51 carries and 201 yards at 3.9 per attempt is a thin resume for a featured role. Thomas Ashworth of al.com described him as versatile — able to score from distance or pick up a first down on third and short — and noted he is from Cartersville, Georgia, the same high school that produced Trevor Lawrence. Lando can also contribute in the passing game.

Paul brings a different dimension. The Georgia transfer has been at Jacksonville State for two seasons now and projects as the short-yardage option. Savage originally signed with Indiana before flipping to Jacksonville State and has been waiting for his opportunity. Likely carried the ball in the bowl game and provides additional depth.

Winston, a true freshman from Randolph County High School in Wedowee, Alabama, has drawn attention in camp. Kelly sees a gift.

"Mo has a gift because he's extremely fast. The two things you can't coach is size and speed. And he has speed. He can really run. Now, how he processes everything — playing running back, there's a lot of other things that you got to do besides run and catch the football. You got to be able to pick up the blitz. You got to be able to recognize defenses. Things move a lot faster for these young players." — Charles Kelly

Kelly described the room at media day as genuinely open.

"Our running back room is really deep. If you had to press me, all those guys are pretty even right now. All of them have redeeming qualities." — Charles Kelly

The question: Can a committee whose members combined for 100 carries and 438 yards last season produce enough to keep defenses from loading up against Creel?

WIDE RECEIVER

Deondre Johnson | R-Jr. | 6-8, 220 | 30 rec, 724 yds (24.1 avg), 6 TD; No. 1 nationally in yards per catch

Ronnel Johnson | Sr. | 6-0, 180 | Missouri State transfer; 35 rec, 463 yds, 2 TD

Dylan Gentry | R-So. | 5-9, 160 | Auburn transfer; slot receiver

Darius Cannon | R-Fr. | 5-9, 180 | Murray State transfer; 74-yd TD from Creel in spring game

Franklin Baret Jr. | R-So. | 6-4, 200 | Returning; increased role expected

Rollie Pinto | Fr. | 6-0, 200 | Piedmont, Ala.; early enrollee; competed well in camp

What we know:

Johnson's 24.1 yards per catch ranked No. 1 nationally. At 6-8 with deep speed, he is a matchup problem no Conference USA corner can solve with single coverage. During the final seven games, he caught 25 passes for 651 yards and all six touchdowns — a stretch that turned him from an intriguing athlete into a legitimate weapon. He caught six passes for 101 yards in the bowl win over Troy.

The depth behind him changed significantly over the offseason. Rechsteiner, who caught 36 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns as the reliable No. 2, graduated. Caleb Coombs, who quietly caught 37 passes for 277 yards, graduated. Michael Pettway departed. Combined with Baldwin's graduation at tight end and Cook's transfer, the Gamecocks lost 144 of their 195 receptions from 2025 — nearly 74 percent of the receiving production walked out the door.

Ronnel Johnson has drawn praise since arriving from Missouri State, where he caught 35 passes for 463 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly singled him out at media day as a newcomer who has "done some very good things."

Gentry, an Auburn transfer from Central Phenix City, projects to fill the vacated slot role. He had catches in the bowl game and brings familiarity with Kelly from the Auburn connection. Ashworth named him the offensive breakout pick for the season. Cannon flashed big-play ability in the spring game with the 74-yard touchdown from Creel. Baret is a 6-4 target in his second year who should see an expanded role.

Pinto, a true freshman from Piedmont, Alabama, has competed well in camp.

"Rollie's a great competitor. He flashes to me when I see him going through drills, when I see him in the weight room. I think it's too early to tell right now because we haven't gotten out there, not a lot of collisions. But you do see the intangibles that he brings with his discipline, his toughness, his competitiveness. We're looking for competitors and he's shown that in what we've done so far." — Charles Kelly

"The receiver position has had a lot of competition. That's when you feel good as a coach is when you go into the season and you got competition at those positions. Because if you can't compete in fall camp, no way you can compete during the season." — Charles Kelly

The question: Johnson is the clear No. 1 — who emerges as the complementary piece behind him?

TIGHT END

David Alpers III | Sr. | 6-6, 240 | South Dakota State transfer; 164 yds, 1 TD in 2024 at SDSU

Kam Bell | R-Jr. | 6-4, 230 | Returning; also contributes on kickoffs

Luke Gilbert | So. | 6-3, 215 | Returning; special teams value

What we know:

Baldwin departed after logging 26 receptions, 302 yards and two touchdowns in 2025 — and his blocking was arguably as valuable as his receiving. He was the anchor up front during Cook's record-breaking rushing season. His every-down reliability as both a run-game blocker and a receiving target over the middle set the standard for this room.

Alpers is the newcomer expected to fill the role. At 6-6, 240, he has the frame for Housewright's run-first system and showed pass-catching ability at South Dakota State. Whether he can replicate Baldwin's every-down value is an open question this early. Bell and Gilbert provide depth and contribute on special teams.

Housewright was the tight ends coach in 2025 before his promotion to offensive coordinator. He knows this room better than any other position group on the roster and understands exactly what Baldwin's departure means for the run game.

The question: Can Alpers replace Baldwin's production as both a blocker and a receiving threat — and how much does losing the every-down tight end affect a run-first offense?

OFFENSIVE LINE

Lucas Mrachkovskiy | R-So. | 6-2, 295 | Starting center; ~1,000 snaps, 13 starts as R-Fr. in 2025; walk-on

Jeremiah Orr | R-Sr. | 6-5, 325 | Starting tackle; returning from early-season injury

Lance Johnson | So. | 6-4, 290 | Played significant football as a freshman; "extremely talented"

Caleb Holmes | Fr. | 6-3, 300 | Transfer from Pittsburgh; highest-rated incoming transfer

Ryan Walker | Jr. | 6-3, 285 | North Alabama transfer; Phil Steele Freshman All-American at FCS level

Amarii Atchison | R-Jr. | 6-8, 300 | Transfer from Mercer

Cam Stancil | R-Jr. | 6-4, 300 | Transfer from Murray State

What we know:

Three starters departed for Power 4 programs — the entire right side of the line is gone. That level of turnover would panic most programs. Jacksonville State responded by bringing in seven offensive line transfers and leaning on the two pieces that matter most: the center and the quarterback.

Mrachkovskiy logged roughly 1,000 snaps and 13 starts as a redshirt freshman walk-on from St. Clair County — between Birmingham and Jacksonville. He is the starting center and one of the most experienced players on the offense.

"I've always looked at it — people talk about the tackle position being the most important in the NFL, but I think in college the center position is. In the NFL, it's a passing game. In college, you're running the ball. You're doing a little bit of everything. So the center's kind of got to be the quarterback of the crew up front. Having experience there helps." — Taylor Housewright

"To be honest, I was a little nervous going in at UCF. First time I ever snapped the ball in a football game. ... I saw a lot of growth. Watching film, you see it." — Lucas Mrachkovskiy

Orr started at tackle but went down early in the season with an injury. He is back and, per Kelly, "looks really good." Johnson played significant football as a freshman. Kelly called him "extremely talented" and noted he has "grown a lot in the offseason." Nate Smith and J.R. Jernigan also played in critical games and critical situations last season.

The portal additions bring experience. Holmes, the highest-rated incoming transfer on the roster, arrived from Pittsburgh. Walker earned Phil Steele Freshman All-American honors at North Alabama. Atchison and Stancil played meaningful snaps at Mercer and Murray State.

Kelly framed the portal approach at media day.

"The guys we brought in the portal — we brought guys that had production that have played. Amarii Atchison played at Mercer. He lined up and blocked the guys at Auburn in one of their last games last year. Cam Stancil played at Murray State last year, played a lot of football for them. The guys that we did bring in have experience, and I think that eliminates a little bit of that unknown." — Charles Kelly

The talent infusion is real, but cohesion is the variable. Experience at other programs is not the same as chemistry in this system.

"A lot of things around college football have changed with NIL and recruiting and media and all those things, but the game of football hasn't. It's about the O-line and the physicality. You look at these teams across the country that surprise you that no one knew were going to be good — the people that get the credit are the quarterback and the skilled players, but I bet if you went and did a dive, up front is where they're really dominating." — Taylor Housewright

The question: Seven new offensive linemen is a massive infusion of talent — but can they gel into a cohesive unit by Week Zero at North Dakota State's Fargodome?

OFFENSIVE IDENTITY

Kelly's philosophy is four words: "Run to win, throw to score." Housewright's 2023 Montana State offense ranked second nationally in both scoring and rushing. The system is built on a physical ground game and play-action off the run — and the question is whether that identity holds when the 1,659-yard rusher who made it work is now at West Virginia. The run/pass split tells the story: 651 rushing attempts to 328 passes in 2025, nearly a 2-to-1 ratio, with 32 rushing touchdowns and 13 through the air.

"I feel like we have a group of great kids who care a lot. They understand how to work, which ultimately comes from our head coach. I don't think you'd be able to make it here if you didn't know how to work, which makes it fun as a coach." — Taylor Housewright

Breakout pick: Dylan Gentry, WR. The Auburn transfer from Central Phenix City slots into the vacated receiver role that opened with graduations. Ashworth of al.com named him the offensive breakout pick for the season, citing his familiarity with Kelly from the Auburn connection and the opportunity in front of him.

The bottom line: This offense runs through Caden Creel. His 2,590 total yards and 16 touchdowns made Jacksonville State's 2025 season possible, and his workload will only increase with Cook gone. If the offensive line — anchored by a center with 1,000 snaps of experience and reinforced by seven portal additions — can create lanes for the running back committee, this unit has the ceiling to match last year's production. If the run game stalls, Creel will be asked to do too much, and that is where seasons break.