Every season of college football brings with it the loss of players through transfer or graduations. The upcoming 2019-20 season for Central Connecticut is unlike any other.

 The Blue Devils are going into the season with the task of replacing multiple starters on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jacob Dolegala left for the NFL, while the team also lost wide receiver Courtney Rush, defensive back Tymir Hinton and defensive linemen Chris Tinkham to name a few.

In addition to these losses, they also had to handle the departure of head coach Pete Rossomando. Rossomando coached Central since the 2014 season and led the team to their 2017 NEC Championship during his three-year stint.

The departure may have caught the team by surprise, but CCSU was quick to act and promoted offensive coordinator Ryan McCarthy as interim head coach. 

 After a 6-5 overall campaign (4-2 in the conference) last year, CCSU is hopeful they can repeat their 2017 performance with new pieces to the puzzle.

 The Blue Devils have one of the strongest cores in the NEC, boasting strong offensive and defensive lines. 

“The strengths of our team are right where I want them to be, the fronts,” explains McCarthy. “If you can control the first level, you have a shot to be in every game.”

 The offensive line did not take long to impress their new signal-caller, quarterback Aaron Winchester.

 “Our offensive line is phenomenal,” Winchester said. “We bring a lot of really good guys back and that gives you a lot of comfort as a quarterback.”

 Along with the team’s lines, both Winchester and McCarthy are impressed with their new outside wide receiver Tyshaun James.

 “That’s the plan,” McCarthy said when asked if James will be a focal point of the offense. “He’s a multi-dimensional player, so we’re going to try to give him the ball in different ways. He’s a matchup problem for a lot of people.”

 James stands at 6-foot-3-inches and 210 pounds; the definition of a matchup problem at the receiver position.

 Although there is high praise on the offensive side of the ball, it would be a disservice to understate the strength of the Blue Devil defense.

 “They’ve been kicking our butt during the scrimmages,” Winchester said. “Their front is just as good as our front and they’ve got guys in the back end too.” 

“Tajik (Bagley) and Dexter (Lawrence) are lockdown corners but I’m really excited to see what our front seven can do,” Winchester said.

 According to McCarthy, his team has had a “really, really good camp,” but just like any other team during the preseason, “they’re ready to go hit somebody else.”

 Central Connecticut will get that opportunity shortly, as they open their season on the road at Fordham University on 31 August for a 6 p.m kickoff.

 The new-look Blue Devils will be challenged early and often with five of their first six games on the road. No matter the obstacle, the goal remains the same for CCSU this year: bring home another NEC Championship.