When Jamey Chadwell left his post at Coastal Carolina for Liberty, an exaggerated drop-off was expected for the Chanticleers after a 31-6 record for the program from 2020-2022. Tim Beck filled Chadwell’s vacancy and swooped in to save the season, guiding Coastal to a respectable 8-5 finish in his first campaign in Conway.
Looking to capitalize on a fourth consecutive winning season, who are the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers’ top 10 returners in 2024?
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Top 10 Returners in 2024
Analyzing the returning players at every school is a difficult task in the transfer portal era. As such, we’ve included transfer-portal athletes that were included on each team’s roster page to open fall camp in addition to the rostered players from last year.
10) Will Whitson, DL
After spending his first three seasons at Independence Community College, Will Whiston brought his 6’5″, 285-pound frame to Conway in 2023. He appeared in all 13 games with one start, registering 42 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks.
9) Tobias Fletcher, S
A true senior who has played at least 12 games in each of his three seasons with Coastal, Tobias Fletcher has 16 starts at safety over the last two seasons. He has 106 career tackles, including 36 last season, to go with two interceptions and eight pass defenses.
8) Jameson Tucker, WR
After not recording a reception during his first two seasons on the Chanticleers, Jameson Tucker finally broke into the rotation and saw his role increase in 2023. He caught 20 passes for 423 yards and three scores, averaging a whopping 21.2 yards per reception.
7) Kendall Karr, TE
Transferring from North Carolina before last season, Kendall Karr emerged as a serviceable security blanket on offense during his first season on the teal turf. He brought in 23 catches for 239 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 10.4 yards per catch.
6) Shane Bruce, LB
Shane Bruce has been a solid starter for the Chanticleers defense the last two seasons, earning a 2022 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention. With 121 career tackles, Bruce brought down 52 ball carriers last season, along with five pass defenses, two fumble recoveries, and a pick.
5) Juan Powell, DB
A three-year starter at East Carolina (2020-2022), Juan Powell made his mark in the Chanticleers’ defensive backfield in his first season in Conway. Across 11 games with 10 starts, Powell nabbed 55 tackles and five for tackles loss with six pass defenses and a forced fumble.
4) Braydon Bennett, RB
Braydon Bennett was a 2021 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention as a redshirt freshman before missing most of the 2022 season with an injury. He came back last season and led the team in rushing with 407 yards and five scores while splitting time with CJ Beasley. With Beasley transferring to Georgia Southern, expect Bennett’s carries to increase in 2024.
3) Nick Del Grande, LT
After taking a redshirt his true freshman season in 2022, Nick Del Grande took over the starting duties at left tackle at Coastal in 2023. Listed at 6’4″, 300 pounds, Del Grande was key to the Chanticleers’ clean backfield (24th in sacks allowed) even though he protected four different quarterbacks throughout the season.
2) Ethan Vasko, QB
It was an interesting season behind center for the Chanticleers but Ethan Vasko ended the inconsistency with a steady slate of wins over the last quarter of the schedule. Appearing in eight games, Vasko went 3-1 in his only four starts, the last four games of the season. He threw for 779 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception while finishing second on the team in rushing with 368 yards and two scores.
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Following three-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year Grayson McCall — who is now under center for NC State — is a tall task, but Vasko answered the call. Still, there is a quarterback battle brewing in Conway with Michigan State’s Noah Kim and North Carolina’s Tad Hudson also vying for the job.
Even so, Vasko proved what he can do on the field and that he can come in hot off the bench. He will be a factor in 2024 regardless of who wins the job in fall camp.
1) Matthew McDoom, CB
A true junior who has played significant time since he was a true freshman, Matthew McDoom is a leader of this defensive unit from the boundary at corner. He rang up 10 pass defenses last season to go along with 26 tackles. As a true freshman in 2022, he was the team’s primary kick returner, averaging 22.6 yards per return on 20 attempts, including a 95-yard touchdown.
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