9-04-2026 4:04am

TU VISITS

By David Vatz

Towson Football Meets Navy on Saturday at State Capital

The Game: Towson (0-1, 0-0 CAA) at Navy (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
When: Sat., Sept. 5 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium – Annapolis, Md.
TV Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
----Broadcasters: Chris Lewis (PxP), Randy Cross (Analyst), Brandon Baylor (sideline)
Audio Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: Navy leads 1-0

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Towson University football team heads to the state capital of Annapolis for the first of two consecutive games against FBS teams, beginning against Navy on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network; check your local listings for channel information. Chris Lewis, Randy Cross and Brandon Baylor will have the call live from the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. In addition, Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs will have the radio call on Towsontigers.com.

Towson, from the Coastal Athletic Association, began its season with a 21-18 defeat vs. Maine on August 27 after being 6-6 overall in 2025. Navy, from the American Athletic Conference, is playing in its 2026 opener on Saturday, coming off an 11-2 overall and 7-1 league campaign last year. Navy is receiving votes in the FBS AP and AFCA Coaches Polls.

On August 30, 2008, Towson played its first-ever game against an FBS opponent, taking on Navy in the lone meeting all-time between the two programs. Navy took the victory 41-13. Not including the COVID year of 2020-21, Towson has played a least one FBS opponent each year since 2008.

Towson will next play at South Carolina for its second straight game against an FBS team on Saturday, Sept. 12.

This is the first of two scheduled games for Towson at Navy, with the next coming on Aug. 31, 2030.

FOURTH YEAR IN PETE SHINNICK ERA
Towson enters its fourth season under head coach Pete Shinnick in 2025. Under coach Shinnick, Towson has earned three victories over then-top-15 teams and has finished at least .500 in CAA play in each of his first three years.

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.).

THREE TIGERS RECOGNIZED IN CAA PRESEASON AWARDS
Three players were recognized in the CAA Preseason Honors, led by KJ Brooks being CAA Preseason All-Conference while each Andrew Indorf and Daniel Anderla being CAA Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention. All three are honored with preseason league awards for the first time.

Brooks, a former FCS Freshman All-American in 2023, has been Towson's primary player at right tackle for the past three seasons. In 2025, the senior from Olney, Maryland started all 12 games for the Tigers, having starts at right tackle, left guard and left tackle.

Indorf, the 2025 CAA Co-Rookie of the Year, was Towson's starting quarterback in all 12 games last year, throwing 59.6% for 2,344 yards, 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions, helping Towson have the fewest interceptions among CAA teams.

Anderla worked as Towson's long snapper in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Towson's kicker and punter each were all-conference honorees last season, including Caden Williams setting a Towson football single season record for best field goal percentage at 88.2%.

CHESTNUT NAMED CAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Seth Chestnut was selected as the CAA Rookie of the Week after leading the Tigers in tackles with seven and tackles for loss with 1.5 in the Week 0 contest vs. Maine. Four of his seven tackles came in the fourth quarter.

THE 2025 STARTING QUARTERBACK RETURNS
Andrew Indorf, the 2025 CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year and Jerry Rice Award finalist, has returned to Towson as the presumptive starting quarterback for 2026. Indorf is set to be the first Towson quarterback to be the primary starter in back-to-back years since Tom Flacco was a two-year starter in 2018-19.

Indorf was the first Towson player to be a CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year since Shane Simpson in 2016 and the first to be a Jerry Rice Award finalist since Mason Woods in 2022.

The sophomore will have a new receiver group to work with this year with Towson returning 20.9% (589 of 2,813) of its receiving yards from 2025. Cleveland Charlton leads all returning receivers with 12 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.

HELP WANTED
Among a combined 22 starters from last season (offense/defense), Towson returns just three, all being on offense: quarterback Andrew Indorf and offensive linemen KJ Brooks and Joden Nelson.

CAPTAINS AT THE READY
Shinnick named Shamir Boyd, KJ Brooks, Andrew Indorf, Ben Kumpon, Matthieu Longa and Joden Nelson as permanent captains for the 2026 campaign.

REINFORCEMENTS INCOMING
Towson has brought in 53 new players for 2026, including 27 true freshmen and 26 transfers. They add to the 52 returners for a 105-man roster.

Newcomers:
--Offense: 16 freshmen, nine transfers (25 returners)
--Defense: 10 freshmen, 16 transfers (24 returners)
--Special Teams: One freshman, one transfer (three returners)

Of Towson's 105 players, 69 have played just at Towson and 36 are transfers.

FRESHMEN FORTHCOMING
Towson brought in 26 true freshmen for this season after bringing in 27 true freshman last year. The 2025 freshmen class ties the largest freshmen class at Towson since 2014. Including 23 true freshmen brought in for 2024, Coach Shinnick has had three of the largest four freshmen classes at Towson since 2014, with 26 freshmen brought in for 2017. Of the 26 freshmen for 2026, 14 come from the home state of Maryland.

TOWSON PICKED SIXTH IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
The Tigers were predicted to finish sixth in the league in the preseason coaches poll. Towson received 93 points in the poll. Defending CAA co-champion Rhode Island is predicted to finish first followed by Monmouth and Elon.
2026 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes)
1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes) 144
2. Monmouth 119
3. Elon 115
4. New Hampshire 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote) 105
6. Towson 93
7. Maine 88
8. Campbell 56
9. Bryant 50
10. Sacred Heart 49
11. UAlbany 35
12. North Carolina A&T 28
13. Hampton 26

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

Carter Runyon was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, being elevated to the active roster on Sept. 28 and making his pro debut vs. the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 5. He played 13 games for the Raiders last season.

In addition, three former Tigers currently serve as coordinators in the NFL. Grant Udinski '19 returns as the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator while Brian Fleury '02 is now the new offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and Brian Duker '11 is the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets.

In the CFL, Tibo Debaillie '21 is playing his sixth year as a professional, including season five with the BC Lions. The Belgium native has played 73 career regular season games in the CFL.

Tigers in the Pros – 2026
National Football League
--Carter Runyon, TE: Las Vegas Raiders
--Coordinators:
--Brian Duker, New York Jets defensive coordinator
--Brian Fleury, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
--Grant Udinski, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator

Canadian Football League
--Tibo Debaillie, DL: BC Lions

Indoor Football League
--Tyrell Greene Jr., RB: San Diego Strike Force
--Tye Smith, DB: Orlando Pirates (injured)