Ryan Beard takes over a program that went 6-6 in Tim Beck's final season, and he inherits a roster that looks bottom-tier across the board in offense, defense, and special teams. The most pressing job is at quarterback, where Tad Hudson is gone to NC State and Samari Collier also left in the portal, leaving the new signal-caller to be determined out of an open competition. The receiving corps takes a hit too, with Cameron Wright gone, but Coastal restocked at that spot by adding Tristian Gardner from Missouri State, the transfer class's most productive addition, along with Clayton Coppock from Kennesaw State and running back Daelen Alexander from Rice. Overall the roster churn was significant — 43 departures against 30 arrivals — and the offensive continuity is especially thin, with quarterback return share at zero and only 30% of targets back, even as the offensive line returns the bulk of its snaps.

JP+ projects 5.0 wins, a number shaped heavily by the uncertainty at quarterback and the lack of proven playmakers returning outside a stable offensive line. The schedule doesn't do Beard any favors early or late, with road trips to West Virginia, James Madison, and Marshall representing the toughest tests, while home dates with Old Dominion and Fordham, plus a trip to Georgia State, offer the clearest paths to wins. If the QB competition produces a legitimate playmaker and Gardner translates his portal production immediately, this group could stabilize faster than the outside numbers suggest. If not, a rebuilt receiving corps and a first-time head coach could mean a slow start while the pieces settle into place.