Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Stetson University Athletics

Scoreboard

Tickets, donate, shop

Sport schedule
University logo on load main University logo on scroll
Football Seniors 2021
Steve Simoneau

Football Athletic Communications

Hatters Usher In New Era, Host Warner Saturday

Brian Young Debuts as Head Coach

STETSON (0-0) vs. WARNER (0-0)
Date Saturday, September 4, 2021
Location Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, DeLand, Fla.
Kickoff 6 p.m.
Tickets Buy Now |  Know Before You Go 
Broadcast ESPN+
Live Stats Live Stats
Previews GoHatters  |  News-Journal
Programs Flip Card  |  Game Notes
Social Media Twitter  |  Instagram |  Facebook


Preview: The Brian Young era officially begins Saturday evening when the Stetson Hatters host the Warner Royals to open the 2021 season.  Kickoff at Spec Martin Stadium is set for 6 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN+.  

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online at GoHatters.com/tix or at the Spec Martin Stadium ticket windows starting one hour before the game.  Stetson students are admitted free with a valid ID, while faculty and staff receive discounted pricing.  Please call (386) 738-HATS for more information.  Halftime dogs will perform and a fireworks show is scheduled for after the game.

Welcome back, coach! The Hatters have a new head coach with a familiar name. Brian Young enters his first season at the helm after having served eight seasons as defensive coordinator for the Hatters from 2012-19 under former head coach Roger Hughes. Hughes resigned last spring to accept the position of University President at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska. Young returns to Stetson after spending less than one year away as senior defensive analyst at his alma mater, Georgia Southern University.
 
Meet the coaches: Joining Brian Young on the coaching staff are six first year coaches, including receivers coach Buddy Blevins, offensive coordinator Darrell "DP" Eyman, cornerback coach John Jefferson, offensive line coach Jake Reed, safeties coach Brandon Tate and tight ends coach Trent Wessel.  Returning to the staff are defensive coordinator Steve Davis, linebackers coach Jonathan Johnson, defensive line coach Jeremy Perkovich and running backs coach Harry Richards.

About last year: The presence of COVID-19 put a suspension on the fall 2020 season, moving it to the spring of 2021. The Hatters played four games between March and April, going 0-4 in those games. For the first time since November 23, 2019, the Stetson football team will be playing a game in the fall.  In the two seasons prior to the pandemic, Stetson went a combined 15-6.

All-time series: When Stetson squares off against Warner on Saturday, the Hatters will look to keep their undefeated record against the Royals intact. Stetson has beaten Warner in all three meetings they have had since 2013, including a 31-3 win that year, followed by a 35-16 win in 2014 and 30-15 victory in 2016.

Preseason All-Conference: Four Stetson players were named to the PFL preseason all-conference team.  Redshirt junior offensive linemen Billy Corte and Antonio Derry return as first team All-PFL selections from the shortened spring season along with graduate defensive end Fermon Reid and redshirt junior kick returner Jaylon Johnson.
 
Moving the ball: Offensively, Stetson returns redshirt junior quarterback Alex Piccirilli. During last season's modified spring schedule, Piccirilli saw action in all four games and completed 55 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he ran the ball 56 times and scored three rushing touchdowns. At the receiver position, Stetson's leading returnees include Michael Carley and Jalen Mason. Carley caught 12 passes for 99 yards in the spring season, while Mason had a team-high 13 receptions for 96 yards. At running back, Jordan Younge Humphrey is Stetson's leading returnee. During the spring, he ran for 359 yards and was named to the all-conference second team.
 
Stopping the ball: The defensive side, Stetson will rely on defensive back, Rassie Littlejohn. Littlejohn had a team-high two interceptions last spring to go along with 24 total tackles. Linebacker Ethan Hull also returns to the lineup after leading the team with 38 tackles.
 
Hats Captains: Alex Brown, Michael Carley, Fermon Reid, and Bryson Richards will serve as captains for the 2021 season.
 
Coach Young on the team's focus: "Win the first ball game, hands down. We are only focusing on one game at a time. That's been our goal, and every day we are building towards that."

 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Michael Carley

#81 Michael Carley

WR
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Health Sciences
Billy Corte

#73 Billy Corte

OL
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Finance
Antonio Derry

#79 Antonio Derry

OL
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sport Business
Ethan Hull

#47 Ethan Hull

LB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jaylon Johnson

#25 Jaylon Johnson

CB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Management
Rassie Littlejohn

#1 Rassie Littlejohn

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
Alex Piccirilli

#16 Alex Piccirilli

QB
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Finance
Bryson Richards

#51 Bryson Richards

DE
6' 3"
Graduate Student
MBA
Jordan Younge-Humphrey

#21 Jordan Younge-Humphrey

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
Alex Brown

#67 Alex Brown

OL
6' 3"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Michael Carley

#81 Michael Carley

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Health Sciences
WR
Billy Corte

#73 Billy Corte

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Finance
OL
Antonio Derry

#79 Antonio Derry

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Sport Business
OL
Ethan Hull

#47 Ethan Hull

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
LB
Jaylon Johnson

#25 Jaylon Johnson

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Management
CB
Rassie Littlejohn

#1 Rassie Littlejohn

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
DB
Alex Piccirilli

#16 Alex Piccirilli

6' 4"
Graduate Student
Finance
QB
Bryson Richards

#51 Bryson Richards

6' 3"
Graduate Student
MBA
DE
Jordan Younge-Humphrey

#21 Jordan Younge-Humphrey

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
RB
Alex Brown

#67 Alex Brown

6' 3"
Graduate Student
OL