URI football gets good news to start the new year. What is it?
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Devin Farrell and Marquis Buchanan will return to the University of Rhode Island football program for the 2026 season.
The standout duo at quarterback and wide receiver made it official via social media Friday morning, a filmed phone call with coach Jim Fleming that immediately started racking up views on social media.
Fleming was about to enter the school’s athletic training facility when Farrell’s face popped up from his car in his native Atlanta. The redshirt junior made his announcement and conferenced in Buchanan to deliver more good news.
“This makes my new year 100% happier,” Fleming said. “And I’m dead serious. You guys have contributed so many great things to this program.”
🐏🏈⚓️💙👀#3MoreFeetpic.twitter.com/8AKxvnlB8W
— Rhody Football (@RhodyFootball) January 2, 2026
Farrell threw for 3,745 yards in 2025, the third most in a single season with the program. He also became the fifth quarterback with the Rams to surpass 5,000 career passing yards and completed 65% of his attempts. Farrell will enter his third year as the starter after a transfer from Virginia Tech.
“I’m staying,” Farrell said. “There’s no other place like Rhody.”
Buchanan is at the forefront of the in-state talent base that has helped URI capture at least a share of the last two Coastal Athletic Association titles. The former multi-sport standout at Classical led the FCS ranks with 1,337 receiving yards in 2025, his second straight year cracking the 1,000 mark. Buchanan was named an All-American by multiple media outlets and declined to pursue possible FBS opportunities in his last college season.
“I know how the recruiting thing goes – they tell you one thing, and then it doesn’t necessarily happen,” Buchanan said in an interview with The Journal later Friday. “I only have one season left. I don’t have time to go to a school and then not have it work out.”
Buchanan noted the reversal made by AJ Peña last spring, the standout outside linebacker who spent a semester at Memphis before returning to the Rams and completing his eligibility. Peña finished as the all-time leader at URI in sacks and tackles for loss while helping them to consecutive FCS playoff berths for the first time since the 1980s. Buchanan opted for that same security instead of the uncertainty that would come with joining a different program next fall.
“I wasn’t really trying to be in any type of limited role going forward,” Buchanan said. “I just felt it was best to stay where I’m at and know what they’ve got going for me.”
Buchanan said he had a meeting with Fleming prior to the holiday break, but there was no real extra recruiting pitch made by the staff to retain him. The Rams gave him time to explore his options and arrive at his own decision, something Buchanan appreciated. The relationship between him and the coaching staff is the strongest it’s been since he committed to URI after a dominant football and basketball career with the Purple.
“[Fleming] kind of just gave me space to make a decision on my own,” Buchanan said. “Then once I told him I was ready, he was all ears and ready to talk.
“They didn’t push me into doing anything. They were supportive of everything that was going on.”
Buchanan said the chance to play with Farrell again was also a significant factor. The Rams currently feature one of their best quarterback-pass catcher duos since Tom Ehrhardt and Brian Forster tormented opposing defenses on those 1984 and 1985 postseason qualifiers. Ehrhardt and Forster still hold multiple program records four decades later, and some of those could come under threat if Farrell and Buchanan continue to connect at their current level.
“I know what Devin is capable of and how much work he’s put in and how much work we’ve put in together these last two seasons,” Buchanan said. “We definitely want to make this last season even more magical.”
Multiple URI players have announced expected departures via social media since an FCS playoff loss to UC Davis in early December. Wide receiver Greg Gaines III, tight ends Kevin Schaeffer and Jeremy Caspe and backup quarterback Conner Kenyon are all exploring their options away from Kingston. Gaines was another primary threat in the passing game, and Kenyon was a capable backup to Farrell, finishing off a 38-10 win over Hampton that delivered the program a first outright CAA championship.
“We have the same goal as last year,” Buchanan said. “We believe we have a national championship team.”
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: URI football's Devin Farrell, Marquis Buchanan will be back in 2026
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