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Previewing Monmouth football vs NC A&T with league title in sight | Exclusive
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- Previewing Monmouth football vs NC A&T with league title in sight | Exclusive
WEST LONG BRANCH -- This past weekend's 34-21 win over Bryant was a momentous occasion for Monmouth football and in particular for the team's standout cornerback Omar Ibrahim, who had his first interception of the season as the Hawks ' secondary as a whole stifled the Bulldogs, holding them to just 39 passing yards through the first three quarters.
It was just the latest successful one-week season within the broader scope of Monmouth's 2026 campaign, but also a reminder of how far Ibrahim has come in the grand scheme of his collegiate career. Just one year earlier, the former high school standout at Union wasn't even sure if he wanted to keep playing football.
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"Just from where I came from last year, I really went through a lot last year," Ibrahim said. "I'll be honest, I genuinely thought about just not playing no more after last year and everything that I went through. And shout out to Coach (Kamau) Dumas—him and, rest in peace, Louis (DiRienzo). They really believed in me and really looked at me, seeing the potential that I had in me."
Monmouth corner Omar Ibrahim's interception that was called back because of pass interference. Western Michigan football beat Monmouth 49-14 on Sept. 12.
Ibrahim is in his first year with the Hawks, joining the program as a transfer after spending last year at Temple and the previous two years at Hampton. As he's found success individually on the football field, he said he's also found more fulfillment within a team dynamic that is unlike any he experienced in prior stops across the football landscape.
"I went through a lot last year and even obviously my first two years at Hampton. Just going from Hampton and then coming up to Temple and even coming here—the transfer portal is very detrimental mentally. I'm big into mental health and especially athletes' mental health because I went through it and I know how it feels," he said.
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Ibrahim's story is a reminder of the catharsis of this year's campaign, and the various ways that feeling emanates across this year's tight-knit group of players. As impressive as the team's recent stretch has been, it's their mental clarity that is becoming a defining trait as a collective.
Monmouth linebacker Ryan Russo makes a diving sack. Monmouth football beat Bryant 31-24 on Oct. 31 in West Long Branch, NJ.
As FCS No. 14 Monmouth (7-2) enters the final month of the regular season, they've come a long way to be the last team standing with an unblemished record in league play. The cathartic energy is rooted in the memory of how last year's season ended in acrimony. Now, this year's Monmouth team is just one win away from having the opportunity to play for a CAA conference title in the season finale.
The only thing standing in the way is this week's home matchup with North Carolina A&T (4-5). But as the stakes are raised by Monmouth's success, the Hawks' mantra of one-week seasons are increasingly intertwined with the fate of the entire season. The challenge for the team remains the same.
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"It plays into the performance over perception," Monmouth head coach Jeff Gallo said. "I don't care what people say about us—good, bad or indifferent. It's how we play. We have the final narrative."
As they have over the course of their six-game win streak, the Hawks will aim to shape their narrative decisively against an NC A&T team that has been surging recently and comes into the matchup riding their own three-game win streak. And beyond that, the Aggies have won four of their last five and the lone loss was a one-point defeat to Bryant on the road.
How to watch Bryant at Monmouth football
When:Saturday 12 p.m. ET
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Where:Kessler Stadium at Monmouth University
TV/streaming:FloSports
Monmouth running back Kenny Smith Jr. takes off out of the wildcat formation. Monmouth football beat Bryant 31-24 on Oct. 31 in West Long Branch, NJ.
The Hawks have dominated the only two prior matchups between the two sides, winning 63-19 last year. But this is a new-look A&T team that will present new challenges. For one thing, they've shown plenty of grit in prevailing tight wins, most recently beating Elon 13-10.
"They have good special teams. They won field position last week, which is a big part of the game. The quarterback can throw it. He can throw the ball from the pocket. He's very good on the run as a scrambler, so he extends some third downs that way, but can throw the ball. Good outside receiver, good slot receiver, tailbacks are solid," Gallo said. "You've got to do a great job of coverage and getting the quarterback on the ground."
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Key to that will be the continued success of Ibrahim, who has emerged as Monmouth's top cover man this fall. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound redshirt junior is a physical corner with length and great ball skills, but his kryptonite can be a tendency to get overaggressive and grabby with receivers, occasionally drawing penalties. On Tuesday, he was wearing boxing gloves in practice to try to break that habit without ever losing his competitive edge.
"I think the biggest thing is confidence for me. And I think the confidence comes from just my coaches, staff and the players around me. And especially my position coach, Coach Dumas. I don't even know how to repay him for everything he's done for me this year," Ibrahim said. "We're physical corners. We like putting hands on people and stuff like that. The biggest thing for me is like, what can I do to stop this guy's momentum or delaying the timing from the quarterback to the receiver? Because everything in the pass game is timing. So if I'm able to disrupt your timing and then give the guys upfront time to get to the quarterback, that's a big thing."
The timing, literally and metaphorically, is dialed in for Ibrahim entering the home stretch of the season. Saturday is community and youth day at Kessler Field, but it's also an opportunity to honor Louis DiRienzo, Monmouth's defensive coordinator who died suddenly in late-June just a month before fall camp began. He laid the foundation for the culture that has allowed Ibrahim to flourish.
Monmouth running back Elijah Jennings battles through contact. Monmouth football beat Bryant 31-24 on Oct. 31 in West Long Branch.
"We've got the tightest team in the country, respectfully," Ibrahim said. "Everybody gets treated the same, you know what I'm saying? The coaches, staff, even the guys down on scout team, none of the coaches treat them like that. Everybody gets treated like they're a starter. And even besides the football at the end of the day, we all can come back and look back at this. However this season's gonna go, we all can comeback and look at this season as—we did something this year. And especially, rest in peace, Louis D. He was one of the biggest reasons why I just kept going."
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As the team's culture is in the spotlight with a chance to win a conference title and make the FCS playoffs, there is a lot to look forward to. But it simply isn't possible not to look back on how the Hawks got to this moment, and the legacy they're trying to leave.
"With him being gone, I can't let him down," Ibrahim said. "We went through a lot compared to anybody in the country, and I think that speaks to us on how we're handling it. And we know that nobody else has been through what we've been through. And look how far we've come."
A&T offense is feast or famine on big pass plays
As their past two wins in particular demonstrates, the Aggies are primarily a team built around steady defensive play. By contrast, the offense is reliant on generating explosive plays in the passing game to produce points as they are not very consistent or efficient. The North Carolina A&T offense is 99th in the FCS in scoring (19.4 points per game) and 100th in total yardage.
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Redshirt junior quarterback Kevin White (6-foot and 180 pounds) is an athletic dual threat that epitomizes the team's ability to generate splashy plays while lacking overall consistency. In nine games, he is 110-for-206 (53.4%) on passing attempts for 1,357 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions plus another 234 yards and a score on the ground.
The Aggies have two primary receiving options, the most notable for Monmouth is 6-4 and 190-pound redshirt sophomore Michael Carlock-Williams. He leads the team with 385 yards on 22 catches with five touchdowns, the face of the team's ability to generate explosive plays with all of his scores coming in the past four games. Senior Elijah Kennedy (5-11, 180) is the more steady target with 40 catches for 372 yards and four touchdowns.
Amori McNeil celebrates after his pick six for the Hawks. Monmouth football beat Towson 41-30 on Oct. 3.
The run game simply hasn't been a strength for A&T. White is the second-leading rusher as the team's quarterback, and redshirt senior JT Smith is the top running back with 405 yards and one touchdown on 104 attempts.
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One major key for Monmouth is containing the big receiver Carlock-Williams, the type of player who has caused the Hawks' defense problems in the past. The improvement of Ibrahim, and the promising showing last week against Bryant, are signs that they'll be ready for the challenge.
The other key will be limiting the scrambles of White, which was the difference in the Aggies win over Elon last week as he totaled a season-high 97 rushing yards. Scrambles have been an Achilles heel for the Hawks, and the defensive line will need to have great pass rush lane integrity and containment.
Monmouth's outsized run game is strength vs. weakness
North Carolina A&T has shown the ability to play stout defense, particularly in the Aggies' last two wins over Elon and Chicago State. But the latter is a program in its first year of existence, and prior to that A&T allowed 27 points in a win over New Hampshire and 31 in a loss to Bryant.
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That isn't to say the Aggies shouldn't be underestimated, but their defense has shown vulnerability in the run game. That's a daunting matchup against Monmouth's rushing attack that ranks 15 in the FCS and is coming off a 319-yard performance in the win over Bryant. The star tandem of Elijah Jennings and Kenny Smith Jr. should be able to replicate that showing against the 61st-ranked rushing defense of A&T.
But there is a key variable that Monmouth must be wary of against the Aggies: turnovers. A&T has multiple ball hawks lurking across the defense, highlighted by senior hybrid linebacker Kamari Blankumsee (5-10, 190) and his three interceptions in addition to two sacks. There's also safety Mykell Harvey (6-0, 185) with two interceptions. Linebacker Tyrek Brown (6-0, 225) is another potential game-wrecker with a team-high three forced fumbles and 8.5 tackles for loss plus an interception. And lastly, defensive end Eddie Conover (6-1, 218) is another player to account for given he is tied for the team lead with three sacks and also has two forced fumbles.
Frankie Weaver (13) scans the secondary from the pocket. Monmouth football beats North Carolina A&T 63-19 on Nov. 15.
"Defensively, they've just become more multiple, so they make you work a little bit more," Gallo said. "They can be different in the front and they kind of have a flavor of the week of what they want to do in the front. So they've become more multiple there and also multiple in the coverage."
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The aggregate numbers show a vulnerable defense, but there is plenty of talent within this group for the Aggies. Monmouth's elite pass protection wavered slightly against Bryant, as the offensive line conceded two sacks (one that was came on an end-of-half Hail Mary) after allowing only two all season up until that point.
Monmouth quarterback Weaver should be well-protected, but will once again need to be conservative in his decision-making as the Hawks lean into the ground advantage. He's been excellent at being disciplined when he needs to be this season, so there's plenty of reason for optimism on that front. Furthermore, standout receivers Tra Neal and Gavin Nelson should have an advantage against the A&T corners.
Prediction: Monmouth 35, North Carolina A&T 17
North Carolina A&T has certainly found their footing as a program over the last five games, but the four wins were all at home. The Aggies did nearly knock off Bryant on the road, but that was a team that Monmouth dismantled easily last week. Going back further, the most relevant comparison for this matchup would seem to be A&T's 42-14 loss to Campbell on the road back in September.
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The Aggies are certainly playing better since then, but they have not faced an offense as dangerous as Monmouth's outside of Campbell. The Hawks start fast on the ground and set up chunk gains through the air to Neal and Nelson. A&T keeps pace in the first half, trailing 21-10 at halftime. But Monmouth finishes the job as Jennings and Smith both go over the century mark for the second straight week.
The Aggies get a turnover through a fumble or interception, but it won't be enough to derail the Hawks. They'll comfortably sustain the double-digit lead with the ground game to secure the win and set up a season-ending showdown with Campbell to potentially win the CAA conference title.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Previewing Monmouth football vs NC A&T with league title in sight | Exclusive
