ODUSports.com takes a look at the ODU offense as we prepare for the season opener on Sept. 5 against Norfolk State.
Offense
ODU returns just one starter on offense, running back Devin Roche, but does have returners with experience, and newcomers with a lot to prove and the opportunity to do so. Offensive coordinator Kevin Decker departed to Memphis, and head coach, Ricky Rahne, promoted wide receivers coach Kody Cook to offensive coordinator. Cook will move over to coach the quarterbacks, while Michael Smith was brought in to coach the receivers. Ryan Wilson was also promoted to guide the tight ends.
Quarterback
The Monarchs have a three-man competition to compete for the starting job with Quinn Henicle, Jaxon Potter and Ryan Huff.
Henicle has started the final game of each of the last two seasons for Old Dominion. In 2024 he started the season finale at Arkansas State and rushed for a then-school record 92-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. He earned Cure Bowl MVP honors after leading ODU to a 24-10 win over USF in the Cure Bowl.
Henicle appeared in nine games in 2025, including a start for the Cure Bowl where he went 11-of-25 for 127 yards, while running 107 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns. His 24 carries were also the most in the country by a non-academy quarterback.
A transfer from Washington State, Potter started three games for the Cougars last season, where he went 67-of-85 for 604 yards and four touchdowns.
Huff got into the Cure Bowl last year when Henicle briefly came out with an injury and showed poise in the pocket.
Brooklyn Nace joins ODU as a three-star recruit on 247Sports, as well as the No. 65 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania. His senior year, Nace earned Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-District honors. In his high school career, he went 365-of-476 for 5,127 yards and 65 touchdowns, as well as 446 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Running Back
Devin Roche took over the starting job at running back midway through last season and returns. He has a stable of new components to compliment him this season.
Roche returns to Old Dominion after an impactful 2025 season. Playing in 11 games with six starts, Roche had 111 carries for 630 yards and four touchdowns, including three 100-yard rushing games. After recording 21 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia State, Roche earned the Oyster Bowl MVP award.
Maurki James played in 11 games for the Monarchs in 2025 after redshirting his freshman year. He had 56 carries for 224 yards and two touchdowns, including 10 carries for 32 yards at Indiana, in his first career start.
After not playing in 2025 for Ole Miss due to injury, Trey Hall comes to Old Dominion after playing his freshman and sophomore years at Mississippi Gulf Coast. He appeared in 20 games and recorded 1,981 rushing yards for 20 touchdowns.
A three-star recruit on 247Sports and the No. 49 ranked player in Virginia, including the No. 14 ranked player in the 757 by the Virginian-Pilot, CJ Jackson III remains in his hometown to join the Monarchs. He rushed for 1,386 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior. Ja’Varien Salter also comes to ODU from Ventura College where he rushed for 687 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.
Troy Marquez returns to ODU after appearing in one game in 2025 against North Carolina Central, recording a carry for eight yards.
Wide Receiver
ODU lost its top six pass catchers to the portal but brought in a host of receivers eyeing the chance at playing time.
Sidney Mbanasor is the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 68 yards a season ago. TJ Johnson caught four passes for 68 yards and a score.
Kendall Harris joins ODU after spending three years at Mercer. Since 2024, Harris appeared in every game for the Bears and started in double-digit games. In 2025, Harris accounted for 37 catches for 473 yards and three touchdowns after catching 33 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown in 2024.
Zion Agnew comes to Norfolk from Lenoir-Rhyne after recording 41 catches for 655 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, and 18 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown in 2024.
Fellow transfer, JJ Harrell, began his career at Mississippi State before transferring to Holmes Community College, where he caught 14 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
BJ Bedgood and Zialis Blackmon join the Monarchs as three-star recruits on 247Sports. Bedgood, the No. 31 ranked recruit in Alabama, earned first team All-State honors, and led Benjamin Russell High School to the state semifinals after recording 109 catches for 1,843 yards, and 27 touchdowns in his final two years. Meanwhile, Blackmon caught 43 passes for 1,117 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, coming in as the No. 33 ranked recruit in Mississippi.
Four returners include Josh Rodriguez, Leroy Lewis, Ryan Thomas and Steven Bengu.
Tight End
ODU lost all of its receptions from the tight end position but arguably got better with its new additions.
Leon Haughton Jr., joins Old Dominion after catching four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in 2025 after playing nine times in 2024, recording two passes for 11 yards.
Lonnie Johnson caught 28 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 for Tyler, including 22 catches for 275 yards and four touchdowns in 2024.
Returning to the Monarchs, Karl Peterson played in one game where the Monarchs bested Georgia Southern. Fellow returners Nathan Hartman and Chris Warren also return to ODU after not seeing action in 2025.
Offensive Line
ODU lost all five starters that started every game last season, including two key backups.
However, ODU does return six offensive linemen, including Logan Cox, who played in 12 games last year on both the offensive line and special teams. He filled in for Zech Barlev at left tackle in ODU’s win over South Florida in the Cure Bowl.
Coming from Elon, Brayden Walker played in every game since 2024, including 21 career starts.
Kendrick Hall, Demorrsion Brown, and Omar Bender join the Monarchs after playing at JUCO in 2025. Hall and Brown were listed as three-star recruits through 247Sports, while Hall was the No. 27 ranked recruit in Arkansas. Bender earned first team All-State honors during his time at West Jones High School.
Khi’Len Gates comes from Lincoln after two years as a starter and all-conference performer.
Raykwon Goldthwaite, a transfer from North Alabama, appeared in 11 games with five starts in 2025, after playing in two games in 2024. Bubba Craig, a transfer from Arkansas, joins ODU after playing two years at Hutchinson. He was listed as the No. 1 junior college offensive lineman.
Dory Lewis-Wilson, Keegan Parker and Wesley Lattus join ODU from high school. Lewis-Wilson earned first team All-State honors in 2024, while Parker was named first team All-Conference and No. 59 ranked player in Virginia, Lattice, earned first team All-District and Region honors.