Athletics

Charlotte 49ers record-breaking running back Benny LeMay has earned a spot among The Sporting News’ Top 25 College Running Backs headed into the 2019 season.

LeMay ranked second in Conference USA and 20th in the FBS with a 103.6 rushing average in 2018. The second team all-C-USA choice ran for 1,243 yards, becoming the first 49er to rush for 1,000 yards at the FBS level. He scored 11 touchdowns, the most by a 49er at the FBS level and set a school record with four rushing touchdowns vs. FIU. 

The Charlotte 49ers had a record eight players named to the Athlon Sports preseason all-Conference USA teams. Five earned first team honors, second-most in the league.

Prolific running back Benny LeMay and offensive line anchor Cam Clark were named first team all-offense. Havoc-wreaking defensive end Alex Highsmith and safety Ben DeLuca were named first team all-defense. Standout sophomore kicker Jonathan Cruz was named a first team specialist.

The Charlotte 49ers Athletic Foundation will host the 36th annual Great Gold Rush Auction, Saturday, June 1, in Halton Arena, located in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.

The Charlotte men’s and women’s programs both won gold, being crowned the 2019 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Track and Field Champions at the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center on Sunday, May 12. This is the first time since joining C-USA that both the men’s and women’s programs have won the Outdoor Conference Championship in the same season.

Judy Rose, a trailblazer in her field who helped elevate the Charlotte 49ers to great heights during her longtime career, will be one of eight athletic directors inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) at the organization’s 54th annual convention, June 12.     
    

Nate Davis’ NFL dreams are coming true. The Charlotte 49ers offensive lineman was taken in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans; he was the 82nd pick overall.

A Stone Bridge High School graduate from Ashburn, Virginia, Davis becomes the second 49er to be selected in the NFL Draft in the past three years. Cleveland Browns starting defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi was a third-round choice (65th pick) in 2017.

The Sept. 28 football game against Florida Atlantic University will be Homecoming, and the Nov. 2 game against Middle Tennessee State University will be Family Weekend.

The 49ers will feature the following theme days during the 2019 football season:

The Charlotte 49ers annual Green-White Spring Football Game is scheduled for 4 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

UNC Charlotte, in conjunction with the University of South Carolina, will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in Halton Arena:

Friday, March 22
          South Carolina vs. Belmont 1:45 p.m.

          Florida State vs. Bucknell 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 24
         Time to be determined after Friday’s games

Cody Woodiel has been hired as the Charlotte 49ers football tight ends coach. He was an offensive graduate assistant at the University of Oregon for the past two years and has seven years of coaching experience.

Prior to Oregon, the Troy University alumnus coached at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi and at his alma mater. Woodiel, who played tackle, guard and tight end in college, has coached with the offensive line at each of his stops.