2017 The Citadel Bulldogs football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record5–6 (3–5 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLou Conte (2nd season)
Offensive schemeTriple option
Defensive coordinatorBlake Harrell (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumJohnson Hagood Stadium
Seasons
← 2016
2018 →
2017 Southern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 Wofford $^   7 – 1     10 – 3  
No. 18 Samford ^   6 – 2     8 – 4  
No. 19 Furman ^   6 – 2     8 – 5  
Western Carolina   5 – 3     7 – 5  
Mercer   4 – 4     5 – 6  
The Citadel   3 – 5     5 – 6  
Chattanooga   3 – 5     3 – 8  
East Tennessee State   2 – 6     4 – 7  
VMI   0 – 8     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2017 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by second-year head coach Brent Thompson and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They were members of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 5–6, 3–5 in SoCon play to finish in a tie for sixth place.

Preseason

Preseason media poll

The SoCon released their preseason media poll on July 18, 2017, with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in second place, with six of 22 voters picking The Citadel first.[1] The same day the coaches released their preseason poll with the Bulldogs also predicted to finish in second place.[2]

Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Wofford 178 (11)
2 The Citadel 166 (6)
3 Samford 156 (3)
4 Chattanooga 152 (2)
5 Mercer 101
6 Furman 87
7 Western Carolina 71
8 ETSU 49
9 VMI 30
Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Wofford 63 (7)
2 The Citadel 54 (2)
3 Samford 52
4 Chattanooga 41
5 Mercer 32
6 Western Carolina 27
7 Furman 26
8 ETSU 17
9 VMI 12

Preseason All-SoCon Teams

The Bulldogs placed five players on the preseason all-SoCon teams, and Kailik Williams was named as preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Defensive Player of the Year

Kailik Williams – DB

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m.Newberry*No. 16
7C, ESPN3W 31–147,467
September 9[3]Noonat Presbyterian*No. 14
BSNW 48–72,586
September 161:00 p.m.at East Tennessee StateNo. 13
ESPN3W 31–257,544
September 303:00 p.m.at No. 25 SamfordNo. 8
ESPN3L 14–359,233
October 72:00 p.m.MercerNo. 17
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN3L 14–249,969
October 146:00 p.m.No. 5 WoffordNo. 23
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC (rivalry)
ESPN3L 16–208,543
October 212:00 p.m.at Chattanooga
ESPN3W 20–147,521
October 282:00 p.m.VMIdagger
7C, ESPN3W 21–311,609
November 42:00 p.m.No. 24 Western Carolina
  • Johnson Hagood Stadium
  • Charleston, SC
ESPN3L 19–317,384
November 112:00 p.m.at No. 21 Furman
7CL 20–5610,105
November 1812:20 p.m.at No. 4 (FBS) Clemson*
ACCNL 3–6180,618
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[4][5]

Roster

2017 The Citadel Bulldogs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 2 Rod Johnson So
QB 4 Brian Murdaugh Fr
QB 10 Jordan Black So
QB 12 Ryan McCarthy Fr
WR 13 Jalen Lampkin Jr
WR 13 Cole Owens Fr
FB 16 Brandon Rainey So
WR 17 Logan Bailey Fr
RB 18 Cam Jackson Sr
QB 19 Dominique Allen Sr
WR 21 Curt Nixon So
WR 22 Raleigh Webb Fr
RB 26 Keyonte Sessions Fr
RB 29 Grant Drakeford Jr
WR 30 Dante Smith Fr
FB 31 Malik Brooks Fr
FB 34 Evan McField So
RB 36 Matthew Taylor Fr
FB 37 Lorenzo Ward So
WR 40 Jordan Williams So
FB 41 Shy McPhail Fr
FB 42 Brandon Berry Fr
FB 44 Jordan Thomas So
OL 52 Jon Barrett Lewis Fr
OL 53 Tyler Davis Jr
OL 54 Haden Haas Fr
OL 56 Attorney Gallman So
OL 57 Blake Harrison Fr
OL 61 Mark Weakland Fr
OL 62 Jonathan Cole Fr
OL 63 Drew McIntyre So
OL 64 Harry Easler So
OL 67 Prince Howard-Whitaker Fr
OL 70 Charley Conley Fr
OL 73 Patrick Ivey Fr
OL 73 Mike Rentz Jr
OL 74 Nick Hudgens Fr
OL 77 Tristan Harkleroad Jr
WR 80 Josh LeBlanc So
WR 81 Dijon Profit Fr
WR 82 Rashad Riley Fr
WR 83 Cardan Williams Fr
WR 84 Liam Reid Fr
WR 87 Cameron Roberts Fr
WR 88 Peter Kennedy So
OL Nick Pappas Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 1 Shy Phillips Sr
DB 3 Wally Wilmore Fr
LB 5 Myles Pierce Sr
DB 6 Lane Botkin Fr
DB 7 Kailik Williams Sr
LB 8 Israel Battle Sr
DB 9 Khafari Buffalo So
DB 11 Ben Roberts Sr
DB 20 Jay Howard Fr
DB 23 Tyus Carter Sr
DB 24 Aron Span III Jr
DB 25 Phil Barrett Fr
DB 28 Chance Steverson Fr
LB 32 Phil Davis So
LB 33 Quinlan Washington Jr
DB 34 Marvin Marshall Fr
LB 38 Noah Dawkins Jr
LB 39 Micah Byrd-Brown Fr
DB 43 Jalen Barr Fr
DB 45 Sean-Thomas Faulkner Fr
DB 46 Carl Cunningham Jr. Jr
LB 47 Jeremy Samuels Fr
LB 48 Cody Floyd Sr
DB 49 KD Frederick Fr
LB 50 Willie Eubanks III Fr
LB 52 K. J. Simpson Fr
LB 55 Russell Hubbs Jr
LB 58 Denzel Wright Fr
LB 59 Adam Baker Fr
DL 60 Adam Wawrzynski So
LB 65 Colton Feinberg Fr
DL 68 Ken Allen Jr
LB 70 Collin Flanders Fr
DL 71 Dalton Owens Fr
DL 72 Sam Parker Sr
DL 75 Bradley Carter So
DL 76 Jabauri Garner Fr
DL 79 Gunner Covey Fr
DL 90 John Wesley Whiteside II Fr
LB 92 Aaron Brawley Fr
DL 94 A. J. Stokes Fr
DL 95 Blake Oliveira Fr
DL 96 Jalon Williams So
DL 97 Jonathan King Sr
DL 98 Joseph Randolph II So
DL 99 Christian Weyrich Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
LS 57 Aaron Blaylock So
K 69 Joshua Roides Fr
LS 85 Patrick Keefe Jr
K 86 Jacob Godek So
P 93 Gage Russell Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Blake Harrell – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
  • Lou Conte - Offensive Coordinator / QBs / B-Backs
  • J.P. Gunter - Special Teams / A-Backs
  • Ron Boyd - Offensive Line
  • Charles Hopkins - Offensive Tackles
  • Orlando Mitjans Jr. - Cornerbacks
  • Brian Rucker - Wide Receivers
  • Joel Taylor - Defensive Passing Game Coordinator / Safeties
  • John Ward - Defensive Line / Academic Coordinator
  • Scott Yielding - Outside Linebackers / Recruiting Coordinator
  • Donnell Boucher - Strength and Conditioning
  • Will Hornsby - Special Teams Quality Control
  • Floris Mendonca - Video Coordinator
  • Kate Yeager - Director of Personnel
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 6, 2020

Game summaries

Newberry

1 234Total
Wolves 0 707 14
• No. 16 Bulldogs 7 7710 31
  • Date: September 2, 2017
  • Location: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, SC
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 7,467
  • Game weather: 85°F • N 10 • Mostly cloudy
  • Referee: Thomas Graham
  • TV announcers (7C/ESPN3): Kendall Lewis, James Riley, Eric Summers
Scoring summary
17:14CITGrant Drakeford 29-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)CIT 7–0
210:30NEWDarius Clark 3-yard run (Shea Rodgers kick)7–7
21:28CITJordan Black 1-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 14–7
30:37CITCam Jackson 74-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 21–7
47:22CITJosh LeBlanc 6-yard pass from Black (Godek kick)CIT 28–7
44:28NEWChance Walker 26-yard pass from Nick Jones (Rodgers kick)CIT 28–14
40:17CITGodek 37-yard field goalCIT 31–14

At Presbyterian

See also: 2017 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team
1 234Total
• No. 14 Bulldogs 14 2167 48
Blue Hose 7 000 7
  • Date: September 9, 2017[3]
  • Location: Bailey Memorial Stadium, Clinton, SC
  • Game start: Noon EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:26
  • Game attendance: 2,586
  • Game weather: 73°F • NNE 12 • Sunny
  • Referee: Greg Waybright
  • TV announcers (BSN/ESPN3): Kendall Lewis, James Riley, Eric Summers
Scoring summary
16:36CITDominique Allen 1-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)CIT 7–0
16:18PRETorrance Marable 76-yard run (Brett Norton kick)7–7
11:55CITLorenzo Ward 5-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)CIT 14–7
213:21CITRaleigh Webb 57-yard pass from Jordan Black (Godek kick)CIT 21–7
28:22CITRod Johnson 18-yard pass from Black (Godek kick)CIT 28–7
21:09CITAllen 1-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 35–7
35:41CITAllen 2-yard run (Godek kick failed)CIT 41–7
45:27CITBrandon Rainey 14-yard pass from Black (Godek kick)CIT 48–7

At East Tennessee State

See also: 2017 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team
1 234Total
• No. 13 Bulldogs 7 0717 31
Buccaneers 7 738 25
  • Date: September 16, 2017
  • Location: William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, Johnson City, TN
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 7,544
  • Game weather: 80°F • NE 6 • Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: Larry Adcock
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): David Jackson, Mark Hutsell, Kasey Marler
Scoring summary
112:38ETSUVincent Lowe 22-yard pass from Austin Herink (JJ Jerman kick)ETSU 7–0
17:10CITBrandon Rainey 10-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)7–7
21:05ETSUDrake Powell 8-yard pass from Austin Herink (JJ Jerman kick)ETSU 14–7
311:01ETSUJJ Jerman 46-yard field goalETSU 17–7
34:17CITDominique Allen 1-yard run (Godek kick)ETSU 17–14
411:42CITRaleigh Webb 7-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 21–17
47:50CITWebb 28-yard pass from Allen (Godek kick)CIT 28–17
45:15ETSUJajuan Stinson 4-yard run (Austin Herink pass to Kobe Kelley for two-point conv.)CIT 28–25
42:17CITGodek 46-yard field goalCIT 31–25

At Samford

See also: 2017 Samford Bulldogs football team
1 234Total
No. 8 Bulldogs (CIT) 0 770 14
• No. 25 Bulldogs (SAM) 28 700 35
  • Date: September 30, 2017
  • Location: Seibert Stadium, Homewood, AL
  • Game start: 3:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:58
  • Game attendance: 9,233
  • Game weather: 79°F • NE 6 • Clear and sunny
  • Referee: Jerry Welmaker
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Curt Bloom, Chad Pilcher, Hattie Breece
Scoring summary
114:00SAMKelvin McKnight 8-yard pass from Devlin Hodges (Jordan Weaver kick)SAM 7–0
111:56SAMYassar El-Amin 70-yard pass from Hodges (Weaver kick)SAM 14–0
19:40SAMMoise Satine 10-yard run (Weaver kick)SAM 21–0
14:!9SAMDevlin Hodges 1-yard run (Weaver kick)SAM 28–0
210:39SAMT.D. Marshall 63-yard pass from Hodges (Weaver kick)SAM 35–0
26:55CITJordan Black 1-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)SAM 35–7
38:41CITBrandon Rainey 8-yard run (Godek kick)SAM 35–14

Mercer

See also: 2017 Mercer Bears football team
1 234Total
• Bears 7 773 24
No. 17 Bulldogs 0 0014 14
  • Date: October 7, 2017
  • Location: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, SC
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:21
  • Game attendance: 9,969
  • Game weather: 85°F • Calm • Partly cloudy
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Kevin Fitzgerald, James Riley
Scoring summary
19:19MERCJ Leggett 1-yard run (Cole Fisher kick)MER 7–0
24:29MERTee Mitchell 16-yard run (Fisher kick)MER 14–0
32:57MERMitchell 2-yard run (Fisher kick)MER 21–0
413:17CITDominique Allen 1-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)MER 21–7
43:59MERCole Fisher 29-yard field goalMER 24–7
42:33CITBrandon Berry 2-yard run (Godek kick)MER 24–14

Wofford

See also: 2017 Wofford Terriers football team
1 234Total
• No. 5 Terriers 0 776 20
No. 23 Bulldogs 7 720 16
  • Date: October 14, 2017
  • Location: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, SC
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:03
  • Game attendance: 8,549
  • Game weather: Low 80s • Calm • Mostly clear
  • Referee: Thomas Graham
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Kevin Fitzgerald, James Riley
Scoring summary
17:28CITDominique Allen 7-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)CIT 7–0
28:24WOFBrandon Goodson 1-yard run (Luke Carter kick)7–7
20:11CITRod Johnson 2-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 14–7
313:15WOFJason Hill 59-yard pass from Brandon Goodson (Luke Carter kick)14–14
38:07CITTeam 2-yard SafetyCIT 16–14
41:10WOFAndre Stoddard 3-yard run (Lennox McAfee rush failed)WOF 20–16

At Chattanooga

See also: 2017 Chattanooga Mocs football team
1 234Total
• Bulldogs 0 767 20
Mocs 7 700 14
  • Date: October 21, 2017
  • Location: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:44
  • Game attendance: 7,521
  • Game weather: 74°F • SE 3 • Partly cloudy
  • Referee: B. Johnson
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Chris Goforth, B.J. Coleman
Scoring summary
10:17CHADarrell Bridges 61-yard run (Victor Ulmo kick)CHA 7–0
211:15CITJosh LeBlanc 25-yard pass from Dominique Allen (Jacob Godek kick)7–7
24:09CHABridges 1-yard run (Ulmo kick)CHA 14–7
310:05CITGodek 45-yard field goalCHA 14–10
31:51CITRod Johnson 4-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 17–14
411:39CITGodek 34-yard field goalCIT 20–14

VMI

See also: 2017 VMI Keydets football team and Military Classic of the South
Homecoming
1 234Total
Keydets 3 000 3
• Bulldogs 14 007 21
  • Date: October 28, 2017
  • Location: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, SC
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:00
  • Game attendance: 11,609
  • Game weather: High 70's • Mostly cloudy
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (7C/ESPN3): Kendall Lewis, James Riley
Scoring summary
110:59VMIGrant Clemons 37-yard field goalVMI 3–0
110:01CITGrant Drakeford 71-yard run (Jacob Godek kick)CIT 7–3
10:10CITDominique Allen 1-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 14–3
42:45CITLorenzo Ward 45-yard run (Godek kick)CIT 21–3

Western Carolina

See also: 2017 Western Carolina Catamounts football team
1 234Total
• No. 24 Catamounts 7 1077 31
Bulldogs 0 1090 19
Scoring summary
1–
2–
3–
4–

At Furman

See also: 2017 Furman Paladins football team and The Citadel–Furman football rivalry
1 234Total
Bulldogs 0 0146 20
• No. 21 Paladins 14 21147 56
Scoring summary
1–
2–
3–
4–

At Clemson

See also: 2017 Clemson Tigers football team
1 234Total
Bulldogs 0 003 3
• No. 4 (FBS) Tigers 21 17203 61
Scoring summary
1–
2–
3–
4–

Ranking movements

Main article: 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
STATS1614131081723RVRVRV————
Coaches12131310111722RVRVRV————

References

  1. ^ "Wofford Picked by Media to Win Football Title". Southern Conference. July 18, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "SoCon Coaches Pick Wofford, Select All-Conference Teams". Southern Conference. July 18, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "CITADEL-PC FOOTBALL GAME MOVED TO CLINTON, SC; KICKOFF AT NOON ON SAT". The Citadel Bulldogs. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  4. ^ "Five In-State Games Highlight 2017 Schedule". The Citadel Bulldogs. September 12, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "2017 Football Schedule". The Citadel Bulldogs. December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
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