2026 American Preseason Previews: UAB Blazers

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2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 American)

2025 postseason: did not qualify

UAB football returned from the ashes in 2017 and almost instantly became the standard of Conference USA. The Blazers appeared in three-straight CUSA title games from 2018-20 and captured two. From 2018-22, they claimed their first three bowl victories in program history, and it was the golden era of UAB football.

But the golden era succumbed to a halt when the Blazers moved to the American Conference. The conference realignment move coincided with the hire of new head coach Trent Dilfer, and UAB was unable to sustain its winning ways amidst the changes. The Blazers are 11-25 overall and 7-17 in conference play as a member of the American, as they search for a ladder to climb out of the conference’s cellar.

However, not all is dull in Blazer land. Last October, immediately after firing Dilfer and promoting Alex Mortensen to interim head coach, UAB staged a landmark upset over Memphis, marking the program’s fifth-ranked win in program history and first since 2021. That fateful afternoon played a factor in Mortensen securing the full-time head coaching position. And in 2026, he hopes to bring the program its first taste of success in the American.

Staff

Alex Mortensen prepares for his first-ever full capacity head coaching role. The former Arkansas Razorback quarterback spent nearly the entirety of his coaching life in the state of Alabama, holding graduate assistant and analyst positions at Alabama, operating as the wide receivers coach for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF, and eventually landing as UAB’s offensive coordinator in 2023. He finished 2-4 as the frontman in 2025, upsetting Memphis as three-touchdown underdogs in his first game and upending Tulsa by a touchdown in his last.

There is no offensive coordinator on staff and it is assumed Mortensen will retain offensive play-calling duties for the fourth-straight year. Elsewhere in the coordinator corner, John Jones remains the special teams coordinator for the second-straight year, while Todd Grantham takes over as defensive coordinator. Grantham has served as the DC at a multitude of stops, ranging from the Cleveland Browns (2005-07) at the pro level to Georgia (2010-13), Louisville (2014-16), Mississippi State (2017), Florida (2018-21), and Oklahoma State (2025) at the collegiate level.

There is strong continuity among the position coaches. Assistant head coach Lyle Henley, who oversees strength and conditioning, prepares for his 11th year on UAB’s staff — first arriving during the Blazers’ hiatus in 2016. Also, offensive line coach Matt McCants (sixth year on staff), tight ends coach Reilly Jeffers (fourth year on staff), running backs coach Danny Mitchell (fourth year on staff), pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach Kevin Garver (third year on staff), defensive line coach Sam Mills III (second year on staff), and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer (second year on staff) all retain their roles for 2026. Taking on a new duty is Gordon Steele was promoted from assistant offensive line coach to run game coordinator/offensive line coach.

Staff newcomers include inside linebackers coach Nigel Madison who previously served as a cornerbacks coach at Colorado State, cornerbacks coach Lionel Stokes who previously served as a defensive analyst at Michigan, and safeties coach Ryan McNamara who previously served as an assistant inside linebackers coach under Grantham at Oklahoma State.

Offense

• Key arrivals: RB Rod Robinson II, RB Bam McReynolds, RB Ja’Vin Simpkins, WR Ty Mims, WR CJ Smith, WR EJ Reid, WR KJ Daniels, TE Scott Isacks, G Cooper Young, OT Keyon Cox
• Key departures: QB Jalen Kitna, RB Jevon Jackson, RB Isaiah Jacobs, RB Solomon Beebe, WR Iverson Hooks, WR BJ Hawkins Jr., WR Corri Milliner, WR Xavier Daisy, TE Elijah Lagg, G Jondarius Morgan, OT Logan Moore, OT Brandon Sneh
• Key incumbents: QB Ryder Burton, QB Nate Rogers, WR Kaleb Brown, TE Antonio Ferguson, C Adam Lepkowski, G Calib Perez

UAB’s offense had its moments in 2025. The Blazers weren’t exactly assertive in the trenches, but the skill position players moved the ball quite well. They ranked top-50 in the nation by exceeding over 400 yards per game while boasting one of the FBS’s top-30 passing offenses.

Speaking of the passing game, while UAB does not return its main quarterback, the Blazers are confident in their starter. Former BYU and West Virginia transfer Ryder Burton started the famous Memphis game in October, delivering 251 yards and three touchdowns on a 20-of-27 showing. Burton made two starts in total, finishing the year with 708 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Every other quarterback on the roster is an original UAB recruit. The backup with the most experience is Nate Rogers, who ranked fourth on the team in rushing last year as a specialist in certain run-oriented packages.

Rogers is the team’s returning rushing leader. UAB rotated three tailbacks in 2025 — Jevon Jackson, Isaiah Jacobs, and Solomon Beebe — but not a single one returns this fall. The Blazers invested in the portal and landed Rod Robinson II, Bam McReynolds, and Ja’Vin Simpkins to concoct a new trio, with the headliner to be determined. Robinson attained 221 rushing yards in three years at Georgia with 90 percent of the production occurring in 2023. McReynolds posted 637 rushing yards at ULM last year and enters Birmingham with 1,306 in his career on a 5.3 average, previously thriving as a backup at South Alabama — while also playing a significant role in the receiving game. Rounding out the triumvirate is Simpkins who led Coastal Carolina with 591 rushing yards a year ago.

Wide receiver restructures as well as Kaleb Brown (fifth on the team with 255 receiving yards) is the top returning talent. Former Southern Miss receiver Ty Mims (97 receptions, 1,212 yards, 6 TD from 2022-24) is a potential starter alongside Brown after missing the entirety of 2025. Another transfer to watch is CJ Smith (Memphis). The Blazers also will test the potential of EJ Reid (Wake Forest) and KJ (Daniels), who have yet to corral a reception in their college careers. Other pass catchers include tight end Antonio Ferguson, who is second among returning receivers in yards at 115, and former Florida walk-on Scott Isacks.

Offensive line is the group which sees the most continuity. There are elements to improve after the Blazers tied for 111th by allowing 2.5 sacks per game. But the interior offers experience in the form of returning starting center Adam Lepkowski and seventh-year senior left guard Calib Perez. There will be a next-man-up mentality as UAB tests returning linemen such as Barry Walker, Kyrik Mason, Jaden Ligon, Nelson Ramirez, and Payton Kirkland for starting spots. Key transfers bolstering the line include tackle Keyon Cox and guard Cooper Young. Cox started one game at Oregon State last year and made occasional appearances at UCF in 2023 and 2024, while Young hasn’t seen action since 2023 at West Virginia after dealing with injuries the past two seasons.

Overall, UAB has an experienced running back room of transfers. The Blazers hope Ryder Burton can recapture that Memphis magic for a whole season, but the make-or-break factor in this offense is once again the o-line.

Defense

• Key arrivals: DE Noah Nelson, DE Blanche Gold, DE Marlin Dean, DE Elijah Hall, DT Cam Cunningham, DT Chris Spencer, ILB Muaaz Byard, OLB Ike Esowune, CB Darrell Sweeting, CB Que Billingsley, FS Jotavian Pierce, FS Jaylen Thompson, FS Anta’Veon McKenzie, SS Jeremiah Jordan
• Key departures: DE Amorie Morrison, DE Ezra Odinjor, DT Eamon Smalls, DT Jonathan Allen, DT Denver Warren, ILB Devin Hightower, OLB Tylan McNichols, OLB Eddy Toussom, CB Tariq Watson, CB T’Sai McDaniel, CB Tamarion Crumpley, FS AJ Brown, FS Pierre Royster, SS Sirad Bryant, SS Jeremiah Vessel
• Key incumbents: DE Chris Burge, DE J’Quan Mason, DT Kyle Mosley, CB Delvon Gulley, CB Isaiah Crozier

Simply put, there wasn’t much good involving UAB’s defense in 2025. The Blazers posted the second-worst scoring defense in the country allowing at least 24 points in all 12 contests, and that ultimately led to a shakeup at defensive coordinator. UAB ranked below 100 in most major statistics from yards allowed per game to sacks produced to takeaways to red zone defense, and they were especially bad on third downs, allowing the third-highest conversion rate in the FBS. The defense also finished bottom three in the nation in pass breakups and plays of 30+ yards surrendered.

While the offense is relying heavily on incumbent talent, the defense sees a near complete overhaul in the scheme and in the starting lineup. Scheme-wise, UAB is expected to shift from a 4-2-5 base to Grantham’s signature 3-4 multiple defense that he last implemented at Oklahoma State. Lineup-wise, cornerback Delvon Gulley (six starts in 2025) is the only Blazer on the 2026 roster to start at least half of last season’s games. Exactly 25 players registered 25 tackles last year, and Gulley, defensive end Chris Burge (the only player the exceed two sacks with a team-high 3.5), and defensive tackle Kyle Mosley are the only other returning UAB players from that subset.

Thus, the starting lineup will be heavily transfer driven. The defensive line features new ends Noah Nelson (Georgia State), Elijah Hall (Liberty), and Tylin Jackson (FCS Eastern Washington) and new tackles Chris Spencer (Old Dominion), Cam Cunningham (FCS Youngstown State), and Raymond Macias (FCS Campbell). Besides Burge, other returning reserves expected to play larger roles on the defensive line include J’Quan Mason and Kyle Mosley.

The linebacker corps loses its star and leading tackler Devin Hightower but reloads with Oklahoma State transfer Ike Esonwune (30 tackles in 2025) and Middle Tennessee transfer Muaaz Byard (younger brother of three-time NFL First Team All-Pro safety Kevin Byard), as well as edge rushers Blanche Gold (a First Team All-MEAC selection at FCS Morgan State) and Marlin Dean (21 tackles for Georgia State last year).

New pieces in the secondary include cornerbacks Darrell Sweeting (Marshall) and Que Billingsley (FCS Gardner-Webb) and safeties Jeremiah Jordan (Memphis), Jotavian Pierce (Oklahoma State), Anta’Veon McKenzie (FCS Sacramento State), Jaylen Thompson (Memphis), and Diezel Wilkinson (FCS Montana). Outside of Pierce, there is plenty of in-game experience across this remodeled defensive back room, especially among the rising FCS transfers. Among the FBS additions, Sweeting had the most productive 2025 campaign, tallying 37 tackles and an interception in Sun Belt territory. Additionally, Thompson arrives game-ready with three starts under his belt, last suiting up at Michigan State in 2024.

From a staff, scheme, and player perspective, it’s almost a full-scale defensive rebuild, but UAB needed it after surrendering north of 38 points per game in 2025.

Special Teams

• Key arrivals: P Badger Hargett, KR/PR Ty Mims
• Key departures: P Patrick Foley, KR Solomon Beebe, PR Iverson Hooks
• Key incumbents: K Jonah Delange, KR Amari Brundidge, PR Kaleb Brown

UAB operates with a former Lou Groza Award semifinalist on special teams. Senior kicker Jonah Delange reached stardom levels in 2024, claiming the American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year award while finishing 21-of-24 on field goals and 100 percent on extra points. Delange didn’t replicate those numbers in 2025, but he had significantly fewer reps. He finished 10-of-14 last year for a Blazer team that had an affinity to go for fourth downs (12th-most attempts in the country).

Other returning faces to the special teams unit include kick returner Amari Brundidge and punt returner Kaleb Brown, who were both the secondary options at those positions in 2025. One transfer that offers both skills is Ty Mims. At Southern Miss, Mims returned 31 punts and 13 kickoffs, scoring on an 82-yard punt return in 2023 vs. Old Dominion.

Another specialist arriving from the portal is Badger Hargett to replace Patrick Foley at punter. Hargett transferred to UAB after three seasons at LSU where he did not record a single punt. The only other punter on the roster is true freshman Carson Tinsley, so the group enters 2026 with zero collegiate attempts.

Schedule and outlook

* denotes non-conference game

Is this the year UAB finally gets over the 4-8 hump? The Blazers haven’t been bowl eligible, or even come within a game of bowl eligibility, since making the transition from CUSA to the American. To check that box off in 2026, Alex Mortensen’s team will need a strong non-conference showing, and it’s a doable schedule.

A road trip to Illinois on Thursday night of Week 1 will be challenging, but the following matchups vs. ULM and FCS Samford at home, as well as Louisiana on the road, present opportunities for the Blazers to make noise. Their conference slate might be challenging as six of the eight American opponents posted winning records in 2025. However, UAB proved last year against Memphis an upset could be ripe for the picking any time, and the Blazers could sneak a win against one of the conference’s preseason favorites.

The schedule also features several opportunities for great exposure. UAB hosts Navy on Friday, Sept. 25 and East Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 15, and both games at Protective Stadium will be televised by ESPN.

It’s a very balanced schedule, alternating road games and home games nearly every week of the season with a bye week sandwiched comfortably in mid-October. With schedule balance, a favorable non-conference slate, and high-profile primetime matchups at home, the ingredients are in the kitchen for UAB to improve its record. Can the Blazers utilize these ingredients to their full potential and deliver a bowl worth consuming? Time willt eel.

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