ETSU is a couple of years removed from the Buccaneers’ historic 11-2 run, where they defeated a power-five SEC team, Vanderbilt, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2021 FCS Playoffs. But now that Coach George Quarles is familiarized with Buc life, the team looks to make a comeback.

Following the 2021 season and head coach Randy Sanders’ retirement, the university named Quarles as the team’s new head coach. The first season of the Quarles era was a year of adjustments, with the team going 3-8 in the 2022-23 season.

Quarles and the Bucs look to turn the ship back around for the 2023-24 season. The team kicked off the year by bringing 17+ new names to training camp, some of which were brought in via the transfer portal. 

It is still unclear who will take over as the lead-back in the Buccaneers’ run-heavy offense. The team looks to replace running back Jacob Saylors, who was invited to training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Redshirt junior Tyler Riddell (Tampa, Fla.) has the job as QB1. In his previous two seasons, Riddell has thrown 4,414 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also claims a career completion percentage of 61.4%, which ranks him first in program history in that category. 

Going into this season, the Bucs are ranked sixth in the SoCon preseason coaches and media poll. ETSU also boasts six players named to the All-Southern Conference Second Team. Two hail from the offense, TE Noah West (Louisa, Ky.) and WR Will Huzzie (Duluth, Ga.), and two from defense, DL Max Evans (Middletown, Ohio) and DB Sheldon Arnold II (Loganville, Ga.). The final pair come from special teams, P Trace Kelley (Gallatin, Tenn.) and LS Ryan Phillips (Gallatin, Tenn.).

The Bucs will launch the season with their first game on Sept. 2 at Jacksonville State. Their first home game will feature a battle against Carson-Newman on Sept. 9, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium. Carson-Newman is a Division II school traveling from Jefferson City, Tennessee, where they compete in the South Atlantic Conference.

The full 2023-24 football season schedule can be found here. For more information about ETSU football, visit the ETSU football website.

Photo of the ETSU William B. Greene Jr. football stadium. (Contributed/ETSU Athletics)

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