2024 Rhode Island Rams football team explained

The 2024 Rhode Island Rams football team represents the University of Rhode Island as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA Football) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Rams are led by 11th-year head coach Jim Fleming and play their home games at Meade Stadium.

After finishing their regular season with a 10–2 record (7–1 in CAA Football play), the Rams qualified for the NCAA postseason for the first time since 1985.^[1]

Offseason

Coaching changes

The following coaches left the program:

• Wide receivers coach Chris Bergeski left for the running backs coach position at Yale.
• Offensive line coach Eddy Morrissey left for the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach positions at Merrimack.^[2]
• Defensive backs coach Brandon Napoleon left for the safeties coach position at Jacksonville State.^[3]

The following coaches were hired:

• Walter Kusmirek was hired from New Haven to be the offensive line coach.^[4]
• Tyler Loftus was hired from UConn to be the wide receivers coach.^[5]

The following coach was promoted:

• Defensive quality control coach Henry Yianakopolos was promoted to defensive backs coach.

Transfers

Incoming

Name	Pos.	Previous school	Year
Kevin Pinherio	WR	Nichols	Sophomore
Shawn Harris	WR	UMass	Junior
Greg Gaines	WR	Iowa State	Freshman
Hunter Helms	QB	Clemson	Junior
Tyler Baker	QB	Navy	Freshman
Tremel States-Jones	S	South Alabama	Sophomore
Chase Gardi	K	Marist	Senior
Thomas Buxton	OL	Stonehill	Senior
Carson Primose	DL	Sacred Heart	Graduate Student

Outgoing

Name	Pos.	New school	Year
Hunter Hopperton	TE	Kent State[6]	Sophomore
Declan Williams	LB	Incarnate Word[7]	Sophomore
Mekhi Bethel	LB	Youngstown State	Junior
Rocco Cillino	RB	Retired	Sophomore
Randy Jordan	DB	Hampton	Junior
John Erby	WR	Duquesne	Senior
Syeed Gibbs	DB	Georgia Tech[8]	Freshman
Trevor Nored	QB	Barton[9]	Freshman
Huriel Calice	LB	Allegheny	Freshman
Matthew Osinaga	DL	Post	Sophomore
Jackson Ostrowsky	QB	Lock Haven	Junior
Kai Rose	OL	Stonehill	Sophomore

Schedule

^{[10] [11]}

Game summaries

Holy Cross

See also: 2024 Holy Cross Crusaders football team.

Statistics	HC	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Holy Cross	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Minnesota (FBS)

See also: 2024 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
Minnesota –27.5	47.5

Statistics	URI	MINN
First downs	6	27
Total yards	135	422
Rushing yards	18	116
Passing yards	117	306
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–30–3	27–34–0
Time of possession	19:28	40:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing	Devin Farrell	6/18, 76 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Devin Farrell	4 carries, 9 yards
Receiving	Marquis Buchanan	5 receptions, 64 yards
Minnesota	Passing		24/30, 271 yards, 2 TD
Rushing		14 carries, 64 yards, TD
Receiving	Elijah Spencer	4 receptions, 55 yards

Campbell

See also: 2024 Campbell Fighting Camels football team.

Statistics	CAM	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Campbell	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at LIU

See also: 2024 LIU Sharks football team.

Statistics	URI	LIU
First downs	21	20
Total yards	344	371
Rushing yards	210	174
Passing yards	134	197
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–19–0	19–32–0
Time of possession	22:38	37:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing	Hunter Helms	7/10, 90 yards
Rushing	Malik Grant	20 carries, 141 yards, 3 TD
Receiving	Greg Gaines	4 receptions, 44 yards
LIU	Passing	Luca Stanzani	16/27, 176 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Ludovick Choquette	16 carries, 70 yards
Receiving	Michael Love	6 receptions, 77 yards, TD

at Hampton

See also: 2024 Hampton Pirates football team.

Statistics	URI	HAMP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Hampton	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Brown (rivalry)

See also: 2024 Brown Bears football team and Brown–Rhode Island football rivalry.

Statistics	BRWN	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Brown	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 24 New Hampshire

See also: 2024 New Hampshire Wildcats football team.

Statistics	URI	UNH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
New Hampshire	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Maine

See also: 2024 Maine Black Bears football team.

Statistics	ME	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Maine	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Monmouth

See also: 2024 Monmouth Hawks football team.

Statistics	MON	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Monmouth	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Delaware

See also: 2024 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team.

Statistics	URI	DEL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Albany

See also: 2024 Albany Great Danes football team.

Statistics	ALB	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Albany	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Bryant

See also: 2024 Bryant Bulldogs football team.

Statistics	URI	BRY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Bryant	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Central Connecticut (NCAA Division I playoff–first round)

See also: 2024 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football team.

Statistics	CCSU	URI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 8 Mercer (NCAA Division I playoff–second round)

See also: 2024 Mercer Bears football team.

Statistics	URI	MER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Mercer	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Statistics

Team

Rhode Island 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

Rhode Island 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

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		67	730 yrds	10.9	10 TDs	38	243.3

Defense

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

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	1

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

Notes and References

1. News: With its first playoff game since 1985 coming up Saturday, URI football is on solid footing . Frank . Dell'Apa . . limited . November 29, 2024 . November 29, 2024.
2. Web site: 2024-02-05 . Football Names Morrissey Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach . 2024-02-19 . Merrimack College Athletics . en.
3. Web site: Jacksonville State football, Rich Rodriguez hire new safeties coach . 2024-02-19 . Gadsden Times . en-US.
4. Web site: 2024-01-30 . URI names Kusmirek offensive line coach . 2024-02-19 . New England Football Journal® . en-US.
5. Web site: 2024-02-20 . Yianakopolos Promoted, Loftus Returns to Rhode Island Football Staff . 2024-02-20 . University of Rhode Island . en.
6. Web site: Streetsboro's Hunter, Preston Hopperton commit to play football at Kent State . 2024-02-19 . Record-Courier . en-US.
7. Web site: McKinnell . Zach . 2023-12-19 . 2024 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker . 2024-02-19 . Sports Illustrated FCS Football News, Analysis and More . en.
8. Web site: Caudell . Jackson . 2023-12-17 . Transfer Defensive Back Syeed Gibbs Commits to Georgia Tech . 2024-02-19 . Sports Illustrated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets News, Analysis and More . en.
9. Web site: Buchinger . Erik . 2024 Transfer Portal QBs - FBS & FCS Quarterback Rankings, Entries, Commits . 2024-02-19 . www.gunslingerbuzz.com . en.
10. Web site: 2024 Rhode Island Football Schedule . 2024-02-18 . FBSchedules.com . en-US.
11. Web site: 2024 Football Schedule . 2024-02-19 . University of Rhode Island . en.