2022 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Preview

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

2021-22 Season Record 11-2 (6-2 SBC East) - 5-7-1 ATS - 6-7-0 O/U

Returning Starters

Offense - 4
Defense - 3

Overview

In 2020, Coastal Carolina returned 14 starters and were one of a very few amount of teams that were able to play nearly a full schedule and it took advantage by going 11-0 in the regular season before losing to Liberty by three points in the Cure Bowl. Last season, the Chanticleers had one of the most experienced teams in the country as they had 19 starters back and used that to their advantage, rolling to an 11-2 record with the two losses coming by just five points. Things will be quite a bit different this season as only seven starters are back and Coastal Carolina in the third most inexperienced team in the country as far as returning production. Head coach Jamey Chadwell is in his fifth season and while it is a young team, he and his staff are doing something right and will again be a force in the Sun Belt but the Chanticleers will get the best out of every opponent. 

Offense

The offense is nearly a complete rebuild but the Chanticleers have quarterback Grayson McCall to lead the unit following a sensational 2021 season. He threw for 2,558 yards with 23 touchdowns and only three interceptions and that is with missing two games for a second straight season. His TD/INT ratio is an incredible 46/5 over that span and now we will see what he is really made of. His leading returning receiver is a running back and the most productive returning receiver is Tyson Mobley with six catches for 82 yards. Braydon Bennett had 20 catches out of the backfield and he takes over the starting job after rushing for 528 yards while averaging a robust 7.8 ypc. The rushing aspect will be just fine as the offensive line, while a redo, is experienced as there was a lot of rotation and they know the system so there should not be a regression up front. 

Defense

Coastal Carolina was rock solid on defense in all aspects as they were No. 17 overall and No. 19 in points allowed but like the offense, new faces will be all over. The one weakness last season was taking the ball away as they forced only 12 turnovers, No. 112 in the nation, and law of averages should up that which is a necessity. The strength will be the defensive line headlined by tackle Josaiah Stewart who had 12.5 sacks and 43 tackles and overall, there is good size and decent depth that can again create a push. The back half of the front seven is more in trouble as the linebackers are very inexperienced and will be learning on the fly but being in the system for most of the potential starters is a plus. The secondary was also decimated with just one starter back and there is corner depth but the inside will need playmakers to step up. This is likely a unit that will fall off. 

2022 Season Outlook

For a team that has played only five seasons at this level, the last two years have been pretty amazing even though the success has mostly come in the Sun Belt. The Chanticleers were 6-18 in their first three years in the conference and have gone 14-2 over the last two seasons and while there should be fewer wins, how many is debatable. Coaching has clearly played a big part in the success and this will be the biggest challenge for Chadwell but a big fall is unlikely. Coastal Carolina opens the season with a tough game against Army, part of three straight home games before conference play begins. Three of the four conference road games are against three of the worst teams and they get Appalachian St. at home. The O/U win total is 8 and this one looks like a crapshoot as we most likely will not know this team because of the turnover until after the first month is complete. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS