Large freshman class to feature several starters for Gators

The 2024 Allegheny Gators football team features plenty of new faces, but the goal is still the same for second-year head coach Braden Layer.

Allegheny’s finished 3-7 for three straight seasons and hasn’t had a winning record since 2018. If this season goes according to plan for Layer, the Gators will stack wins.

“Nothing changes as far as our mentality of taking it one week at a time. What we want is to play meaningful football in November,” Layer said. “The simplest goal is, ‘Can we play games in November that really matter.’ The approach is, ‘Is Week 11 in our future or not?’”

Last year’s Gators didn’t win a lot of games, but they were more competitive than prior years. Three of the team’s losses were by one possession, and the Gators hung around with highly-rated Carnegie Mellon and conference force Westminster.

Being in games isn’t what Layer is after this season.

“We set a pretty aggressive goal with the guys that getting close is no longer good enough. I think for a lot of the guys that have played a few years here, last year was really nice to get to play some meaningful snaps in the fourth quarter. Especially against some top competitors in the conference,” Layer said. “But that’s not why anyone came here, and that’s not why we’re here as a staff. I would like to see us be able to turn the corner in those close games and turn those losses into wins.

“The expectation for us is to be able to compete and win more games than we lose year in and year out.”

If Allegheny is going to finish above .500 this season, the Gators will need some newcomers and first-year starters to excel.

There are a couple of question marks on the offensive side of the ball. It will be the first season since before the pandemic that Jack Johnson isn’t starting at quarterback. Johnson finished his career with 6,786 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and 31 interceptions with a 59 percent completion percentage. He ranks third in career passing yards and sixth in passing touchdowns.

Layer has not named a starting quarterback yet, but either Trevor Brncic or Christian Coudriet will get the keys to the offense. Brncic attempted 78 total passes in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but only one last year. He is also the starting punter.

Coudriet is a junior and a transfer from Division II Clarion. He’s a native of St. Marys and was an all-state quarterback for the Flying Dutchmen.

“It’s an open competition right now. Trevor has played in some games here, some meaningful games as well. We need someone to be consistent day in and day out,” Layer said. “I think what we’ve had through two weeks of camp is somebody step up for two really good days then another individual step up for the following day.

“Christian is the second guy, a transfer from Clarion. It’s kinda coming down to those two. Each possess a unique skill set, but at the end of the day, they’re judged on their ability to help us put points on the board.”

The running back and wide receiver rooms will also look different. Tre Worship and Kyrie Miller combined for 200 carries last season. The top returner is senior Christian Bolden, who logged nine carries in 2023.

Declan O’Brien caught 91 passes for 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall to set school records for catches, yards and single-game records for catches (18) and yards (223). O’Brien transferred to Division I Delaware for his fifth-year option.

Returning pass catchers include tight end Austin Williams (55 catches) and Ian Durci (37 catches). Transfer Chris Gisewhite, from Sul Ross University in Texas, should also see the ball this season, Layer said.

“It’s gonna be a way different looking offense, it really is. Instead of trying to put him (O’Brien) in 11 different locations on offense, we’re able to get the ball to a lot of different guys,” Layer said. “There is less pressure on one guy, and it will be an offense-by-committee approach. I am also excited about where our running back group is at.

“We have a stable of guys, four or five, that can play in a game. Instead of last year, where we stretched one or two guys over 10 weeks.”

Returning starters on the offensive line are Carson Messemer, Keller Liptrap and Hunter Palmisano. Layer expects freshmen Michael Ponziani and Keygan Johnson to play a lot of snaps on the line as well.

Allegheny’s defense could be the team’s strength this season. Nose tackle Nigel Williams returns for his fifth year, as does linebacker Zach Altenbaugh. Other returning linebackers are Fletcher Hammond, Azary Matsuda and Malcolm Denomme. Transfer Coltin Colucci, from Division II Seton Hill, will also battle for playing time.

“We are fast at the second level. We can cover a lot of ground,” Layer said. “We need to stay healthy, but we have size and speed on defense.”

Joining Williams on the defensive line will be freshmen Jerome Williams and Dylan Franklin. Josh Salisbury returns after recording four sacks last season and an interception at defensive end.

The secondary will feature returning starting safeties Samuel Caito and Vital Joseph. David Babb is back at cornerback while Layer will look to a freshman to man the other corner position.

“Elisah Banks is a freshman from Nevada. Boy am I glad he is here,” Layer said. “He’s basically started since day three of camp. He is long, rangey and can make a ton of plays on the ball.”

Allegheny opens the season on the road at Bethany before a two-game home stand against Saint Vincent and Westminster. The Gators will play at No. 11 Grove City on Sept. 28 before hosting Case Western Reserve on Oct. 5 for ERIEBANK Community Day. The Gators will travel to Thiel and Geneva, host Waynesburg, play at No. 22 Carnegie Mellon and host Washington & Jefferson on senior day to conclude the season on Nov. 16.