‘Substantially more talented’: Poggi optimistic heading into Charlotte 49ers Fall Camp

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE ) — With a new season comes new opportunities for the Charlotte football team. The 49ers are looking to turn the corner in 2024 after a 3-9 campaign in Biff Poggi’s debut season at the helm.

Even though the Niners are just one practice in, Poggi has a different kind of optimism about his 2024 squad given the offseason work they put in.

“This team has a completely different feel emotionally, behaviorally, with more mental and emotional toughness than last year’s team,” said Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi. “It is a substantially more talented football team.”

Donning his signature cutoff shirt, Poggi roamed the field Friday morning as his team began to lay the foundation for the upcoming season. Of the 120 players currently on the 49er roster, just over 40 joined the program via the transfer portal.

One of the standouts is the man who is calling the shots on offense. Max Brown traded his Florida blue and orange for Charlotte’s green and gold after transferring to the program last December. After playing in just six games across two seasons with the Gators, the former three-star recruit is excited to be back in a leadership role.

“Being able to understand that you’re a leader and guys look up to you is what you want,” said Charlotte quarterback Max Brown. “Any time you get a chance to be a leader is a great honor and great for our team.”

“All you need to do is put his Florida State film on and his Missouri film and if you can’t figure that out in about five snaps then you’re a moron,” Poggi said about his quarterback. “I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed but I can figure that out. He just needed a chance, that’s all.”

Poggi certainly with plenty of confidence in his new starting quarterback.

Another big development from day one of camp is that former Carolina Panthers interim head coach and Charlotte native Steve Wilks will have a role with the Charlotte 49er program. Biff Poggi said his role is untitled, but that Wilks will ‘be around.’

With the first practice in the books, the 49ers have 19 more to go in training camp. Charlotte’s first test this fall will come at home on Saturday, August 31 against James Madison.

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