KENT, Ohio -- Second-year Kent State head coach Sean Lewis is counting on the continued development of his program and another recruiting class to infuse the Golden Flashes roster with speed and impact players to rise as a contender within the MAC East Division.  Lewis, who was named Kent State’s head coach on Dec. 21, 2017 and remains the youngest head football coach in FBS at 33 years of age.
 
Kent State returns 45 letterwinners and 14 starters (8 offense, 6 defense) from last year’s team that finished 2-10 overall, including 1-7 in the MAC.  Kent State will once again have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in FBS as the Flashes open the season at Arizona State (Pac-12) on Aug. 29, travel to Auburn (SEC) on Sept. 14 and Wisconsin (Big-Ten) on Oct. 5.  Kent State opens the home portion of the schedule with Kennesaw State at Dix Stadium on Sept. 7.
 
Offensively, the success of the Flashes rests on second-year starting quarterback Woody Barrett.  A native of Orlando, Fla., Barrett started all 12 games last season for Kent State and threw for 2,239 yards on 229-390 passing (58.7%) and 11 touchdowns, while adding 503 yards rushing and seven scores.  Barrett ranked fifth in the MAC last season in total offense (2,842) and set the single-season school record with his 229 completions.  His targets at wide receiver include senior Mike Carrigan, with 597 yards and five touchdowns last season, junior Antwan Dixon, who posted 532 yards and two scores in 2018, and sophomore Isaiah McCoy, who added 432 yards and four touchdowns last season.  Paving the way are four returning offensive linemen – left tackle Bryce Gibbs, left guard Julian Sams, center Nate Warnock and right guard Nathan Monnin – which should bode well for the Kent State offense.
 
Defensively, senior graduate linebacker Matt Bahr, who collected 91 tackles and three sacks last season, junior linebacker Kesean Gamble, who added 39 tackles in 2018, and senior defensive end Nick Faulkner, who posted 36 tackles and five tackles for loss last year, will be counted on to make plays in Lewis’ 3-4 defensive scheme.  Senior defensive back Jamal Parker, who had 83 tackles and two interceptions last season, junior corner K.J. Sherald, who contributed 91 tackles and six passes defensed in 2018, and junior safety Elvis Hines, who added 41 tackles and seven passes defensed last year, are expected to lead the secondary.  
 
Aug.
29         at Arizona State, 10:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Networks)
Sep.
7          Kennesaw, Noon ET (ESPN3)
14         at Auburn, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
21         *Bowling Green, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
Oct.
5          at Wisconsin, TBA (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU)
12         *at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
19         *at Ohio
26         *Miami
Nov.
5          *at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
14         *Buffalo, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
23         *Ball State
29         *at Eastern Michigan, TBA