8-28-2025 4:48am

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Towson Football Kicks Off 2025 Campaign at Norfolk State

The Game: Towson (0-0, 0-0 CAA) @ Norfolk State (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
When: Thurs., Aug. 28 – 7 p.m.
Where: William "Dick" Price Stadium – Norfolk, Va.
Broadcast: ESPNU (online on WatchESPN)
----Broadcasters: Tiffany Greene (PxP), Jay Walker (Analyst)
Audio Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: Towson leads 2-1

NORFOLK, Va. – The Towson University football team begins the 2025 season with the first of four non-conference contests, beginning with a rematch against Norfolk State in Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.

The game will be nationally broadcast on ESPNU; check your local listings for station information. The ESPNU broadcast will also be online on WatchESPN, with Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker on the call. In addition, Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs will have the radio call on Towsontigers.com for William "Dick" Price Stadium in Norfolk.

Towson is coming off its first seven-win season since 2019, ending 2024 on a three-game winning streak at 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the Coastal Athletic Association. Norfolk State, now under the leadership of first-year head coach Michael Vick, finished 2024 going 4-8 overall and 2-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

This is the second-straight year where the Tigers and Spartans will meet in Norfolk and the third straight year playing. Towson won in Norfolk 28-23 on Oct. 12, 2024, with Norfolk State winning the previous season in Towson 21-14 on Sept. 23, 2023. With a 31-21 win on Nov. 24, 1984, Towson leads the all-time series 2-1.

Towson is playing its first Thursday game under Pete Shinnick's leadership. It is Towson's first Thursday game since the Tigers defeated UConn 33-18 on Aug. 29, 2013.

The Tigers begin the year with four non-conference games, including the first three away from home.

THIRD YEAR IN PETE SHINNICK ERA
Towson enters its third season under head coach Pete Shinnick in 2024. Under coach Shinnick, Towson has a 12-11 record, including three victories over then-top-15 teams, including a 34-27 win vs. then-#12/10 William & Mary on Oct. 5, 2024.

Towson has had five head coaches in program history: Carl Runk (1969-71), Phil Albert (1972-91), Gordy Combs (1992-2008), Rob Ambrose (2009-22) and Pete Shinnick (2023-pres.).

BRODIE, TERRY EARN PRESEASON ALL-CAA
Towson defensive backs Myles Brodie and Xavier Terry have been placed on the 2025 CAA Preseason All-Conference Team. In addition, two more Tigers, John Dunmore and Rodney Roane Jr., were chosen as CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Brodie was a 2024 All-CAA Third Team defensive back for Towson, having the team lead with two interceptions and nine pass break-ups. The redshirt senior cornerback added 44 tackles and had a four-game streak with at least one pass break-up.

Terry has been in the top-two for Towson in tackles in each of the past two seasons, including last year tallying up 82 tackles, five pass break-ups, an interception and two forced fumbles. The redshirt senior safety had at least four tackles in all 12 games last season.

In his first full year with the team in 2024, Dunmore was Towson's leader in receiving yards with 619 and receiving touchdowns with five. Also serving as a special teams returner, the redshirt senior wide receiver had at least 35 receiving yards in 10 games last year.

Roane played all 12 games at linebacker in 2024, finishing second on the team with four sacks, adding 58 tackles and five tackles for loss. The senior had at least three tackles in all 12 games last season.

IT'S TIME TO START RUNNING!
Towson will have new players carrying the ball with all running backs recording yards last year having departed, including Devin Matthews and Tyrell Greene Jr., who each averaged 6+ yards a carry in 2024.

Five running backs will compete for playing time, including two transfers: Al Wooten II from Duke and Trey Engram from Kansas State, and three true/redshirt freshmen, Kemarrion Battles, JaVon Ford II and Kahseim "Caddy" Phillips.

MOVING UP THE SACKS LIST
During the Shinnick era, Towson has caused more pressure on the quarterback with 33 sacks in 2024. With 29 sacks in 2023, Towson has had its top two sack totals in a season since 2013. Towson's six sacks vs. N.C. A&T on Nov. 16, 2024 ties the most amount in a game for the Tigers since having seven at Villanova on Oct. 27, 2012.

Season Sacks - Towson
2013 - 41 2019 - 22 (no 2020 season, COVID)
2014 - 28 2021 - 22
2015 - 22 2022 - 21
2016 - 20 2023 - 29
2017 - 26 2024 - 33
2018 - 23 2025 - 0

17 GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
17 Tigers are suiting up as college graduates, including 10 who earned a Towson degree.

Towson graduates (10) -
Myles Brodie CJ McClendon
Sean Brown Sam Reynolds
John Dunmore Mike Swain
Jean Germain Xavier Terry
Nathan Kent Kaden White

Graduates of other schools (7) -
Bryce Butler (Ohio) Shamar Graham (Virginia Union)
Carnell Davis (Duquesne) Myles Turner (UMass)
Wyatt Draeger (San Diego St.) Al Wooten (Duke, Mercer)
Ja'Mez Drummer (Old Dominion)

RECEIVER DEPTH
Towson has a lot of depth in those catching the football, returning three players who have at least 600 career receiving yards.

Player	2024 Stats	Career Stats
#19 Zay Perkins	14 rec., 143 yds	70 rec., 810 yds, 9 TD
#0 John Dunmore	42 rec., 619 yds, 5 TD	52 rec., 718 yds, 5 TD
#14 Lukkas Londono	12 rec., 148 yds	52 rec., 678 yds, 1 TD
#11 Jaceon Doss	29 rec., 450 yds, 3 TD	29 rec., 450 yds, 3 TD
#12 Sam Reynolds	16 rec., 222 yds, 1 TD	27 rec., 273 yds, 1 TD

TOWSON PICKED SIXTH IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
The Tigers were predicted to finish sixth in the league in the preseason coaches poll. Towson received 108 points in the poll. Defending CAA co-champion Rhode Island is predicted to finish first followed by Monmouth and Villanova.

2025 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes)
1. Rhode Island (8 first-place votes) 163
2. Monmouth (4 first-place votes) 142
3. Villanova (2 first-place votes) 139
4. Stony Brook 125
5. UNH 119
6. Towson 108
7. William & Mary 104
8. Elon 98
9. Maine 71
10. Campbell 53
11. Hampton 50
12. UAlbany 47
13. Bryant 32
14. North Carolina A&T 23

TIGERS IN THE PROS
Several Tigers have been competing in the professional ranks after their time with the Black & Gold.

Carter Runyon was competing for a spot on the Las Vegas Raiders after being signed as an undrafted free agent, being waived on the last day of the 53-man roster deadline. It is the second straight year where Towson has had an undrafted free agent signing, with Robert Javier signing with the Tennessee Titans in 2023.

Another Towson alum, Grant Udinski '19, will be the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. A 2018 CSC Academic All-America® First Team, he spent the last three years as assistant OC for the Minnesota Vikings.

In the CFL, Tibo Debaillie '21 is playing his fifth year as a professional, including season four with the BC Lions. The Belgium native has played 58 career games in the CFL.

Tigers in the Pros – 2025
National Football League
--Carter Runyon, Las Vegas Raiders (preseason camp)
--Nchabanu Fortaboh, Baltimore Ravens/New England Patriots (rookie invite)