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. The same day the coaches released their preseason poll with the Bulldogs also predicted to finish in second place.
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
Offense
1st team
- Cam Jackson – RB
- Tyler Davis – OL
|
Defense
1st team
2nd team
- Ken Allen – DL
- Jonathan King – DL
|
Schedule
Date |
Time |
Opponent |
Rank |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 2 |
6:00 p.m. |
Newberry*
|
No. 16 |
|
7C, ESPN3
|
W 31–14 |
7,467 |
|
Noon |
at Presbyterian*
|
No. 14 |
|
BSN |
W 48–7 |
2,586 |
September 16 |
1:00 p.m. |
at East Tennessee State
|
No. 13 |
|
ESPN3 |
W 31–25 |
7,544 |
September 30 |
3:00 p.m. |
at No. 25 Samford
|
No. 8 |
|
ESPN3 |
L 14–35 |
9,233 |
October 7 |
2:00 p.m. |
Mercer |
No. 17 |
- Johnson Hagood Stadium
- Charleston, SC
|
ESPN3 |
L 14–24 |
9,969 |
October 14 |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 5 Wofford
|
No. 23 |
- Johnson Hagood Stadium
- Charleston, SC (rivalry)
|
ESPN3 |
L 16–20 |
8,543 |
October 21 |
2:00 p.m. |
at Chattanooga
|
|
|
ESPN3 |
W 20–14 |
7,521 |
October 28 |
2:00 p.m. |
VMI
|
|
|
7C, ESPN3 |
W 21–3 |
11,609 |
November 4 |
2:00 p.m. |
No. 24 Western Carolina
|
|
- Johnson Hagood Stadium
- Charleston, SC
|
ESPN3 |
L 19–31 |
7,384 |
November 11 |
2:00 p.m. |
at No. 21 Furman
|
|
|
7C |
L 20–56 |
10,105 |
November 18 |
12:20 p.m. |
at No. 4 (FBS) Clemson*
|
|
|
ACCN |
L 3–61 |
80,618 |
- *Non-conference game
-
Homecoming
- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
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
-
Redshirt
Roster Last update: December 6, 2020
|
Game summaries
Newberry
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Wolves |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
• No. 16 Bulldogs
|
7 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
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 |
|
1 |
7:14 |
CIT |
Grant Drakeford 29-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
CIT 7–0 |
|
2 |
10:30 |
NEW |
Darius Clark 3-yard run (Shea Rodgers kick) |
7–7 |
|
2 |
1:28 |
CIT |
Jordan Black 1-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 14–7 |
|
3 |
0:37 |
CIT |
Cam Jackson 74-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 21–7 |
|
4 |
7:22 |
CIT |
Josh LeBlanc 6-yard pass from Black (Godek kick) |
CIT 28–7 |
|
4 |
4:28 |
NEW |
Chance Walker 26-yard pass from Nick Jones (Rodgers kick) |
CIT 28–14 |
|
4 |
0:17 |
CIT |
Godek 37-yard field goal |
CIT 31–14 |
|
At Presbyterian
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• No. 14 Bulldogs
|
14 |
21 |
6 |
7 |
48 |
Blue Hose |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
-
Date:
-
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 |
|
1 |
6:36 |
CIT |
Dominique Allen 1-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
CIT 7–0 |
|
1 |
6:18 |
PRE |
Torrance Marable 76-yard run (Brett Norton kick) |
7–7 |
|
1 |
1:55 |
CIT |
Lorenzo Ward 5-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
CIT 14–7 |
|
2 |
13:21 |
CIT |
Raleigh Webb 57-yard pass from Jordan Black (Godek kick) |
CIT 21–7 |
|
2 |
8:22 |
CIT |
Rod Johnson 18-yard pass from Black (Godek kick) |
CIT 28–7 |
|
2 |
1:09 |
CIT |
Allen 1-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 35–7 |
|
3 |
5:41 |
CIT |
Allen 2-yard run (Godek kick failed) |
CIT 41–7 |
|
4 |
5:27 |
CIT |
Brandon Rainey 14-yard pass from Black (Godek kick) |
CIT 48–7 |
|
At East Tennessee State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• No. 13 Bulldogs
|
7 |
0 |
7 |
17 |
31 |
Buccaneers |
7 |
7 |
3 |
8 |
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 |
|
1 |
12:38 |
ETSU |
Vincent Lowe 22-yard pass from Austin Herink (JJ Jerman kick) |
ETSU 7–0 |
|
1 |
7:10 |
CIT |
Brandon Rainey 10-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
7–7 |
|
2 |
1:05 |
ETSU |
Drake Powell 8-yard pass from Austin Herink (JJ Jerman kick) |
ETSU 14–7 |
|
3 |
11:01 |
ETSU |
JJ Jerman 46-yard field goal |
ETSU 17–7 |
|
3 |
4:17 |
CIT |
Dominique Allen 1-yard run (Godek kick) |
ETSU 17–14 |
|
4 |
11:42 |
CIT |
Raleigh Webb 7-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 21–17 |
|
4 |
7:50 |
CIT |
Webb 28-yard pass from Allen (Godek kick) |
CIT 28–17 |
|
4 |
5:15 |
ETSU |
Jajuan Stinson 4-yard run (Austin Herink pass to Kobe Kelley for two-point conv.) |
CIT 28–25 |
|
4 |
2:17 |
CIT |
Godek 46-yard field goal |
CIT 31–25 |
|
At Samford
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 8 Bulldogs (CIT) |
0 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
• No. 25 Bulldogs (SAM)
|
28 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
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 |
|
1 |
14:00 |
SAM |
Kelvin McKnight 8-yard pass from Devlin Hodges (Jordan Weaver kick) |
SAM 7–0 |
|
1 |
11:56 |
SAM |
Yassar El-Amin 70-yard pass from Hodges (Weaver kick) |
SAM 14–0 |
|
1 |
9:40 |
SAM |
Moise Satine 10-yard run (Weaver kick) |
SAM 21–0 |
|
1 |
4:!9 |
SAM |
Devlin Hodges 1-yard run (Weaver kick) |
SAM 28–0 |
|
2 |
10:39 |
SAM |
T.D. Marshall 63-yard pass from Hodges (Weaver kick) |
SAM 35–0 |
|
2 |
6:55 |
CIT |
Jordan Black 1-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
SAM 35–7 |
|
3 |
8:41 |
CIT |
Brandon Rainey 8-yard run (Godek kick) |
SAM 35–14 |
|
Mercer
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• Bears
|
7 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
24 |
No. 17 Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
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 |
|
1 |
9:19 |
MER |
CJ Leggett 1-yard run (Cole Fisher kick) |
MER 7–0 |
|
2 |
4:29 |
MER |
Tee Mitchell 16-yard run (Fisher kick) |
MER 14–0 |
|
3 |
2:57 |
MER |
Mitchell 2-yard run (Fisher kick) |
MER 21–0 |
|
4 |
13:17 |
CIT |
Dominique Allen 1-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
MER 21–7 |
|
4 |
3:59 |
MER |
Cole Fisher 29-yard field goal |
MER 24–7 |
|
4 |
2:33 |
CIT |
Brandon Berry 2-yard run (Godek kick) |
MER 24–14 |
|
Wofford
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• No. 5 Terriers
|
0 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
20 |
No. 23 Bulldogs |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
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 |
|
1 |
7:28 |
CIT |
Dominique Allen 7-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
CIT 7–0 |
|
2 |
8:24 |
WOF |
Brandon Goodson 1-yard run (Luke Carter kick) |
7–7 |
|
2 |
0:11 |
CIT |
Rod Johnson 2-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 14–7 |
|
3 |
13:15 |
WOF |
Jason Hill 59-yard pass from Brandon Goodson (Luke Carter kick) |
14–14 |
|
3 |
8:07 |
CIT |
Team 2-yard Safety
|
CIT 16–14 |
|
4 |
1:10 |
WOF |
Andre Stoddard 3-yard run (Lennox McAfee rush failed) |
WOF 20–16 |
|
At Chattanooga
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• Bulldogs
|
0 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
20 |
Mocs |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
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 |
|
1 |
0:17 |
CHA |
Darrell Bridges 61-yard run (Victor Ulmo kick) |
CHA 7–0 |
|
2 |
11:15 |
CIT |
Josh LeBlanc 25-yard pass from Dominique Allen (Jacob Godek kick) |
7–7 |
|
2 |
4:09 |
CHA |
Bridges 1-yard run (Ulmo kick) |
CHA 14–7 |
|
3 |
10:05 |
CIT |
Godek 45-yard field goal |
CHA 14–10 |
|
3 |
1:51 |
CIT |
Rod Johnson 4-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 17–14 |
|
4 |
11:39 |
CIT |
Godek 34-yard field goal |
CIT 20–14 |
|
VMI
Homecoming
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Keydets |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
• Bulldogs
|
14 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
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 |
|
1 |
10:59 |
VMI |
Grant Clemons 37-yard field goal |
VMI 3–0 |
|
1 |
10:01 |
CIT |
Grant Drakeford 71-yard run (Jacob Godek kick) |
CIT 7–3 |
|
1 |
0:10 |
CIT |
Dominique Allen 1-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 14–3 |
|
4 |
2:45 |
CIT |
Lorenzo Ward 45-yard run (Godek kick) |
CIT 21–3 |
|
Western Carolina
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• No. 24 Catamounts
|
7 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
31 |
Bulldogs |
0 |
10 |
9 |
0 |
19 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
|
|
|
– |
|
2 |
|
|
|
– |
|
3 |
|
|
|
– |
|
4 |
|
|
|
– |
|
At Furman
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
20 |
• No. 21 Paladins
|
14 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
56 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
|
|
|
– |
|
2 |
|
|
|
– |
|
3 |
|
|
|
– |
|
4 |
|
|
|
– |
|
At Clemson
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
• No. 4 (FBS) Tigers
|
21 |
17 |
20 |
3 |
61 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
|
|
|
– |
|
2 |
|
|
|
– |
|
3 |
|
|
|
– |
|
4 |
|
|
|
– |
|
Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
|
Week |
Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Final |
STATS |
16 |
14 |
13 |
10 |
8 |
17 |
23 |
RV |
RV |
RV |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Coaches |
12 |
13 |
13 |
10 |
11 |
17 |
22 |
RV |
RV |
RV |
— |
— |
— |
— |