Like any newly announced head coach, the first week, if not month, is bound to be a whirlwind. And it’s been nothing short of that for Charlotte’s new head football coach Tim Albin, who was introduced Monday afternoon in Halton Arena.
But as the dust settles and the transition from Ohio to Charlotte commences, Albin’s priority list is taking shape, and it now features recruiting the quarterback position after standout freshman DeShawn Purdie entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.
After throwing for 1,802 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine appearances as a true freshman, the 6-foot-4 signal-caller joined season-opening starter Max Brown in the portal, pushing the 49ers’ exit total past 35.
Leaving just Trexler Ivey as the lone scholarship quarterback not in the portal, Albin’s first reported scholarship offer was extended to junior college transfer quarterback Zack Wilcke, who started his career at Southern Mississippi, kickstarting a season of change in Charlotte.
Albin stated that he hoped to have a portion of his staff in place by the end of the week, and his first priority is clear — retain the roster. But with a litany of current 49ers insisting interim head coach Tim Brewster take the reins of the program following Biff Poggi’s firing, Albin is facing an uphill battle.
“Recruiting this roster is where you’ve got to start. We don’t want a mass exodus. We’re starting here first,” Albin said.
Charlotte 49ers quarterback Deshawn Purdie drops back to pass to a receiver during action against South Florida on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Jerry Richardson Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Purdie, along with the entire starting offensive line and five of the six tailbacks that saw action in 2024 have officially entered the portal, garnering interest from a wide range of programs, headlined by multiple Power Four programs coveting the freshman signal-caller.
On Monday, Albin met with the team and shared his vision for the program’s future. He called for buy-in from the players, stating that his goal is to avoid a mass departure.
“Regarding this roster, that’s still kind of in progress. I’ve seen a little bit of film, but I’ve been busy,” Albin said, just days after a 38-3 victory over Miami (Ohio) in the MAC Championship. “I went in there and said, ‘Look, guys. I’m not here to rebuild and clean house. We want you all here If you buy in, we’re going to get this thing done.’”
But as the dominoes begin to fall, it’s clear that yet again, the Charlotte 49ers will look completely different when they take the field at Bank of America Stadium against Appalachian State in August.
Albin’s coaching staff
According to Albin, a successful offense is centered around the rushing attack. But he knows that good quarterback play is the key to winning games, and he talked about a signal-caller with a big frame and the ability to push the ball down the field while using his legs to keep plays alive.
“The big thing for us is that you have to find a way to run the football. Offensively, everything goes through the run game — your play-action, your shot plays. And you’ve got to have some tempo fast-balls. Everything goes through the quarterback, which we all know, but we’re going to start it with the offensive line – and a really talented quarterback who can create his feet. He’s got to be able to move out of the way sometimes, and then you’ve got to have some designed things in the run game.”
While Albin is working through player meetings and addressing the 2025 roster, the futures of the staff members from the Biff Poggi era are still up in the air, although coordinators Ryan Osborn and Mike Miller will not return next season.
“We have no direction of when we talk to (Albin) or not,” a current football staff member told The Observer.
Despite being known for his offensive prowess, spending 16 years as offensive coordinator for the Bobcats, Albin doesn’t plan to call plays in Charlotte. The two-time MAC coach of the year attempted to call plays in his first season as head coach, following Frank Solich’s retirement ahead of the 2021 season
And while some of the most successful coaches across college football and the NFL call their plays on offense, that’s not Albin’s mentality.
“I think it’s a group effort,” Albin said of calling plays. “One of the lessons I learned, trying to be play call and be a head coach — tough to do. Some guys do it, but it didn’t fit. I’ve walked in those shoes and learned from that. Once the game plan is put together, any of them can call it. I save my comments for between series. Sometimes, I burn hot on game day. But as far as me taking that challenge on, no – I’ve done that and learned from it.”