Charlotte 49ers Top 10 Returning Players in 2024 Include Max Brown, Dontae Balfour

The picks are in the dirt as the Charlotte 49ers are looking to mine a few more wins in the 2024 campaign.

With major roster turnover in the second year under Biff Poggi, the 49ers are looking to improve drastically on a 3-9 campaign in 2023.

Get those sleeves off as we find out who are the top 10 returning players for the 49ers.

Charlotte 49ers 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) Jordan Moko, Offensive Line

The Beast of Brisbane is a transfer pickup through the portal from Texas A&M, where he played in nine games with three starts over his career with the Aggies. Before that, the converted rugby player spent a year at Snow College learning how to play a different sport than his native rugby.

Jordan Moko is a phenomenal athlete and a terrific pickup for coach Poggi and his crew. He still has two years of eligibility, but don’t be surprised if Moko makes the kind of waves early on that could lead NFL scouts to take a major interest. He’s primed for a breakout season.

9) Colin Weber, Tight End

At 6’4″ and 255 pounds, Colin Weber is the kind of versatile tight end that is all the rage these days in football. He was a preseason All-AAC Third Team selection by College Football Network and has played in 22 games since joining the 49ers.

Weber’s 34 receptions and 360 yards were a big boost to the offense for Charlotte. He should be an integral part moving forward after averaging a first down for every reception, and quarterback Max Brown will love the size that Weber provides as a target.

8) Demon Clowney, Defensive End

Demon Clowney started five games last season but played in all 12 and had a respectable 33 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, alongside four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

Clowney will step into his role on the edge as an experienced leader for 2024, which will be needed for a program that has experienced a heavy amount of turnover since coach Poggi took over.

At 6’4″ and 255 pounds, Clowney should have plenty of size to help Charlotte defend the edge.

7) Jonny Hassard, Offensive Line

Another newcomer from UMass, where Jonny Hassard was an All-Independent Honorable Mention in 2023 via the College Football Network. He’s been reliable, starting all 12 games in two of his four seasons with UMass.

Hassard brings size and experience to a group in Charlotte that clearly wants to be the biggest on the field. At 6’6″ and 310 pounds, Hassard projects well as a tackle and should be able to adapt to the rush ends in the AAC with aplomb as he returns home to his native state of North Carolina.

6) Prince Wallace-Bemah, Linebacker

Prunce Wallasce-Bemah racked up several preseason honors as he returned for another year with Charlotte. In 2023, he charted 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks and played one of his best games against Florida, where he tallied nine tackles.

The 6’2″ and 230-pound Wallace-Bemah brings a hard-hitting mentality to the 49ers’ defense, and having been in the program since 2019, Bemah will have lots of experience to help balance out the newcomers to the program and provide some leadership.

5) Jairus Mack, Wide Receiver

The speedy Jarius Mack played in 11 games for Charlotte and started seven of those. He produced 32 receptions and 541 yards to lead the offense in receiving yards. His 18.1 yards per reception make him a valuable asset if the 49ers’ offense can find more ways to get him the ball.

Mack doesn’t flash enormous size at the wideout position, but he does have elite speed and vision, which makes him extremely dangerous in open space.

If Mack and Max Brown can develop a rhythm, he could be a great deep weapon for Charlotte.

4) Cartevious Norton, Running Back

A bruiser of a back at nearly 6’0″ and 225 pounds, the transfer from Iowa State comes to Charlotte with 655 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his career.

Cartevious Norton is a beefy running back with great feet, and even though he has massive size for the position, he has great feet and can be a nimble runner when necessary.

Norton will need to develop the conditioning to be an every-snap runner, but the tools are there.

3) Stone Handy, Defensive End

Stone Handy has the kind of frame that teams covet these days at the linebacker position, standing at 6’5″ and weighing 240 pounds. He was a third-team All-AAC selection by College Football Network.

MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor

In his redshirt junior season, Handy racked up 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks while also adding a quarterback hurry in just five starts for the 49ers. His development could be key in helping lift the 49ers out of the bottom half of the defensive rankings.

2) Max Brown, Quarterback

Max Brown played two seasons at Florida before transferring to Charlotte as a redshirt sophomore; the Oklahoma native played in six games for the Gators with one start, totaling 19 completions for 192 yards in spot duty behind Graham Mertz.

Brown had a rocky career at Florida but showed some flashes in the game against Missouri.

Brown has had plenty of time to learn the game from the sideline, but he needs time on the field to develop and showcase the physical gifts that made him a top prospect. Early games against James Madison and North Carolina will certainly speed up that timeline.

1) Dontae Balfour, Defensive Back

If there was a preseason list, Balfour is likely on it. He was a First-Team All-AAC selection by College Football Network and for good reason. The junior defensive back was lights out in his 2023 campaign.

Balfour was fourth on the team in tackles with 54 and had one tackle for loss, while adding two forced fumbles, a recovery and an interception. The former North Carolina Tar Heel also added 12 pass breakups and was a major piece of a now revamped defense for Charlotte.

College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!