Finish Everything, Leave No Doubt Who We Are: Monmouth Football Sets Its Standard

WEST LONG BRANCH – "Finish Everything, Leave No Doubt Who We Are" is more than a slogan for Monmouth University football this season. It's a challenge, a standard and a demand for a team intent on using the disappointment of last season's finish as motivation for what comes next.

After a 2025 campaign that began with so much promise but unraveled into a bitterly disappointing finish, Monmouth enters this season determined to prove that last year's ending does not define who the Hawks are. Monmouth enters a new season with a sharpened identity, a renewed edge, and a clear demand on every snap, every practice rep, and every fourth quarter: finish the job. With new head coach Jeff Gallo leading a new era of football at Monmouth and a roster intent on matching belief with results, the Hawks are embracing a mantra that speaks to both accountability and ambition with no excuses and no leaving anything unfinished.

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Wrapping up his team's first week of summer camp, Gallo is pleased with the way his team has responded, especially after the loss of beloved defensive coordinator Louis DeRienzo, who suddenly and tragically passed away this summer at the young age of 34.

"Louis had a tremendous impact on our program, and we'll honor him through the way we play," Gallo said. "It's about how we show up and work every day, not just on game day, because that's who he was — an everyday worker."

Monmouth practiced with full pads Wednesday for the first time this summer, and the intensity jumped immediately, with fierce hitting setting the tone for a physical, competitive practice, but Gallo stressed that the competitiveness and physicality of Wednesday's practice have been a trademark of practices since day one of summer camp.

"There's been a lot of competition; the guys are working hard, and we're competing," Gallo said of summer camp. "There is still some learning going on with the new players in the program, but overall, the team has been relatively sharp, the energy's been great, and there's been a lot of competition. But every day we're competing no matter what we're wearing."

Monmouth is also navigating a reshaped roster after losing 14 players to the transfer portal, including eight who moved on to FBS programs, but the Hawks answered by bringing in 16 transfers of their own, who they believe can address key needs and help stabilize the roster heading into the season.

Sophomore safety Jaiden McClendon-Parker (Glenville St.), junior defensive end Jahide Lesaine (Syracuse), junior cornerback Amir Haskett (Richmond), sophomore wide receiver Caleb Newsome (Lafayette), junior wide receiver Christian Harrison (Lackawanna), junior running back Nazir Treadwell (Holy Cross), redshirt junior edge Donovan Dyson (UMASS), grad defensive end Jake Davis (UPENN), grad defensive tackle Keisen Johnson-Wilson (Findlay), senior safety Hasson Manning Jr. (Delaware), grad offensive lineman Reed Collins (Lafayette), redshirt freshman Brady O'Hara (Penn St.) and redshirt junior cornerback Omar Ibraham (Temple) are all expected to contribute, with Harrison, Treadwell and Dyson elevating themselves as standouts in camp so far.

"Yeah, they definitely should," Gallo said when asked if he expects the players who came in through the transfer portal to contribute immediately. "We brought in guys who are from our footprint that we knew were talented and fit our culture. So, that whole group we've been really happy with. They're part of our team right now, fully ingrained, and have the ability and talent that will help us. We didn't bring anyone in here who we didn't think could help us this season."

Monmouth was picked to finish second in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), bringing outside expectations to a program that remains more focused on its own internal standard than any preseason projection. It says a lot about the strength of Monmouth's program that, even after losing 14 players to the transfer portal – including eight who moved on to FBS schools – the Hawks are still viewed among the top teams in the CAA.

"It's performance over perception," said Gallo. "I don't care where polls pick us; I don't care about any of that stuff; it's how we perform."

The Hawks did return some exceptional talent on both sides of the ball this season, including CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year candidate and STATS Preseason All-American junior safety Jaedan Jones, along with CAA Preseason First Team selections wide receiver Gavin Nelson and tight end Marcus Middleton. Redshirt junior wide receiver Tra Neal, redshirt senior center Kevin Shrinner and punter Luke Schabel were CAA Honorable Mention selections.

Monmouth has traditionally fielded one of the most productive offenses in the country, built around balance, tempo and explosive playmakers. The Hawks have made high-level production almost routine in recent years, ranking among the nation's best in total offense and scoring while consistently producing skill players capable of changing games in a hurry.

This season should be no different, aided by the return of two of the top wide receivers in the CAA, Nelson and Neal. Harrison has the potential to be a game changer, and Newsome, redshirt sophomore Keshawn Mister and redshirt freshman Kendall Dorsey have high-end potential.

In the offensive backfield, it could be a case of running back by committee after the transfer of All-CAA running back Rodney Nelson, who is now at Miami (Ohio). Redshirt sophomore Elijah Jennings, who was second on the team in rushing last season (71-325-6), will get the start with redshirt freshman Kenny Smith Jr., redshirt sophomore Greg Randall and true freshman Khyan Billups vying for carries. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Treadwell has been running over people in camp and will be the short-yardage back, but has the potential to play a much bigger role.

The tight end position is in good hands with Middleton and the addition of 6-foot-7, 240-pound Greg Genross, a transfer from West Virginia.

According to Gallo, there is still a quarterback competition going on in camp between redshirt sophomore Frankie Weaver and redshirt freshman Brad Seiss. Both have excelled in summer camp, with either one seemingly capable of leading the team. However, Weaver has a huge edge in game experience after taking over for Derek Robertson last season after Robertson was injured in the Stony Brook game and started the final five games of the season with relatively good success. It's a luxury to have two capable starting quarterbacks, but my money is on Weaver being behind center on opening night.

A dominant offensive line is the foundation that makes the entire operation work, and the Hawks have fielded some of the best lines in the country in years past. This year's offensive line needed to be rebuilt after losing four starters to either graduation or the transfer portal, but no significant fall-off is expected since most of this season's starters have game-time experience. Shriner is the lone returning starter, and he will anchor the line with redshirt senior Matt Fries stepping in at left tackle, redshirt sophomore Collin Goetter getting the nod at left guard, redshirt junior Michael Petitio sliding in at right guard, and redshirt junior Josh Duran taking over at right tackle. Collins has had a strong camp and could work his way into a starting job. O'Hara, Blake Birbillis, Moses Gakodi, Jayce Grays and Bleek Turner will be in the rotation.

On defense, Monmouth needs a drastic improvement over last season's unit if it expects to battle for the conference title and receive a bid to the FCS playoffs. DiRienzo Jr. had the arrows pointing in the right direction, and Gallo expects his defensive coaches to carry the torch moving forward.

"Coach Runza, coach Dumas, coach Vega and coach Coles are all exceptional coaches, and I'll work with them, but they're really running that show (defense). They all have great input and are all working together to get where we want to go."

The defense did return five of its top seven tacklers from a year ago, with returning linebackers Ryan Russo, Spencer Kishbaugh and Charlie Sasso ranking third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on the team in tackles. Redshirt junior linebacker Ryan Alexander will be in the rotation with true freshman Amori McNeil and redshirt sophomore Destin Hill in the hybrid linebacker/safety spot.

The interior defensive line returns two starters at tackle in redshirt seniors Bryce Rooks and Brendan Bigos. Rooks was seventh on the team with 41 tackles, including 13 solo stops. Senior tackle J.J. Lewis saw action in seven games and had 3.5 tackles for loss in the season's final. Redshirt sophomore Sebastien Acheampong was a rotational player last season at tackle in every game, adding a sack and 1.5 TFL. Transfer Keisen Johnson-Wilson has had a solid camp at stopping the run and will be in the rotation.

With the transfer of edge rushers Lamont Lester (Colorado) and Josiah Graham (Texas St.), the Hawks defense lost a combined 19 sacks. Returning starter, redshirt sophomore Hunter Watson (four sacks), has had a solid camp, and his size (6-foot-5, 250 pounds), experience, and athleticism should help him add to his sack total this season. Sophomore Mounir Keshen has been a terror in camp and will line up opposite Watson to form a very solid edge tandem. Keshen dominated in the spring game, recording three sacks, and was unblockable in the scrimmage. Expect a breakout season out of him. Redshirt junior transfer Donovan Dyson has had an excellent camp and will be in the rotation. True freshman Luke King stood out in camp and could see the field this season at DE as well.

What more can be said that hasn't already been said about returning safety Jaedan Jones? He was ninth in the country last season with 118 total tackles, and an All-American selection. He is the CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, a STATS Preseason All-American, and has been named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, just to name a few preseason accolades.

Monmouth will need another year like that out of him to solidify the secondary after transfers of several key contributors from last season's squad, including safety Deuce Lee (Georgia St.) and cornerbacks Izzy Clark-White (New Mexico St.), Emmanuel Lane (Mercer) and Dana Johnson Jr. (Albany). Returning starting cornerback, sophomore Chris Palmer Jr. has had a solid camp, and he'll be counted on to provide leadership as well as quality play. Temple transfer Omar Ibrahim, Richmond transfer Mir Haskett and redshirt freshman Elijah Mathis are in the mix for the starting spot opposite Palmer Jr.

Redshirt junior Donovan Fey appears to have locked up the starting free safety spot, joining Jones in the backfield to form a solid grouping. Fey appeared in all 11 games a year ago, so he does have a good amount of game experience. Redshirt senior Trey McLeer, true freshman Alexander Williams and transfers McLendon Parker and Manning Jr. will add to the rotation.

Monmouth's defense ranked 11th out of 14 teams in the CAA in total yardage allowed per game (405.6) last season, so when you think about it, how much can these defections actually hurt? Especially when you bring in a solid class of your own as replacements and implement a new system. I'd be really surprised if Monmouth's defense isn't vastly improved over last season.

Monmouth opens the season on Saturday, August 29 on the road at Tennessee Tech, ranked 15th in the FCS Coaches Poll. Monmouth is ranked 20th in the nation.

"I'm looking forward to bringing our team down there and showing what we've been building," said Gallo when asked if he was excited about his first game as head coach. "I'm really proud of our guys. We want to be as prepared as possible and then go down there and see what we've done. This is the start of it. Every week will be a new test; every week is a new challenge. We'll take it one game at a time because that's all that matters. Tennessee Tech is all that matters right now."