2026 Kent State University Depth Chart

Kent State faces significant quarterback uncertainty entering 2026. CJ Montes, a Fordham transfer who won the starting job in 2025 with his all-conference pedigree (2,997 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just one interception at Fordham), was lost to injury during the season. Meanwhile, former multi-year starter Devin Kargman has transferred to Maryland. The result is a quarterback room in flux, and it may take the entire spring and fall camp to determine who takes the reins under head coach Mark Carney. This uncertainty effectively eliminates Kent State’s passing game from fantasy relevance in the near term.

The running back room represents the strongest position group on the roster. Kent State bolstered its backfield through recruiting, headlined by incoming freshman Jackson Farley from Mentor High School, who rushed for 1,589 yards and 26 touchdowns as a high school senior. While freshman production is always unpredictable, Farley’s combination of volume and scoring ability in high school suggests he could compete for early touches. The returning backs will also factor in, but this is a group without a proven lead-back option at the FBS level.

Kent State has struggled mightily in recent seasons, and the 2026 roster reflects a program in full rebuild under Carney. The coaching staff added former Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim as the running backs coach, which could aid development. However, the overall offensive talent level and schedule difficulty make this a team with very limited fantasy appeal outside of the deepest dynasty leagues. Track the quarterback competition, but don’t expect immediate fantasy production.